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The Small Gods #1
When Shadows Fall
A hundred hundred seasons have turned since the Goddess banished the Small Gods to the sky, leaving the land to mankind alone.
For Prince Teryk, life behind the castle walls is boring and uneventful until he stumbles upon an arcane scroll in a long-forgotten chamber. The parchment speaks of Small Gods, the fall of man, and the kingdom's savior—the firstborn child of the rightful king. It's his opportunity to prove himself to his father, the king, and assure his place in history. All he needs to do is find the man from across the sea—a man who can't possibly exist—and save mankind.
But ancient magic has been put in motion by a mysterious cult determined to see the Small Gods reborn. Powerful forces clash, uncaring for the lives of mortals in their struggle to prevent the return of the banished ones, or aid in their rebirth.
Named in a prophecy or not, what chance does a cocky prince who barely understands the task laid before him stand in a battle with the gods?
For Prince Teryk, life behind the castle walls is boring and uneventful until he stumbles upon an arcane scroll in a long-forgotten chamber. The parchment speaks of Small Gods, the fall of man, and the kingdom's savior—the firstborn child of the rightful king. It's his opportunity to prove himself to his father, the king, and assure his place in history. All he needs to do is find the man from across the sea—a man who can't possibly exist—and save mankind.
But ancient magic has been put in motion by a mysterious cult determined to see the Small Gods reborn. Powerful forces clash, uncaring for the lives of mortals in their struggle to prevent the return of the banished ones, or aid in their rebirth.
Named in a prophecy or not, what chance does a cocky prince who barely understands the task laid before him stand in a battle with the gods?
411 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2013
55 people are currently reading
769 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Blake
69 books85 followersBruce Blake lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. When pressing issues like shovelling snow and building igloos don't take up his spare time, Bruce can be found taking the dog sled to the nearest cafe to work on his short stories and novels.
Actually, Victoria, B.C. is only a couple hours north of Seattle, Wash., where more rain is seen than snow. Since snow isn't really a pressing issue, Bruce spends more time trying to remember to leave the "u" out of words like "colour" and "neighbour" than he does shovelling.
Bruce's first short story, "Another Man's Shoes" was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Cemetery Moon. "Yardwork" was made into a podcast in Oct., 2011 by Pseudopod. "On Unfaithful Wings" is Bruce's first novel but there are many more to come.
Actually, Victoria, B.C. is only a couple hours north of Seattle, Wash., where more rain is seen than snow. Since snow isn't really a pressing issue, Bruce spends more time trying to remember to leave the "u" out of words like "colour" and "neighbour" than he does shovelling.
Bruce's first short story, "Another Man's Shoes" was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Cemetery Moon. "Yardwork" was made into a podcast in Oct., 2011 by Pseudopod. "On Unfaithful Wings" is Bruce's first novel but there are many more to come.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 2, 2015
When Shadows Fall - Bruce Blake
Beauty, Books and Babble
★★★✩✩+
I was kindly provided with a copy of the book as part of the Neverland Blog Tour for When Shadows Fall by Bruce Blake. I gave this book 3.5 stars!
When Shadows Fall is the first installment in Bruce Blake's The Small Gods series. The story follows Prince Teryk, who finds life behind the castle walls boring and uneventful. Whilst he and his sister amuse themselves by breaking the rules, they find themselves stumbling across a long-forgotten room they never knew existed, which holds a scroll of great importance.
The parchment speaks of the banished Small Gods, the fall of man and the kingdom's saviour: the firstborn child of the rightful king. Now he's found his perfect opportunity to prove himself to his father, Prince Teryk sets out to discover the things mentioned in the scroll, and assure his place in history. After a life where he's given special treatment and people convince him he's a great man despite his flaws, can a cocky prince really save mankind against ancient magic...?
I found my brain utterly engaged and interested straight from the prologue. It was action packed and blood was spilled before the story even began. Though the action died down for a while from here on, Bruce Blake has done a brilliant job of laying the groundwork for the future installments in this fantasy series, and I can't wait to get stuck in. Just as the book started with action and fatality, it was just as compelling towards the end as it closed with the same, and definitely left me wanting more.
By telling the tale from viewpoints of different central characters on their own unconnected paths, Bruce Blake created a well thought out and developed world, and his characters all had wonderfully distinct, fleshed out personalities with their very own voice. Trenan, Teryk's sword master and guard, was a personal favourite of mine, and already I can tell I will become so invested in him when things get wrought up as the story progresses.
Foreshadowing of indefinite connections between our various protagonists keeps me intrigued even now I've put the book down. Bruce Blake has succeeded in getting me hooked on a well built world with it's own history and background and I'm looking forward to more twist and turns in the next installment (which I will definitely be reading, by the way!).
Beauty, Books and Babble
★★★✩✩+
I was kindly provided with a copy of the book as part of the Neverland Blog Tour for When Shadows Fall by Bruce Blake. I gave this book 3.5 stars!
When Shadows Fall is the first installment in Bruce Blake's The Small Gods series. The story follows Prince Teryk, who finds life behind the castle walls boring and uneventful. Whilst he and his sister amuse themselves by breaking the rules, they find themselves stumbling across a long-forgotten room they never knew existed, which holds a scroll of great importance.
The parchment speaks of the banished Small Gods, the fall of man and the kingdom's saviour: the firstborn child of the rightful king. Now he's found his perfect opportunity to prove himself to his father, Prince Teryk sets out to discover the things mentioned in the scroll, and assure his place in history. After a life where he's given special treatment and people convince him he's a great man despite his flaws, can a cocky prince really save mankind against ancient magic...?
I found my brain utterly engaged and interested straight from the prologue. It was action packed and blood was spilled before the story even began. Though the action died down for a while from here on, Bruce Blake has done a brilliant job of laying the groundwork for the future installments in this fantasy series, and I can't wait to get stuck in. Just as the book started with action and fatality, it was just as compelling towards the end as it closed with the same, and definitely left me wanting more.
By telling the tale from viewpoints of different central characters on their own unconnected paths, Bruce Blake created a well thought out and developed world, and his characters all had wonderfully distinct, fleshed out personalities with their very own voice. Trenan, Teryk's sword master and guard, was a personal favourite of mine, and already I can tell I will become so invested in him when things get wrought up as the story progresses.
Foreshadowing of indefinite connections between our various protagonists keeps me intrigued even now I've put the book down. Bruce Blake has succeeded in getting me hooked on a well built world with it's own history and background and I'm looking forward to more twist and turns in the next installment (which I will definitely be reading, by the way!).
March 10, 2022
Not what I was expecting and I was definitely not a fan of the sibling relationship. Those two were a little too close and touchy-feely for me. Cringe. This just wasn’t my cup of tea.
February 18, 2015
Priestess: Rak'bana
Priest: Ine'resi, her twin brother
The Goddess is angry and rains fire down on the temples. They have no choice but to flee. They must pass on the warning to future generations.
Is it the ultimate betrayal or punishment?
"We are no longer human, Vesi."
"No, I suppose not. We are closer to Gods, aren't we? Small gods perhaps."
That was in the opening pages. Makes me think there will be much action to come.
I meet Horace, a sailor, who will hold a prominent place in the novel. I couldn't help but laugh at his thoughts. I love him. He is rude and crude.
...felt pretty good on the whole for a man what been drowned like a bilge rat and ate by an angry god.
Now, we meet Danya and Teryk, the prince and princess.
I love the princess. She has a great attitude about life and runs barefoot through the book. She is matter of fact and has no air of superiority.
Trenan is a master swordsman and we are going to spend a lot of time with him. By the time he grew on my, I wanted him at my side, always.
Danya and Teryk find the scroll the Gods had hidden. It holds magic for Teryk and he feels it holds his destiny. I knew what he was going to do...I knew what she would do too. I was surprised she fell for his ruse, but they are both young and naive. I worry about Teryk. I don't think he's capable of taking care of himself. He is a lousy swordsman and doesn't realize how helpless he really is.
In the beginning I was confused. There was so much going on and the back and forth had my head spinning.I find this happens to me sometimes, when the book is divided into 'episodes' and I feel like I am reading the introduction.
When Shadows Fall by Bruce Blake hooked me in the beginning, but I think most of the book laid the groundwork for the future books and it took a while for the pieces to begin to fall into place. I have become invested in the characters and wonder what will become of them. What dangers and perils will they need to survive, in order to fulfill the scrolls destiny. And I wonder, who's destiny is it? With all these questions, I must know the answers.
Oh man, it's just getting good and I can feel the end approaching.I read along, rating the book in my head. I do that sometimes. It was a three for most of the novel and I had to keep it there, but those darn cliffhangers, and, yes, there is more than one, have me saying, "Where is the next book?"
I anticipate the story getting better and I will find out, in Book II.
I received this ARC in return for an honest review.
Priest: Ine'resi, her twin brother
The Goddess is angry and rains fire down on the temples. They have no choice but to flee. They must pass on the warning to future generations.
Is it the ultimate betrayal or punishment?
"We are no longer human, Vesi."
"No, I suppose not. We are closer to Gods, aren't we? Small gods perhaps."
That was in the opening pages. Makes me think there will be much action to come.
I meet Horace, a sailor, who will hold a prominent place in the novel. I couldn't help but laugh at his thoughts. I love him. He is rude and crude.
...felt pretty good on the whole for a man what been drowned like a bilge rat and ate by an angry god.
Now, we meet Danya and Teryk, the prince and princess.
I love the princess. She has a great attitude about life and runs barefoot through the book. She is matter of fact and has no air of superiority.
Trenan is a master swordsman and we are going to spend a lot of time with him. By the time he grew on my, I wanted him at my side, always.
Danya and Teryk find the scroll the Gods had hidden. It holds magic for Teryk and he feels it holds his destiny. I knew what he was going to do...I knew what she would do too. I was surprised she fell for his ruse, but they are both young and naive. I worry about Teryk. I don't think he's capable of taking care of himself. He is a lousy swordsman and doesn't realize how helpless he really is.
In the beginning I was confused. There was so much going on and the back and forth had my head spinning.I find this happens to me sometimes, when the book is divided into 'episodes' and I feel like I am reading the introduction.
When Shadows Fall by Bruce Blake hooked me in the beginning, but I think most of the book laid the groundwork for the future books and it took a while for the pieces to begin to fall into place. I have become invested in the characters and wonder what will become of them. What dangers and perils will they need to survive, in order to fulfill the scrolls destiny. And I wonder, who's destiny is it? With all these questions, I must know the answers.
Oh man, it's just getting good and I can feel the end approaching.I read along, rating the book in my head. I do that sometimes. It was a three for most of the novel and I had to keep it there, but those darn cliffhangers, and, yes, there is more than one, have me saying, "Where is the next book?"
I anticipate the story getting better and I will find out, in Book II.
I received this ARC in return for an honest review.
January 7, 2016
This story is part of a fantasy box set I am reading but felt it needed its own review.
The tale is set in a fantasy realm, one filled with mythical suspicions and beliefs, and a prophecy to fulfill.
I don't give spoilers, however, I will say that this first installment of a seemingly mighty saga is superbly written (despite a few typos and grammar issues) with a cast of intriguing characters that we can only suspect are each part of the prophecy. What will become of them all and the realm we can only wait and see.
Each character is equally important and I liked the way that time was given to their development, allowing the reader to engage and enjoy without becoming boring. I particularly liked the varying styles of writing for each character, Horace, for example, bringing out his distinctive personality.
Good descriptions of place, history and people, while the building of plot makes for a compelling read.
I already have book two and am looking forward to continuing this fabulous journey.
Highly recommended.
The tale is set in a fantasy realm, one filled with mythical suspicions and beliefs, and a prophecy to fulfill.
I don't give spoilers, however, I will say that this first installment of a seemingly mighty saga is superbly written (despite a few typos and grammar issues) with a cast of intriguing characters that we can only suspect are each part of the prophecy. What will become of them all and the realm we can only wait and see.
Each character is equally important and I liked the way that time was given to their development, allowing the reader to engage and enjoy without becoming boring. I particularly liked the varying styles of writing for each character, Horace, for example, bringing out his distinctive personality.
Good descriptions of place, history and people, while the building of plot makes for a compelling read.
I already have book two and am looking forward to continuing this fabulous journey.
Highly recommended.
July 28, 2015
I have to say the writing is well done, he does write the time era well also, allowing you to see how people talked and communicated, and their is a story or plot but how he goes from one pov to the next. It became very confusing for me, I was not able to keep track of who was doing what and so on. If you like that and can handle this kind of writing it is deff for you. For me however it is not.
March 4, 2015
When Shadows Fall by Bruce Blake: DNF FI really wanted to enjoy this book as it sounded so promising, but, despite my best intentions, I just couldn't finish it. I'll keep it on my TBR list for now, as I'll try it again at another time.
Read
March 7, 2021I didn’t care for this author or this book. Will not read anything of his again. He uses the f....k word way to often, & it adds nothing to the story. He jumps around in every chapter leaving the reader to think there will be a point to that character. Well, not on this book. The reader may find out how this all ties together by the end of the series, but, really I don’t care.
The book is depressing to read. If you like it, that’s great. It just isn’t for me.
The book is depressing to read. If you like it, that’s great. It just isn’t for me.
January 8, 2019
Great mystery.
October 27, 2020
DNF: Just not my cup of tea.
For my clean readers: language within the first page, including f-bomb.
For my clean readers: language within the first page, including f-bomb.
July 24, 2016
I won this book through the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an unbiased review.
The author created a fascinating new world with a wide host of intriguing characters, one very different from the next. This first book in the series sets up a premise that will be exciting to follow up on in subsequent books.
While not unique, it is a good basic fantasy core. You have your kings and princes, your gods and priestesses, and your regular folk, such as sailors and swordsmen. Each is given a few chapters in the book to speak in first person, to show us aspects of the world from different viewpoints and with different voices.
Voices like Thorn, by far my favorite characters. We don't quite know what he is, though he considers himself a god and may very well be. He had such a naive outlook, and took such joy in life, he was a pleasure to read. If for no other reason, I will continue with this story to find out more about him and hopefully, the other beings of the Green.
There are also voices like Horace. I'll admit I found reading even the narrative part in sailor slang was a bit odd, usually I would expect only the dialog to be in that form, but I got used to it. What I couldn't get used to was his obsession with certain words/body parts, and this I'm afraid is the author's fault. We don't need Horace to think the same thing five times in five paragraphs. He must have mentioned his fear of having his *cough* "porthole" violated a couple dozen times. I can accept him being crude (he is a sailor after all), I can accept him not wanting to be in a homosexual situation, but it got to the point where it felt like the author was just throwing those statements out in the hope of shocking the reader. Maybe as a female I just couldn't understand two of the male character's obssessions with male body parts. But it came off like a little kid who just learnt a dirty word then runs around saying it to see the adults freak out. I had to take a star of my rating for that unfortunately.
There are a couple strong female characters. Danya, a sword weilding princess, spends most of her time making sure her overly pampered brother doesn't get himself into trouble. Ailyssa, a priestess whose life is dedicated to worshiping the Goddess, was also strong (though again a bit of editing would avoid a certain repetitiveness in her thoughts as well).
And Teryk? He's a little too naive for a 20 year old, though good intentioned. He didn't make too much of an impression on me, but I liked him enough to see what happens to him next. Trenan on the other hand is a good guy, but also flawed, which gave him some nice depth.
And I had one last little complaint:
But overall, I did like the book. To me it is very important to build up a strong world, with it's own creatures and rules and history and legends, and Blake succeeded in this. He has me hooked on wanting to know more about the gods, both large and small, to see which of two conflicting prophecies will prevail.
And of course, who is the man from across the sea...
The author created a fascinating new world with a wide host of intriguing characters, one very different from the next. This first book in the series sets up a premise that will be exciting to follow up on in subsequent books.
While not unique, it is a good basic fantasy core. You have your kings and princes, your gods and priestesses, and your regular folk, such as sailors and swordsmen. Each is given a few chapters in the book to speak in first person, to show us aspects of the world from different viewpoints and with different voices.
Voices like Thorn, by far my favorite characters. We don't quite know what he is, though he considers himself a god and may very well be. He had such a naive outlook, and took such joy in life, he was a pleasure to read. If for no other reason, I will continue with this story to find out more about him and hopefully, the other beings of the Green.
There are also voices like Horace. I'll admit I found reading even the narrative part in sailor slang was a bit odd, usually I would expect only the dialog to be in that form, but I got used to it. What I couldn't get used to was his obsession with certain words/body parts, and this I'm afraid is the author's fault. We don't need Horace to think the same thing five times in five paragraphs. He must have mentioned his fear of having his *cough* "porthole" violated a couple dozen times. I can accept him being crude (he is a sailor after all), I can accept him not wanting to be in a homosexual situation, but it got to the point where it felt like the author was just throwing those statements out in the hope of shocking the reader. Maybe as a female I just couldn't understand two of the male character's obssessions with male body parts. But it came off like a little kid who just learnt a dirty word then runs around saying it to see the adults freak out. I had to take a star of my rating for that unfortunately.
There are a couple strong female characters. Danya, a sword weilding princess, spends most of her time making sure her overly pampered brother doesn't get himself into trouble. Ailyssa, a priestess whose life is dedicated to worshiping the Goddess, was also strong (though again a bit of editing would avoid a certain repetitiveness in her thoughts as well).
And Teryk? He's a little too naive for a 20 year old, though good intentioned. He didn't make too much of an impression on me, but I liked him enough to see what happens to him next. Trenan on the other hand is a good guy, but also flawed, which gave him some nice depth.
And I had one last little complaint:
But overall, I did like the book. To me it is very important to build up a strong world, with it's own creatures and rules and history and legends, and Blake succeeded in this. He has me hooked on wanting to know more about the gods, both large and small, to see which of two conflicting prophecies will prevail.
And of course, who is the man from across the sea...
November 20, 2013
"It rained fire the day the Small Gods fled"
Thus begins When Shadows Fall, the first book in the Small Gods series by Bruce Blake and what a terrific start to one fast-paced and completely engrossing new fantasy it is. To say it begins with a bang is an understatement. There is action, fire, death, violence, and betrayal and that is just in the Prologue. The rest of the book gets even better.
The story is divided into parts with different narrators and different speech patterns. In one, royal twins find a magic scroll which cannot be burned and which contains a prophecy which seems to pertain to one of the twins, a boy. He sets out in secret to prove himself but it seems from the start that it can only end badly for him for he has been misled in the level of his fighting skills.
In another part of the story, a sailor has fallen into the sea and, when he manages to reach land, is mistaken for another part of the prophecy, ‘the man from across the sea’, He, too, is unequipped to deal with the repercussions of this mistaken identity. He worries that he will be returned to the sea but, in fact, that should be the least of his concerns.
And in a third part, a woman who has spent her life as a breeder for a Goddess has become barren. She knows no other life than in this service and she fears what will happen if her secret is discovered. Her fears, as she will soon learn, are well-founded.
Like, I suppose, most people, I always know how much I like a book by how hard it is to put down, how fast I turn the pages, and how sorry I am to see the end. I read When Shadows Fall in an afternoon – suffice it to say I really really liked it and hope the next book in the series will be coming out soon – like right now soon. A definite high recommendation to anyone who enjoys a good epic fantasy tale.
It rained fire the day the Small Gods fled
Thus begins When Shadows Fall, the first book in the Small Gods series by Bruce Blake and what a terrific start to one fast-paced and completely engrossing new fantasy it is. To say it begins with a bang is an understatement. There is action, fire, death, violence, and betrayal and that is just in the Prologue. The rest of the book gets even better.
The story is divided into parts with different narrators and different speech patterns. In one, royal twins find a magic scroll which cannot be burned and which contains a prophecy which seems to pertain to one of the twins, a boy. He sets out in secret to prove himself but it seems from the start that it can only end badly for him for he has been misled in the level of his fighting skills.
In another part of the story, a sailor has fallen into the sea and, when he manages to reach land, is mistaken for another part of the prophecy, ‘the man from across the sea’, He, too, is unequipped to deal with the repercussions of this mistaken identity. He worries that he will be returned to the sea but, in fact, that should be the least of his concerns.
And in a third part, a woman who has spent her life as a breeder for a Goddess has become barren. She knows no other life than in this service and she fears what will happen if her secret is discovered. Her fears, as she will soon learn, are well-founded.
Like, I suppose, most people, I always know how much I like a book by how hard it is to put down, how fast I turn the pages, and how sorry I am to see the end. I read When Shadows Fall in an afternoon – suffice it to say I really really liked it and hope the next book in the series will be coming out soon – like right now soon. A definite high recommendation to anyone who enjoys a good epic fantasy tale.
Thus begins When Shadows Fall, the first book in the Small Gods series by Bruce Blake and what a terrific start to one fast-paced and completely engrossing new fantasy it is. To say it begins with a bang is an understatement. There is action, fire, death, violence, and betrayal and that is just in the Prologue. The rest of the book gets even better.
The story is divided into parts with different narrators and different speech patterns. In one, royal twins find a magic scroll which cannot be burned and which contains a prophecy which seems to pertain to one of the twins, a boy. He sets out in secret to prove himself but it seems from the start that it can only end badly for him for he has been misled in the level of his fighting skills.
In another part of the story, a sailor has fallen into the sea and, when he manages to reach land, is mistaken for another part of the prophecy, ‘the man from across the sea’, He, too, is unequipped to deal with the repercussions of this mistaken identity. He worries that he will be returned to the sea but, in fact, that should be the least of his concerns.
And in a third part, a woman who has spent her life as a breeder for a Goddess has become barren. She knows no other life than in this service and she fears what will happen if her secret is discovered. Her fears, as she will soon learn, are well-founded.
Like, I suppose, most people, I always know how much I like a book by how hard it is to put down, how fast I turn the pages, and how sorry I am to see the end. I read When Shadows Fall in an afternoon – suffice it to say I really really liked it and hope the next book in the series will be coming out soon – like right now soon. A definite high recommendation to anyone who enjoys a good epic fantasy tale.
It rained fire the day the Small Gods fled
Thus begins When Shadows Fall, the first book in the Small Gods series by Bruce Blake and what a terrific start to one fast-paced and completely engrossing new fantasy it is. To say it begins with a bang is an understatement. There is action, fire, death, violence, and betrayal and that is just in the Prologue. The rest of the book gets even better.
The story is divided into parts with different narrators and different speech patterns. In one, royal twins find a magic scroll which cannot be burned and which contains a prophecy which seems to pertain to one of the twins, a boy. He sets out in secret to prove himself but it seems from the start that it can only end badly for him for he has been misled in the level of his fighting skills.
In another part of the story, a sailor has fallen into the sea and, when he manages to reach land, is mistaken for another part of the prophecy, ‘the man from across the sea’, He, too, is unequipped to deal with the repercussions of this mistaken identity. He worries that he will be returned to the sea but, in fact, that should be the least of his concerns.
And in a third part, a woman who has spent her life as a breeder for a Goddess has become barren. She knows no other life than in this service and she fears what will happen if her secret is discovered. Her fears, as she will soon learn, are well-founded.
Like, I suppose, most people, I always know how much I like a book by how hard it is to put down, how fast I turn the pages, and how sorry I am to see the end. I read When Shadows Fall in an afternoon – suffice it to say I really really liked it and hope the next book in the series will be coming out soon – like right now soon. A definite high recommendation to anyone who enjoys a good epic fantasy tale.
February 25, 2015
When Shadows Fall
By Bruce Blake
I felt truly gripped at the beginning, almost feeling the heat coming from the words. I felt like I had upset some goddess and was paying for it, with my life. I had wild dreams about this book that left me wanting to read more. I would wake up and rush everyone off to school and work just to have a chance to read more. And the pages seemed to fly by way to fast.
The Blurb:
A hundred times a hundred seasons have turned since the Goddess banished the Small Gods to the sky, leaving the land to mankind alone.
For Prince Teryk, life behind the castle walls is boring and uneventful until he stumbles upon an arcane scroll in a long-forgotten chamber. The parchment speaks of Small Gods, the fall of man, and the kingdom's savior—the firstborn child of the rightful king. It's his opportunity to prove himself to his father, the king, and assure his place in history. All he needs to do is find the man from across the sea—a man who can't possibly exist—and save mankind.
But ancient magic has been put in motion by a mysterious cult determined to see the Small Gods reborn. Powerful forces clash, uncaring for the lives of mortals in their struggle to prevent the return of the banished ones, or aid in their rebirth.
Named in a prophecy or not, what chance does a cocky prince who barely understands the task laid before him stand in a battle with the gods?
I fell in love with the sailor Horace, man with a mouth much like my own. Being the daughter of a sailor I take full advantage of color words when I need to. Horace has the gull to say whatever it is on his mind and for that, I felt closer to Horace than any other character in the book. I was hook, however, by the mystery and magic awaiting me on every page. Things of the magic or paranormal always seem to pull me into a book, and When Shadows Fall has you covered.
The Author:
Bruce Blake lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. When pressing issues like shovelling snow and building igloos don't take up his spare time, Bruce can be found taking the dog sled to the nearest coffee shop to work on his short stories and novels. Actually, Victoria, B.C. is only a couple hours north of Seattle, Wash., where more rain is seen than snow, and the dog is too small to pull a sled. Since snow isn't really a pressing issue, Bruce spends more time trying to remember to leave the "u" out of words like "colour" and "neighbour" then he does shovelling (and darn those double l's). The father of two, Bruce is also the trophy husband of a burlesque diva. Bruce has been writing since grade school but it wasn't until a few years ago he set his sights on becoming a full-time writer. Since then, his first short story, "Another Man's Shoes" was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Cemetery Moon, another short, "Yardwork", was made into a podcast in Oct., 2011 by Pseudopod and his first Icarus Fell novel, On Unfaithful Wings, was published to Kindle in Dec., 2011. The second Icarus Fell novel, All Who Wander Are Lost, was released in July, 2012, and the third, Secrets of the Hanged Man, in July 2013. Sept., 2013 saw the publication of Blood of the King, the first book in the Khirro's Journey epic fantasy trilogy, followed by second book, Spirit of the King, in Dec., 2012, and the third, Heart of the King in Jan., 2013. He has plans for more Icarus novels, several stand alones, and several more books in the Small Gods series.
Here’s the links you’ll need to check this book out for yourself:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BruceBlakeWrites
Twitter: @bruceablake
www.bruceblake.wordpress.com
By Bruce Blake
I felt truly gripped at the beginning, almost feeling the heat coming from the words. I felt like I had upset some goddess and was paying for it, with my life. I had wild dreams about this book that left me wanting to read more. I would wake up and rush everyone off to school and work just to have a chance to read more. And the pages seemed to fly by way to fast.
The Blurb:
A hundred times a hundred seasons have turned since the Goddess banished the Small Gods to the sky, leaving the land to mankind alone.
For Prince Teryk, life behind the castle walls is boring and uneventful until he stumbles upon an arcane scroll in a long-forgotten chamber. The parchment speaks of Small Gods, the fall of man, and the kingdom's savior—the firstborn child of the rightful king. It's his opportunity to prove himself to his father, the king, and assure his place in history. All he needs to do is find the man from across the sea—a man who can't possibly exist—and save mankind.
But ancient magic has been put in motion by a mysterious cult determined to see the Small Gods reborn. Powerful forces clash, uncaring for the lives of mortals in their struggle to prevent the return of the banished ones, or aid in their rebirth.
Named in a prophecy or not, what chance does a cocky prince who barely understands the task laid before him stand in a battle with the gods?
I fell in love with the sailor Horace, man with a mouth much like my own. Being the daughter of a sailor I take full advantage of color words when I need to. Horace has the gull to say whatever it is on his mind and for that, I felt closer to Horace than any other character in the book. I was hook, however, by the mystery and magic awaiting me on every page. Things of the magic or paranormal always seem to pull me into a book, and When Shadows Fall has you covered.
The Author:
Bruce Blake lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. When pressing issues like shovelling snow and building igloos don't take up his spare time, Bruce can be found taking the dog sled to the nearest coffee shop to work on his short stories and novels. Actually, Victoria, B.C. is only a couple hours north of Seattle, Wash., where more rain is seen than snow, and the dog is too small to pull a sled. Since snow isn't really a pressing issue, Bruce spends more time trying to remember to leave the "u" out of words like "colour" and "neighbour" then he does shovelling (and darn those double l's). The father of two, Bruce is also the trophy husband of a burlesque diva. Bruce has been writing since grade school but it wasn't until a few years ago he set his sights on becoming a full-time writer. Since then, his first short story, "Another Man's Shoes" was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Cemetery Moon, another short, "Yardwork", was made into a podcast in Oct., 2011 by Pseudopod and his first Icarus Fell novel, On Unfaithful Wings, was published to Kindle in Dec., 2011. The second Icarus Fell novel, All Who Wander Are Lost, was released in July, 2012, and the third, Secrets of the Hanged Man, in July 2013. Sept., 2013 saw the publication of Blood of the King, the first book in the Khirro's Journey epic fantasy trilogy, followed by second book, Spirit of the King, in Dec., 2012, and the third, Heart of the King in Jan., 2013. He has plans for more Icarus novels, several stand alones, and several more books in the Small Gods series.
Here’s the links you’ll need to check this book out for yourself:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BruceBlakeWrites
Twitter: @bruceablake
www.bruceblake.wordpress.com
October 1, 2013
"A hundred hundreds seasons ago" the Goddess banished the Small Gods to the sky", leaving humans alone on earth. The prologue of this epic-esque fantasy (-esque because it's a bit too short and I don't know yet if there will be three, or fourteen, in the series) captivated me. It opens with the cataclysmic events that sets the prophesy sequence in motion.
Prince Teryk is our main character, a bored, cocky young man who one day finds an arcane scroll in a long-abandoned room. He learns of the Small Gods, their history, and the future fall of man (which is inextricably tied to the return of the Small Gods, according to the prophesy on the scroll). Teryk is convinced that it is his destiny to save the world from the return of the Small Gods, and the destruction of humankind. His story (and Danya's), is not the only one the reader follows. N'th Ailyssa Ra is a woman who worships the Goddess at a temple in an unspecified location. Disturbing worship that entails bearing female children and continuing the line. Enclosed in a temple, never seeing the outside world, conjugating with men at regular intervals, and marking periods and pregnancies and births with chalk on the walls of their rooms. There's also Horace Seaman, a crude sailor who finds himself overboard a becalmed ship as a monster rises from the deep. And Thorn, a childlike creature who traps and bargains with birds.
Teryk plots to follow his destiny, Danya prepares to go with him, while their sword master and guard, Trenan, works hard to protect them. N'th Ailyssa struggles to face her uncertain future, Horace Seaman fights to survive in the strange land where he washed ashore, and Thorn contrives to escape his prison.
The tenuous connection between such disparate protagonists added to the suspense and intrigue of the story, and kept me reading to figure it out. There are lots of plot surprises, hints, and foreshadowing. All in all, my enjoyment of the stories was increased by the mystery of the prophesy and how all characters and stories connected.
Although this book has epic fantasy sympathies, it is much more palatable, with a slightly quicker and often more streamlined pacing, a slightly smaller number of characters. I will be interested to read how everything fits together, and how the prophesy plays out in future installments.
Caution: some very crude and explicit language in Horace's chapters.
Read-alikes
Prince Teryk is our main character, a bored, cocky young man who one day finds an arcane scroll in a long-abandoned room. He learns of the Small Gods, their history, and the future fall of man (which is inextricably tied to the return of the Small Gods, according to the prophesy on the scroll). Teryk is convinced that it is his destiny to save the world from the return of the Small Gods, and the destruction of humankind. His story (and Danya's), is not the only one the reader follows. N'th Ailyssa Ra is a woman who worships the Goddess at a temple in an unspecified location. Disturbing worship that entails bearing female children and continuing the line. Enclosed in a temple, never seeing the outside world, conjugating with men at regular intervals, and marking periods and pregnancies and births with chalk on the walls of their rooms. There's also Horace Seaman, a crude sailor who finds himself overboard a becalmed ship as a monster rises from the deep. And Thorn, a childlike creature who traps and bargains with birds.
Teryk plots to follow his destiny, Danya prepares to go with him, while their sword master and guard, Trenan, works hard to protect them. N'th Ailyssa struggles to face her uncertain future, Horace Seaman fights to survive in the strange land where he washed ashore, and Thorn contrives to escape his prison.
The tenuous connection between such disparate protagonists added to the suspense and intrigue of the story, and kept me reading to figure it out. There are lots of plot surprises, hints, and foreshadowing. All in all, my enjoyment of the stories was increased by the mystery of the prophesy and how all characters and stories connected.
Although this book has epic fantasy sympathies, it is much more palatable, with a slightly quicker and often more streamlined pacing, a slightly smaller number of characters. I will be interested to read how everything fits together, and how the prophesy plays out in future installments.
Caution: some very crude and explicit language in Horace's chapters.
Read-alikes
July 21, 2015
SNS Rating: 4.5
~~~~~~~~~~Lillian's ★★★★★ Review~~~~~~~~~~
I was confused in the beginning as I was just getting into the tory then another character appeared. There were some parts that I don't understand hopefully I will make sense of them in the next part. It starts off with Rak'bana and her brother Ine'vesi they are trying to save a scroll but the Goddess is going to make sure that everyone dies. Vesi doesn't believe like his sister, he wants the scroll so that others can know what the Goddess is like and that the small gods can walk the earth again. He is able to hide it before the Goddess destroys everything.
Horace is a seaman that is rough, rude and scared of what is on the other side. He gets thrown overboard by the simpleton on the board he is lucky and he gets washed up. He makes his way into town where someone buys him a meal but what does the stranger want for him. He lands himself in trouble when he kills a man and runs for his life. His worst fear is about to come true when a little man falls from the sky.
Danya & Teryk are two royal children that still like to have fun, they are always in trouble and that leads them to finding the hidden scroll. Teryk can't read the scroll only his sister can. He knows that it contains his quest and that he needs to leave the castle to fulfil it but he can't take his sister Danya even though he has promised. He has never been outside the castle and he finds that it is not what he was expecting. Danya comes to find him, what she finds upsets her but he makes her realize that she needs complete Teryk quest.
Ailyssa is a member of a order and her role is to produce daughters for as long as possible but she fears that she can no longer have anymore and that means that she will be banished. She knows no other home where will she go.
Thorn is a god that needs to get out from his land so he gets a raven to fly over the veil that is until he falls into Horace lap basically.
All these are characters are part of the scroll's story. The book ended in such away that you need to read the next one to find out what is going to happen. It had a great pace once you got into the story and there was never a dull moment as you could actually picture the sights and scenes as the book went along. Onto book 2 from here as I need to see what is going to happen and have everyone's part is going to play out
~~~~~~~~~~Tasha's ★★★★✰ Review~~~~~~~~~~
In this book we meet the cast of characters Prince Teryk and his sister Princess Danya who tend to ignore their parents and guards and give them the slip to find adventure, Horace Seaman the old sailor who hates the sea, Thorn the small god that gets stuck on the wrong side of The Vale. Teryk and Danya decide an afternoon swim is just what they need but while in the river Teryk finds a scroll that speaks of a prophecy and the parts all must play in order to save the world. I found this book a little hard to get into until about 2/3 the way into it but once I got through that it was good and I could see the reasoning behind it so 4 stars I really liked it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2015
I received a copy of this for my honest review
This story was written from many point of views but they changed in a way that there was no trouble following it.
We are first introduced to a pair of priest/priestess twins who are experiencing the wrath of the Goddess and they have different ideas about wether to pass a warning to future generations or not.
We meet Horace a crude sailor who is traveling the seas when he ends up overboard and washed up on shore. He meets an interesting individual who seems to want to help him out but Horace can’t help to wonder what he’d want in return. Seeing a sailing companion brings out the worst in Horace and towards the end has him running into an interesting character.
The Twins Princess Danya and Prince Teryk we meet them as the Princess convinces her brother to go on an adventure in which the come upon a hidden place and a magic scroll. They keep the scroll a secret but decide at one point to tell Trenan ( Teryk’s sword trainer and the one who keeps an eye on the twins) That does not bode well and the King ends up finding out. Teryk is pretty sure the scroll is talking about his fate and he partakes on an adventure that doesn’t go as planned and leaves Trenan and Danya searching for him.
Teryk he seems to have good intentions and he really wants to uphold his destiny but they poor kid just makes some rather poor choices and at times acts too big for his ability. Especially when you find that Trenan hasn’t been training him to be as expert as a sword fighter as Teryk things he is.
I love Danya’s free spirit and her love of adventure. She tells things like it is and has a soft spot for her brother she’s very loyal to him.
When I first read about Thorn he was trying to talk a bird into letting him fly over the veil with him. When he does convince one into taking him over the green veil it seems his ability to talk to them becomes void and he gets himself into some trouble. He comes back towards the end of the story in which (to me) he becomes more interesting of a character and I’m wondering how he is going to play more in this story.
There is also a servant to the Goddess named Ailyssa she is to give birth to girls for the Goddess yet she has given birth to boys. How far will Ailyssa go to conceive a girl for the Goddess?
I got completely engrossed in this story. The characters all had their own little side stories and I am excited to keep reading and see how they come together. It has plenty of action, magic, mystery and humor. The ending was a wonderful cliffhanger! When I finished I was confused and more interested in what is going to happen in the rest of the series. I keep thinking about it and trying to piece possible ways these characters might come together or affect each other.
Fantasy, action, humor, mystery, and some crude language
This story was written from many point of views but they changed in a way that there was no trouble following it.
We are first introduced to a pair of priest/priestess twins who are experiencing the wrath of the Goddess and they have different ideas about wether to pass a warning to future generations or not.
We meet Horace a crude sailor who is traveling the seas when he ends up overboard and washed up on shore. He meets an interesting individual who seems to want to help him out but Horace can’t help to wonder what he’d want in return. Seeing a sailing companion brings out the worst in Horace and towards the end has him running into an interesting character.
The Twins Princess Danya and Prince Teryk we meet them as the Princess convinces her brother to go on an adventure in which the come upon a hidden place and a magic scroll. They keep the scroll a secret but decide at one point to tell Trenan ( Teryk’s sword trainer and the one who keeps an eye on the twins) That does not bode well and the King ends up finding out. Teryk is pretty sure the scroll is talking about his fate and he partakes on an adventure that doesn’t go as planned and leaves Trenan and Danya searching for him.
Teryk he seems to have good intentions and he really wants to uphold his destiny but they poor kid just makes some rather poor choices and at times acts too big for his ability. Especially when you find that Trenan hasn’t been training him to be as expert as a sword fighter as Teryk things he is.
I love Danya’s free spirit and her love of adventure. She tells things like it is and has a soft spot for her brother she’s very loyal to him.
When I first read about Thorn he was trying to talk a bird into letting him fly over the veil with him. When he does convince one into taking him over the green veil it seems his ability to talk to them becomes void and he gets himself into some trouble. He comes back towards the end of the story in which (to me) he becomes more interesting of a character and I’m wondering how he is going to play more in this story.
There is also a servant to the Goddess named Ailyssa she is to give birth to girls for the Goddess yet she has given birth to boys. How far will Ailyssa go to conceive a girl for the Goddess?
I got completely engrossed in this story. The characters all had their own little side stories and I am excited to keep reading and see how they come together. It has plenty of action, magic, mystery and humor. The ending was a wonderful cliffhanger! When I finished I was confused and more interested in what is going to happen in the rest of the series. I keep thinking about it and trying to piece possible ways these characters might come together or affect each other.
Fantasy, action, humor, mystery, and some crude language
July 27, 2015
Reviewing this book is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I've read a couple of Blake's books before--Blood of the King (Khirro's Journey Book 1) and On Unfaithful Wings (Icarus Fell Book 1)--and I absolutely loved both of them so I had certain expectations going in. The other books I'd read, one fantasy and the other urban fantasy, sucked me into a rich world and kept me riveted through the entire book. This one didn't. Instead of throwing me into a world created by the author, it felt more like Blake was building the world as I watched. The book constantly shifts between various perspectives; a prince and princess, a shamed priestess, a sailor, a small god- they all seem to have their place in the wider world of the story but all the reader really has is the prophecy. The path the characters are meant to undergo is still unclear at the book's end.
I like the concept and I believe the complete story will be a very intriguing tale but I found the first book was mainly exposition. It is setting up the quest from multiple perspectives, showing the events that lead each character to the place in their lives where destiny will take over and lead them on a grand adventure. That being said, it is not the type of book you can skim through quickly and grasp what is going on. It is best if you take the time to really pay attention to the prophecy and to the particulars of each character.
Characterization is always a strong part of Blake's writing. The characters he creates are vivid and alive. They have peculiarities, fears, strengths, ambitions, etc. and each one is a complete individual. The prince is somewhat arrogant and has an innate desire to prove himself. The princess is strong and defiant and she has a way of getting others to do what she wants. The swordsman is dutiful and loyal but he also has layers you wouldn't expect. The list goes on. The characters become more and more complex as the story develops so you never feel like you know exactly what will happen next.
It is clear at the end that the story is just beginning of the tale. In hero-cycle terms, each character has reached the separation stage of the adventure. They have departed from their usual place within society, leaving behind what they know and taking the first step towards their ultimate goal. I look forward to following them as the story continues.
This book deserves a 5-Star rating. Partly because Blake continues to surprise me with his diverse story telling skills, but mostly because he tells a remarkable story without holding anything back. On that note, I guess I should warn readers that there is some pretty graphic language (foul language, sexual situations, and violence) so it isn't suitable for all audiences.
I like the concept and I believe the complete story will be a very intriguing tale but I found the first book was mainly exposition. It is setting up the quest from multiple perspectives, showing the events that lead each character to the place in their lives where destiny will take over and lead them on a grand adventure. That being said, it is not the type of book you can skim through quickly and grasp what is going on. It is best if you take the time to really pay attention to the prophecy and to the particulars of each character.
Characterization is always a strong part of Blake's writing. The characters he creates are vivid and alive. They have peculiarities, fears, strengths, ambitions, etc. and each one is a complete individual. The prince is somewhat arrogant and has an innate desire to prove himself. The princess is strong and defiant and she has a way of getting others to do what she wants. The swordsman is dutiful and loyal but he also has layers you wouldn't expect. The list goes on. The characters become more and more complex as the story develops so you never feel like you know exactly what will happen next.
It is clear at the end that the story is just beginning of the tale. In hero-cycle terms, each character has reached the separation stage of the adventure. They have departed from their usual place within society, leaving behind what they know and taking the first step towards their ultimate goal. I look forward to following them as the story continues.
This book deserves a 5-Star rating. Partly because Blake continues to surprise me with his diverse story telling skills, but mostly because he tells a remarkable story without holding anything back. On that note, I guess I should warn readers that there is some pretty graphic language (foul language, sexual situations, and violence) so it isn't suitable for all audiences.
October 8, 2013
This is the first book of the Small Gods series, an epic fantasy, and in my opinion the best writing Bruce Blake has produced so far.
The prologue sets the scene for the story in explosive fashion. (read) “It rained fire the day the Small Gods fled.” What an awesome first sentence – simple, informative, picturesque. I can see what happened, and I want to read on. I’m hooked.
And the author does not disappoint. What a treat the rest of the story is! Blake takes the core of an old-fashioned tale, wraps layers upon layers of conflict over it and transforms it into the most original gem I’ve read in this genre.
The storyline develops in separate threads that converge unexpectedly throughout the book – and the best part is: there’s so much more of the story to come! We have a barren mother, royal siblings, a sailor, a man from across the sea, Small Gods who want to regain their rightful place, and a shed-load of intrigue. Who is the first heir of the rightful king? What does the scroll actually mean? Will the Small Gods succeed or will the Goddess win? How destructive will her wrath be this time? Will Horace take to the seas again? And what does life hold for Ailyssa?
Every character is beautifully crafted. From Horace, with his entertaining sailor-speak, to the way Danya treats her big brother, Teryk, and her best friend and servant, Trenan, every voice is distinct and every dialogue perfect. You get to worm your way into the characters’ heads, you have the chance to understand them, and that way you connect with them and the predicaments they find themselves in. They are real.
The pace of the story is a typical Bruce Blake special: don’t expect to have too much time for a coffee break. Things tumble out of control from the first scene onwards, and even the end promises more action. I was left wishing I could read just one more chapter, or a couple maybe, the beginning of the second book.
I loved reading it – every paragraph on every page – and so it would be difficult for me to find fault with this book, even putting on my nit-picking goggles. I recommend When Shadows Fall wholeheartedly, not just to fantasy lovers, but to everyone who likes a good story and wants to be entertained. You’ll get so much more than your money’s worth from those pages. Five shiny gold stars for this performance!
The prologue sets the scene for the story in explosive fashion. (read) “It rained fire the day the Small Gods fled.” What an awesome first sentence – simple, informative, picturesque. I can see what happened, and I want to read on. I’m hooked.
And the author does not disappoint. What a treat the rest of the story is! Blake takes the core of an old-fashioned tale, wraps layers upon layers of conflict over it and transforms it into the most original gem I’ve read in this genre.
The storyline develops in separate threads that converge unexpectedly throughout the book – and the best part is: there’s so much more of the story to come! We have a barren mother, royal siblings, a sailor, a man from across the sea, Small Gods who want to regain their rightful place, and a shed-load of intrigue. Who is the first heir of the rightful king? What does the scroll actually mean? Will the Small Gods succeed or will the Goddess win? How destructive will her wrath be this time? Will Horace take to the seas again? And what does life hold for Ailyssa?
Every character is beautifully crafted. From Horace, with his entertaining sailor-speak, to the way Danya treats her big brother, Teryk, and her best friend and servant, Trenan, every voice is distinct and every dialogue perfect. You get to worm your way into the characters’ heads, you have the chance to understand them, and that way you connect with them and the predicaments they find themselves in. They are real.
The pace of the story is a typical Bruce Blake special: don’t expect to have too much time for a coffee break. Things tumble out of control from the first scene onwards, and even the end promises more action. I was left wishing I could read just one more chapter, or a couple maybe, the beginning of the second book.
I loved reading it – every paragraph on every page – and so it would be difficult for me to find fault with this book, even putting on my nit-picking goggles. I recommend When Shadows Fall wholeheartedly, not just to fantasy lovers, but to everyone who likes a good story and wants to be entertained. You’ll get so much more than your money’s worth from those pages. Five shiny gold stars for this performance!
November 20, 2013
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I haven't read too many new fantasy books by authors I haven't read before, but this is definitely a series I could get behind.
Although there was a lot of switching between different viewpoints, I was still able to connect with the characters fairly easily - though, by the end of the book, I had developed a strong dislike for Danya. Teryk was an interesting, well-rounded character and it was good to see that there were things he couldn't do. I hope there will still be a part for him to play in later books in this series.
The world itself was really well-formed, though I'm still not entirely sure where Horace was supposed to come from. And speaking of Horace... I'm not sure what to make of him. I waver between lliking and disliking him. Either way, he is quite a well-written character.
The priestesses are quite an interesting organisation, more cult-like than anything else. I was intrigued about where their ideas come from. I think organisations like that one are likely to fall into ruin - a group of women alone are hardly going to be able to survive, whether or not they 'keep' men. (And I'd think the potential for cross-breeding would be extremely high if no one pays attention to who's related to who).
On the whole, the writing was really good, with only a few fairly minor errors. (There was one instance of 'died' used instead of 'dyed'). I also felt that there was a lot of modern-day language used - particularly with swear words and insults.
The scene right at the beginning of the book sucked me in and the rest of the book kept me reading all the way through.
I'd definitely be interested in reading more books in this series. I've found that there are a lot of questions left unanswered and it would be good to see how further aspects of this world are explored in later books. And how the different characters come together, as well as more details about the mythology surrounding the world.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read and one that I would probably recommend to other fantasy lovers who don't mind books a bit more graphic.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I haven't read too many new fantasy books by authors I haven't read before, but this is definitely a series I could get behind.
Although there was a lot of switching between different viewpoints, I was still able to connect with the characters fairly easily - though, by the end of the book, I had developed a strong dislike for Danya. Teryk was an interesting, well-rounded character and it was good to see that there were things he couldn't do. I hope there will still be a part for him to play in later books in this series.
The world itself was really well-formed, though I'm still not entirely sure where Horace was supposed to come from. And speaking of Horace... I'm not sure what to make of him. I waver between lliking and disliking him. Either way, he is quite a well-written character.
The priestesses are quite an interesting organisation, more cult-like than anything else. I was intrigued about where their ideas come from. I think organisations like that one are likely to fall into ruin - a group of women alone are hardly going to be able to survive, whether or not they 'keep' men. (And I'd think the potential for cross-breeding would be extremely high if no one pays attention to who's related to who).
On the whole, the writing was really good, with only a few fairly minor errors. (There was one instance of 'died' used instead of 'dyed'). I also felt that there was a lot of modern-day language used - particularly with swear words and insults.
The scene right at the beginning of the book sucked me in and the rest of the book kept me reading all the way through.
I'd definitely be interested in reading more books in this series. I've found that there are a lot of questions left unanswered and it would be good to see how further aspects of this world are explored in later books. And how the different characters come together, as well as more details about the mythology surrounding the world.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read and one that I would probably recommend to other fantasy lovers who don't mind books a bit more graphic.
July 25, 2015
*I received a free copy from the author for an honest review*
The premise of the book wasn't the usual fare and that caught my attention. The blurb outlines an interesting story and I got more than what I expected with this book.
The story started off good with the prologue being a mysterious introduction to the main characters who are behind the cause of the tale. Then the way the tale was allowed to unfold scene by scene introducing new characters at every point added complexity. I haven't read, in recent times, a story with so many characters as the ones in this book. Almost every chapter was a parallel line of action to the preceding one. This didn't disturb the flow of the story either. It was smooth sailing and had me turning the pages to know what's up next. It was also steady paced and though it did take a while to sort out the various situations, it added up to a comprehensive and cohesive story.
The characters were suitably highlighted. I haven't decided if they are well developed or not because my observation has been limited in this book because of their short appearances. The only thing I did figure out was that Teryn was too much of himself and jumps to conclusions based on his likes. Danya comes across as a level headed girl. Other than these two, I can't read others well. But the world building is good. The author has added intricate levels of details to different parts which kept me engrossed through out the book.
The only thing which I felt was detracting from the story was the earthy language used. I so wasn't expecting that, especially in an epic fantasy book. It took me a while to get used to it.
Overall, I can say that I would read the next book to know more about the characters involved. The second book would decide if I want to follow the series closely.
My one line review : A tale of quest in a battle to come between Gods with interesting characters
My rating : 3.5/5
My reread factor : 3/5
Floryie @ http://thebookdrealms.blogspot.com
The premise of the book wasn't the usual fare and that caught my attention. The blurb outlines an interesting story and I got more than what I expected with this book.
The story started off good with the prologue being a mysterious introduction to the main characters who are behind the cause of the tale. Then the way the tale was allowed to unfold scene by scene introducing new characters at every point added complexity. I haven't read, in recent times, a story with so many characters as the ones in this book. Almost every chapter was a parallel line of action to the preceding one. This didn't disturb the flow of the story either. It was smooth sailing and had me turning the pages to know what's up next. It was also steady paced and though it did take a while to sort out the various situations, it added up to a comprehensive and cohesive story.
The characters were suitably highlighted. I haven't decided if they are well developed or not because my observation has been limited in this book because of their short appearances. The only thing I did figure out was that Teryn was too much of himself and jumps to conclusions based on his likes. Danya comes across as a level headed girl. Other than these two, I can't read others well. But the world building is good. The author has added intricate levels of details to different parts which kept me engrossed through out the book.
The only thing which I felt was detracting from the story was the earthy language used. I so wasn't expecting that, especially in an epic fantasy book. It took me a while to get used to it.
Overall, I can say that I would read the next book to know more about the characters involved. The second book would decide if I want to follow the series closely.
My one line review : A tale of quest in a battle to come between Gods with interesting characters
My rating : 3.5/5
My reread factor : 3/5
Floryie @ http://thebookdrealms.blogspot.com
March 1, 2015
I would like to thank Neverland Blog Tours for providing me with a review copy of this book and give me the opportunity to review it.
I was not sure about this piece at first and then went from a 3 star to a 4 star gradually nearing the end, as more of the pieces to this puzzle of a book came together.
The author is a bit of what I would call a “Chameleon Writer”, and by this, here’s what I mean:
When you first read this book, you will come across what appears to be 4 very different storylines with no apparent connections:
1.Horace the Sailor with a fierce obsession to protect his “porthole”.
2.The Royals Teryk and Danya in search of new adventures.
3.Thorn who speaks to animals under the green veil.
4.Ailyssa devoted servant of the Goddess desperate to give her a new born daughter.
All those stories are told with such distinct voices and so well written that they could be standing alone in their own book; however the author manages to weave them in skillfully to become the start of a promising epic saga.
I am a fan of ancient history, so the mythical world created in this novel is something that I will really enjoy exploring in further installments.
I have a soft spot for the character Ailyssa and would love to see how she evolves…that is, if she does.
One piece of criticism however will be that, because of the chosen structure to construct this world, it will be a slow start and I would advise any reader who picks this up to be patient and hang in there. Don’t all good sagas start in that way?!
July 27, 2015
This novel is really something. To be honest, I had a hard time getting into it. The prologue is incredible but chapter one didn't really do it for me. I started it about 6 times before I finally got into it and I'm actually really glad that I did. Once I got into chapters 2 and 3, I was hooked. Bruce Blake builds an entire world, complete with a religion with a multitude of factions. For that alone, I'm giving this novel 3 stars. World building is incredibly difficult but Blake takes it on headfirst and definitely comes out on top. I'm excited to see what he comes up with for the rest of the series!
One of the hard things about this novel is the multitude of characters and keeping them straight. Horace Seaman, Prince Teryk, Princess Danya, Master Swordsman Trenan, The Sculptor, Ailyssa and the Small God Thorn each have at least one chapter. Their storylines weave in and out that at times is incredibly confusing but still engaging. It may have taken me awhile but I'm glad that I finished this novel. Book 2 is worth the headaches that Book 1 gave me. Blake tackles dialect in his writing, which is interesting and exhausting. Horace is jolting for me but Thorn is intriguing.
That being said - I do enjoy a few of the characters, but they really gain their legs in Book 2. That tends to be the way it goes in a series - the first one takes a lot of time to set up all the pins that are knocked down in the following books. Hopefully we don't have to wait long for Book 3!
One of the hard things about this novel is the multitude of characters and keeping them straight. Horace Seaman, Prince Teryk, Princess Danya, Master Swordsman Trenan, The Sculptor, Ailyssa and the Small God Thorn each have at least one chapter. Their storylines weave in and out that at times is incredibly confusing but still engaging. It may have taken me awhile but I'm glad that I finished this novel. Book 2 is worth the headaches that Book 1 gave me. Blake tackles dialect in his writing, which is interesting and exhausting. Horace is jolting for me but Thorn is intriguing.
That being said - I do enjoy a few of the characters, but they really gain their legs in Book 2. That tends to be the way it goes in a series - the first one takes a lot of time to set up all the pins that are knocked down in the following books. Hopefully we don't have to wait long for Book 3!
October 1, 2016
This book is hard to read, sets up threads none of which are resolved in the book, and due to seriously excessive descriptions of everything, the pace drags. While it has the bones of an interesting story, the drawbacks override them. The characters are nicely developed and the potentially exciting scenes well thought out. It might be a good series, but this first book kills it for me.
The scenes drag on due to endless, unnecessary descriptions of everything killing the pacing and anticipation. Those descriptions stream on killing the essence of sentences. I had to reread so many to see what the sentence was saying.
The different threads were totally disjointed and never had any connection until 80% through the book and even at the end never came together. Books, even series books, are supposed to have a beginning and an end, but this is like the first chapters of a book with everything open ended.
Yet another problem is the seaman's language. It's extremely difficult to read in long passages. Strangely too, it's not the seaman speaking but the story teller using the seaman's crude language.
I hope the rest of the series improves. The story has potential. As this book stands, it needs a lot of work. I for one won't be reading further. I don't mean this to be ugly, just objective to warn others. Seeing the potential, I hope the author continues to write and eliminate these issues.
The scenes drag on due to endless, unnecessary descriptions of everything killing the pacing and anticipation. Those descriptions stream on killing the essence of sentences. I had to reread so many to see what the sentence was saying.
The different threads were totally disjointed and never had any connection until 80% through the book and even at the end never came together. Books, even series books, are supposed to have a beginning and an end, but this is like the first chapters of a book with everything open ended.
Yet another problem is the seaman's language. It's extremely difficult to read in long passages. Strangely too, it's not the seaman speaking but the story teller using the seaman's crude language.
I hope the rest of the series improves. The story has potential. As this book stands, it needs a lot of work. I for one won't be reading further. I don't mean this to be ugly, just objective to warn others. Seeing the potential, I hope the author continues to write and eliminate these issues.
January 31, 2014
Bruce Blake is a heck of a writer. I was a huge fan of "Blood of the King", and when Bruce announced he was starting an epic 6-book series called "The Small Gods" I jumped right on board.
One thing that's clear from the start -- Bruce had a lot of story to tell. Much of this first book feels like setup for what's to follow, but the world is so richly developed and the characters so nicely fleshed out it's hard not to get caught up in things. Yes, Bruce takes his time with unfolding his tale, and though the first section of the book requires some patience to get through it's easy to savor the details, dialogue and wry wit Bruce has come to display in all of his writing.
There are a few minor problems, of course, like the afore-mentioned slow development of the early portion of the book and the excessive "sailor speak" used to narrate some of the chapters, which I found a bit irksome, but overall the good here far outweighs the bad. Unusual, original characters connected by fate in ways that aren't yet entirely clear, a very carefully crafted setting, a simple but effective climax and an ever-growing sense of menace all make this book and this series one to watch. I'll definitely be grabbing Book 2 real soon!
One thing that's clear from the start -- Bruce had a lot of story to tell. Much of this first book feels like setup for what's to follow, but the world is so richly developed and the characters so nicely fleshed out it's hard not to get caught up in things. Yes, Bruce takes his time with unfolding his tale, and though the first section of the book requires some patience to get through it's easy to savor the details, dialogue and wry wit Bruce has come to display in all of his writing.
There are a few minor problems, of course, like the afore-mentioned slow development of the early portion of the book and the excessive "sailor speak" used to narrate some of the chapters, which I found a bit irksome, but overall the good here far outweighs the bad. Unusual, original characters connected by fate in ways that aren't yet entirely clear, a very carefully crafted setting, a simple but effective climax and an ever-growing sense of menace all make this book and this series one to watch. I'll definitely be grabbing Book 2 real soon!
May 6, 2015
When Shadows Fall
Cover: Gorgeous, original and professional. Fits with the story and helps to set the mood.
Editing/Proofing: well done / professional.
Formatting: Professional.
POV: Alternating – no trouble following and changes are very clearly marked.
Cliffhanger: Very present!
From the first page, I’m immediately drawn into what I picture as a swirling phenomena of flames, floods and falling trees – it all looks so pretty but more importantly, I’m already invested, needing to see more.
Pace:
In a word: inconsistent. Regarding the pace: it starts out intense, then there are parts that are kind of slow to get interesting, but the often end in a dramatic twist, thus being worth the wait.
Very well written – and when I first cracked it, I thought I might have trouble keeping track of the characters as they are non-traditional names, however I didn’t have a problem. They are well designed so getting to sort of know them / remember them was absolutely not an issue.
Characters:
Well developed – clearly some of them have more to show us as their fates seem to be intertwined with one another’s.
This is an impressively imagined, well-designed world, open to infinite possibilities.
Cover: Gorgeous, original and professional. Fits with the story and helps to set the mood.
Editing/Proofing: well done / professional.
Formatting: Professional.
POV: Alternating – no trouble following and changes are very clearly marked.
Cliffhanger: Very present!
From the first page, I’m immediately drawn into what I picture as a swirling phenomena of flames, floods and falling trees – it all looks so pretty but more importantly, I’m already invested, needing to see more.
Pace:
In a word: inconsistent. Regarding the pace: it starts out intense, then there are parts that are kind of slow to get interesting, but the often end in a dramatic twist, thus being worth the wait.
Very well written – and when I first cracked it, I thought I might have trouble keeping track of the characters as they are non-traditional names, however I didn’t have a problem. They are well designed so getting to sort of know them / remember them was absolutely not an issue.
Characters:
Well developed – clearly some of them have more to show us as their fates seem to be intertwined with one another’s.
This is an impressively imagined, well-designed world, open to infinite possibilities.
September 19, 2013
I received a free copy of this for an honest review
: I usually do a quick rundown of the story but on this book I’m gonna skip it. For what the story is about check out the Blurb. This story has a lot going on. It really sets the scene for future books well. There are several characters and the first half of the book introduces them. I felt the first couple chapters were a bit slow then I started making the connection and became hooked!
The story starts out with the Gods or Small Gods and what happen to them. Then it moves ahead to other characters. I love a good character driven story and there are lots of very diverse characters here; each with a very distinct, unique voice of their own. I loved it. There is also a lot of world building and I found this very interesting too.
So basically there are lots of twists as each character starts on their individual journeys, some very shocking events, and I absolutely adored Thorn! I can’t wait for the next book to see how things go as some of these individuals start to meet.
I recommend this if you like Gods, unique worlds, sailors, princes and princesses and a cliffhanger.
: I usually do a quick rundown of the story but on this book I’m gonna skip it. For what the story is about check out the Blurb. This story has a lot going on. It really sets the scene for future books well. There are several characters and the first half of the book introduces them. I felt the first couple chapters were a bit slow then I started making the connection and became hooked!
The story starts out with the Gods or Small Gods and what happen to them. Then it moves ahead to other characters. I love a good character driven story and there are lots of very diverse characters here; each with a very distinct, unique voice of their own. I loved it. There is also a lot of world building and I found this very interesting too.
So basically there are lots of twists as each character starts on their individual journeys, some very shocking events, and I absolutely adored Thorn! I can’t wait for the next book to see how things go as some of these individuals start to meet.
I recommend this if you like Gods, unique worlds, sailors, princes and princesses and a cliffhanger.
January 21, 2016
this is part of the Magic of Books Promotions given in exchange for an honest review
i found i had bought this last year and can honestly say glad that i got to read it .
i found it to be awestruck to the point what could happen if you found yourself to maybe be someones savior or is he or she . and what of a sailor and a God that is a small God and what a mother and how are they to all save the world i have my theories on who is who but am unsure of the first born son of a king and is it truly a king or a metaphor for it . and how will two siblings find the clues a brother and sister but also royalty but what happens when one is taken from the other , with the other take up arms to finish what their sibiling started or will they abandon their cause . and stay tuned for book 2 and three .
i found i had bought this last year and can honestly say glad that i got to read it .
i found it to be awestruck to the point what could happen if you found yourself to maybe be someones savior or is he or she . and what of a sailor and a God that is a small God and what a mother and how are they to all save the world i have my theories on who is who but am unsure of the first born son of a king and is it truly a king or a metaphor for it . and how will two siblings find the clues a brother and sister but also royalty but what happens when one is taken from the other , with the other take up arms to finish what their sibiling started or will they abandon their cause . and stay tuned for book 2 and three .
February 20, 2015
This is the first book in Bruces 6 part small gods series.
I love fantasy. They fall as one of my top favorite genres to read about.
Its been so many years since the Small Gods have been involved with man kind. When the Prince comes across a parchment about the small gods and mankind, He can not pass it up. He is bored and wants action and a place in history.
Its kind of funny how little he is ready for what is gong on. His sister, Danya, the princess. She is the opposite of Teryk.
The book is great. It is a little confusing and slow in the beginning, but I think that is because it is the first book. It does a very good job at laying the groundwork for you to understand and enjoy the next books!
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
I love fantasy. They fall as one of my top favorite genres to read about.
Its been so many years since the Small Gods have been involved with man kind. When the Prince comes across a parchment about the small gods and mankind, He can not pass it up. He is bored and wants action and a place in history.
Its kind of funny how little he is ready for what is gong on. His sister, Danya, the princess. She is the opposite of Teryk.
The book is great. It is a little confusing and slow in the beginning, but I think that is because it is the first book. It does a very good job at laying the groundwork for you to understand and enjoy the next books!
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
October 23, 2018
This book was definitely an interesting read as I felt the story gave so much more than what the blurb let on. It was extremely unique in that the story was told from so many different points of view as there were several main characters and each chapter was narrated from a different person’s point of view. I really liked this aspect of the book as you felt like you got to know most of the characters so well.
October 5, 2015
Once again it was the cover that drew me into wanting to read this book. I dont read very many like this but it was a nice change from my normal reads. I liked how the author let you see how the characters talked and communicated, I liked it even more when I was able to read each characters POV . I was just happy that I had book 2 in my hand so that I didnt have to wait to see what was going to happen.
September 22, 2013
Blake has created a world that is, in a word, mesmerizing. When Shadows Fall pulls the reader in from the first page and won't let go even when it's over. I'm still stuck.
This novel is well-written, full of twists and turns, and does a great job of setting up subsequent novels...which I am most certainly looking forward to.
***I read an advance reader copy***
This novel is well-written, full of twists and turns, and does a great job of setting up subsequent novels...which I am most certainly looking forward to.
***I read an advance reader copy***
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