Shadow of a Dead God

Mennik Thorn #1

by Patrick Samphire

If Mennik Thorn had known the morning would end with him being framed for murder, he would have stayed trapped in the cupboard.

It was only supposed to be one little job – a simple curse-breaking for Mennik to pay back a favor to his oldest friend. But then it all blew up in his face. Now he is wanted for murder by the mage-killing Ash Guard, his best friend is about to be executed, and something monstrous is killing all the witnesses.

So how is a down-on-his-luck mage, broke, traumatized, and with a habit of annoying the wrong people, supposed to prove his innocence when everyone believes he’s guilty?

If he wants to get out of this, he is going to have to throw himself back into the corrupt world of the city’s high mages, a world he fled years ago.

Even that may not be enough, because a new, dark power is rising in Agatos, and all that stands in its way is one second-rate mage…

Third place in the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off 2020 (SPFBO6)

Finalist in the Book Bloggers' Book of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2021

Shortlisted for the Booknest Fantasy Award Best Self-published Novel 2020

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, High Fantasy, Fiction, Crime, Epic Fantasy

470 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2020

About the author

Patrick Samphire is the author of the adult fantasy novels SHADOW OF A DEAD GOD, NECTAR FOR THE GOD, STRANGE CARGO, and the forthcoming LEGACY OF A HATED GOD, as well as the middle grade novels SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB and THE EMPEROR OF MARS. He has published around twenty short stories and novellas.

Patrick has been writing stories since he was fourteen years old and thought it would be a good way of avoiding having to sit through English lessons at school. He was absolutely convinced that he would be famous by the time he was eighteen, but sadly, even infamy has eluded him.

He lives in Wales, surrounded by mountains, with his wife, their sons, and their cat.

When he's not writing, he designs websites and ebooks.

He will now stop talking about himself in the third person.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mennik Thorn just wanted to help out a friend, pay back a favour owed. Well, he didn’t want to as such, but Benny won’t take no for an answer. And Nik doesn’t have enough friends to lose even one. Unfortunately, one person’s ‘just give me a hand with this, would ya’ is another person’s nightmare. So when an apparently simple bit of curse breaking turns out to include sneaking into the home of magical royalty…. and then escalates in death and destruction… you might expect the favour to be well and truly repaid. But now Nik and Benny are in serious trouble, so much that it’s going to take everything this second-rate mage has to keep them both alive. AND he still has to find a way to pay the rent… A bad day, week, month, and year just got a whole hell of a lot worse.

“Are you going to tell me your plan before we actually break in?”

Benny nodded. “Fair enough. It’s the Feast of Parata.”

I waited a minute for the rest of it, but Benny didn’t add anything.

“You know that’s not actually a plan.”

The best thing about this book is how fresh it feels. It’s inventive. And funny. It reads like Urban Fantasy, with the forward momentum provided by a noir-style investigative framework, but the surprise is that it has a high fantasy setting. Or perhaps an historical one. Having studied classical antiquity, the coastal city-state of Agatos felt so familiar that I had to check with the author if he had based it on a particular place. Turns out that it WAS inspired by the classical Mediterranean world, something like Classical Athens or even Troy. Whatever its foundations, the city is powerfully evoked, detailed and atmospheric without overwhelming the plot. From Horn Hill to the Warrens, Agatos feels lived-in and fully realised. It’s a dangerous place, with powerful factions vying for influence, magic, or just plain cash, their webs of expectation and obligation spread out across the city as they play against each other in games big and small.

The conflict of the plot is intimately focused, kept within a small, but interesting cast of characters. Our narrator, Nik, has an impressively original and appealing voice. He hits all the right notes with regards to the humour we expect from protagonists in this genre, self-depreciating and endlessly witty, but he’s also got an intriguing personal morality beneath the snark. Now a freelance mage, and not a very good one, he’s just one step away from being kicked out of his shoddy apartment. We only get to learn part of his past here, each tidbit parcelled out with precision, but my curiosity is far from satisfied. The path to this point hasn’t been fully revealed and I know there's so much more to discover about him. He’s already turned down power for independence and self respect, but he’s far from the typical White Knight material. Who knows what secrets he's got hidden away? In addition to this luckless, low-level mage, there's also a whole bunch of fascinating people who hold their own in the story, particularly the women. Little girl Sereh is terrifying, like meeting Sorry all over again, but the real draw for me was Captain Meroi Gale of the Ash Guard. She’s the perfect foil for Nik’s zany personality and general flightiness, cooly collected and cleverer than she seems. Their interactions were a joy, representative of the wonderful dialogue throughout.

The fast paced, high energy plot is strengthened by a punchy writing style, helping to build the tension as the various strands twist tighter. Even in the big action scenes, there’s always time for a quick comment or quip on the fly. I don’t want anyone screaming in terror or falling apart under pressure. If the main character can’t save a friend/the city/the world/whatever without a sense of humour and a devil may care attitude, I’m out. It’s one of my favourite aspects of UF and Samphire does it excellently here. Look out for the bit where Nik talks about the power of analogy- it has me laughing again just thinking about it.

Shadow of a Dead God is a fun filled read with humour and heart. There's real scope here for further expansion and the final section opens some seriously exciting avenues for the future of the series. There’s no doubt I’ll be picking up the next book when it comes out.

ARC via Netgalley

[Eon Windrunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is FREE today only! Go go go!
Amazon link

A real page-turner; Patrick Samphire has crafted an excellent, mage-ical adult fantasy debut.

I am for the most part very wary regarding what I choose to read, and as such, I rarely read books that I have not heard a lot of good things about, with the exception of authors whose previous work I loved. Shadow of a Dead God by Patrick Samphire fell smack-bang in the middle of this category, with neither the author nor the book being known to me, but I was seriously tempted from the first time I read the blurb and it shows the importance of a well-written description. Still, I wavered until my co-blogger, Emma, said that she was also interested in this fun sounding book and ready to give it a shot, and I thought, what the hell, let me join in. I am SO happy I made that decision.

Meet Mennik : Disreputable, second-rate mage who has seen better days. Is a very loyal friend but doesn't have many. Hasn't had a bath for quite a while. Spends his days breaking curses, spying on cheating spouses and finding lost items. Snarky as hell, even funnier. Not too bad at sarcasm either. Probably the only mage in Agatos that is not power hungry and also the poorest. By a long shot.

Meet Benny : Shamelessly extravagant liar and career thief. Questionable planner. Loves the dark as people can not see what he is up to. Does not believe in money and deals only in favours, obligations, debts, and promises. Feels insulted by unpicked locks. Mennik’s oldest friend and also a loving father to Sereh (who has an intense creepy/scary vibe going, but that’s a whole new conversation)

When Benny calls in a favour, Mennik knows he can’t refuse. Favours are serious business to Benny and Mennik values their friendship. The part that’s not a problem is that Benny needs a curse lifted from an object. The part that is a problem though, is that the item is still in the possession of its owner. Who just happens to be one of the three excessively powerful high mages that control the entire city of Agatos and could end the duo and everyone they love with a snap of his fingers.

Benny grinned. “And with both of us together, how can we possibly fail?”

Aah, the best-laid plans of mages and thieves.

As you may have guessed, things go decidedly the opposite of according to plan and Mennik and Benny find themselves very much arrested for a theft they tried to commit and a gruesome murder they very definitely did not. If they cannot prove who framed them though, they will soon be leaving the land of the living via a quick meeting with the executioner.

What follows is a delightfully fun fantasy whodunit, that, if you’re anything like me, should grab your attention early on and never let go. Exciting and compelling story aside, one of the things that are always trickiest to pull off in fantasy is getting the humour right. It can easily kill an otherwise good story or similarly elevate it to great if done correctly, and luckily the author has achieved the perfect balance here.

There was nothing less intimidating than a bent-over, limping mage muttering, “Ow, ow, ow,” with every step. I was all about the look, me.

The characters are very appealing and distinctive, with Mennik taking center stage as the main character and non-traditional protagonist. I say non-traditional, as this guy is not the smartest, or most powerful or any other instance of the best, at all. But he more than makes up for it in many ways, including his dogged determination. And while Mennik and Benny are given the most page time, Benny’s daughter Sereh, Mennik’s sister Mica and the captain of the Ash Guard, Meroi Gale are all prevalent throughout the story and characters I would like to see and learn a lot more of.

As for the setting, Agatos is a richly detailed city that has a real-world feel, despite its obviously fantastical elements. Built on the ruins of many previous cities through the vast history of this world, it makes for a fascinating background. Whether it be the panoply of gods that the people worship or have worshiped or something as straightforward yet mysterious as the magic powered by the corpses of rotting gods, the author has built an intriguing playground for these characters and I can't wait to explore it further. ‘Rotting gods’ you ask? Yep.

This was the dirty little secret mages didn’t like to talk about. We were earthworms, dung beetles, tiny, unnamed, crawling, squirming microscopic organisms of the godly soil. We didn’t have magic of our own. We fed off the decaying effluent of dead gods.

The single complaint I have is that some of the curse words in the book are words we use in everyday life, but their meanings are different in the book and the one that bothered me was Pity. My mind struggled with it and kept on assigning the meaning I know rather than how it was intended for the story and it was confusing. It was a minor issue though and did not really detract from my overall enjoyment.

I honestly did not expect to love this as much as I did, but Shadow of a Dead God delivered exactly what was needed to overturn my expectations and had me begging for more. When you write a down-on-his-luck, heart of gold, scrappy mage protagonist and add in some witty humour, fast-paced plot and easily accessible writing, and then wrap it all up in a magical murder mystery, it’s easy to see how the Mennik Thorn series is the start of something great.

Yep, I’m officially a fan.

• You can find this review and more at Novel Notions
• You can order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US |
• The book is currently available for free on Kindle Unlimited

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

SHADOW OF A DEAD GOD is one of those unique fantasy reads that blends epic fantasy and a touch of detective noir, with excellent results. We open the story with the imperfect mage Mennik Thorn and his oldest friend Benny attempting to pull off a seemingly easy job. Mennik thinks nothing of it since he owes his buddy a favor and how hard could a simple snatch and grab job be, right? What they don't know at the time but will soon find out is they are trying to steal from one of the most powerful high mages in the city, and one that doesn't take to kindly to those who try and take what is his. When things go sideways really quickly, they are soon on the run (Benny actually finds himself imprisoned) while at the same time investigating who could have been behind their frame-up. Someone very powerful was willing to sacrifice Mennik and Benny to get what they wanted, but to what end?


This book started out a bit on the slow side as we get introduced to all of the main players and there's a good amount of world-building that sets things up. After the quarter mark though, things heat up considerably and it becomes a very interesting detective story that also involves quite a lot of adventure as Mennik travels from one place to another trying to find answers before he and his friend end up dead. I really liked the way Patrick Samphire created such an intriguing murder mystery, so much so that at times I had to remind myself that I was reading a book that involved mages and various other fantastic magical creatures. Just when I would forget though, Patrick would bring me back into the wonderful fantasy world that serves as the backdrop. The city of Agatos is one that is run by a variety of nasty individuals, many of whom are involved in a power struggle that could have serious ramifications for those who get caught in the crossfire. The interesting side characters in and around the city gave the story an added dimension for me.


Speaking of characters, they are top-notch with dialogue that is frequently infused with sarcastic humor and wit throughout. I especially liked the interactions between Mennik and Benny. You can sense that they almost have a frienemy quality about them but when the chips are down, they seem to have each other's backs. This book had so many elements that I found enjoyable and even though it is a fairly large book at over 450 pages, the story is so compelling that it felt like a book half its size. I recommend SHADOW OF A DEAD GOD to those who enjoy their fantasy with a good dose of mystery, cool magic, and characters who are likable despite their flaws. A very promising beginning to Patrick Samphire's Mennik Thorn series!

[Olivia Atwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some strange reason, when I first picked up Shadow of a Dead God, I was expecting a ponderous grimdark fantasy with existential themes. I don't know how or where I got that idea in my head—because let me tell you, this book is actually a witty, fast-paced epic fantasy noir! And honestly, I loved it.

Shadow of a Dead God follows Mennik Thorn, a mediocre mage who's fallen on hard times. Mennik could make bank if he really wanted to—we quickly learn that mages in his city are feared and respected, and those willing to bend the knee to one of the city's three corrupt high mages can gain both riches and prestige. But while Mennik once could have followed that path, a combination of mysterious factors eventually led him to recoil from the dirty work involved and instead set up shop as a freelance mage. Obviously, as is standard fare for a noir-tinged novel, he starts the book with jobs feeling thin on the ground and rent overdue. Just to make things worse, he soon finds himself framed for murder, forced to find the real killer in order to clear his name and save his best friend from a terrible fate.

From the very first page, Shadow of a Dead God reeled me in with its main character's dry, irreverent sense of humour. After that, I kept turning pages until I'd finished it in a single day. It was, to put it bluntly, one of the best, most refreshing palate cleansers I've ever read. Though it never got too deep into philosophical quandaries, it really didn't need to do so—it was, simply put, an absolute joy to read. I attribute almost all of this to its quirky main character, whose tone keeps everything fast and lighthearted; but the book was also solidly crafted, with some genuinely interesting worldbuilding and a deft way of focussing only on the most interesting parts of the story.

I can't say that the book was perfect—there were times I found myself questioning certain character decisions. One character in particular offers Mennik a far looser leash than I would have done in her place, given the possible consequences. But overall, the book was just so well-executed that I never dwelled on these quibbles. It was just such a perfect popcorn read that, much like a favourite superhero movie, I was willing to accept some questions in return for enjoying the story as a whole.

Ultimately, I had such a great time with this book that I think it will become a mainstay in my recommendations list, especially for people who need something to kick them out of a reading slump. I'm looking forward to reading the second novel in the series!

[Patrick Samphire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this. Many times. It is awesome. I am totally unbiased on this.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I knew from the first page I would like, simply because the main character, Mennik Thorn, showed that his humour was just the humour that speaks to me on several levels. It’s witty, snarky and sarcastic. I thought this was going to be more detective-y and was therefore a bit wary of the book. But I was pleasantly surprised to see it had just the right amount of “detective” for my very “undetective” taste but kept a good, fast pacing and worldbuilding/info was nicely spaced out throughout the book.

Mennik is a mage, but he’s not a very strong one, nor is he good at making a living as one. But he makes up with it in finer details (sometimes) and his humour. What he is good at is bumbling into trouble and making people angry at him. A snarky underdog. I do have a weak spot for them in my heart.

Mennik is approached by his oldest childhood friend, Benny, who’s calling in a favour. Mennik doesn’t really want to but he knows better than to say no to him. Benny doesn’t take lightly to people saying no when he’s collecting debts. Besides, all it is is a breaking-and-entering to break a curse and steal a thing. No biggie, Mennik thinks. And he is currently in a bad sit (rent’s overdue, his other work is going shit and he kinda needs big money fast) so he agrees. But turns out it is not no biggies but instead big biggies when it turns out they’re stealing from one of the high mages. And the whole robbery goes to smooch, a person dies, and Mennik is pinned down as the guilty one. So, what can a low-rate mage do, other than bumbling around trying to find the real culprit and clear his name?

I would have loved a map. Or two. One world map because reasons and also a city map over Agatos. There’s quite a worldbuilding going on. Lots of places are mentioned and told about, both about Agatos and surrounding cities/countries. If names and places are mentioned I want to have visual representations. I like maps. There’s never any cons about adding maps.
Agatos is polytheistic, meaning they have many gods. Dead gods. Living gods. No-one knows whether they are alive or dead gods, beast gods. Gods for all different kind of stuff. Other than Gods and mages there’s also ghosts and murdering beasts (not gonna say more about that because spoilers).

We also have Sereh, an 11 year old girl, Sereh (Benny’s daughter). Real scary and she can take care of herself better than any other character in this book. I kid you not, that kid is more than just human with those sneak skills and being able to stick mages with the pointy end.

The magic system was great. It was super interesting to learn that magic powers, raw magic, comes from dead gods, and I like the idea that different mages experience magic differently. Like either through smell, taste, sound or colours.

I really enjoyed the concept of the Ash Guard. Like the City Guard but for mages and basically got the power to nullify the most powerful mages and strongest spells. With a kind of ash (hence their name) they are able to cancel out any kind of magic with just the presence of said ash.

This book and the ending set up for an interesting story for book 2 and I basically sat there “you can’t end the book like that!” Now all I can do is think about how much I want Nectar for the God.

[Mark Lawrence]

I haven't read this book, yet, but it's a finalist in this year's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, so it must be good!

See the finalist board here:

https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come with the Fantasy Hive for SPFBO. But eek I loved this!

[Kitty G Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I read this as a judge for the #SPFBO as this is one of the finalists for this year*

This book is definitely a fast mystery-based fantasy read. There's magic and chaos right from the start and a sarcastic main character whos very down on his luck and mixed up in some pretty terrifying circumstances. With ghosts to the left and demons to the right there is murder and magic front and center. Quite chaotically crazy for an adventure, but one that will draw you in as a reader for sure.

We follow Nik, a mage who's fairly competent, but not great. He kind of reminded me of Rincewind in a way, from Discworld. He's living a pretty crappy life and barely scraping by, but he has a best friend called Benny who is a thief, and his only friend, and when Benny calls him into a job, things get messy.

What I thought best about this is the snark and fun of the characters and the story. It's a fast moving book which is easy to enjoy from the beginning, and I found it quite fun to hear about Nik's woes and trials.

The nature of a sarcastic character often means the reader can't fully connect with the characters as they feel a little surface, and that's my only complaint on this one overall. Although I liked Nik and Benny, I feel as though I don't fully 'know' them as they were often in the midst of mayhem and didn't get much time for heart-to-hearts or reflection. I think this would have made me like them a little more and believed in their plight a lot more, but that is a niggle which really didn't detract from the fun.

In the end I'd give this a solid 3.5*s which is 7/10 from me and I believe many readers would very much enjoy this one. Especially if you love a mystery brimming with magic and mages.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just ridiculously fun - a high fantasy setting with an urban fantasy feel and a narrator whose voice I absolutely love. I love Nik's snark and not-so-secret vulnerability, I love his ragtag found family, and - when he's forced back into the world of his powerful first family - the complicated dynamics waiting there for him. The magic is vivid and cool, the adventure is thrilling, the humor is just great throughout, and I love how very real the whole city of Agatos feels. I want LOTS more books and stories in this world and with these characters!

Note: I am absolutely not an unbiased reviewer, because Patrick Samphire is my husband - but as anyone who's read his MG novels knows, he is also a FABULOUS writer. (We first met at an f/sf writing workshop 19 years ago, and I fell for his writing even before I fell for him!) I would have loved the experience of reading this book even if I hadn't known him, but since I do, I get to nag him to work on more of Book 2 now, now, NOW! :)

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mennick Thorn, a freelance magician, lives a miserable life and barely makes the ends meet. He knows magic, but he lacks the skills and charisma to make it big. Most people hate him. Actually, he sometimes hates himself, too. 

The story opens with a failed job and turns into a murder mystery with high personal, stakes. I like personal stakes in fiction. Much more than epic ones. Nik works under time pressure to solve the mystery, save his only friend, and survive murder-ghosts. 

I liked Nik and his narration. He’s slightly unreliable and keeps vital information for himself, but I didn’t mind. It created tension. He knows he lacks talent and his lack of self-assurance, bordering on anxiety, will make him sympathetic to many readers. Not to me, though. I prefer protagonists with more skill, more cunning, and more agenda. And Nik has no agenda. When the situation requires it, he acts and proves resourceful but, overall, he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. He’s a good friend and uncle, though.

Each chapter moves the plot forward. Instead of wasting time on exposition, we jump head-first into the action. Swift pacing kept me racing through the pages to see what’s gonna happen. Happily, the pacing varies. Samphire balanced action scenes with more reflective, internal moments focused on relationship details, Nik’s thoughts and memories, and unobtrusive world-building. 

The urban setting makes the story easy to follow and focused. The coastal city of Agatos feels nicely sketched and has an interesting history. Another world-building detail that impressed me was the source of magic in the world - it comes from decomposing corpses of gods. Bloody cool.

I do have some gripes with the book, however. The blend of tones and themes doesn’t always work; the comic elements undermine serious points, and the darker moments give a bitter aftertaste. Nik’s constant self-deprecation tired me and made it difficult to root for him. Frankly, he reminded me of Harry Dresden from Storm Front. A tall, wise-cracking screw-up solving mystery and failing at turning cynical. A nice bloke, with the heart in the right place, just not too inspiring.

There’s also Sereh - Benny’s eleven-year-old daughter everyone’s terrified of. I hope there’s more to her story cause right now it feels awkward when adult and battle-hardened characters fear her. Perhaps I’m just not a fan of badass children?

SoaDG is a great first book for what I hope to be a long-running series. All of the pieces are there for an immersive story about magic, power, and friendship. It may have shortcomings, but it succeeds where many fail - it’s genuinely entertaining. I had great fun reading it. 

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like a mystery intertwined with your fantasy???

Then step right up, Shadow of Dead God might just be for you!!!!

Mennik Thorn, or Nik for short,is a mage. A mage for hire, freelancer. He is not the best of mages and he himself knows this. He's the mage that the other mages tend to look their noses down at. He's just been fired without payment, he's behind on rent. His luck seems to always be down. But he is a loyal friend, and well things can't get any worse??

Enter Benny, Nik's longest and well only friend. Here's the thing about Benny he's a thief, and he needs a favor from Nik, help to steal an item that is cursed. All Nik needs to do is break the curse, but here's the catch, said item is owned by one of the most powerful high mages in Agatos.

What can go wrong?

Patrick Samphire has written characters that you just want to know more about. I can't help but like Nik, I found to him to be a lot like Harry Dresden minus his bad bits of Harry. Which for me was like a taking a sip of refreshing water (Not hating on Mr. Dresden but he's got a few things to work on). I enjoyed this character, I would like to know more about him and this world. Benny and his eleven year old daughter Sereh who will cut you before you know she's there, the Ash Gaurd, Mica his sister. Just to name a few.

Shadow of a Dead God is fill with twists, turns, and I didn't expect that moments and oh yes before I forget ghosts. A mystery with mysteries with in it's pages. This will be a series to continue on with. Book 2 Nectar of the Gods is coming 2021

Visit my blog to enter the giveaway: https://icanhasbooks.blogspot.com/202...

[Esme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the opening of this, I have a thing for down-on-their-luck characters and this opener had a mage stuck in a cupboard trying to find ghosts he didn't think existed for a shitty client who looks down her nose at him. Mages typically do well for themselves in this world, but for reasons that aren't explained at the beginning, Nik is stuck doing odds jobs that barely making ends meet.

Nik has a friend named Benny... this friend is a low-level thief and conman living his life on barter of favors owed to him. He reminds me just a touch of Nobby Nobs because when he's called out on his thieving he tends to act like the person has no idea what they're talking about, and of COURSE he never was anywhere near that stolen item. This makes Nik very apprehensive to agree to help... who knows what Benny is about to get him involved in, but because he doesn't want to potentially lose the only friend he has, he relents and agrees to help. The favor is a huge one, though. It involves breaking in the palace of a high mage and taking something out of it - what is most likely an impossible task.

When they find the item (a business ledger) something goes horribly wrong, and a master servant ends up dead. The ledger was booby trapped and Nik thinks the target was supposed to be himself and Benny, and now he's got to figure out who wants them dead, or why they would want to frame him for murder.

The world-building was fantastic. I love it when I'm not getting info dumps via dialogue, when it comes together naturally without learning a large chunky history lesson. There's so much world-building, too. Grey City, Middle City, Upper City all had distinct social classes, culture, and even accents. Everything was very detailed and thought out without being overwhelming. I love the idea of the Ash Guard, they are in effect a checks and balances system to the high mages. The ash they cover themselves in dispels and neutralizes any magic in the area rendering mages helpless. Different people internalize magic in different ways. MC sees colors, but other people taste it or hear music - and the magic itself is all stemmed from the decaying bodies of dead gods. Neat shit. I also love how the Gods in this world aren't the typical God of Water or God of War or that kind of thing. The high mage that Nik tried to steal the ledger from is a worshiper of the God of Bees, and there are flowers strewn throughout his palace. It creates a lot of neat imagery.

The prose made me fly through this book, the dialogue is great, Benny had a distinct dialect but it wasn't beating me over the head with it. I think dialects are most effectively used when it's a light sprinkle rather than heavy usage that makes me slow down and re-read things to make sure I understood what the character was saying. The imagery used wasn't based in descriptors which is very helpful for me. I struggle to create an image in my head based off phrasing like "pointed leathery face", instead this author described Benny like this: "I had seen corpses dragged out of buried temples that had aged better" and that does help me 'see' the characters. I have one tiny nitpick with the prose and it's that the word "microscopic" was used - now this world had musket style guns so maybe they do have a microscopes, but it wasn't mentioned again after that so I can't be sure.

The pacing was steady, I wouldn't say it was constant action, this was more of a slow burn whodunnit type deal - but I never felt bored, I never felt like it dragged. I was really engaged because I was enjoying the main character so much. I feel like I got to know him very well and because of that it was easy for me to sink into the rest of the story.  Nik is relatable despite not being well liked by his peers in the Grey City, he's snarky which keeps him entertaining, and he's loyal to his friends. He's not a hero who rushes into danger without a second thought, but he's not a coward, he's a down to earth and easy to believe character rather than being overpowered and larger than life. I really enjoyed him.

Since this is still in the running for SPFBO I'm going to decline an official rating, I don't want to step on toes or have someone read this and think this is an official score for SPBFO, it isn't! It's just another bloggers perspective - we are all different and like different things so all I'll say is best of luck to Patrick going forward in the competition! May the odds ever be in your favor!

[Hiu Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna be brutally honest here, so apologies in advance. This book was not one that caught my attention going into this year's SPFBO. The premise didn’t really do anything for me. It just… didn’t seem like anything I hadn’t seen before. To tell the truth, I initially passed on it. I wasn’t supposed to review this book.

But then we had only a few books left to go in, I thought I’d check this one out on the side, and next thing you know it’s done. And I’m left with a big grin on my face.

Because, fuck me, but Shadow of a Dead God is fun.

As a reader, one thing I struggle with in a book is when it feels lifeless. When I don’t get a real sense of personality from the characters, or when there isn’t a distinct narrative or authorial voice to pull me into the story. Here, that wasn’t a problem. Mennik Thorn has charisma (and snark) for days. It only takes a few chapters to get a hold of who he is — he’s a mage, he’s broke, he’s got a bit of a problem with rich people, he’s got a bigger problem with running his mouth, and he did not kill that man, officer. But he’s also really loyal to his friends (of which there are few), and is willing to do whatever it takes to save them when they need help.

I thought Mennik really meshed well with the world he was in, too. He has a frantic energy about him, but that’s what you need to survive in the city of Agatos. What with crime lords like the Wren lurking in the shadows, and the magic-dampening Ash Guard looking to dispose of any misbehaving mages. I’m not quite sure what time period this book was trying to emulate, but Shadow of a Dead God really has the feel of a contemporary urban fantasy. Despite being set considerably earlier than modern times and having a lot of up-front magic. It’s that tried and tested mixture of a down-on-his-luck main character, a city that feels like a character in its own right, and a string of unfortunate circumstances.

And look, it’s not easy to string those kind of circumstances together. To avoid uneven pacing while hopping from disaster to disaster, inserting transitions and coincidences that feel natural rather than contrived. But for me, Patrick Samphire pulled it off. Actually, between finishing the book and writing this review, I read another book from an acclaimed urban fantasy series with a similar structure. I enjoyed it, but there were times where I thought… “Y’know, I think I preferred how Shadow of a Dead God pulled this off”.

So we have a frantic plot centered around a murder mystery, a colourful world, and an engaging main character. But I do have some criticisms. Like Kop, I did find myself wishing that the side-characters were fleshed out a little more. I also wished we had more time for some deeper character exploration. But with that said… I’ve found in the past that these episodic-feeling series tend to focus heavily on the main character in the first book, with more exploration of the wider cast coming in the sequels. There was also some light male gaze — mostly in the form of Mennik lusting after an officer that keeps almost arresting him — but I wouldn’t say there was enough to feel off-putting unless this is a particular pet peeve.

If you’re a fan of fantasy novels that take place in well-realized city settings, with a main character who brings a lot of humour to the table, this one is definitely for you. If you like books that meld the genres of fantasy and crime, then that recommendation goes double. I can imagine there will be some readers that will feel the comedic aspects go a little overboard at times, so take a note if you’re sensitive to that, but for me Patrick Samphire nailed the balance between story and humour.

I wasn’t supposed to review this book. I liked it enough that I had to.

[Julia Sarene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has the tone and voice of an Urban Fantasy like Harry Dresden, but is set in a secondary world that is still in the swords and magic phase.

I was hooked right away and was enjoying the main characters narration, even though he is a bit of an idiot at times, who tries to go through proverbial walls head first. I liked his dry humour, and the way he just doesn't give up!

While I found some of the side characters not as fleshed out as I would have wished, Nick and the little murderball of 11 year old Sereh more than made up for that!

As with the characters, I felt a few times the plot grew a bit thin. Some times common sense goes out the window, because stupid decisions make for a way better story! So wheeee, here we go, confronting things and people way above our paygrade! But I didn’t mind that much, as it was fast paced and intriguing enough to keep me almost sprinting through the story! The murder mystery part also could have been a little bit smoother overall, but was still enjoyable.

This one is incredibly easy to follow, and really pulls you from your couch and throws you in a completely new city and adventure! At times little bits felt a bit repetitive, but also not nearly enough to really grate on me.

We might only get to explore Agatos, and not get to explore outside the city, but it was so well developed and real I had more than enough to discover! The world building is definitely another plus from me.

I loved this overall. It was a fun and very entertaining romp, and yet had enough depth to it to really stick with me.
A good mix of fantasy, mystery, banter, humour, sarcasm and plenty of “Fuck this, I’ve no idea what to do, so I’ll just go and make a mess, better than doing nothing!”

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to try to read the 2020 finalists for SPFBO contest. This story deserves its place as a finalist and possibly a winner.
Mennik Thorn is a fun character, mainly because he’s such a flawed character. No super hero here, just a mage with limited talent, but containing an admirable loyalty to those he cares for. He and his friend Benny find themselves framed for a horrific murder, so he must find the real culprit or die trying. Every lead unravels a bigger mystery and puts their lives in greater jeopardy.
The story introduces us to a variety of colorful characters with witty banter, right alongside grim situations and deadly consequences.
I found myself never bored with the story and thoroughly entertained.

[The Captain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahoy there me mateys!  I don't read a ton of self-published novels but have been interested in the SPFBO ever since I started blogging.  One of me crew, Matey Lynn is a judge in the contest.  Every year I make a list of those nominees that interest me, based on her reviews, and I am slowly working through them.  Book one was a finalist in the 2020 contest.  I had so much fun that I immediately read the second book too.

This series follows Mennik Thorn ("Nik") who is a second-rate mage.  I love him.  He works as a mage-for-hire and generally does very poorly for himself.  He agrees to help his best friend Benny (a thief) with a job and all hell breaks loose.  Nik scrambles to get himself and his friend out of trouble.  I enjoyed this combination of his ineptitude and his too nice for his own good self.  Nik does have skills when he lets his brain catch up with his mouth.

I really enjoyed the magic system, world building, and characters.  Benny's daughter in particular is a hoot.  The magic system has some familiar elements but was still unique enough in how it was used.  Dead gods play a part.  The world is a port city that is gritty and cutthroat. I really enjoyed how the Ash Guard (a force that polices magic) worked.  That element added major fun to the story.

Book two is a bit more of the same, in a good way.  Nik has to pay some debts from the first book, gets in massive trouble, and has to work his way out of it.  I really enjoyed the mystery aspects of this one.  He has to solve a weird murder that happened with lots of witnesses.  The solution at the end was just a bit off for me but I loved the ride.  I found both books in the series to be humorous and fun.

The series could be done with book two.  But I wouldn't mind some more.  Arrrr!

Side note: Check out Matey Lynn's review of the first novel.

[Shae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such fun reading this - I devoured it in one day! I completely agree with other readers who have favorably compared this to both the Amra Thetys series and the Dresden Files, yet hasten to add that Mennik Thorn is definitely a fresh voice and has his own entertaining mishaps and adventures to share - 4.5/5 stars. I'm really looking forward to the next book :-)

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

You did it, Nik. You actually did it. No one was more surprised than me.

Shadow of a Dead God is a highly entertaining and original tale of unconditional loyalty and the dangers of greed. Author Patrick Samphire presents readers with his first foray into adult fantasy with this High Fantasy mystery laced with Noir flavors and just enough humor to keep it from teetering into the realm of the dark and gritty. What begins with a second-rate, freelance mage cramped in a pantry hunting for paltry ghosts transforms into a ghastly murder investigation hindered by an abundance of political red tape. And oh how this tape is shredded to ribbons! With beautifully crafted characters, a city so well-depicted it feels alive, and an interesting magic system, Shadow of a Dead God is lively and thoroughly enjoyable pursuit for the truth. I knew as soon as I read the blurb I'd love this book, and once I picked it up, it was just impossible for me to put down.

Where this novel truly shines is its excellent characterization. The narrator of this tale is Mennik Thorn, a snarky, self-deprecating mage living on the fringes of society. His blunt, matter-of-fact attitude and unwillingness to conform to what's expected of him brings a new level of genuine authenticity to the mix. I love a character who doesn't take themself too seriously, and Mennik always attempts to diffuse every dire situation he finds himself in with some awkward, misplaced humor. He's also a master storyteller, completely immersing you with his account of events and introducing other characters in amusing ways, all while rolling with the punches – quite literally. I was able to connect with him and become fully invested in his story within the first few pages, which made reading the rest such a pleasure.

In addition to our narrator, we're made acquainted with a perfectly constructed cast of supporting characters; each with their own unique voice and each with their own weaknesses, whether it be greed for money or power, lack of (or too much) ambition, or blind loyalty, and all playing a pivotal role. All of Mennik's misadventures stem from a promise made to his childhood buddy Benny, a carefree thief – we all have that friend we're willing to do anything for, regardless of the consequences that may tag along. Alongside Benny is his daughter, Sereh, a badass, psychopathic 11-year-old with a penchant for knives and blending in with the shadows. Mennik, wielder of the arcane, is terrified of this little girl, as he rightfully should be. Meroi Gale, captain of the dreaded mage-hunting Ash Guard, is stoic and dutiful, but doesn't necessarily like to play by the rules. There's definitely more than meets the eye there. Witnessing the finely executed interactions between these characters added such a beautiful depth to the story as a whole.

Before we dive into the world, I just wanted to quickly talk about the magic system, which I personally found to be one of the most interesting and unique ones I've encountered. All magic in this world is derived from the remains of dead gods. As they wither away to nothing more than a legend of the past, their powers are leeched by their surroundings, which in turn are leeched by mages. I even believe Mennik refers to mages as dung beetles, which seems a pretty accurate analogy. Even scholars (with no magical talent) continue to attempt to decipher the mysteries of theoretical magic, but some things are meant to remain hidden. In other words, “Yeah, this is how magic is created, but no one knows anything about it. Thanks for coming to my TED talk”. I very much appreciate when authors give a background into magic systems, but don't explain each and every detail, allowing the imagination to take flight.

The city of Agatos feels alive, and not just from the essence of dead gods permeating through the streets. Samphire does a wonderful job at vividly constructing the city one building block at a time, detailed in passing. Save for a tiny bit towards the beginning, there isn't an overflow of unnecessary exposition, creating an absorbing experience. Each district of the city has its own defining characteristics and specific breed of denizens. Crossing barriers–both district and social standing alike–causes all sorts of raised eyebrows. Want to head to the market but don't have two shields to rub together? You better make sure you head to Penitent's Ear if you don't want trouble. There are so many minute details hiding in every crevice, adding more to the already rich worldbuilding. By the time I finished the book, I could feel there was much more this world had to offer, and I can't wait to discover it all.

I don't usually talk about the plot in my reviews, but one aspect of Agatos I found to be the most appealing was the inclusion of three high mages that control every facet of society, which can all be wrapped up into politics, trade, and crime. While the games these three play are vicious, there's a balance, and disrupting that balance could be catastrophic. Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Shadow of a Dead God is such a fun read with a steady, flowing pace defined by a harmony between intense, bloody action and quiet (oftentimes hilarious) introspection. I can't tell you how many times I snorted and/or laughed out loud at the ridiculous messes Mennik continuously found himself in. A mystery at its core, with layers of delicious tension and unrelenting wit weaved upon it, this story has everything I ever hope for in a riveting fantasy adventure. If you're on the hunt for an action-packed whodunnit mystery, and aren't afraid of a little bit o' dismemberment, then look no further, because Shadow of a Dead God is just the one you need. I'll be waiting with bated breath for book two, Nectar for the God.

[Filip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is adapted from the Fantasy Hive SPFBO 6 review of the novel, which you can read here!

Shadow of a Dead God has an effective pair of covers, the first setting up a mood that forecasts the fantasy noir elements of Shadow, the second--its terrifying nemesis, facing off our poor, loveable protagonist. Both gave me an “in” to the city of Agatos, which serves as the sprawling metropolitan set piece to the entirety of Mennik “Nik” Thorn’s misadventures.

With its bedraggled protagonist and excellently written first-person narrative, this novel played on my nostalgia from the first line. The obvious comparison you might make is with Harry Dresden, and like Julia, you’d be on the money, but I found myself thinking about Stephen Brust’s Vlad Taltos series–and that’s one of the highest compliments I can pay to any urban fantasy in a secondary world.

I thought the way Mica was used across the novel was masterfully done, and showed great care on Samphire’s part. “Measured” comes to mind – there’s a way about the author’s writing that shows such an attention to character, and the way I read Mica fell within the bounds of what I expected of her portrayal. Of the characters I’m excited to see in the future (and you better believe I’m eager to read the sequel!) she’s the one I can’t wait to see developed further.

Sereh is the kind of eleven-year-old I used to hang around when I myself was at that age – great companions for both post-communist Eastern European states and magical cities. She’s a gem of a character, and I appreciate the author making her multifaceted rather than a one-note mini-badass. That’s a good choice of word for many of these characters – “multifaceted”. A few are teased out, woven into the mosaic of the city as unshakable presences but not shown – the Countess, the Wren. Others, my fellow judges have written about; the found family aspect is there in the story and that appealed to me as much as it did to Beth and Nils.

Theo: As a murder mystery in a fantasy setting this is a mash up of two of my three favourite genres, all it needed for the hat-trick was to be set on a Napoleonic era warship in the style of Patrick O’Brian. (Which reminds me I must read R.J.Barker’s Boneship series). So Samphire’s ticking the right boxes for me. In voice and plot it is very much a Chandleresque hardboiled noir style thriller with the protagonist caught very much in the middle.

Like Chandler, the plot is quite organic and I sensed a kind of illusionist’s prestidigitation to the baffling and colourful weave of plot threads.

Filip: Well said, Theo! As a Chandler nut myself, I appreciate you throwing the old man of hard-boiled noir a bone; and that last question of Theo’s cuts well and true to the bone (do novels have bones, anyway?). I wouldn’t equivocate the tone of the novel to Chandler’s but the plotting certainly follows many familiar conventions of the genre defined by him; humour and narration reminded me more of the recent works of K.J. Parker (also known as Tom Holt). Sixteen Ways to Defend A Walled City, for example, shares with Shadow the tone of a speaker whose circumstances are so hopeless that every path forward seems to invite fresh calamity; yet like Parker, Samphire understands what elements to introduce at just the right time to make for a good story–and which ones to hold back. When the time comes that you ask, “How on earth are they going to survive this?” you’ll be invested enough to practically burn through the remaining pages. If that’s not a good plot structure, I don’t know what is.

Like some of my favourite wonky-ass novels, Shadow of a Dead God breathes life into the city of Agatos in such a way it feels an indispensable part of the cast as well as the setting. There's also a substance that negates magic, Ash. For me, it recalled Steven Erikson’s otataral, a reddish bronze ore which also negated most types of magic, its dust often used to quench weapons in and even absorb through skin. Both are really, really cool!

Two words describe my feelings towards this one: LOVED IT.

[Martin Owton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nicely done fantasy/noir detective crossover with taut pacing and an ultra twisty plot. The main characters are well-drawn, the society is well-realised and believable, and the system of magic is neat with a couple of unique features. I would make comparisons to "The Lies of Locke Lamora" and "The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids". Those are both very good books, and I think this stands up there with them. Wish I'd written it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great- totally incompetent main character who tries to do the right thing- a thief as a best friend and psycho daughter. The story was also a paranormal murder mystery and had great world building. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

[Karen ⚜Mess⚜]

🔱 .99 Kindle countdown deal. Ends August 23 🔱

[Adam]

Score withheld for SPFBO6 finals, revealed on FantasyBookCritic.com in December.

[Seanchalant · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I was a grown man, damn it, and a mage of Agatos. Armies fled before me. Demons quaked in fear. Small animals gave me a wide berth. Babies cried when I smiled at them.”

Mennick Thorn is a broke mage for hire with an attitude problem and a tendency to make all the wrong enemies. So when one of his few friends comes to him for a favor, of course he’ll help out. But when a simple heist escalates to him being framed for magical murder, Mennick is going to have to get serious…or die trying.

Shadow of a Dead God by Patrick Samphire reads like the best urban fantasy out there. The twist? It’s set in an original, high fantasy world with dead gods, ghosts and fascinating magic. Samphire manages to balance the world building and the suspense of the ever-escalating murder mystery perfectly.

Mennick Thorn is the central character, it’s told in first person through his POV. Very quickly, you’re sucked into his world and can’t help but be intrigued and like him right away. Mennick has all the charm and sarcasm of the giants in Urban Fantasy but never sounds like an imitation.

Mennick doesn’t get the whole spotlight, though. Benny, his best friend, and Sereh, Benny’s daughter, feature throughout quite a lot of the novel. Benny’s friendship with Mennick feels very authentic and believable. The dialogue between them is quippy and often hilarious. Sereh is an odd one, I feel the less known about her going in, the better. But she does offer some moments for Mennick to show some heart, as well as scare the shit out of him. Dammit, I’ve said too much.

We spend the entirety of the novel in one city and by the end, you’ll feel like, if not a resident, you’ve vacationed there a few times. The layout and breakdown of classes is explained as we explore the cities and unfolds in a very natural and organic way. Never does it feel like info-dump, and never does it feel like you’re lost.

Other than UF, I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoyed Luke Arnold’s The Last Smile in Sunder City. Shadow of a Dead God is a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute, whodunnit set in a rich fantasy city steeped in lore and dirty politics. Nectar for the Gods is now in my top anticipated reads and Mennick Thorn has serious potential to become a favorite series of mine.

Get it now on Amazon!

[Lynn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://lynns-books.com/2020/12/13/sp...

Today I’m posting my review for the first SPFBO finalist that I’ve read and what a great start this turned out to be. If this book sets the standard for the rest of the final then colour me happy.

On the face of it, and my early impressions, were that this didn’t bring much new to the table. And, even upon completion, this feels familiar. But, part of that ‘familiarity’ is what works so well here. This is an easy book to read, it’s comfortable, like an old pair of slippers. You can pick this up and pretty soon be swept away with the story, the setting seems to fall easily into place and the characters are confidently brought to mind. This is a book that won’t hurt your brain and yet at the same time it provides a mystery that keeps you turning the pages into the early hours.

So, Mennik Thorn (Nik) is a second rate mage, however, he stands out because of his decision to run solo. He’s a mage for hire and as the story begins he’s stuck in a pantry waiting for ghosts to appear so that he can banish them. It’s a boring number, working for an overbearing client who treats him like something that sticks to the bottom of the shoe. Worse still, there’s a real possibility that he’s going to lose the job if things don’t pick up very soon and he badly needs the money, rent and food not being free after all.

Now, enter the scene Nik’s lifelong buddy, and two bit thief, Benny. Benny has a perfect job lined up and needs Nik’s help (and more to the point his magic abilities) in order to pull it off. This is one of those jobs that can’t possibly go wrong so obviously things go to hell in a handcart, a vicious murder takes place and Nik and Benny are the only suspects. Nik is hauled off in one direction by the ‘magical police’ (Ash Guards) and Benny is taken to ‘regular’ prison where the crime of theft will mean losing both his hands. The prospects don’t look good so when Nik is released on a technicality he needs to investigate and clear both their names.

What did I really enjoy about Shadow of a Dead God? I thought the world building was a winning combination of familiar and unique. The setting, for example, felt like going down a well trodden path – and I mean that in a very positive way. There are the segregations that occur between the rich and the poor that bring to us, on the one hand, palatial mansions, and in fact palaces with lush gardens, decadent decor and superfluous rooms, countered by the winding, rabbit warren style streets where the poorer inhabitants dwell. Then we have the Ash Guard. I loved this aspect of the story. The Ash Guard provide a counter to the Mages and prevent them running amok. The ash they carry, wear and protect ferociously, nullifies magic often causing complete chaos when they run round the city wiping out charms and wards willy nilly. I must say I think the Ash Guard are an inspired creation and I can’t wait to read more of one of their number in particular.

The magic is also really fascinating, powered by dead Gods – and speaking of Gods, some very unusual ones right here not to mention a plethora of ghosts.

The characters. Nik is a self deprecating, in a funny way, type of story teller. He and Benny go back many years and although they can sometimes be a bit at odds with each other, when the chips are down the strength of their connection really comes through. The banter and dialogue between the two is well realised and quite refreshingly fun. Benny’s daughter, Sereh, is something of an enigma. I’m not totally sure that I’ve bought into her very own brand of creepy and deadly just yet, particularly as she’s only 11, but, lets just say I’m prepared to be persuaded.

I also thought this was written really well and apart from a slight lag as I set off I suffered no hiccups, the pacing was good and there was a great mix of mystery and action.

In terms of criticisms. I don’t have anything really strong to mention. As the book set out I will admit that it felt perhaps a little too familiar but as I continued to read that feeling simply faded and I think that’s due to the winning combination of things that felt familiar coupled with those that felt refreshingly unique. In terms of Nik, I would mention that he gave me strong Harry Dresden vibes. He is a character that is basically a good egg but finds himself in dangerous predicaments as a result of being easy to manipulate. He also got beaten up a lot and for the first (I would say) two thirds of the book he ran round like a headless chicken, his knee jerk reactions taking him from one dire situation to the next. I have to hand it to the author though because he intuitively knew when that point would be reached and uncannily Nik seemed to realise that he needed to stop blundering around and use his brains at the very same time I did.

Overall, I thought this was a very entertaining read. The writing was strong, the pacing and action kept me hooked, the central character is likable and I feel like I’ve found a series here that I would very much like to continue reading.

I received a copy courtesy of the author, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars (8 of 10 for Goodreads)

[Sara Hollingsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really solid book. Again, I kind of got Harry Dresden vibes here. We've got a down on his luck mage, who's kind of underpowered and generally gets his butt kicked but overall is clever and a survivor. Oh, and witty of course. But that's really where the similarities end. This book is set set in a fantasy realm and a fantasy city, and mages are not just known about, they're basically feared. Too bad Nik Thorn is kind of a terrible mage. And he really isn't interested in politics. Hence why he lives in the crap part of town and is taking crap jobs like helping his best friend steal a really important item from one of the most powerful mages in the city. Yea, sounds sensible.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I chuckled through the majority of the book. The dark humor was excellent and nicely balanced. I liked Nik. He's a scrappy main character. And his best friend's daughter is hilarious. I love that violent, dangerous little girl. I wasn't exactly sure what I thought about Nik's friend. Seemed like a crap one to me, but I guess the guy had some redeeming qualities. I'm curious to see how more from this author and see more of Nik.

[The Nerd Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be recording a podcast episode on this one!

This book was a bit of a funny one. For the first 60% I would say the magic didn’t even seem to be all that important to what was a solid, entertaining and slightly funny detective, who dunnit, story where the MC Was just trying to clear his own name since he seems like the prime suspect in a string of grisly murders. I was planning on giving it a solid 4* and doing a podcast because it’s good and a little different from most episodes I do on epic or Grimdark fantasy. Then around that 60% mark things really got interesting and I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up late reading it, which I’ve mentioned time and again signals that hard 5 for me. The last 25% is non stop action packed entertainment and I am excited to read the next book in the series.

Here's my outline of my review of the book.
My Take: A Down on his luck mage must figure out how to clear his name before one of any number of people take him down.

My Thoughts on the book itself:
Good solid book that was a bit of a slow burn. For the first 60% of the story I was thinking it was a good solid 4*. A funny and entertaining story that was much more a detective who dunnit story than a fantasy novel and then it took a sudden unexpected turn and suddenly there was a ton of action that included plenty of magic and a dead god among other things and by 80% in it was 8:45 and i should have been in bed 45 minutes before that since i needed to be up for work at 3am. I made myself go to sleep and finished the book up in my tractor the next morning.
So getting into the world itself. It is a 1 PoV character book so I will start with him and describe the setting and the magic as I go with Mennick Thorn since his viewpoint is the only one we really see.
Mennick is a second rate mage as we are told when the story starts. He had been employed by one of the 3 high mages in the city when he left for unspecified reasons but it is clear part of the reason was he has a real conscience when no one else really seems to in the world of magery.
At the beginning he is performing freelance magery and is employed to perform an exorcism of ghosts for a rich lady but he really doesn’t believe these ghosts exist. He falls asleep and is awakened as the ghosts are about to leave, he tries to chase them down but fails and the master of the house fires him. He leaves and as he goes home to his office in the almost but not quite worst part of the town he sees an eviction notice on his door since he’s also behind on rent. Clearly things aren’t going his way. He goes inside and his lifelong buddy named Benny is waiting inside. Benny is a thief and Thorn owes him some favors and Benny is here to call it in. He needs Thorn to help him steal something from one of the 3 high mages in the city, a man named Silkstar. The item is cursed and Thorn is pretty good at uncursing items. The heist goes awry and someone ends up murdered. The rest of the story is Thorn’s attempt at clearing his name while his bad luck remains. That’s as far as I’ll go there. The story takes place all in a handful of days although it feels like a lot longer.
The entire story takes place in a single city called Agatos after it’s founder a man named Agate Blackspear who supposedly founded the city after killing whatever god was there. This is almost certainly just propaganda and people have probably been living there for thousands of years. We are dealing with a Renaissance level of tech, muskets to go along with the magic that isn’t super common but there are enough people who have magic that mages aren’t a rarity. Agatos is a port city that goes up into a valley that has a route through to the inland cities. The tradewinds and currents bring ships its way so the cities merchants have become very rich off of this trade. There is a lot of income inequality and the poor live in what are called the Warrens, then outside of that is the Grey City as it is called, the rich are farther up in the valley where they can avoid the stench of a city. There is also a portion called the Stacks where the many foreigners tend to live.
The city is ruled by 3 high mages. Silkstar runs the city merchants, the Wren runs the Underworld and the Countess runs the politics. Most other mages work for one of those 3. Thorn being freelance is definitely not the norm.
There is a balance to the mages with a group called the Ash Guard, they use the ashes of an eternally burning sun god who back in his day had the ability to negate the magic of other gods. The Ash Guard is well trained and use swords and muskets. While smeared with ash they are immune to magic and deaden it completely within about a 20’ radius, this includes ruining wards as well. Thorn has a funny and flirty relationship with one of the Ash Guard captains.
Magic is spell based as well as there being magical items and god blessed relics. Agatos has so much magic available because it has been inhabited for so long and a lot of gods have died there over the centuries. Magic is basically the rotting essence of those gods. Each mage sees magic a little differently. Thorn sees magic as colors and thats how he manipulates and draws it in. He unfocuses his eyes and it gives him his magical vision. He can see spells as colors and is able to manipulate those colors. One thing about Thorn is he is pretty middling as a mage but has great fine control because he doesn’t have a ton of power. Other mages might hear magic as music or even taste it. Magic is an innate ability and it is said mages can sense magic way before they can actually use it. You do have to train to refine your powers though. Mages often train for years. You have to learn to suck the magic inside you first and then shape that magic. Mages can heal by sleeping but the more powerful of a mage you are the better you can heal yourself. Thorn has a bum ankle because he can only knit muscle and bone and not tendons and ligaments.

Recomendation:
Did we like it?
I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and just a little funny for most of the story but was really a detective story until that 60% point and then it got entertaining, action packed and the magic and fantasy elements really kicked in and once that happened it was non stop entertainment. I sometimes forgot it all took place during a handful of days because so much happened in a short time.
How did it make us feel?
I actually felt a bit of suspense at times haha. There were action scenes I just wanted to read faster so I could see what the outcome was. That aside it wasn’t a book that hit me in the feels.
Would we recommend it to others?
I would certainly recommend this one to a wide range of people. I think even people who don’t love a lot of fantasy would enjoy this book. My father in law loves detective novels and just devours them on kindle unlimited and will occasionally read a fantasy book or two as well as long as it’s not too much like epic fantasy and this is a book I will recommend to him even. If you are an epic fantasy only type of person I don’t know it if it going to get a 10/10 or not but it would also be a good book to read between grimdark novels if you’re like me and occasionally need a palette cleanser between books that are too dark.
How would we rate it on a 5 star system (?)
I’m giving it a hard 5. Once I couldn’t put it down it got that rating for me as always.
Who is the main audience and who should and shouldn’t read it?
I think most people can read this as I’ve mentioned, it is an adult book but there is no sex or too much vulgar language. Quite a few people are literally ripped apart but the descriptions aren’t too graphic and I think most parents would be fine with their kid reading this in their early teens.

[Arundeepak J · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

Shadow of a Dead God was a well writen novel with steady phasing and intriguing characters, witty dialogues and inner monologues and with a mystery air to it throughout.

But why didn't I like this book as much as I thought I would ?!

It was because of the main character Mennick Thorn. He was just... Completely useless ??!!! Every character we met, literally every character from a 11 year old child to the High Mages they just humiliates him, kick him to the corner or just throw him around like he was absolutely nothing and Mennick himself feels that way about him. There was just so much self pity that I just couldn't bear to read him anymore.

Don't get me wrong I'm not the one to hate a Underdog. I absolutely love underdog characters who as story progresses improve themselves or beat the unbeatable odds with their clever plans or tricks. But with Mennick it was just plain luck and other characters helping him out. I was so frustrated with him as the story progressed that I almost DNF'd it.

Mennick is definitely one of those characters people will either hate or love. I unfortunately didn't like him. But if you had no problem with your main character getting kicked around a lotttt. You'll definitely enjoy this book a lot more than I did.

[Jonathan Pembroke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow concerns the trials and tribulations of mage-for-hire Mennik (Nik) Thorn. He's a bad mage and knows it. He's dragooned into aiding an old friend complete a dangerous theft. It's never that simple and a cascade of misfortunes sends Nik scurrying for answers.

The book was not without some stumbling blocks. While I appreciate good world-building, it felt throughout the first half of the book, a pattern emerged where there would be some action, a few paragraphs/pages of world description, repeat. I don't object to that, per see, but the rhythm of it was so regular that it was predictable and drew me out of the story. Also, one character--an eleven-year-old child--is depicted as being extraordinarily dangerous, without magic or any supreme reason to be. I don't mind having a very young assassin-type but I wanted the "how" and "why" explained a little better.

Now, having said that, I absolutely enjoyed the book's tone and the characterization of the people Nik interacts with. His friend Benny, the captain of the magic-thwarting magistrates, the different criminal gang leaders ... each felt unique and separate from the others. It was nice to see Nik slowly develop from a bumbler to someone who started to figure things out. In general, the story's humor worked. The magic system is on the soft side but conceptually, is interesting and leaves lots of room for exploration. I enjoyed the action scenes, which were the best-paced sections of the book.

Aside from the high points mentioned above, I can say I actually had fun while reading it, and that's the best measure of a book's "worthiness" as far as I'm concerned. I'll certainly pick up the next one when it's out.

I'd recommend this to readers who like fantasy mystery, soft magic systems, and snarky, hard-luck protagonists.