Beastcall: a Paladins of the Harvest Novella

Paladins of the Harvest

by Kaden Love

Will a beast hunter continue his work now that he can hear the cries of his victims?

Organ transplants are used to grant people with unforseen power, changing politics and humankind forever. The continent is split, as its people are on the brink of war over this controversial new practice.

Runith, a beast bounty hunter, must decide his stance on this disturbing practice as he is chosen to gain such power for his most deadly target yet. Will be become a hero in the eyes of the Zhaesmen or a demon worse than those he faces?

Set four years for the events of Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, Beastcall is sure to thrill readers both old and new.

Genres: Fantasy

101 pages, Unknown Binding

Published April 3, 2024

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO BEASTCALL!!!

I'm so happy to be back into this world, even if it's only for a little novella sized treat. But worry not, for Kaden Love can write an engaging story in shorter formats too.

This time we got a prequel story, which is, I think, the perfect introduction. If you haven't read Elegy of a Fragmented Vinyard yet, then this is the place to start. Everything you need to know is explained at the beginning in a compact way, and you still have the glossary to turn back to in case you feel lost.

If you have read Elegy, this will still be a fun read for you. You really can read it either way, I just think it might be easier in the way I mentioned, so you can get a taste of Mr Love's amazing storytelling and captivating writing style before jumping into the full book.

Runith and Kael were so interesting to follow, I didn't doubt I'd get attached to them, but it happened so fast, before I could even blink. I loved their dynamic so much, and the slight teasing on Runith's part (sorry Kael).

Exploring Runith's thoughts pre and post-Endowment was probably the best part of the book. He has to deal with suddenly caring about the beasts he hunts, understanding their thoughts and feelings. This also leads to some funny scenes (chee chee, peet, peet anyone?), and some sad ones that brought a tear to my eye.

I LOVE THE LITTLE BEASTS OK? I wish I could talk to them too.

If you're an animal lover, this novella will appeal to you, and if you like subtle Robin Hobb vibes, you'll find that here too. If you like a strong plot, well developed characters and incredible world building...guess what, Beastcall has all of that and more. Sooo you might wanna get in on the action.

Until next time, I leave you with this quote to convince you that, yes, this is something you should definitely read:

"What other creatures have I unjustly slain for the convenience of one willing to pay?"

*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a prequel novella to Kaden’s thought-provoking full-length novel. In under 80 pages, Kaden manages to tease at the underlying politics, strife, and moral ambiguity that hits you with full force in his novel.

Beastlings are those with the ability to speak with animals, granted this ability by a child with an extra intestine which has been harvested in order to gain their congenital ability.
This details one of the first Beastling Endowed, Runith: Captain of Thane Royss Belik's guard.

This has a tight cast of characters which already demonstrates the leanings and values of different Thanes.

Beasts are not human, yet he felt something within, challenging that long-held bias.

Whilst Kaden does a great job at setting up this short story so you don’t require knowledge of the full novel, I will always recommend the full novel to better understand the context (and also because it’s amazing!). Perhaps reading this and then the subsequent novel straight after!

Thank you to the author for sending an arc in exchange for a review!!
Also check out his TikTok for amazing Booktok content!

Bookstagram

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog.

Set four years before the start of Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, Beastcall is a gripping and intriguing novella that gives readers a tantalising glimpse into Kaden Love’s epic Paladins of the Harvest series.

This little novella tells the story of Runith, a beast hunter who is selected to receive a magical organ transplant that will give him the ability to communicate with animals. What follows is an epic quest story unlike any you have read before; it’s a powerful tale full of political intrigue, moral conflict, emotional turmoil, pulse-pounding action, and wondrous magic and lore.

Now, even though I personally read Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard before reading Beastcall, I actually think that this novella would make for a slightly stronger entry point into the series. All of Love’s incredible skill as an author is on full display in here, but to me the more intimate and character-driven storytelling made this story a lot less overwhelming than the start of book 1 can be.

True, there are still a lot of unfamiliar terms thrown your way, but I think Love is quite a bit more gentle in easing the readers into this wonderfully imaginative and beautifully crafted world. Moreover, I think the deep philosophical and moral quandaries that lie at the heart of the Paladins of the Harvest series are more organically woven into the narrative here, which is probably why the theme work in Beastcall resonated much more deeply with me.

And, maybe most importantly for me, Beastcall finally offered the emotionally rich character work that I was so yearning for in Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard. Runith immediately proved to be a very compelling protagonist to me; not only because of his wondrous Beastcaller powers, but also because his slightly sarcastic inner voice was just effortlessly amusing at times. Instead of feeling at arm’s length from the characters, I quickly latched onto them in this novella and loved being dragged across the entire spectrum of emotions along with them.

In just a couple of pages, Beastcall offers a perfect bite-size taste of the political intrigue, the brutal yet morbidly fascinating magic system, and the wonderfully imaginative creature lore that make the Paladins of the Harvest series shine. If you are looking for a quick yet unforgettable fantasy quest story with a lot of thematic depth and emotional impact, then I can’t recommend Beastcall highly enough.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Get Beastcall for free by signing up to Kaden Love’s newsletter.

[Joey, The Dragon Reread · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders

Beastcall is a prequel novella within the Paladins of the Harvest series, set 4 years before Love’s debut novel: Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard. Having not read Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, this was my first exposure into Love’s extensive world and magical system. If this is also your entry point into the series, Love does a good job of bringing the reader up to speed with the political underpinnings and magical system within the novella. There is a helpful map and glossary that I referenced multiple times while reading.

At the time of this story, harvesting—the removal of an additional, magic-granting intestine from unique babies resulting in their death for the opportunity to graft the organ into an adult, ultimately granting them “god-sent abilities”—has recently become legal in four of the six fiefdoms on the continent of Facet. This legal ruling has caused chaos and rebellion in those fiefdoms which oppose legalized harvesting. While there are many different abilities granted to Endowed members of society (people who have obtained this organ transplant), this story follows a beast bounty hunter—Runith—who is gifted with the ability to speak with animals. As a Beastling, he can communicate with and influence beasts. While developing this gift, he is faced with an ethical dilemma, where the beasts that he has relentlessly hunted and used for labor are now able to communicate with him and express their wishes and feelings.

The magical system is unique and interesting. Personally, I enjoy magical systems which exert a cost when used, so this concept of needing to sacrifice a baby to obtain the power works for me. I like that it is making the reader and society ask difficult ethical questions. While the novella only briefly touches on these themes, I expect that they are more fully explored and fleshed out in the novel.

Given the length of this novella, Love does a nice job of quickly bringing the reader up to speed while also telling the story of Runith and his development as a Beastling. There were a few parts of the story that felt rushed and rather circumstantial, but pacing can be difficult in a novella that is also working to serve as an entry point into a larger fantasy world. Beastcall left a lot of questions open for me, but in a way that makes me excited to read further books from Love to continue learning about the political machinations and repercussions of harvesting.

Love has crafted a fast-paced novella that thrusts the reader into the world of Facet while simultaneously introducing an interesting, organ transplant based magic system which is Sanderson-esque in its uniqueness. While not overstaying its welcome, Beastcall hints at the complex political gameplay and difficult ethical questions that will come in future Paladins of the Harvest novels. I’m certainly intrigued enough to keep reading!

[Senne ┃ Bridge Burner Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and entertaining read!
Kaden Love does a good job in introducing the world and the magic system. It's also immediately obvious that the world is so much bigger and deeper than what is told in this story. It definitely makes me curious for the first novel.
The magic system is original and interesting. It also raises a lot of moral questions.

I do wish that the novella would be a little bit longer. Some parts felt a bit rushed.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm shocked at how much this novella meant to me. Not because I went in thinking it would be bad, but because I went in expecting to take less from the story? I'm not really sure. All I know is that Kaden packed this with a tight, grim fantasy tale. We're dealing with a world that has some gruesome things happening in it. The concept alone is enough to make me want to rush out and buy his novel. It's definitely on my TBR for this year.

The end almost made me cry. The growth in the main character is really interesting. He's given an opportunity to gain a lot of power, but it ends up backfiring. This is very much about the respect of life. It raised some very good questions about someone forcing power over someone else. In this book, it was humans determining that they're smarter than all other creatures and able to determine whether they should live or die. I think that has a lot of real world applications.

Kaden is a great writer. I really enjoyed his style.

I want to say more but I also want to leave it at that. Definitely pick this up when it comes out! It's a great introduction to what is going to be an epic fantasy series.

[Sheila Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be getting a copy of Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard soon and it was recommended that I start with this novella. This brief story was an excellent introduction to the world and the organ transplant magic system. I’m a huge fan of fantasy with unique magic systems and political intrigue which was present in the novella and I’m eager to start Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beastcall by Kaden Love is an exceptional prequel to Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, offering a fresh perspective on its rich and fascinating world. This novella follows a hunter who discovers the extraordinary ability to communicate with beastlings, weaving an intimate and emotional story that adds depth to the overarching series. Set in a world where organ harvesting is normalized under the Canton’s rule, the book’s darker themes are balanced by the unique and heartfelt connection between humans and creatures—a concept I’m always a sucker for.

I found myself completely attached to Maest and Runith, whose bond brought a powerful emotional weight to the story. Even though I’ve read Elegy, Beastcall rekindled my excitement for the series, and now I can’t wait to reread it before diving into Love’s newly released sequel. As a novella, it delivers a satisfying narrative that’s both gripping and heartwarming, making it a must-read for fans of imaginative, character-driven fantasy.

[Jared Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun novella!

[Bobby Pinkerton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book confirms for me that the author and I have a lot of shared interest. This has everything I love in fantasy. I’m so excited to see what else this author comes up with.

[Nathan Fantasy Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaden Love is back with another entry in his “Paladins of the Harvest” series, this time with prequel novella Beastcall. This novella can be read either before or after Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, but overall I think you’ll be better off starting with Elegy unless you are committed to just tipping your toes in these epic fantasy waters. Beastcall is a fun and engaging story with a ton of emotional depth, but I found that the constraints of the novella format boxed Love in a bit too much. Therefore, Beastcall doesn’t quite convey all of Love’s strengths as a writer and storyteller (which are all on full display in Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard).

Beastcall is set a few years before the events of Elegy and follows Runith, a beast hunter who Elegy fans will already be familiar with. Runith is selected by the government to recieve a magical organ transplant – a controversial procedure that involves killing a baby born with magical powers and transferring the magical organ to the adult. This transplant gives Runith the ability to speak to animals, taming and controlling the most powerful ones.

If you are new to this world, Love quickly catches readers up on the magical organ transplants and some of the political controversies, debates, and intrigue that surround the procedure. The world of “Paladins of the Harvest” is quite large, with many competing polities vying for moral and political supremacy, and you’ll get a nice tease of those politics in Beastcall without being thrust into the deep end. If your reading time is tight and you are looking for the very quick version of Love’s story (to see whether it is worth your time), then Beastcall will throw you into an action-packed story full of magic and lore. However, Love’s writing and story is a bit stilted by the novella format. The first 25% of the book has numerous info dumps where characters narrate at each other, sometimes making awkward jokes and conversational asides to convey information expdiently. I get why Love had to do this, but it made for a stiff reading experience where I kept being pulled out of the story because it was more than obvious that I was reading a story.

Once you get past the exposition-heavy conversations, the novella really comes into its own. Runith is a new favorite character of mine; he is both gruff and quirky, hardened and emotional. He understands the depth and severity of the events unfolding around him, and yet never forgets that there are always opportunities for levity and fun. We also get a handful of fun characters surrounding Runith on his quests, including a mysterious magic user and the rough-and-tumble muscle. For those characters that we didn’t get to see in Elegy, I hope that they get a chance to shine elsewhere in the series because Love introduces us to some great characters that deserve more pages to shine!

These characters form a party to go on an epic quest, and in these ~80 pages Love sends us off an adventure that has a suprising level of heart. I wasn’t expecting to be so emotional with some of the payoffs at the end of the novella. Love nicely balances the old-school fantasy adventuring vibes while a retaining a focus on the characters and their feelings.

Overall, if you find the concept of this series interesting, you are better off just jumping directly into Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, which will give you all of the character development, magical organs, international politics, and impending warfare that you could want out of an epic fantasy series. If you are a bit unsure, Beastcall is not a terrible place to start either – just be aware that some of the awkward writing and character interactions in the first 1/3 of the novella are not indicative of Love’s writing or storytelling abilities or style.

[O.K Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, it was like being thrown into a DND one shot. A story of morality towards animalistic behaviour and intelligence. The question of are humans so different to beasts? Or are beasts just as thoughtful as humans?

I wish I had the ability to communicate with animals. I couldn't help but warm to their innocent voices and feel sorry for them, and I became closer connected with the main character because of it. I loved the fight within Runith's mind, he had a strong character development throughout the story. The author's voice was very funny, the main character made me laugh a lot and became easily likable. The development of his relationship with his closest friend was truly captivating and the subtle shift was very well done.

The animal descriptions and the creative nature of their designs were so unique. The world itself was really thought out and easy to fall into and become engaged even for a short amount of time. The ending was... I'm stunned for words.

I know it's a novella but I wish the last fight scene was longer and more difficult for the main character to overcome. I just wanted to read more honestly.

[Noah Isaacs · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, an organ based magic system is insanely creative. The abilities seem endless and the use of it is very intriguing. We’ve only seen a glimpse at what it can be used for so far, I think four different ones, but it is a concept that is as unique as it is refreshing. It just pulls you right in.

I really enjoyed the main characters struggle to grasp what this change means now that he can communicate with the beasts he would usually kill, it’s a great juxtaposition.

However, I didn't feel any sense of direction from the story. I know it's supposed to be a political story filled with intrigue, but I can't imagine Runith being in that sort of situation. Perhaps I'll think differently once I read Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard

[Anie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaden's grimdark fantasies need to be on your radar.
As a prequel novella to Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, this is a quick read, but it's a detailed, action-packed introduction to this world.

Scores:
Characters: 8/10 The characters are really good

Atmosphere: 13/14
breakdown
- setting: 9/10 I want to read more like this
- mood: 4/4 I felt all the feels

Writing Style: 16/18
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- storytelling: 8/10 Very good storyteling
- grammar: 4/4 No issues
- format: 4/4 No issues

Plot: 9/10 Unique + paced well

Intrigue: 12/14
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- overall: 9/10 Didn't want to put it down
- readability: 3/4 Would re-read

Logic: 13/14
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- plot logic: 9/10 I understand + want more
- character logic: 4/4 The characters made sense

Excitement: 7/10 I had a good time


Totals:
CAWPILE: 78/90
Final Rating: 4 Stars

[Carina_inkdrinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set four years before the events of Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, this thrilling novella plunges readers into a tantalizing glimpse of an epic saga brimming with political intrigue and unimaginable power.

In this dark and captivating world, the key to extraordinary abilities lies in a chilling truth: the harvesting of organs to unlock powers beyond the wildest imagination. But as desperate factions views for dominance, a fragile peace teeters on the edge. Could this dangerous pursuit of power ignite a devastating war between nations?

Gripping, thought-provoking, and utterly unmissable, this is a story that will leave you breathless and eager for more

[Jonathan Steghers · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very enjoyable read , allot to take in for ‘only’ a novella but the glossary helped me allot. Cool and a dark magic system (taking organs from babies and put them in an adult). The main character (Runith) also very enjoyable with a bit of humor and a nice connection between him and his assistant/friend Kael. I also liked the authors writing style.

Great start for what i think it could be a great epic fantasy book series ! Will defiantly check out his debut novel.

[Bryce Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

For being a short book it took me longer than expected to finish. I liked the magic coming from organ transplants and the main character was interesting. I didn’t really care for the overall world, it feels a little more abstract, just throwing things at you without much explanation. I know this type of writing can work and I look forward to reading his other works to see if I can get into them more.

[Ian Dwyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun quick introduction to a new fantasy world. The magic system in this book was so unique and unlike anything I’ve read before. I really enjoyed the journey the MC Runith goes on, for being under 100 pages, Kaden Love does a great job of having a decent amount of character development. Really looking forward to continuing in this world by reading Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard.

[Parker Steeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never been a novella reader, but that might have to change! Beastcall was a blast. A full-fledged experience wrapped up in a cool ~105 phone pages. I had a great time with these characters, but more importantly I learned a lot about the world, the politics, and the magic system for Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard. This was great.

[Calum Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic monsters to hunt, some of which rival those found in The Witcher. Intriguing politicking and a unique magic system of harvesting organs for supernatural powers. Very enjoyable for a quick read!

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beastcall was a fun read! The world that Love sets up/teases in this novella is gritty and doesn't shy away from ethical dilemmas or having his characters confront some hard questions. Or definitely got me hooked and looking for more! I can't wait to read the full novel!

[Kaden Hall]

Read before the full-length novel as it was free from the authors newsletter (Thanks Kaden 🤙🏻). I hope to read the full length novel (rating to follow).

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome novella! The opening chapter to the very end of the book left me wanting more, I'm immediately starting to read Elegy Of A Fragmented Vineyard.

[S. Bavey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read on behalf of Team behind the Musings for the SFINCS2 contest: 5/10

[Kevin Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a different approach to fantasy than I’m used to but I enjoyed it and I’m happy to support Kaden Love as an author. I look forward to Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard!

[The Heretic ElishAKAD3rpii]

RTC

[Steve Horan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read this book in advance of hopefully meeting the author at Dragonsteel 2024. Kaden Love is imaginative, tells a good tale, and explores a unique magic system in his books. I will be picking up Elegy of a Fragmented Vinyard this week in advance of the sequel coming in a couple of months in 2025.

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This is a prequel to Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, first in the Paladins of the Harvest series. This novella gives an accessible introduction to the practice of harvesting organs from babies to gain supernatural powers. The writing is engaging and I enjoyed the author’s way with words and storytelling capabilities. It was captivating to read how the endowed character introduced in this story began to understand the thoughts and feelings of the creatures he hunted and the introspection caused by this. I’m looking forward to reading Elegy.