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Repenter
The ruthless magician Ashe Stelfire has much for which he will not repent: burning an ancient forest, abandoning friends, and failing to search for his kidnapped infant daughter. This changes when the depraved manipulator Corsis embroils Ashe in a technological and mystical war where the guns are deadlier, the swords are sharper, and the worst weapon of all is invisible to the eye. After Corsis orchestrates the theft of a vial containing an intelligent germ weapon, Ashe's grown daughter returns to beg for his help to destroy it. Much will be lost and the urge for retribution great. However, if the realms have any hope of surviving the looming pandemic, he will have to repent.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2013
4 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
James McGowan
12 books8 followersJames "Jim" McGowan lives in Nebraska. In addition to writing, he enjoys enticing his lovely wife with new recipes, though his black bean Marsala pasta is a favorite standby. He's also getting better at sous vide cooking. Who knew that dunking a freezer bag of meat in hot water could taste so good?
While writing is his passion, he also likes getting out of the house to go for walks and hikes. He’s always up for bar trivia or a game of pitch with friends too.
Jim is a fan of comic books and often enjoys their adaptations to other media. He also plays video games, and especially fond of the tactics role-playing game sub genre. His writing is heavily influenced by both comic books and video games where technology and magic are often melded.
He’s a member of the Nebraska Writers Workshop, the Nebraska Writers Guild, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
While writing is his passion, he also likes getting out of the house to go for walks and hikes. He’s always up for bar trivia or a game of pitch with friends too.
Jim is a fan of comic books and often enjoys their adaptations to other media. He also plays video games, and especially fond of the tactics role-playing game sub genre. His writing is heavily influenced by both comic books and video games where technology and magic are often melded.
He’s a member of the Nebraska Writers Workshop, the Nebraska Writers Guild, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 4, 2020
McGowan brings raw emotion, a larger-than-life antihero, and a rich stew of bloodshed and mayhem in this testosterone-charged first installment in the Players of the Game series.
The ruthless pyromancer Ashe Stelfire has spent his life staying indifferent to others’ feelings. The only thing that matters for him is his own needs. But when the thoroughly crooked manipulator Corsis orchestrates the theft of A Pox, a vial containing an intelligent germ weapon, Avril, Ashe’s long-lost daughter, returns to Ashe seeking his help. The merciless pyromancer has no option but to get out of his comfort zone.
Packed with nearly nonstop action and darkly atmospheric settings, the narrative moves at a lightening speed. The novel becomes more relevant with the major conflict in the story speaking to the heart of current pandemic crisis, as Avril, Eric, and Ashe fight to save the world from the sentient virus that once infected two trillion beings in the Marco Worlds.
A sense of menace and looming darkness accompanies Nirva Silv who makes for a sinister antagonist. The greatly-tortured, ruthless Ashe serves as a perfect foil to Nirva Silv’s evil machinations. Svithe and Corsis as wholly corrupt villains awaken the feelings of repulsion in readers’ minds. McGowan’s writing is assured, and the thoroughly dark atmospheric setting brings this fascinating urban fantasy into sharp focus.
With its enthralling blend of larger-than-life protagonists, imaginative premise, and nonstop action, the book makes for a page-turner.
This is a one hell of trip with many delights along the way.
The ruthless pyromancer Ashe Stelfire has spent his life staying indifferent to others’ feelings. The only thing that matters for him is his own needs. But when the thoroughly crooked manipulator Corsis orchestrates the theft of A Pox, a vial containing an intelligent germ weapon, Avril, Ashe’s long-lost daughter, returns to Ashe seeking his help. The merciless pyromancer has no option but to get out of his comfort zone.
Packed with nearly nonstop action and darkly atmospheric settings, the narrative moves at a lightening speed. The novel becomes more relevant with the major conflict in the story speaking to the heart of current pandemic crisis, as Avril, Eric, and Ashe fight to save the world from the sentient virus that once infected two trillion beings in the Marco Worlds.
A sense of menace and looming darkness accompanies Nirva Silv who makes for a sinister antagonist. The greatly-tortured, ruthless Ashe serves as a perfect foil to Nirva Silv’s evil machinations. Svithe and Corsis as wholly corrupt villains awaken the feelings of repulsion in readers’ minds. McGowan’s writing is assured, and the thoroughly dark atmospheric setting brings this fascinating urban fantasy into sharp focus.
With its enthralling blend of larger-than-life protagonists, imaginative premise, and nonstop action, the book makes for a page-turner.
This is a one hell of trip with many delights along the way.
March 9, 2020
Repenter is a fast-paced fantasy/sci-fi adventure. The characters are truly unique and three-dimensional; James does a wonderful job of flushing them out. The world-building is fantastic - the histories, geographies, technology, etc. are inventive and well-thought-through.
Ashe is very much an anti-hero through much of the book, and there are glimmers of depth in his motives as the story progresses. I enjoyed the plot and character development equally, and the action/fight scenes were thrilling. I very much look forward to future books by James McGowan.
Ashe is very much an anti-hero through much of the book, and there are glimmers of depth in his motives as the story progresses. I enjoyed the plot and character development equally, and the action/fight scenes were thrilling. I very much look forward to future books by James McGowan.
July 11, 2013
Repenter has all of the hallmarks of a great sci-fi novel: complex, believable worlds, compelling characters, and a driving, well-paced plot. I read it in a night. Waiting for the next installment, Mr. McGowan!
November 1, 2013
wonderful book, full of depth and great story telling.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews