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Heirs of the Fallen #1
The God King
Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse...
Steeped in tragedy and hardship, mercenary Kian Valera wants nothing more than to hang up his sword. But he cannot go home yet. Against his better judgement, he agrees to take a spoiled prince into the Qaharadin Marshes, a treacherous place all sane men avoid.
Steeped in tragedy and hardship, mercenary Kian Valera wants nothing more than to hang up his sword. But he cannot go home yet. Against his better judgement, he agrees to take a spoiled prince into the Qaharadin Marshes, a treacherous place all sane men avoid.
859 pages, Nook
First published November 11, 2011
121 people are currently reading
1496 people want to read
About the author
James A. West
17 books26 followersJames A. West is the bestselling author of the ongoing epic fantasy series Heirs of the Fallen, and the heroic fantasy series Songs of the Scorpion.
Between gritty quests, he recently decided to dip a toe into the primordial sludge from whence he sprang, and penned the dystopian thriller, Beasts of the Field.
James is a native of the Pacific Northwest, but life is a road of many turns. He served in the US Army, spent a year as a long-haul truck driver with his wife (who also happens to be his high-school sweetheart), and attended the University of Montana.
He lives in Montana with his wife. His bodyguard, a Mini-Schnauzer named Jonesy, is always near to hand. James has been known to work for chips and salsa.
While James spends most of his time navigating alternative realties, he periodically comes up for air at: jamesawest.blogspot.com
Between gritty quests, he recently decided to dip a toe into the primordial sludge from whence he sprang, and penned the dystopian thriller, Beasts of the Field.
James is a native of the Pacific Northwest, but life is a road of many turns. He served in the US Army, spent a year as a long-haul truck driver with his wife (who also happens to be his high-school sweetheart), and attended the University of Montana.
He lives in Montana with his wife. His bodyguard, a Mini-Schnauzer named Jonesy, is always near to hand. James has been known to work for chips and salsa.
While James spends most of his time navigating alternative realties, he periodically comes up for air at: jamesawest.blogspot.com
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September 16, 2015
The God King
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse...
In the heavens above, the three moons crash together, streaming fire and death in their wake; below, the seas rage as the roiling face of the world shatters. After Prince Varis Kilvar steals powers to transform himself into a god, chaos reigns from the king's city of Ammathor to the forbidding walls of the Black Keep. At his heels marches a demonic army torn from the very bowels of the Thousand Hells, and the risen God King uses terror to stake his claim over all lands.
Betrayed and bound to Varis by powers he does not understand, mercenary Kian Valara is forced to masquerade as the world's savior, while a beautiful Sister of Najihar prepares him for his last battle. Victory against a living god is far from certain, but vengeance? For Kian, when the battle rage falls upon his soul and the sword hilt is hot and alive against his palm, vengeance is never out of reach.
The God King is the first book by James A. West. The book centres on three primary characters, Kian a highly skilled and renown Mercenary, Ellonlef a Sister of Najihar skilled in war nd healing and Varis a Prince set on taking the throne.
The God King is a good story that is told through the eyes of three primary characters, each of which contrast and compliment each other well.
The story is quite interesting in the fact that you have Varis the pampered highborn, planning to usurp the throne and rule the world. Varis becomes hellbent on killing Kian, the only person capable of stopping Varis and both sides fight over Ellonlef, a woman who Kian falls in love with and Varis wants to keep as his wife.
Throughout the story there is fantastic description opening you up for visulisation of the events happening and the horror that is being brought upon the world. Unfortunately at times this detracts from the events though and slows the story a bit to much.
The story itself is hard to review as there are quite a few key plot moments that would spoil the story, some of which are very stereotypical of the genre and others are really unexpected which catch you off guard.
Overall I think if you are a fan of High Fantasy then this book is definitely for you, as you will become entranced by the description of a world being torn apart and characters just trying to survive and do the right thing.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse...
In the heavens above, the three moons crash together, streaming fire and death in their wake; below, the seas rage as the roiling face of the world shatters. After Prince Varis Kilvar steals powers to transform himself into a god, chaos reigns from the king's city of Ammathor to the forbidding walls of the Black Keep. At his heels marches a demonic army torn from the very bowels of the Thousand Hells, and the risen God King uses terror to stake his claim over all lands.
Betrayed and bound to Varis by powers he does not understand, mercenary Kian Valara is forced to masquerade as the world's savior, while a beautiful Sister of Najihar prepares him for his last battle. Victory against a living god is far from certain, but vengeance? For Kian, when the battle rage falls upon his soul and the sword hilt is hot and alive against his palm, vengeance is never out of reach.
The God King is the first book by James A. West. The book centres on three primary characters, Kian a highly skilled and renown Mercenary, Ellonlef a Sister of Najihar skilled in war nd healing and Varis a Prince set on taking the throne.
The God King is a good story that is told through the eyes of three primary characters, each of which contrast and compliment each other well.
The story is quite interesting in the fact that you have Varis the pampered highborn, planning to usurp the throne and rule the world. Varis becomes hellbent on killing Kian, the only person capable of stopping Varis and both sides fight over Ellonlef, a woman who Kian falls in love with and Varis wants to keep as his wife.
Throughout the story there is fantastic description opening you up for visulisation of the events happening and the horror that is being brought upon the world. Unfortunately at times this detracts from the events though and slows the story a bit to much.
The story itself is hard to review as there are quite a few key plot moments that would spoil the story, some of which are very stereotypical of the genre and others are really unexpected which catch you off guard.
Overall I think if you are a fan of High Fantasy then this book is definitely for you, as you will become entranced by the description of a world being torn apart and characters just trying to survive and do the right thing.
February 22, 2012
The God King by James West – An Experience Of Epic Proportions
Posted by Ella Medler at 09:45, February 4th 2012.
http://www.ellamedler.com/page6.html
This book had me fooled. It claimed to be a debut novel and yet, right from page one, the writing style showed the energy and maturity of a well-seasoned writer.
James West picked up the simplest human story, seen so many times under many guises throughout history, and fitted it inside the most amazing fantasy world I’ve ever read about. The clear description draws you right into this foreign land – you struggle though the desert, your breath catches with the dread of what’s been unleashed here, you can see the fires and feel the demons passing a little too close for comfort. You hide amongst the rocks praying to make it through alive and cover your face as you push stubbornly through the sandstorm. Your feel weary from the fights and you drag your feet, heavy with exhaustion. There is terror, there is desperation, there is the feeling that there in nowhere to hide and no one to help you and yet, in amongst all this gloomy desolation, James West finds space for hope and love and the unwavering friendship of true friends.
It is hard to describe without revealing the whole story quite how realistic this novel feels. I found it very hard, not being a seasoned fantasy reader, to ‘let go’ of the story once I had finished the book. I knew I wanted to write this review, but in order to do that I needed to get some distance. This proved harder to think than actually do. The main characters are so strong, so well thought-out, their actions and emotions so real, that you can’t help but want to live your life alongside them. It’s like you can draw some strength from theirs, like they can lend you a little of their courage and take your hand when you’re scared. They guide you through. And that is in no way limited to this fantasy world.
For me, this was a fantastic read and a very unsettling experience. And now that I’ve told the world about it, I’m going to go right back and read it all again.
Posted by Ella Medler at 09:45, February 4th 2012.
http://www.ellamedler.com/page6.html
This book had me fooled. It claimed to be a debut novel and yet, right from page one, the writing style showed the energy and maturity of a well-seasoned writer.
James West picked up the simplest human story, seen so many times under many guises throughout history, and fitted it inside the most amazing fantasy world I’ve ever read about. The clear description draws you right into this foreign land – you struggle though the desert, your breath catches with the dread of what’s been unleashed here, you can see the fires and feel the demons passing a little too close for comfort. You hide amongst the rocks praying to make it through alive and cover your face as you push stubbornly through the sandstorm. Your feel weary from the fights and you drag your feet, heavy with exhaustion. There is terror, there is desperation, there is the feeling that there in nowhere to hide and no one to help you and yet, in amongst all this gloomy desolation, James West finds space for hope and love and the unwavering friendship of true friends.
It is hard to describe without revealing the whole story quite how realistic this novel feels. I found it very hard, not being a seasoned fantasy reader, to ‘let go’ of the story once I had finished the book. I knew I wanted to write this review, but in order to do that I needed to get some distance. This proved harder to think than actually do. The main characters are so strong, so well thought-out, their actions and emotions so real, that you can’t help but want to live your life alongside them. It’s like you can draw some strength from theirs, like they can lend you a little of their courage and take your hand when you’re scared. They guide you through. And that is in no way limited to this fantasy world.
For me, this was a fantastic read and a very unsettling experience. And now that I’ve told the world about it, I’m going to go right back and read it all again.
November 3, 2013
This was an above-average indie fantasy with a decent setting, a self-contained plot (though there are apparently more in the series), and an apocalyptic scope that a Hollywood blockbuster would be proud of. It's relatively well written (though, see below) and was just as good as a lot of published fantasy I've read. A few things kept it from being among the top of the indie pile, however.
First, the book starts almost in the middle of the turning point that sets the whole thing off, and it would have been nice to get a bit more into the characters first. This would have allowed us to see how they are affected by the world-changing events that follow, but as it is we don't have much to contrast it with except brief back-story. As it was, the characters' defining strengths and weaknesses aren't clear as they are carried along by the apocalypse, and as a result some of their choices seem plot-based rather than personal, and at other times they don't really get choices at all. This made it hard for them to develop personalities that we cared about, and to be honest the villain is the most interesting (as they often are). This all leads in the end to a quite confusing final show-down (though they often are hard to keep hold of when such massive powers are at work), and though there are clearly further adventures in store for these heroes, I'm not sure I'll be reading them...
Style-wise, in contrast to some of the other indie ebooks I've recently read (for example, Matt Heppe's Eternal Knight), this was at the wordier end of the spectrum. While it was nice to read prose that was reasonably rich without being too purple, it did tend to drag the story down at times. We spend a lot of time inside characters heads without much happening outside, and though the pace picks up and the story never stagnates, there was too much introspection and perception going on.
First, the book starts almost in the middle of the turning point that sets the whole thing off, and it would have been nice to get a bit more into the characters first. This would have allowed us to see how they are affected by the world-changing events that follow, but as it is we don't have much to contrast it with except brief back-story. As it was, the characters' defining strengths and weaknesses aren't clear as they are carried along by the apocalypse, and as a result some of their choices seem plot-based rather than personal, and at other times they don't really get choices at all. This made it hard for them to develop personalities that we cared about, and to be honest the villain is the most interesting (as they often are). This all leads in the end to a quite confusing final show-down (though they often are hard to keep hold of when such massive powers are at work), and though there are clearly further adventures in store for these heroes, I'm not sure I'll be reading them...
Style-wise, in contrast to some of the other indie ebooks I've recently read (for example, Matt Heppe's Eternal Knight), this was at the wordier end of the spectrum. While it was nice to read prose that was reasonably rich without being too purple, it did tend to drag the story down at times. We spend a lot of time inside characters heads without much happening outside, and though the pace picks up and the story never stagnates, there was too much introspection and perception going on.
June 14, 2013
In my opinion, this wasn't a half-bad fantasy. It was a quick read with likable characters, though somewhat underdeveloped. I wish we would have spent more time with Kian and less with Varis. It would have helped me ease into the romance between the two protagonists. As it is, the romance was a little quick, though what love story in a fantasy book isn't?
I think some of the descriptive passages were amazing, and it flowed well for me. I was able to picture each scene clearly while using my own imagination. Great balance, in my opinion.
Overall, an entertaining light read.
I think some of the descriptive passages were amazing, and it flowed well for me. I was able to picture each scene clearly while using my own imagination. Great balance, in my opinion.
Overall, an entertaining light read.
July 1, 2017
Guarding a spoiled prince on his travels through the country sounded like a fairly simple and lucrative job, but mercenary Kian Valara and his companions hardly expected to sign up for a dangerous trip through the Quaharadin Marshes to a deserted temple in which said prince, driven by an insane lust for power, unleashes horrors beyond imagination from the Thousand Hells. Imbued with immense powers he can barely control, Prince Varis sets out to claim the throne, with an army of the undead in tow, leaving death and destruction in his wake. A small tendril of the power let loose upon the world, however, has changed Kian as well, in ways that make him the only one who might stand a chance againt the would-be conqueror - albeit a very small one.
Epic scope, high stakes, a small band of misfits standing against an almost all-powerful evil - a lot of intriguing ingredients, but the execution fell a little flat for me. I would very much have liked the opportunity to get to know the world and characters a little before being plunged into apocalyptic chaos, and all the characters could have used some more depth. Kian and his two companions remained mere outlines (albeit interesting ones) rather than fully fleshed out characters and the (to my mind, anyway) immensely irritating Sister Ellonlef might as well have been named Mary Sue considering how tediously wonderful in all things she was described as.
Epic scope, high stakes, a small band of misfits standing against an almost all-powerful evil - a lot of intriguing ingredients, but the execution fell a little flat for me. I would very much have liked the opportunity to get to know the world and characters a little before being plunged into apocalyptic chaos, and all the characters could have used some more depth. Kian and his two companions remained mere outlines (albeit interesting ones) rather than fully fleshed out characters and the (to my mind, anyway) immensely irritating Sister Ellonlef might as well have been named Mary Sue considering how tediously wonderful in all things she was described as.
June 18, 2024
Untold power. Harnessed a prince becomes a god. Demonic armies at his command spread his darkness.
One mercenary will soon find his fate is to oppose him.
A fun gruesome sword & sorcery epic! Full of action and likeable characters. Great series start!
One mercenary will soon find his fate is to oppose him.
A fun gruesome sword & sorcery epic! Full of action and likeable characters. Great series start!
June 8, 2013
http://abitterdraft.blogspot.com/2013...
The God King is James A. West's debut novel and the first in the Heirs of the Fallen series.
I've had the pleasure of not having been disappointed in any one of the five novels I read in May. The streak continued in June with The God King. There seems to be scant few novels these days that are able to grab my attention within the first few pages or chapters, and James A. West showed me that it was still possible.
Kian Valara is our hero, albeit very unwillingly. Kian's an Izutarian, a northman from the land of Izutar. The northmen appear to be the same as in any other novel - from a snowy, frigid climate, tough, and with skin as white as snow. Kian's a mercenary, selling his sword to the highest bidder, who in this case happens to be the prince of another kingdom, Varis Kilvar of Aradan. Kian, believing this to be just another job but with an extraordinary payout. He and his comrades, the stone-faced, noble-looking Azuri and the large, jovial Hazad plan to retire following the job, but they planned with no idea what the goal of their charge was.
Ellonlef is another primary character and a Sister of Najihar. The Sisters of Najihar are trained in all arts, from scholarly to martial, and Ellonlef is one year from completing her tenure. Our third primary character is Prince Varis himself. Varis's chances of ascending to the throne are minimal, with his father and older brothers in line before him. He desires to change that and vanishes into a mysterious temple, beginning our story.
The first chapter involves the breaking of the prison of hell, or as the characters refer it, Geh'shinnom'atar. Geh'shinnom'atar is where the mahk'lar, the shadowy demons of the world were imprisoned. Peropis, Eater of the Damned, plays a major role in the release of the mahk'lar, which subsequently leads to the ascendance of the God King, hence the title.
Fantasy is rife with repetition, but most of us readers rarely seem to tire of it as long as the story is told well. West describes locations so that you can easily visualize them and writes situations in which you feel the doom and gloom of the story. Scenes with the mahk'lar are brilliantly done and very reminiscent of Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle in that they're both very chilling. West is very convincing in his description and as the story progresses we are shown both sides of the conflict which made it very enjoyable. Kian begins the story as the unwilling hero, but he develops throughout the story, proving to us that he is more than just a tough mercenary. Ellonlef, through her training as a Sister, is a prime example of a strong female character in fantasy. In one fell stroke her tedious day to day life is shattered and she is hurled into the brutality of the world. She faces obstacles with courage and determination and she develops just as smoothly as Kian does.
The aspect that truly impressed me in The God King was the action. West proves himself to be a masterful wordsmith in describing the scenes so vividly that you can feel the sword nick Kian's cheek or the heat of flames as they sear the earth around him. Combine the great characterization and the fantastic action sequences and you have a fast-paced, gripping read by a new author.
From the cover and the title James A. West's The God King seems like a traditional fantasy novel with the stock unwilling hero or the grim swordsman and a very powerful enemy to overcome. The story is nothing new, but West tells it in such a way that makes it compelling enough for me to struggle to put it down. The God King is a dark fantasy novel worth reading and I'm eager for Wests's future work.
The God King is James A. West's debut novel and the first in the Heirs of the Fallen series.
I've had the pleasure of not having been disappointed in any one of the five novels I read in May. The streak continued in June with The God King. There seems to be scant few novels these days that are able to grab my attention within the first few pages or chapters, and James A. West showed me that it was still possible.
Kian Valara is our hero, albeit very unwillingly. Kian's an Izutarian, a northman from the land of Izutar. The northmen appear to be the same as in any other novel - from a snowy, frigid climate, tough, and with skin as white as snow. Kian's a mercenary, selling his sword to the highest bidder, who in this case happens to be the prince of another kingdom, Varis Kilvar of Aradan. Kian, believing this to be just another job but with an extraordinary payout. He and his comrades, the stone-faced, noble-looking Azuri and the large, jovial Hazad plan to retire following the job, but they planned with no idea what the goal of their charge was.
Ellonlef is another primary character and a Sister of Najihar. The Sisters of Najihar are trained in all arts, from scholarly to martial, and Ellonlef is one year from completing her tenure. Our third primary character is Prince Varis himself. Varis's chances of ascending to the throne are minimal, with his father and older brothers in line before him. He desires to change that and vanishes into a mysterious temple, beginning our story.
The first chapter involves the breaking of the prison of hell, or as the characters refer it, Geh'shinnom'atar. Geh'shinnom'atar is where the mahk'lar, the shadowy demons of the world were imprisoned. Peropis, Eater of the Damned, plays a major role in the release of the mahk'lar, which subsequently leads to the ascendance of the God King, hence the title.
Fantasy is rife with repetition, but most of us readers rarely seem to tire of it as long as the story is told well. West describes locations so that you can easily visualize them and writes situations in which you feel the doom and gloom of the story. Scenes with the mahk'lar are brilliantly done and very reminiscent of Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle in that they're both very chilling. West is very convincing in his description and as the story progresses we are shown both sides of the conflict which made it very enjoyable. Kian begins the story as the unwilling hero, but he develops throughout the story, proving to us that he is more than just a tough mercenary. Ellonlef, through her training as a Sister, is a prime example of a strong female character in fantasy. In one fell stroke her tedious day to day life is shattered and she is hurled into the brutality of the world. She faces obstacles with courage and determination and she develops just as smoothly as Kian does.
The aspect that truly impressed me in The God King was the action. West proves himself to be a masterful wordsmith in describing the scenes so vividly that you can feel the sword nick Kian's cheek or the heat of flames as they sear the earth around him. Combine the great characterization and the fantastic action sequences and you have a fast-paced, gripping read by a new author.
From the cover and the title James A. West's The God King seems like a traditional fantasy novel with the stock unwilling hero or the grim swordsman and a very powerful enemy to overcome. The story is nothing new, but West tells it in such a way that makes it compelling enough for me to struggle to put it down. The God King is a dark fantasy novel worth reading and I'm eager for Wests's future work.
February 2, 2012
Synopsis
Title: The God King
Author: James A. West
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse...
In the heavens above, the three moons crash together, streaming fire and death in their wake; below, the seas rage as the roiling face of the world shatters. After Prince Varis Kilvar steals powers to transform himself into a god, chaos reigns from the king's city of Ammathor to the forbidding walls of the Black Keep. At his heels marches a demonic army torn from the very bowels of the Thousand Hells, and the risen God King uses terror to stake his claim over all lands.
Betrayed and bound to Varis by powers he does not understand, mercenary Kian Valara is forced to masquerade as the world's savior, while a beautiful Sister of Najihar prepares him for his last battle. Victory against a living god is far from certain, but vengeance? For Kian, when the battle rage falls upon his soul and the sword hilt is hot and alive against his palm, vengeance is never out of reach.
Review
I really like the premise of this book. I love the idea of a person being able to transform themselves into a god and the two sides being drawn in this battle. The book is well written with beautiful language. For example, early in the book this description is given: “now its pitted surface was covered in vines, creepers, and witchmoss. Dampness and invading roots had crumbled its stones, giving it the look of an ancient, slumbering beast stricken with leprosy.” I also found my favorite new curse, “You son of a poxy whore!” I love the rich language and descriptive passages.
I really wanted to love this book for all the above reasons; however I had a hard time getting interested in the story as it dragged initially. At one point I was so bored I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue reading. Despite loving words and enjoying the unique descriptions, I just wanted something to happen. I would have even been okay with killing people off to get the story moving. Finally after about half of the book, the story picked up.
The last half of the book was much more active and held my attention. It was not engrossing like many books I have read, and my son stopped reading after the first two chapters. I would have called this a boy’s book except for the fact that my son didn’t enjoy it and he loves fantasy literature.
I would be interested to read something else by James West to see if it was just this story that I had a hard time connecting with, or if it is his style of writing. I do think this story fits a nitch audience, it just wasn’t my nitch.
Overall I would give the book 3 of 5 clouds due to the rich language and the promising second half.
West, James A. (2011-11-11 08:00:00+00:00). The God King (Kindle Location 185). Kindle Edition.
West, James A. (2011-11-11 08:00:00+00:00). The God King (Kindle Locations 210-212). Kindle Edition.
Posted by Dreamer2229 at 2:08 PM at http://dream-reader-dreamer2229.blogs...
also giving away a copy on Feb. 4
Title: The God King
Author: James A. West
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse...
In the heavens above, the three moons crash together, streaming fire and death in their wake; below, the seas rage as the roiling face of the world shatters. After Prince Varis Kilvar steals powers to transform himself into a god, chaos reigns from the king's city of Ammathor to the forbidding walls of the Black Keep. At his heels marches a demonic army torn from the very bowels of the Thousand Hells, and the risen God King uses terror to stake his claim over all lands.
Betrayed and bound to Varis by powers he does not understand, mercenary Kian Valara is forced to masquerade as the world's savior, while a beautiful Sister of Najihar prepares him for his last battle. Victory against a living god is far from certain, but vengeance? For Kian, when the battle rage falls upon his soul and the sword hilt is hot and alive against his palm, vengeance is never out of reach.
Review
I really like the premise of this book. I love the idea of a person being able to transform themselves into a god and the two sides being drawn in this battle. The book is well written with beautiful language. For example, early in the book this description is given: “now its pitted surface was covered in vines, creepers, and witchmoss. Dampness and invading roots had crumbled its stones, giving it the look of an ancient, slumbering beast stricken with leprosy.” I also found my favorite new curse, “You son of a poxy whore!” I love the rich language and descriptive passages.
I really wanted to love this book for all the above reasons; however I had a hard time getting interested in the story as it dragged initially. At one point I was so bored I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue reading. Despite loving words and enjoying the unique descriptions, I just wanted something to happen. I would have even been okay with killing people off to get the story moving. Finally after about half of the book, the story picked up.
The last half of the book was much more active and held my attention. It was not engrossing like many books I have read, and my son stopped reading after the first two chapters. I would have called this a boy’s book except for the fact that my son didn’t enjoy it and he loves fantasy literature.
I would be interested to read something else by James West to see if it was just this story that I had a hard time connecting with, or if it is his style of writing. I do think this story fits a nitch audience, it just wasn’t my nitch.
Overall I would give the book 3 of 5 clouds due to the rich language and the promising second half.
West, James A. (2011-11-11 08:00:00+00:00). The God King (Kindle Location 185). Kindle Edition.
West, James A. (2011-11-11 08:00:00+00:00). The God King (Kindle Locations 210-212). Kindle Edition.
Posted by Dreamer2229 at 2:08 PM at http://dream-reader-dreamer2229.blogs...
also giving away a copy on Feb. 4
February 18, 2012
The three moons crash and burn and the Sacred Tower falls down. Sister Ellonlef scrambles through the dust and rubble to save the lives of survivors, but this is only the beginning of the end. Magi believe there are no gods. Sisters believe the Creator will save. And Prince Varis believes he’s made a pact with the ruler of demons so he can conquer the world. Meanwhile a troop of mercenaries struggles to survive in the swamp as a God King reaches for his ill-gotten throne.
James West’s epic fantasy novel takes place in a world well-imagined and convincingly described, from forest floor to fallen citadel to fiery seas. The seductive lure of power is equally convincing. And the horror and despair of a broken world creates an enthralling backdrop for this richly-woven tale. The story has a feel of C.S. Lewis in its depiction of human folly and demonic tragedy, or of Tolkein in its hints of symbols and mythology.
Quest, love, and sacrifice all play their part in this hero’s journey. A powerful heroine is no stranger to the arts of war. Faithful followers, reminiscent of Norsemen of old, add humor and pleasing dialog. And the powers of creation are unleashed.
A well-written fantasy, The God King tells a complete story leaving the reader with a sense of wonder and wondrous power. But the stage might well be set for more, and I hope perhaps the author will offer a sequel.
Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this novel from Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for my honest review.
James West’s epic fantasy novel takes place in a world well-imagined and convincingly described, from forest floor to fallen citadel to fiery seas. The seductive lure of power is equally convincing. And the horror and despair of a broken world creates an enthralling backdrop for this richly-woven tale. The story has a feel of C.S. Lewis in its depiction of human folly and demonic tragedy, or of Tolkein in its hints of symbols and mythology.
Quest, love, and sacrifice all play their part in this hero’s journey. A powerful heroine is no stranger to the arts of war. Faithful followers, reminiscent of Norsemen of old, add humor and pleasing dialog. And the powers of creation are unleashed.
A well-written fantasy, The God King tells a complete story leaving the reader with a sense of wonder and wondrous power. But the stage might well be set for more, and I hope perhaps the author will offer a sequel.
Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this novel from Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for my honest review.
December 14, 2013
Not my cuppa
January 3, 2014
It was okay, but too easy to put down.
Read
July 13, 2014this one is on pause...maybe when I am desperate for something to read
April 11, 2020
This took me a while to read. It started out slow and really didn't hold my interest. But I decided to finish it among the other books I was reading and it turned out better than I thought.
Kian Valera has been elected to protect the arrogant princeling, Varis. Along the way Varis meets up with an evil goddess that gives him power over all the lving. Kian also has some of that power. Varis decides to become king over and everything and know that Kian can destroy him so he tries to destroy Kian.
It started out slow and was full of descriptive scenery but as I started reading more, the story came out. It was really good toward the end. Anothe good versus evil book.
Kian Valera has been elected to protect the arrogant princeling, Varis. Along the way Varis meets up with an evil goddess that gives him power over all the lving. Kian also has some of that power. Varis decides to become king over and everything and know that Kian can destroy him so he tries to destroy Kian.
It started out slow and was full of descriptive scenery but as I started reading more, the story came out. It was really good toward the end. Anothe good versus evil book.
December 29, 2019
A fun escape into a rather brutal world :-)
This was an easy one for me to “see” as I read. I enjoyed the characters and surprises along the journey. Definitely a good one to end the year on!
This was an easy one for me to “see” as I read. I enjoyed the characters and surprises along the journey. Definitely a good one to end the year on!
June 26, 2025
I enjoyed this series it had lots of actions and the characters were likeable. I think there could hav been a bit more building on the characters but then that probably would have slowed down the read. I will probably continue with the series.
June 6, 2018
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so . Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so . Shelley MA
July 30, 2018
Fantastic
I really enjoyed this book it was fun and full of suspense. The characters were awesome and the story dog you reading. Can't wait to read the next one.
I really enjoyed this book it was fun and full of suspense. The characters were awesome and the story dog you reading. Can't wait to read the next one.
October 23, 2018
Fantastic
I loved the story and the way it was written. The ending left enough to make me want to get the second book to see what else happens.
I loved the story and the way it was written. The ending left enough to make me want to get the second book to see what else happens.
March 23, 2019
Surprisingly good
I received this ebook free several years ago. I finally got around to reading it. Very good fantasy story. I will probably buy book two in the series.
I received this ebook free several years ago. I finally got around to reading it. Very good fantasy story. I will probably buy book two in the series.
September 23, 2013
I was provided a copy of The God King as a free download on Amazon. In exchange, I offer the author this, my honest review.
At the outset, I will note a couple of things that under most circumstances might have made me set this book aside—both are issues wholly personal to me and are not likely to speak to other readers. The first is that I am one of those readers of fantasy who does not appreciate the use of the apostrophe for the names of people or things. For example, how exactly do you pronounce Geh’shinnom’atar or Pa’amadin? It’s an odd prejudice of mine that has turned me away from more than one fantasy book or series that I’m sure would have been wonderful to read. Other than the form of such names with which I easily identify—O’Day or d’Artagnon, for example—I just find that reading such names causes me to stumble—over and over again. Thus, I avoid them. The second issue—also personal to me—is that I don’t like “dead people walking.” Whenever a story includes any sort of “zombie” type people—those who cease to live yet are somehow infused with the ability to continue on—I just get the creeps. Both issues were present in The God King and so, I might have put it down. . . .
However, notwithstanding the apostrophes and dead people, I kept on with The God King. The reason that I did so was simple: I just found the story so well written. Largely the tale of Kian, Hazad and Azuri, three Izutarians who reminded me of The Three Musketeers, West weaves his tale smoothly and colorfully, if rather violently. So, here were the things I especially liked:
I enjoyed West’s voice. For example, Kian thinks: “We tasted war with our mothers’ milk, and as boys supped on the meat of suffering and want. As I recall neither flavor was sweet.”
I liked West’s word pictures: “He greedily sought that sweet bouquet, and she offered it up as a flower weeps nectar.”
I appreciated West’s choice of words that gave flavor to the alternative world that he created: crofters, midges, maw, barbican, denizens and rabble, by way of example.
I found West’s characters honorable at times, quirky at times, evil at times, and real. Hazad may have been “ugly as ten sins,” but he was always ready with a humorous quip. The fastidious Azuri may always have sought to look his best, but when he ceased to do so, it was a sign to all of what had been the cost of their traveling. As to the lead female character, Ellonlef, she was a Sister of Najihar, well educated and trained in the art of defense. I liked her because, though a beautiful woman, she was “made all the more so because she seemed not to know it.” She held firm in the face of danger, demanded to participate in efforts to overcome evil, and encouraged others to be the best they could be. As to Hya—I’d like to know more. It would be interesting to see her take on an even greater role. Regarding the despicable Prince Varis, he was just that—despicable—and the oily Uzzret was—well, we’ve all met someone like Uzzret!
Finally, I appreciated West’s creation of different types of people, from the denizens of the Chalice, to the Madi’in with their swatarin-induced visions of apocalypse, to the Bashye and their murderous ways.
It was because of West’s voice, intriguing word pictures, clever vocabulary, character development and world building that I was able to look beyond my prejudices about apostrophes and “dead people walking.” I am glad that I did because, in the end, I discovered a story that I quite enjoyed.
Also posted on my site at www.oathtaker.com, Booklikes at http://patriciareding.booklikes.com/p..., amazon, amazon.co.uk, and barnesandnoble.com; Tweeted; added on Pinterest; and posted with two "review" communities on Google+.
At the outset, I will note a couple of things that under most circumstances might have made me set this book aside—both are issues wholly personal to me and are not likely to speak to other readers. The first is that I am one of those readers of fantasy who does not appreciate the use of the apostrophe for the names of people or things. For example, how exactly do you pronounce Geh’shinnom’atar or Pa’amadin? It’s an odd prejudice of mine that has turned me away from more than one fantasy book or series that I’m sure would have been wonderful to read. Other than the form of such names with which I easily identify—O’Day or d’Artagnon, for example—I just find that reading such names causes me to stumble—over and over again. Thus, I avoid them. The second issue—also personal to me—is that I don’t like “dead people walking.” Whenever a story includes any sort of “zombie” type people—those who cease to live yet are somehow infused with the ability to continue on—I just get the creeps. Both issues were present in The God King and so, I might have put it down. . . .
However, notwithstanding the apostrophes and dead people, I kept on with The God King. The reason that I did so was simple: I just found the story so well written. Largely the tale of Kian, Hazad and Azuri, three Izutarians who reminded me of The Three Musketeers, West weaves his tale smoothly and colorfully, if rather violently. So, here were the things I especially liked:
I enjoyed West’s voice. For example, Kian thinks: “We tasted war with our mothers’ milk, and as boys supped on the meat of suffering and want. As I recall neither flavor was sweet.”
I liked West’s word pictures: “He greedily sought that sweet bouquet, and she offered it up as a flower weeps nectar.”
I appreciated West’s choice of words that gave flavor to the alternative world that he created: crofters, midges, maw, barbican, denizens and rabble, by way of example.
I found West’s characters honorable at times, quirky at times, evil at times, and real. Hazad may have been “ugly as ten sins,” but he was always ready with a humorous quip. The fastidious Azuri may always have sought to look his best, but when he ceased to do so, it was a sign to all of what had been the cost of their traveling. As to the lead female character, Ellonlef, she was a Sister of Najihar, well educated and trained in the art of defense. I liked her because, though a beautiful woman, she was “made all the more so because she seemed not to know it.” She held firm in the face of danger, demanded to participate in efforts to overcome evil, and encouraged others to be the best they could be. As to Hya—I’d like to know more. It would be interesting to see her take on an even greater role. Regarding the despicable Prince Varis, he was just that—despicable—and the oily Uzzret was—well, we’ve all met someone like Uzzret!
Finally, I appreciated West’s creation of different types of people, from the denizens of the Chalice, to the Madi’in with their swatarin-induced visions of apocalypse, to the Bashye and their murderous ways.
It was because of West’s voice, intriguing word pictures, clever vocabulary, character development and world building that I was able to look beyond my prejudices about apostrophes and “dead people walking.” I am glad that I did because, in the end, I discovered a story that I quite enjoyed.
Also posted on my site at www.oathtaker.com, Booklikes at http://patriciareding.booklikes.com/p..., amazon, amazon.co.uk, and barnesandnoble.com; Tweeted; added on Pinterest; and posted with two "review" communities on Google+.
March 5, 2017
It took me a long time between purchasing that book and reading it. I was afraid to be disappointed because of the "indie" status. Well, I was wrong. James West has created a thrilling fantasy novel with strong characters. Not your usual Tolkienesque fantasy though as the world is very dark but I liked it and thought it gave quite a unique edge to the world. I grew fond of the four main characters and was really looking forward reading four tomes of their adventures. That it did not turned out that way did not diminish in any way the good read that was "The God King".
September 1, 2013
A Review of “The God King Heirs of the Fallen” (Book 1) by James A. West
Review by: John H Glen
Date; [Publish Date]
Format: E-Book (Kindle)
ASIN: 1484122275
Publisher:
My rating: 4 stars
Authors/Publishers Book Description/Synopsis
Heroes are not born; they are forged in the fires of apocalypse... Mercenary Kian Valera wants nothing more than to retire from a life of blood and butchery. But when an arrogant princeling offers him enough gold to buy a throne, Kian straps on his sword for one last mission. And besides, what could be easier than guarding a prince who wants to sow his royal seed in every backwater fortress and village throughout the realm? Turns out, dying would’ve been easier.
What Do I Think?
I downloaded this book as a free download so would I expect it to be a good well woven tale with no proofing mistakes? You can bet your life I would just because a book is free does not mean it has to be full of errors or to have a bad unreadable story. James A. West is a great Story-Weaver and I suspect will become a master of his craft.
This Story-Weaver (James A. West) has shaped a respectable, enjoyable, fantasy story, which held my attention from start to end gathering momentum until the ending at which I wanted more and indeed I did download book 2 (Crown of the Setting Sun (Heirs of the Fallen Book 2) of this interesting and intriguing world of James A. West and his well-developed characters.
The ancient struggle between good and evil is the basis of this story, and as I have said it is well written has an excellent plot and utterly interesting, enthralling and well developed personalities on both sides of the battle.
The weaving of this tale is exceptionally expressive from time to time to the disadvantage of the story, there are areas in the story that the explanation takes up too many pages starts to delay the story from proceeding as fast as I would have liked.
In conclusion, I do say that this book is worth the read especially if you enjoy the fantasy genre and as I said I am now already reading book 2 of this very enthralling world created by a great Story-Weaver.
Review by: John H Glen
Date; [Publish Date]
Format: E-Book (Kindle)
ASIN: 1484122275
Publisher:
My rating: 4 stars
Authors/Publishers Book Description/Synopsis
Heroes are not born; they are forged in the fires of apocalypse... Mercenary Kian Valera wants nothing more than to retire from a life of blood and butchery. But when an arrogant princeling offers him enough gold to buy a throne, Kian straps on his sword for one last mission. And besides, what could be easier than guarding a prince who wants to sow his royal seed in every backwater fortress and village throughout the realm? Turns out, dying would’ve been easier.
What Do I Think?
I downloaded this book as a free download so would I expect it to be a good well woven tale with no proofing mistakes? You can bet your life I would just because a book is free does not mean it has to be full of errors or to have a bad unreadable story. James A. West is a great Story-Weaver and I suspect will become a master of his craft.
This Story-Weaver (James A. West) has shaped a respectable, enjoyable, fantasy story, which held my attention from start to end gathering momentum until the ending at which I wanted more and indeed I did download book 2 (Crown of the Setting Sun (Heirs of the Fallen Book 2) of this interesting and intriguing world of James A. West and his well-developed characters.
The ancient struggle between good and evil is the basis of this story, and as I have said it is well written has an excellent plot and utterly interesting, enthralling and well developed personalities on both sides of the battle.
The weaving of this tale is exceptionally expressive from time to time to the disadvantage of the story, there are areas in the story that the explanation takes up too many pages starts to delay the story from proceeding as fast as I would have liked.
In conclusion, I do say that this book is worth the read especially if you enjoy the fantasy genre and as I said I am now already reading book 2 of this very enthralling world created by a great Story-Weaver.
April 9, 2014
I’m not sure what to think about this book. It was a nice, rather quick read but there were elements that annoyed me. The biggest of those is the love in it. To avoid spoilers I will not say too much about it, but for me it happened too quickly. While it wasn’t exactly instant love or love at first sight, it was still too close to it. I like to see people fall in love slowly.
Sometimes the book feels rushed. There are no subplots or whatsoever and because of this, the book lacked depth. The main character, Kian, sparked my interested from the beginning but for some reason, I lost my interest in him as the book progressed. I had the feeling there was no evolution and his motivation to do what he is going to do, is also a bit shallow. Hid companions, however, were great characters. I loved their quirks and how they supported Kian. I’d like to hang out with them!
The reason why I finished this book is because I enjoyed the writing and the plot was very interesting though I saw more potential in it. West’s writing style is fluent and he managed to make every scene interesting. I’m not sure if I will continue this series because I still have so many to read and the remainder of the series won’t be high on my list. If you want a quick, engaging fantasy read, I encourage you to pick it up but if you’re going to enjoy it depends on what you like and how critical you are.
I'r give it a 2.5/5 but since you can't give half stars, I've raised it up to a 3.
Sometimes the book feels rushed. There are no subplots or whatsoever and because of this, the book lacked depth. The main character, Kian, sparked my interested from the beginning but for some reason, I lost my interest in him as the book progressed. I had the feeling there was no evolution and his motivation to do what he is going to do, is also a bit shallow. Hid companions, however, were great characters. I loved their quirks and how they supported Kian. I’d like to hang out with them!
The reason why I finished this book is because I enjoyed the writing and the plot was very interesting though I saw more potential in it. West’s writing style is fluent and he managed to make every scene interesting. I’m not sure if I will continue this series because I still have so many to read and the remainder of the series won’t be high on my list. If you want a quick, engaging fantasy read, I encourage you to pick it up but if you’re going to enjoy it depends on what you like and how critical you are.
I'r give it a 2.5/5 but since you can't give half stars, I've raised it up to a 3.
January 3, 2012
Another Fantasy win for me with this book. It has a well-thought out world and characters. Something very important in Fantasy novels is that while being fantastical, everything is still believable within the 'rules' of the world. That stands true for The God King.
Kian is a born-tough kind of man. He's survived many physically and mentally trying things in his life. He may not be leading man handsome, but he draws you into the story all the same. I really liked his history and relationship with Hazad and Azuri. They have gone through many things together throughout their lives that have formed a brotherly bond.
Not to forget the female lead in the novel, Ellonlef. She is capable, strong and smart. A woman you can root for and not be annoyed by :-) She finds herself tied to Kian in unimagineable ways after he saves her from being captured by a group of less than savory men. She starts him on his path to stop the evil Prince Varis, now known as The God King, before he destroys the world as they know it.
A wonderful Fantasy novel, from an author I've never read before but plan on keeping an eye out for future books. The God King has a story that will keep you reading and throw in some surprises along the way.
Kian is a born-tough kind of man. He's survived many physically and mentally trying things in his life. He may not be leading man handsome, but he draws you into the story all the same. I really liked his history and relationship with Hazad and Azuri. They have gone through many things together throughout their lives that have formed a brotherly bond.
Not to forget the female lead in the novel, Ellonlef. She is capable, strong and smart. A woman you can root for and not be annoyed by :-) She finds herself tied to Kian in unimagineable ways after he saves her from being captured by a group of less than savory men. She starts him on his path to stop the evil Prince Varis, now known as The God King, before he destroys the world as they know it.
A wonderful Fantasy novel, from an author I've never read before but plan on keeping an eye out for future books. The God King has a story that will keep you reading and throw in some surprises along the way.
September 30, 2014
To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the book. One spoiled prince, the 13th or 14th in line to the throne, decide to break a prison of demons. He becomes imbued with supernatural powers, the powers of creation, he does not know how to control and begins to create havoc in order to rule the world. The story seems typical so far. Only, when the powers of creation were unleashed, some portions slipped into another human being, the mercenary the prince had hired to bring him to the hidden prison in the jungle. The said mercenary , together with his brothers (3 orphans who grew up together and are loyal to each other above everything, although very different in appearance) found themselves in the middle of a battle with demons, a powerful sorceress, a prince god, and so on. And the surprise comes in the end. Nicely done.
November 21, 2011
Fun and original page-turner! Highly recommend
I stumbled upon The God King while searching for fantasy books, and decided to read it. I am so glad I did; this book is fun! It is very well done, and it pulled me in from page one. The story flowed well; I was never bored. There was a lot of action and suspense, but it also has very in-depth characters. There are strong, tough men but there is also a really cool strong woman. The author was very good at making me care about them. I also LOVED the setting for this book; it has an ancient Middle Eastern setting which was very original to me. If you want a fast-paced fantasy, I definitely recommend The God King. I am excited to see more work from this author.
I stumbled upon The God King while searching for fantasy books, and decided to read it. I am so glad I did; this book is fun! It is very well done, and it pulled me in from page one. The story flowed well; I was never bored. There was a lot of action and suspense, but it also has very in-depth characters. There are strong, tough men but there is also a really cool strong woman. The author was very good at making me care about them. I also LOVED the setting for this book; it has an ancient Middle Eastern setting which was very original to me. If you want a fast-paced fantasy, I definitely recommend The God King. I am excited to see more work from this author.
July 2, 2013
I read this book because it was a Kindle freebie of the day. The reviews were good, so I gave it a shot.
James A. West presents a decent fantasy story in the vein of Robert Jordan. It's not as gritty as George RR Martin (on whose work I've given up on) although it does have some ick that is easily skimmed over/skipped. I liked the characters and the fact that in the first chapter the gods were revealed as having been dead a long time. Don't see that twist every day! The sequel takes place 200 years later, so this is a prologue to the other two books, it seems.
I enjoyed it a lot, and would recommend it as an airplane or mass transit commute book. I'm going to read the other two books in the series.
James A. West presents a decent fantasy story in the vein of Robert Jordan. It's not as gritty as George RR Martin (on whose work I've given up on) although it does have some ick that is easily skimmed over/skipped. I liked the characters and the fact that in the first chapter the gods were revealed as having been dead a long time. Don't see that twist every day! The sequel takes place 200 years later, so this is a prologue to the other two books, it seems.
I enjoyed it a lot, and would recommend it as an airplane or mass transit commute book. I'm going to read the other two books in the series.
March 21, 2014
I really enjoyed this book for its fast paced action and good pitfalls and epic story line. In the beginning
April 11, 2017
An overall enjoyable read, though it does fall flat in a few places. I enjoyed the interesting portrayal of a fantasy-setting apocalypse, and found the characters to be likable, if a bit one note. However, despite the the apocalyptic setting, and the authoring doing everything he could to convince me that the main villain was powerful, I never really felt that the protagonists were in any real danger ().
All told, while I enjoyed the book, I don't think I am going to seek out the sequels in earnest.
All told, while I enjoyed the book, I don't think I am going to seek out the sequels in earnest.
June 16, 2014
I downloaded this book for free.
I'm not the biggest fan of fantasy but I do enjoy switching things up from time to time. That said, I downloaded The God King by James A. West. The story is about a Prince with very little hope of ascension who seeks out fabled power and finds it. Unknown to him this power comes with a cost and his more base attributes in conjunction with this desire to prove his is a god wrecks havoc on his his nation and its immediate neighbors. Naturally, where there is evil bent on conquest and destruction there must be good to counter. A good story of high adventure that was well worth reading.
I'm not the biggest fan of fantasy but I do enjoy switching things up from time to time. That said, I downloaded The God King by James A. West. The story is about a Prince with very little hope of ascension who seeks out fabled power and finds it. Unknown to him this power comes with a cost and his more base attributes in conjunction with this desire to prove his is a god wrecks havoc on his his nation and its immediate neighbors. Naturally, where there is evil bent on conquest and destruction there must be good to counter. A good story of high adventure that was well worth reading.
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