Ruinwaster's Bane

The Annals of the Last Emissary #1

by J. Jason Hicks

You will bear a message to the Counsel Lords and the Mono Lord in Corundum. Say to them that the limit of their days upon the Lands of the Earth is before them. Your time on the Earth is at an end.

Before twenty-five moons grow full all five Ruinwasters will be freed. Four will wreak havoc on all the hope and beauty you hold so dear. Hear me, when Tycho Ruinwaster is found, the Blasted Flats, the Shattered Lands, and even the Ganzir will seem like a garden.

For you, Last Emissary, do not fail in your task. If you fail to deliver my message, I will only require one Ruinwaster to bring about the ruin of the Earth. One Ruinwaster alone would be enough to rend the Vaults of Corundum. Hear me now. Five days will not pass before the first is freed from the Black Earth.

520 pages, ebook

Published June 1, 2023

About the author

J Jason Hicks studied English Literature, Political Science, and World Religions with a focus on classic literature at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He is the author of the epic high fantasy series The Annals of the Last Emissary and a non-fiction leadership book, The War of Leadership. He lives in Tucson, AZ, with his wife and their dog Maya.

www.jjasonhicks.com
https://linktr.ee/jjasonhicks

Reviews

[Joebot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shades of Tolkien and Erikson. Main character felt like Frodo crossed with Karsa; but never coming close to either's potential. Prose read very smart, lot of big words; but reeked over an over-reliance/fascination with a thesaurus. Cool world-building (this magic metal was SO COOL) and the setting was described perfectly. However, I felt like every moment of action was described poorly. Too many times of me thinking "wait...what's going on here?". Maybe I'm not smart enough for this?

This is the perfect 3 star. Every bit of good outdone by something that didn't work for me.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun, fast paced, and compelling story. I enjoyed everything about this book. The plot, the characters and the world building were excellent. I am eagerly awaiting book 2!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so rare that any book leaves me in awe but this one did. What a fantastic read. I went in with pretty much no expectations, only what the author told me. Tolkienesque fantasy with grimdark themes. Usually such a description would leave me a bit leery but I was quickly assuaged of such worries. First I’d like to compliment the prose because they were otherworldly. Descriptive, vivid, and beautiful. The world is glorious, with rich lore. To focus on the Akkeidii for a minute, their culture is fantastically expounded upon; the different clans, the magical metal of montmorillionite, the Lays that activate its arcane power. So damn cool. The different places we visit in the story, the One Forest, the City of the Sho-Tah, the Ganzir, the Oasis, the Stair of Forhnthulen. There is so much richness and depth to this world and it feels lived in. Now onto characters: Aenguz is our tortured soul of a protagonist and we meet him at his lowest, and somehow, he descends even lower, when Morgrom the Divider chooses him as his Last Emissary. From there, it’s go-go-go at break-neck-speed. Once the story really kicks off, it doesn’t stop. I won’t spoil anything because I encourage you to READ IT. All that being said, I am reading the next book immediately after I post this review. Looking forward to more in the Lands of the Earth!

[Steven Piskula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-Read Epic Fantasy Series Starter

Ruinwaster’s Bane is an inspired debut! The book reads like a classic Epic Fantasy that drew me in and swept me along on an incredible adventure. I immediately found myself immersed in the vivid imagery of the unique new world Hicks created and I didn’t want to leave. The superb writing brings the main character of Aenguz to life, and I found myself cheering for him as he faces merciless foes in an unforgiving land, where the fate of existence hangs in the balance. The depth of Aenguz's internal and external struggles and triumphs is hard to put down. Hicks has done something special here, weaving together epic world-building, complex characters, and moral dilemmas to create a well-crafted and captivating story. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

[George Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very immersive experience to read Ruinwaster's Bane this last month. A very complex protagonist, a compelling and deep setting, and a story puts the two together in a unique and fascinating way.

The hero isn't one you cheer on. He keeps making selfish and terrible choices so at one point I thought he was being written out of the story! The cultures and peoples of the story are very well fleshed out, and a reader can see there is a lot of depth that may be fleshed out in the future.

The forces of evil are terribly well described and appear overwhelming. The battle is sure to be lost, yet those that are compelled to press on to give the world a chance.

There is lots to love in this book. I highly recommend!

[Jennifer Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

While epic fantasy is not my usual genre to read, I was drawn in by the incredible cover of this book and the message in the description - and I was not disappointed! The beautifully complex characters and the many challenges they faced kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to bed! Their world became real to me, and I found myself invested in their journey. I’m so grateful that this is just the beginning of a series, and I look forward to diving back into this realm again and again!

[Lucas Gebremariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very pleasantly surprised by this book and the unique attributes and elements it has in an epic fantasy book.. the elaborate world building paints a vivid picture and sets up the story really well to make one excited in anticipation of the next book.

[J. Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the idea for this book in my head for a long time. For those who like their epic fantasy where the world, characters, and stakes feel real, I believe this book meets that need. Ruinwaster's Bane is a gritty, surprising, and immersive book. Readers love the world-building. Readers outside the genre have found the story gripping and engaging. The payoff at the end of the book is a satisfying conclusion and one that leaves you asking, "what happens next?" I look forward to hearing what readers think about The Annals of the Last Emissary. Come enjoy the venture. You can also sign up for my Fantasy Fridays emails at linktr.ee/jjasonhicks