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Godless Lands, by Sean Crow (2 books) #1
Terre Senza Dio
In un mondo devastato dalla pestilenza, l'umanità lotta per rimanere se stessa. La Piaga, un morbo orrendo che ha decimato la popolazione, le bestie e perfino le piante, ha lasciato il suo orrendo marchio sulla terra. Rifugi isolati, un tempo prosperose città, con egoismo cercano di accumulare le poche risorse alimentari rimaste.
Ciò nonostante, la speranza alberga dove meno la si aspetterebbe.
Vagando tra un Rifugio e l'altro nelle Terre senza Dio Ferris, un vecchio soldato deturpato dalla Piaga, si ritrova investito del ruolo di guardiano di una nobildonna disperata e di sua figlia.
Per questo suo atto di benevolenza, Ferris si ritrova d'improvviso in fuga da Ser Arlo, il famigerato Cavaliere della Morte. Senza altre possibilità, Ferris conduce le sue protette verso una comunità nascosta, nel mezzo della desolazione e dei pericoli delle Terre Senza Dio.
Quel che Ferris non sa è che ci sono altri che battono quelle terre corrotte; un pericolo di cui il mondo sta solo iniziando a rendersi conto. Il Macellaio di Riven è a caccia per il Dio Famelico...
# 4 della collana Badlands
Ciò nonostante, la speranza alberga dove meno la si aspetterebbe.
Vagando tra un Rifugio e l'altro nelle Terre senza Dio Ferris, un vecchio soldato deturpato dalla Piaga, si ritrova investito del ruolo di guardiano di una nobildonna disperata e di sua figlia.
Per questo suo atto di benevolenza, Ferris si ritrova d'improvviso in fuga da Ser Arlo, il famigerato Cavaliere della Morte. Senza altre possibilità, Ferris conduce le sue protette verso una comunità nascosta, nel mezzo della desolazione e dei pericoli delle Terre Senza Dio.
Quel che Ferris non sa è che ci sono altri che battono quelle terre corrotte; un pericolo di cui il mondo sta solo iniziando a rendersi conto. Il Macellaio di Riven è a caccia per il Dio Famelico...
# 4 della collana Badlands
- GenresFantasyDark Fantasy
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2020
25 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 13, 2020
'Without hope, people became ugly things.'
I picked this up randomly because of the cover and wasn't disappointed. The Godless Lands is one hell of a read!
Dark, grim and downright brutal, this is one of those books that bring to the forefront the lowest levels human beings can sink to.
In a plague-ravaged world, humanity struggles to recognize itself. And the question - Is the world you're fighting for even worth saving? - carries a deep meaning.
Mankind is left decimated by a vicious disease called the Blight, and not even beasts and plants have been left unscathed. In the now Godless Lands, only the powerful and ruthless thrive. Isolated havens, once prosperous cities, selfishly hoard what little food remains while those outside the havens are left to perish without a second thought.
In this hellscape, Ferris, an aged and Blight scarred soldier turned vagabond finds himself thrust into the role of guardian for a desperate noblewoman and her daughter. Attempting to lead them to a hidden community far away from the havens, Ferris suddenly realizes his wards bring a whole load of trouble in their wake. And he soon finds himself on the run from Sir Arlo, the infamous Death Knight. But as it turns out, death is the least of problems Ferris will have to face.
'The Butcher of Riven is on the prowl, and he hunts for the Hungry God...'
Well written and nicely paced, Godless Lands will give you a solid plot, strong characters, great fight scenes, gore - as raw and bloody as it gets, - as well as a lot of food for thought. Duty versus honor; faith versus doubt; the life of a few versus the lives of many; and much more.
Bad things done in the name of right - the kind that left dead bodies in your wake - and good deeds done while one has to wonder if they aren't a huge mistake....
Handsome knights that are merely a disguise for beasts hiding within....
and
Canibalism to make your skin crawl - viewed by some as a saint's deeds....
This book has it all!!
It is difficult to set down and yet, perhaps just as difficult to read. I found myself caught in the story and even rooting for a villain. Not the despicable evil Butcher! That one I would have honestly loved to see skinned alive and rotting in the deepest pits of hell. But the infamous Death Knight, who was a great shade of grey.
'One never solved anything without risk or sacrifice.'
And Godless Lands will show you both - risk and sacrifice enough to break a heart. Will it be worth it? That remains for you to find out.
Grim, bloody and dark, this is not a tale for the faint of heart. And even though I absolutely loved the darkness, I wish it would have gone hand in hand with a little more light.
But then I must admit, the tone was perfectly fitting for the dark and hellish world the Godless Lands depict.
If you're in a mood for an excellent dark read full meaning, this would be the perfect fit.
Happy reading Bookdragons
and always remember
'Hope lives on where least expected.'
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
I picked this up randomly because of the cover and wasn't disappointed. The Godless Lands is one hell of a read!
Dark, grim and downright brutal, this is one of those books that bring to the forefront the lowest levels human beings can sink to.
In a plague-ravaged world, humanity struggles to recognize itself. And the question - Is the world you're fighting for even worth saving? - carries a deep meaning.
Mankind is left decimated by a vicious disease called the Blight, and not even beasts and plants have been left unscathed. In the now Godless Lands, only the powerful and ruthless thrive. Isolated havens, once prosperous cities, selfishly hoard what little food remains while those outside the havens are left to perish without a second thought.
In this hellscape, Ferris, an aged and Blight scarred soldier turned vagabond finds himself thrust into the role of guardian for a desperate noblewoman and her daughter. Attempting to lead them to a hidden community far away from the havens, Ferris suddenly realizes his wards bring a whole load of trouble in their wake. And he soon finds himself on the run from Sir Arlo, the infamous Death Knight. But as it turns out, death is the least of problems Ferris will have to face.
'The Butcher of Riven is on the prowl, and he hunts for the Hungry God...'
Well written and nicely paced, Godless Lands will give you a solid plot, strong characters, great fight scenes, gore - as raw and bloody as it gets, - as well as a lot of food for thought. Duty versus honor; faith versus doubt; the life of a few versus the lives of many; and much more.
Bad things done in the name of right - the kind that left dead bodies in your wake - and good deeds done while one has to wonder if they aren't a huge mistake....
Handsome knights that are merely a disguise for beasts hiding within....
and
Canibalism to make your skin crawl - viewed by some as a saint's deeds....
This book has it all!!
It is difficult to set down and yet, perhaps just as difficult to read. I found myself caught in the story and even rooting for a villain. Not the despicable evil Butcher! That one I would have honestly loved to see skinned alive and rotting in the deepest pits of hell. But the infamous Death Knight, who was a great shade of grey.
'One never solved anything without risk or sacrifice.'
And Godless Lands will show you both - risk and sacrifice enough to break a heart. Will it be worth it? That remains for you to find out.
Grim, bloody and dark, this is not a tale for the faint of heart. And even though I absolutely loved the darkness, I wish it would have gone hand in hand with a little more light.
But then I must admit, the tone was perfectly fitting for the dark and hellish world the Godless Lands depict.
If you're in a mood for an excellent dark read full meaning, this would be the perfect fit.
Happy reading Bookdragons
and always remember
'Hope lives on where least expected.'
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
October 4, 2022
"The Blight didn't settle for humanity. It was a greedy beast, robbing the very life from the earth itself. Livestock died by the hundreds of thousands and once healthy crops withered and perished. It was one matter for people to die off, it was another for the land to join them. From that point on, people began to lose hope.
"Without hope people became ugly things."
Unique, gut-punching, terrifying, brilliant! Those are just some of the words I would use to describe the post- apocalyptic grimdark fantasy "Godless Lands" by author Sean Crow.
The setting of the book is a horrific medieval-inspired world which has fallen victim to the aforementioned blight. This has destabilized everything. The ruling monarch and family have perished. Food is extremely scarce. Most former major cities have become walled fortresses, hoarding the remnants of edible food for its denizens. Zombie-like rabid former humans caused by the Blight, known as Withers, ravage the lawless open countryside - the Godless Lands - consuming human flesh.
From the chaos, with most of the nobility dead or ineffective during the epidemic, Baron Taegis of Brightridge has arisen as a man with a plan. He's locked down his domains, forcibly evicted anyone displaying signs of the Blight, and with his servants called "Doves" rooting out and killing anyone infected, while his methods are barbaric, some semblance of order has been maintained amongst the chaos.
Taegis' right hand man is known as Arlo "The Death Knight". Arlo roams the streets, efficiently executing anyone who carries the disease. A former great warrior, who felt compelled to put down his own family once they became sick, he is tortured by their memory, but committed to doing what he believes is saving lives, by killing those who spread the Blight. He has faith in his overlord, Taegis, but Taegis seems to be losing his grip on reality. Still, Arlo can't refuse his lord's directive to track down Taegis' wife and daughter who have escaped Taegis and run off into the Godless Lands.
Ferris, a Blight-infected former soldier, who is half-Withers, has yet retained his humanity. He's a vagrant in the Godless Lands, but by chance he encounters the fleeing Bethany and Katrina, Taegis' estranged wife and daughter. Knowing they have little hope to survive in the Godless Lands, Ferris decides to help them find relative safety. He takes the risk to lead them to a sheltered community known as the Farm, where Ferris once lived. But the Farm's inhabitants are endangered by Ferris' actions, because the brutal, cannibalistic Butcher of Riven is hunting for the secret location of the farm, planning to dine on the flesh of its dwellers.
The characters in "Godless Lands" were exceptionally well done. Forced into more "grey" behaviours by the Blight, the reader sees how the characters are presented with difficult moral decisions where survival is paramount, and honour is a shaky concept when one facing death by disease or starvation, and violence becomes the fallback for self-preservation.
Arlo was one of my favourite players. He believes those who shelter dying infected are selfish and dangerous to society as a whole. He carries the scars of what he does, hoping to hold onto some shred of the concept of "honour", but feeling he's failing miserably. He seems immune to the Blight, though by rights he should have died of it a long time ago considering all the exposure he's had to it. He's duty-bound, complicated, and overall a great character.
The pragmatic members of the farm, like Donovan, Zia, Rigby, Danny, and Igs are characters the reader will definitely root for, as noble people who are forced to make terrible sacrifices to protect their community. Ultimately they are striving for peace, some sense of normalcy amidst the madness, love, family, and some kind of future for the next generation. They will pull at your heart strings, and you will mourn when not all of them make it out alive.
The themes in the book are extremely compelling. What do we as humans turn into in our most desperate times? Crow's answer would seem to be: typically, animals, but with exceptions. We see the best and worst of human nature in the novel, and everything in between. Madness, torture, cannibalism, dementia, euthanasia, PTSD, despair, and more are challenging issues touched in the novel. But the book is surely not without hope and optimism, and the devotion to family and friends, self-sacrifice, and valour displayed by some of the characters truly shines through.
Less than 250 pages, this book is written in a lean and efficient fashion, with tight, impactful prose, while still allowing plenty of space to get to know the characters, their motivations and thought processes very well. The action scenes are fantastic, tense, some downright scary. With the addition of the prospect of the Withers taking a bite out of your favourite characters, adding palpable dread to the narrative, at times the book felt like a horror novel.
A fantastic dark fantasy novel about what happens when a medieval-like society degenerates into near depravity, "Godless Lands" is a small book that packs a lot of great elements into its relatively few pages. Highly recommended!
"Without hope people became ugly things."
Unique, gut-punching, terrifying, brilliant! Those are just some of the words I would use to describe the post- apocalyptic grimdark fantasy "Godless Lands" by author Sean Crow.
The setting of the book is a horrific medieval-inspired world which has fallen victim to the aforementioned blight. This has destabilized everything. The ruling monarch and family have perished. Food is extremely scarce. Most former major cities have become walled fortresses, hoarding the remnants of edible food for its denizens. Zombie-like rabid former humans caused by the Blight, known as Withers, ravage the lawless open countryside - the Godless Lands - consuming human flesh.
From the chaos, with most of the nobility dead or ineffective during the epidemic, Baron Taegis of Brightridge has arisen as a man with a plan. He's locked down his domains, forcibly evicted anyone displaying signs of the Blight, and with his servants called "Doves" rooting out and killing anyone infected, while his methods are barbaric, some semblance of order has been maintained amongst the chaos.
Taegis' right hand man is known as Arlo "The Death Knight". Arlo roams the streets, efficiently executing anyone who carries the disease. A former great warrior, who felt compelled to put down his own family once they became sick, he is tortured by their memory, but committed to doing what he believes is saving lives, by killing those who spread the Blight. He has faith in his overlord, Taegis, but Taegis seems to be losing his grip on reality. Still, Arlo can't refuse his lord's directive to track down Taegis' wife and daughter who have escaped Taegis and run off into the Godless Lands.
Ferris, a Blight-infected former soldier, who is half-Withers, has yet retained his humanity. He's a vagrant in the Godless Lands, but by chance he encounters the fleeing Bethany and Katrina, Taegis' estranged wife and daughter. Knowing they have little hope to survive in the Godless Lands, Ferris decides to help them find relative safety. He takes the risk to lead them to a sheltered community known as the Farm, where Ferris once lived. But the Farm's inhabitants are endangered by Ferris' actions, because the brutal, cannibalistic Butcher of Riven is hunting for the secret location of the farm, planning to dine on the flesh of its dwellers.
The characters in "Godless Lands" were exceptionally well done. Forced into more "grey" behaviours by the Blight, the reader sees how the characters are presented with difficult moral decisions where survival is paramount, and honour is a shaky concept when one facing death by disease or starvation, and violence becomes the fallback for self-preservation.
Arlo was one of my favourite players. He believes those who shelter dying infected are selfish and dangerous to society as a whole. He carries the scars of what he does, hoping to hold onto some shred of the concept of "honour", but feeling he's failing miserably. He seems immune to the Blight, though by rights he should have died of it a long time ago considering all the exposure he's had to it. He's duty-bound, complicated, and overall a great character.
The pragmatic members of the farm, like Donovan, Zia, Rigby, Danny, and Igs are characters the reader will definitely root for, as noble people who are forced to make terrible sacrifices to protect their community. Ultimately they are striving for peace, some sense of normalcy amidst the madness, love, family, and some kind of future for the next generation. They will pull at your heart strings, and you will mourn when not all of them make it out alive.
The themes in the book are extremely compelling. What do we as humans turn into in our most desperate times? Crow's answer would seem to be: typically, animals, but with exceptions. We see the best and worst of human nature in the novel, and everything in between. Madness, torture, cannibalism, dementia, euthanasia, PTSD, despair, and more are challenging issues touched in the novel. But the book is surely not without hope and optimism, and the devotion to family and friends, self-sacrifice, and valour displayed by some of the characters truly shines through.
Less than 250 pages, this book is written in a lean and efficient fashion, with tight, impactful prose, while still allowing plenty of space to get to know the characters, their motivations and thought processes very well. The action scenes are fantastic, tense, some downright scary. With the addition of the prospect of the Withers taking a bite out of your favourite characters, adding palpable dread to the narrative, at times the book felt like a horror novel.
A fantastic dark fantasy novel about what happens when a medieval-like society degenerates into near depravity, "Godless Lands" is a small book that packs a lot of great elements into its relatively few pages. Highly recommended!
September 22, 2023
Re-uploaded because it got deleted by Goodreads
4,5 STARS
In this debut novel, the author Sean Crow catapults us into an absolutely brutal story, which is more a zombie story with a medieval setting than a dark fantasy.
With a few skilful brushstrokes and an enviable economy of means (descriptions reduced to the bone and total absence of explanations) we find ourselves in a rotten, gray and hopeless world.
The plague devastated everything, men, plants and animals. And after some time the surviving humans live in separate nuclei. Now, however, the "zombies" are no longer dangerous, and some are starting to venture outside. Unfortunately, some of these groups, in the absence of an ordered society, have indulged in their lowest instincts, venerating what they call the "hungry god". And you can imagine that it's not any good!
Impossible to put down, this story will make us meet mature and badass characters, to whom the author has managed to infuse life and personality with just a few touches. Even if their stories are not explored in depth, Igs, Annabelle, Ferris will remain with me for a long time with their humanity and their acts of heroism. And on the other hand, the Butcher (who knows why when you want to give a terrifying connotation to a character you often call him "the butcher"), with his savagery combined with an almost refined way of speaking and a diabolic intelligence. Arlo with his continuous oscillation between a sense of honor and loyalty to a mad sovereign.
The author was able to alternate the sense of misery that drips on this world with moments of heroism and nobility with naturalness and to instill a depth to the events and characters that other authors are unable to give in thousands of (boring) pages.
This novel, short and intense, is a finished story, we will not find the characters in the following books. But the length of the second book (a little less than double that of this one) gives me hope that the setting will be further explored, and the story expanded over a longer period of time.
I recommend the read to anyone looking for a quick and lethal read. A story that grabs you and doesn't let go for a few hours. The introduction to a dark world illuminated by the heroic acts of those who still remained human.
4,5 STARS
In this debut novel, the author Sean Crow catapults us into an absolutely brutal story, which is more a zombie story with a medieval setting than a dark fantasy.
With a few skilful brushstrokes and an enviable economy of means (descriptions reduced to the bone and total absence of explanations) we find ourselves in a rotten, gray and hopeless world.
The plague devastated everything, men, plants and animals. And after some time the surviving humans live in separate nuclei. Now, however, the "zombies" are no longer dangerous, and some are starting to venture outside. Unfortunately, some of these groups, in the absence of an ordered society, have indulged in their lowest instincts, venerating what they call the "hungry god". And you can imagine that it's not any good!
Impossible to put down, this story will make us meet mature and badass characters, to whom the author has managed to infuse life and personality with just a few touches. Even if their stories are not explored in depth, Igs, Annabelle, Ferris will remain with me for a long time with their humanity and their acts of heroism. And on the other hand, the Butcher (who knows why when you want to give a terrifying connotation to a character you often call him "the butcher"), with his savagery combined with an almost refined way of speaking and a diabolic intelligence. Arlo with his continuous oscillation between a sense of honor and loyalty to a mad sovereign.
The author was able to alternate the sense of misery that drips on this world with moments of heroism and nobility with naturalness and to instill a depth to the events and characters that other authors are unable to give in thousands of (boring) pages.
This novel, short and intense, is a finished story, we will not find the characters in the following books. But the length of the second book (a little less than double that of this one) gives me hope that the setting will be further explored, and the story expanded over a longer period of time.
I recommend the read to anyone looking for a quick and lethal read. A story that grabs you and doesn't let go for a few hours. The introduction to a dark world illuminated by the heroic acts of those who still remained human.
April 2, 2021
Godless Lands is the second book I've read by Sean Crow and I have to say he is fast becoming a 'must read' author.
This is a fast paced, action packed story with a line of right and wrong running through it.
Similar in a lot of ways to the books of David Gemmell on the surface it's a tale well told simply, but also like Gemmell's work this story goes to the driving force of man (and woman) when things are bad, how are you going to act? The world has been ravaged by a disease known as the Blight and it has taken nearly all from man and nature. Mankind lives in a few enclosures safe from the outside world but subject to the horrors of self proclaimed leaders. On the run from one of these a young woman and her daughter find themselves needing help from Ferris a blight scarred survivor. Despite living a life alone in the Godless Lands Ferris not only finds himself helping the pair but leading them to a small group living in peace, despite the danger. Told from multiple POV's this story never suffers from pacing and moves along quickly with Richly defined characters being at the centre of this book. You cannot help but like Ferris and his companions mother and daughter both.. for me I though the three that stuck out were Ig's and Donovan and lastly because of the sheer evilness of his character The Butcher of Riven... A more truly horrible monster you would find it hard to match. Once again a great story well told.
This is a fast paced, action packed story with a line of right and wrong running through it.
Similar in a lot of ways to the books of David Gemmell on the surface it's a tale well told simply, but also like Gemmell's work this story goes to the driving force of man (and woman) when things are bad, how are you going to act? The world has been ravaged by a disease known as the Blight and it has taken nearly all from man and nature. Mankind lives in a few enclosures safe from the outside world but subject to the horrors of self proclaimed leaders. On the run from one of these a young woman and her daughter find themselves needing help from Ferris a blight scarred survivor. Despite living a life alone in the Godless Lands Ferris not only finds himself helping the pair but leading them to a small group living in peace, despite the danger. Told from multiple POV's this story never suffers from pacing and moves along quickly with Richly defined characters being at the centre of this book. You cannot help but like Ferris and his companions mother and daughter both.. for me I though the three that stuck out were Ig's and Donovan and lastly because of the sheer evilness of his character The Butcher of Riven... A more truly horrible monster you would find it hard to match. Once again a great story well told.
December 8, 2024
4.5 Stars - An incredible mix of post-apocalypse and fantasy
For the full review, check out: medium.com/hooked-on-books/book-revie...
Godless Lands is set in a cruel world besieged by a plague that has collapsed nearly all of society. This is a multiple POV story of the people who make up what's left of the population and how they survive and live with differing factions that are at odds with one another. I would say that it is reminiscent of The Walking Dead, but in a fantasy setting with less gore and zombies and more character work.
Godless Lands reminded me of how good post-apocalyptic stories can be; with themes of devotion, virtue, and sacrifice, this story excels at portraying a narrative that is equally gripping, visceral, and warm. The stakes aren't epic in scale but deeply impactful for the characters involved. As the book reached its climax, I had no idea who would survive and it was a thrill to read. Crow also wrote an ensemble cast perfectly in a way that balanced emotional investment and individual character arcs. So many stories use multiple POVs to forgo great character moments for exciting action, but that isn't the case here. You don't spend every moment with any one character but the moments you do get feel important and impactful. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading the next one!
For the full review, check out: medium.com/hooked-on-books/book-revie...
Godless Lands is set in a cruel world besieged by a plague that has collapsed nearly all of society. This is a multiple POV story of the people who make up what's left of the population and how they survive and live with differing factions that are at odds with one another. I would say that it is reminiscent of The Walking Dead, but in a fantasy setting with less gore and zombies and more character work.
Godless Lands reminded me of how good post-apocalyptic stories can be; with themes of devotion, virtue, and sacrifice, this story excels at portraying a narrative that is equally gripping, visceral, and warm. The stakes aren't epic in scale but deeply impactful for the characters involved. As the book reached its climax, I had no idea who would survive and it was a thrill to read. Crow also wrote an ensemble cast perfectly in a way that balanced emotional investment and individual character arcs. So many stories use multiple POVs to forgo great character moments for exciting action, but that isn't the case here. You don't spend every moment with any one character but the moments you do get feel important and impactful. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading the next one!
June 13, 2020
Well worth the read.
This one caught my eye, in the spfbo Facebook group in a post by the author. Liked the cover, and the fact it was in a sale.
I was concerned with the length of the book, was it going to be worth reading. I like long books which are well written with good story flow.
Well I can say this is excellent, well written, good world building and good solid interesting characters both male and female Who do grow on you and you get involved in the storyline.
Even the 2 villains are well formed and the opposite of each other.
For such a short book you are getting a lot for your pennies, decent fight scenes both single and battle are done with a nice bloody violent grimdark feel with the story still holding its own.
Highly recommended to all my good read friends.
Quite a long review for me.😁😁
This one caught my eye, in the spfbo Facebook group in a post by the author. Liked the cover, and the fact it was in a sale.
I was concerned with the length of the book, was it going to be worth reading. I like long books which are well written with good story flow.
Well I can say this is excellent, well written, good world building and good solid interesting characters both male and female Who do grow on you and you get involved in the storyline.
Even the 2 villains are well formed and the opposite of each other.
For such a short book you are getting a lot for your pennies, decent fight scenes both single and battle are done with a nice bloody violent grimdark feel with the story still holding its own.
Highly recommended to all my good read friends.
Quite a long review for me.😁😁
July 30, 2023
Mi sono davvero divertito a leggere questo primo libro di Sean Crow. Il ragazzo scrive davvero bene!!
Una piaga nera ha colpito la terra, falcidiando gran parte della popolazione. Riducendo altri a una sorta di zombie, e lasciando i pochi superstiti rinchiusi in bolle di salvezza laddove sorgevano le città. Ultimi scampoli di civiltà, radunatasi attorno ai resti della vecchia nobiltà.
Pochi si avventurano al di fuori dei rifugi, in una terra morente e sterile, con la piaga che colpisce ogni forma di vita, sia animale che vegetale.
In queste terre desolate, dette Terre senza Dio, si muovono i protagonisti di questa vicenda.
Una donna in fuga con sua figlia, un vecchio soldato colpito dalla piaga, un disertore, un cavaliere dal forte senso del dovere e un sadico maniaco: ognuno di loro fa quel che deve per sopravvivere in una terra ormai condannata all'annichilimento.
La bravura dell'autore è stata quella di saper delineare tutto questo in poche pagine iniziali, rendendo subito il lettore pienamente invischiato nella vicenda.
Non si perde in inutili infodump perchè lo scopo non è esplorare la piaga, la sua origine o la sua cura, ma rendere vivo e realistico il bisogno umano di sopravvivere anche di fronte alla più nera delle condanne.
Cosa saremmo disposti a fare per sopravvivere? é allora che persone buone compiono azioni orribili, e dove persone cattive si attengono a un loro codice morale e dove persone abiette trovano facile spazio per sguazzare nel sordido.
In tutto il romanzo si avverte una sensazione continua di sfacelo e mancanza di speranza, contrastati da sentimenti nobili e resilienza, con un senso di imminente violenza che sfocia in sanguinari combattimenti.
Tra zombie molto particolari, efferati "predatori", eroi casuali, e uomini che non rinunciano alla loro malvagità nemmeno di fronte alla fine della razza umana, prende vita quella che Anthony Ryan ha meritatamente definito il connubio tra le ambientazioni alla The Walking Dead e una narrazione nello stile di Gemmell.
Un adult fantasy che ho divorato, autoconclusivo per coloro che se lo chiedono, anche se facente parte di una trilogia ambientata tutta nelle Terre senza Dio e che non vedo l'ora di poter leggere!
Belli anche i due saggi finali, ottima la traduzione, magnifiche le immagini interne, qualità di stampa finale strepitosa!! Grazie LettereElettriche
Una piaga nera ha colpito la terra, falcidiando gran parte della popolazione. Riducendo altri a una sorta di zombie, e lasciando i pochi superstiti rinchiusi in bolle di salvezza laddove sorgevano le città. Ultimi scampoli di civiltà, radunatasi attorno ai resti della vecchia nobiltà.
Pochi si avventurano al di fuori dei rifugi, in una terra morente e sterile, con la piaga che colpisce ogni forma di vita, sia animale che vegetale.
In queste terre desolate, dette Terre senza Dio, si muovono i protagonisti di questa vicenda.
Una donna in fuga con sua figlia, un vecchio soldato colpito dalla piaga, un disertore, un cavaliere dal forte senso del dovere e un sadico maniaco: ognuno di loro fa quel che deve per sopravvivere in una terra ormai condannata all'annichilimento.
La bravura dell'autore è stata quella di saper delineare tutto questo in poche pagine iniziali, rendendo subito il lettore pienamente invischiato nella vicenda.
Non si perde in inutili infodump perchè lo scopo non è esplorare la piaga, la sua origine o la sua cura, ma rendere vivo e realistico il bisogno umano di sopravvivere anche di fronte alla più nera delle condanne.
Cosa saremmo disposti a fare per sopravvivere? é allora che persone buone compiono azioni orribili, e dove persone cattive si attengono a un loro codice morale e dove persone abiette trovano facile spazio per sguazzare nel sordido.
In tutto il romanzo si avverte una sensazione continua di sfacelo e mancanza di speranza, contrastati da sentimenti nobili e resilienza, con un senso di imminente violenza che sfocia in sanguinari combattimenti.
Tra zombie molto particolari, efferati "predatori", eroi casuali, e uomini che non rinunciano alla loro malvagità nemmeno di fronte alla fine della razza umana, prende vita quella che Anthony Ryan ha meritatamente definito il connubio tra le ambientazioni alla The Walking Dead e una narrazione nello stile di Gemmell.
Un adult fantasy che ho divorato, autoconclusivo per coloro che se lo chiedono, anche se facente parte di una trilogia ambientata tutta nelle Terre senza Dio e che non vedo l'ora di poter leggere!
Belli anche i due saggi finali, ottima la traduzione, magnifiche le immagini interne, qualità di stampa finale strepitosa!! Grazie LettereElettriche
November 1, 2024
Godless Lands was Sean Crow’s debut novel and the first book in his Godless Lands grimdark fantasy series. I first discovered Crow’s writing through his fantasy sci-fi genre fusion Valhalla Steel books, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with a straight fantasy series. What I discovered was a story centring around various local skirmishes rather than the vast epic battles and world-scale conflicts we often see in fantasy. There’s a reason for this as the world has been ravaged by a terrible disease known as the Blight. Most people, animals and crops have died, leaving behind a barren and empty world where the few remaining survivors try and eke out a living in isolated fortified haven towns.
This is a story where every life is precious and the actions of one person make a real difference as these small communities battle for survival. The novel also contains elements of horror with Crow’s creation of the Withers – zombie-like remnants of the Blight who roam the land beyond the havens. They help add tension to the story, particularly as a bite from a Wither usually leads to death.
What really strikes me about Crow’s writing is his ability to write memorable characters with nuance and depth, each with their own set of beliefs and motivations. They draw you right into the story and I had so many favourites on all sides of the conflict.
The events of this tale begin when Ferris, a former soldier, makes the decision to help Bethany of Brightridge and her daughter Katrina. They are fleeing her husband Duke Taegis, who rules the haven of Brightridge, due to his unwholesome desire to use his own daughter to secure his bloodline. Ferris is a rare survivor of the Blight, making him feared by all who think he still carries the disease.
Bethany and Katrina are pursued by Arlo the Death Knight, a man haunted by the loss of his family who has become used to dealing with the terror of the Blight and its aftermath without mercy. The white-clad Doves serve him, ejecting or killing those with the Blight to try and protect the remaining populace. Ferris is a former Dove and he ultimately fled Arlo’s service as Crow shows how their actions slowly undermine the very humanity they are trying to preserve. Arlo has found a way to justify his own choices to himself, making him a complex and fascinating antagonist.
Arlo isn’t the only one placing Bethany, Katrina and Ferris in danger. Another group of soldiers, led by the truly terrifying Butcher of Riven, are also roaming the land. Riven is another haven town where cannibalism is now commonplace due to the shortage of food. The people there serve the mysterious Hungry God, a theme which I think will be explored in future books in this series.
As a consequence we get not just one but two brilliant antagonists. Arlo is a great villain and my favourite of the two, with enough insight to understand what he has become. The Butcher makes no apologies, a twisted religion justifying his horrific actions.
Ranged against Arlo and the Butcher are the residents of the Farm, which is a hidden religious community led by Zia and the rather frightening Donovan. Zia and Donovan are both memorable and contrasting characters, choosing to build a positive life for themselves and their followers. Whilst the havens represent desperate unchecked individualism and a slow slide into depravity, the Farm models the values of community, love and cooperation. Ferris’ actions as he tries to help Bethany and her daughter inadvertently places the Farm in danger and a key theme of this book is how even when you try and do the right thing there can be terrible consequences.
Another favourite character for me was Igs, who has sought a life of peace on the Farm in order to try and leave behind his violent past. Against his will, he finds he has to turn to violence once more if the Farm and those he loves are to be protected.
Elderly Annabel, who serves as the Farm’s healer, also deserves a mention. I thought she was an interesting character, once you got behind her prickly exterior, and she has some of the best lines!
Ferris, Bethany and Katrina quickly find themselves caught up in this three-sided conflict and events move at a rapid pace throughout the book. There's a pervading sense in this novel that no one is safe and I was left guessing what the outcome would be until the very end.
I found this novel to be compulsively readable due to the excellent character work and well-executed action scenes, which were always filled with tension. The setting of Godless Lands and the associated themes of the story offer the reader a fascinating new fantasy world to explore. The final book in the trilogy is due to be released soon, so this is a perfect time to pick up this series. Without a doubt this is one of the best novels I’ve read this year.
This is a story where every life is precious and the actions of one person make a real difference as these small communities battle for survival. The novel also contains elements of horror with Crow’s creation of the Withers – zombie-like remnants of the Blight who roam the land beyond the havens. They help add tension to the story, particularly as a bite from a Wither usually leads to death.
What really strikes me about Crow’s writing is his ability to write memorable characters with nuance and depth, each with their own set of beliefs and motivations. They draw you right into the story and I had so many favourites on all sides of the conflict.
The events of this tale begin when Ferris, a former soldier, makes the decision to help Bethany of Brightridge and her daughter Katrina. They are fleeing her husband Duke Taegis, who rules the haven of Brightridge, due to his unwholesome desire to use his own daughter to secure his bloodline. Ferris is a rare survivor of the Blight, making him feared by all who think he still carries the disease.
Bethany and Katrina are pursued by Arlo the Death Knight, a man haunted by the loss of his family who has become used to dealing with the terror of the Blight and its aftermath without mercy. The white-clad Doves serve him, ejecting or killing those with the Blight to try and protect the remaining populace. Ferris is a former Dove and he ultimately fled Arlo’s service as Crow shows how their actions slowly undermine the very humanity they are trying to preserve. Arlo has found a way to justify his own choices to himself, making him a complex and fascinating antagonist.
Arlo isn’t the only one placing Bethany, Katrina and Ferris in danger. Another group of soldiers, led by the truly terrifying Butcher of Riven, are also roaming the land. Riven is another haven town where cannibalism is now commonplace due to the shortage of food. The people there serve the mysterious Hungry God, a theme which I think will be explored in future books in this series.
As a consequence we get not just one but two brilliant antagonists. Arlo is a great villain and my favourite of the two, with enough insight to understand what he has become. The Butcher makes no apologies, a twisted religion justifying his horrific actions.
Ranged against Arlo and the Butcher are the residents of the Farm, which is a hidden religious community led by Zia and the rather frightening Donovan. Zia and Donovan are both memorable and contrasting characters, choosing to build a positive life for themselves and their followers. Whilst the havens represent desperate unchecked individualism and a slow slide into depravity, the Farm models the values of community, love and cooperation. Ferris’ actions as he tries to help Bethany and her daughter inadvertently places the Farm in danger and a key theme of this book is how even when you try and do the right thing there can be terrible consequences.
Another favourite character for me was Igs, who has sought a life of peace on the Farm in order to try and leave behind his violent past. Against his will, he finds he has to turn to violence once more if the Farm and those he loves are to be protected.
Elderly Annabel, who serves as the Farm’s healer, also deserves a mention. I thought she was an interesting character, once you got behind her prickly exterior, and she has some of the best lines!
Ferris, Bethany and Katrina quickly find themselves caught up in this three-sided conflict and events move at a rapid pace throughout the book. There's a pervading sense in this novel that no one is safe and I was left guessing what the outcome would be until the very end.
I found this novel to be compulsively readable due to the excellent character work and well-executed action scenes, which were always filled with tension. The setting of Godless Lands and the associated themes of the story offer the reader a fascinating new fantasy world to explore. The final book in the trilogy is due to be released soon, so this is a perfect time to pick up this series. Without a doubt this is one of the best novels I’ve read this year.
March 2, 2023
Assailing the land the blight spreads its misery. Those suspected of carrying its plague hunted & eliminated. A place where even an act of kindness may doom all.
A deliciously dark journey! Filled with terror & despair but not without hope! Great characters!
A deliciously dark journey! Filled with terror & despair but not without hope! Great characters!
March 26, 2024
First of all, let me be clear and say I bought this book for the amazing cover. And I'm so glad I did!
Dark, brutal, but still somewhat sweet and letting us glimpse a glimmer of hope, the world in Godless Lands has been ravaged by a plague. But as interesting as that sounds, in my opinion, the best thing about this story is its characters. So much that I would gladly read another book about the life of the antagonists - which I found to be almost as interesting, if not more, than the main characters!
However, Ferris has my whole heart.
I would recommend this book for grimdark fans who want to be left with a sweet aftertaste.
Dark, brutal, but still somewhat sweet and letting us glimpse a glimmer of hope, the world in Godless Lands has been ravaged by a plague. But as interesting as that sounds, in my opinion, the best thing about this story is its characters. So much that I would gladly read another book about the life of the antagonists - which I found to be almost as interesting, if not more, than the main characters!
However, Ferris has my whole heart.
I would recommend this book for grimdark fans who want to be left with a sweet aftertaste.
September 13, 2022
Set in a world ravaged by a disease known as the Blight, Godless Lands is a gritty, post-apocalyptic fantasy that packs a huge amount of character and world-building into just over 200 pages. The story revolves around Ferris, an aged and Blight-scarred traveller who finds himself thrown into the role of guardian for two strangers, a young woman and her daughter, on the run. Hounded from one of the few surviving havens of humanity left in the world, he leads them deep into the wilds of the desolate Godless Lands in search of a hidden community that may be their only hope of survival.
Ferris and the other characters in this book all leap from the page with strong personalities, motivations and voices. Considering it is such a short book, there are a lot of POV characters to follow here. From the top of my head, I think we get seven but I could be missing someone. Either way, the uniqueness to each character, and how easy it is to slip into their heads through the writing, is hugely impressive from Sean Crow. Personal favourites of mine were Igs and The Butcher of Riven – who is just skin-crawlingly disgusting, but his chapters are fantastic.
Through these strong characters, Sean Crow is able to explore some pretty complicated themes, with each theme or question represented by a character or a conflict between two characters. Is sacrifice of a few innocent lives worth the lives of many more? What is more important, duty or honour? Can good deeds redeem someone for their past actions?
Away from our characters, Sean Crow clearly brought his A-game to the world-building. His descriptions of the landscape and politics of this world are horrifying in the best way possible. Which makes total sense considering we are exploring a world where the vast majority of the population are dead and the survivors struggle daily to eke out their existences as the plague didn’t just decimate the human population, but also the animals, the landscape and the crops.
Overall, this is just a great book filled with brutal violence, gore and despair that shows off the worst in humanity, but tempers it with glimmers of hope and kindness. If you’re in the mood for something a little dark with your fantasy, and a world destroyed by disease isn’t too on the nose for you right now, then I definitely recommend picking this up!
December 20, 2020
This is a short but masterfully told tale full of despair and glimmers of hope.
Each character has a backstory told naturally by dialogue or internal monologue. From Ferris who seems without a purpose, Igs who is by nature violent and struggles to express his feelings, Bethany who is wanting to give her daughter a better life, Sir Arlo who is stuck honour bound to a mad Baron, or even the Butcher who's a clever bastard of a cannibal.
Top notch characters, I'm very impressed that I grew to care about them within such a short tale.
Good amount of action and it is well described. Some of the action involving the cannibals has this added element of fear due to dying not being the worst case scenario...
The world is a great blend of somewhat standard medieval style fantasy with the added element of 10 years after an apocalyptic blight that wiped out the land. Something I've not seen before.
This is definitely grimdark, however the small bits of hope sprinkled throughout are wonderfully done.
I really hope Mr Crow continues this world, whether its a direct sequel or a Drenai style series where its different characters and time from book to book.
9/10
Also, the physical copy of this book has an amazing texture to the cover.
See this and other reviews + my own average stories at https://keithwarrenwriter.com
Each character has a backstory told naturally by dialogue or internal monologue. From Ferris who seems without a purpose, Igs who is by nature violent and struggles to express his feelings, Bethany who is wanting to give her daughter a better life, Sir Arlo who is stuck honour bound to a mad Baron, or even the Butcher who's a clever bastard of a cannibal.
Top notch characters, I'm very impressed that I grew to care about them within such a short tale.
Good amount of action and it is well described. Some of the action involving the cannibals has this added element of fear due to dying not being the worst case scenario...
The world is a great blend of somewhat standard medieval style fantasy with the added element of 10 years after an apocalyptic blight that wiped out the land. Something I've not seen before.
This is definitely grimdark, however the small bits of hope sprinkled throughout are wonderfully done.
I really hope Mr Crow continues this world, whether its a direct sequel or a Drenai style series where its different characters and time from book to book.
9/10
Also, the physical copy of this book has an amazing texture to the cover.
See this and other reviews + my own average stories at https://keithwarrenwriter.com
November 20, 2023
“Terre Senza Dio” di Sean Crow, edito da LettereElettriche nella collana Badlands è il genere di stand alone che si cerca, che si brama disperatamente. Quel tipo di lettura che ti stupisci di trovare e che non puoi fare a meno di rimpiangere quando concludi. L’ho adorato.
E dire che la componente fantasy è limitata alla Piaga, una malattia che ha ucciso buona parte dell’umanità e che ha reso zombie chi l’ha contratta e non è deceduto.
Perciò affermo che “Terre Senza Dio” racconta una storia di onore e sacrificio, di coraggio e amore, in cui sono i personaggi a imporsi sulla trama.
Arlo è un cavaliere dedito al dovere, che ha sacrificato ogni cosa per restare saldo nei suoi principi. Il Macellaio invece si è ormai inchinato al Dio Famelico e regna con la paura e il terrore. Nel mezzo abbiamo Ferris, il più misterioso, che resta invischiato nel salvataggio di una madre e una bambina. Eppure non ci sono molti posti dove andare oltre i Rifugi, non si può semplicemente nascondersi nella foresta perchè i Perduti sono sempre a caccia di carne fresca. E il senso di costante pericolo mi ha per forza regalato vibrazioni alla “The Walking Dead”. Anche i personaggi della Fattoria si sono fatti apprezzare per il coraggio e la determinazione nel credere in un futuro migliore costruito con le proprie forze.
La trama come ho accennato, è davvero molto molto semplice, ma Sean Crow non ne ha bisogno: basta far incontrare e scontrare i suoi personaggi per regalarci emozioni indimenticabili.
PS: il saggio finale di Massimo Sandal e i consigli di Alessandro Girola sono la ciliegina sulla torta a un’edizione curata nei minimi dettagli.
E dire che la componente fantasy è limitata alla Piaga, una malattia che ha ucciso buona parte dell’umanità e che ha reso zombie chi l’ha contratta e non è deceduto.
Perciò affermo che “Terre Senza Dio” racconta una storia di onore e sacrificio, di coraggio e amore, in cui sono i personaggi a imporsi sulla trama.
Arlo è un cavaliere dedito al dovere, che ha sacrificato ogni cosa per restare saldo nei suoi principi. Il Macellaio invece si è ormai inchinato al Dio Famelico e regna con la paura e il terrore. Nel mezzo abbiamo Ferris, il più misterioso, che resta invischiato nel salvataggio di una madre e una bambina. Eppure non ci sono molti posti dove andare oltre i Rifugi, non si può semplicemente nascondersi nella foresta perchè i Perduti sono sempre a caccia di carne fresca. E il senso di costante pericolo mi ha per forza regalato vibrazioni alla “The Walking Dead”. Anche i personaggi della Fattoria si sono fatti apprezzare per il coraggio e la determinazione nel credere in un futuro migliore costruito con le proprie forze.
La trama come ho accennato, è davvero molto molto semplice, ma Sean Crow non ne ha bisogno: basta far incontrare e scontrare i suoi personaggi per regalarci emozioni indimenticabili.
PS: il saggio finale di Massimo Sandal e i consigli di Alessandro Girola sono la ciliegina sulla torta a un’edizione curata nei minimi dettagli.
June 6, 2020
An engaging read that I couldn't put down. Character development was creative, story kept pace throughout, never lagging.
January 29, 2023
Great debut from Sean Crow. A dark and miserable world, grim characters on hateful quests, all the good trappings of quality Grimdark I know and love. Despite it all though, and despite the brutality of the ensemble, Sean manages to keep a grain of hope shining through the narrative in the most artful of ways, dangling it so you never know if he's about to heap a last shovel of grim on it and smother it for good.
This is a book I should have finished reading long ago, and if it weren't for the day job I would have, but it was worth the wait. Kudos Sean - stellar writing!
This is a book I should have finished reading long ago, and if it weren't for the day job I would have, but it was worth the wait. Kudos Sean - stellar writing!
July 7, 2022
3.5!
I don't write many reviews, because I figure anything I might have to say has already been said, and most of the books I read are swimming in reviews anyway. However, having just finished this one by Sean Crow, I noticed a disturbing lack of reviews, so I figured I'd throw in a few comments myself. I have both praise and critique for The Godless Lands, but my intention with this review is to get you to read the darned book if you are in any way into the classics, such as David Gemmel's works. I'll try to keep it short-ish (I'm sorry that's probably a lie).
The Good:
- The setting: As someone with a vivid imagination, it can get frustrating when authors try to describe things TOO specifically. I'm good with small hints and clues allowing me to paint my own picture of the forest or city the characters are in, and Sean manages to build a world that's both simple and interesting. At times it reminded me of Fallout Fantasy Edition (in a very good way) - and though the world is bleak, there's still plenty of hope to be found.
- The tone of the book was a good combination of grim and hopeless without ever going full grimdark, as heroes exist, acting the part without looking the part, and the good guys are generally still good guys.
- The length of the book and the characters: It's a simple, straight forward tale and it has to be, because it's a short book. This was refreshing to me, because not every book as to be 800 pages long, and while I usually prefer fewer characters that are more fleshed out, Sean manages to use his POV characters in a way that moves the story forward without having them feel like simple plot devices, as I have seen happen elsewhere. While few of the characters are especially deep, you get the FEELING that there's more to them and that they're actual people, which is what good story telling is all about. I especially liked Arlo the Death Knight and Katrina, a ten year old kid or thereabout, where I really feel Sean managed to capture that POV beautifully several places.
- I liked the battle scenes, they felt real and gritty and human. No heroes able to take out entire armies, just regular people doing their best to survive.
The Not so Good:
- Typos! I usually would never comment on this, because few books are entirely without them, but there were so many in The Godless Lands that they took me out of the story and had me rereading sentences - In total, I counted 40, which is far too many for a book of around 200 pages. Some pages there'd be 2 in a row. Usually it was wrong tense and missing words, which is such a shame because while the prose isn't fantastic, it serves its purpose well apart from the typos breaking (at least my) immersion.
- A few too-convenient instances of characters somehow knowing almost exactly what their enemy is thinking made certain plot points a little too forced. Still, nothing too grievous here.
- The characters: Okay, I liked the characters, as I said, so this isn't so much bad as it is me feeling that at some points in the story I would have preferred fewer POVs. The effect Sean achieves by having a lot of POVs means I never really cared about any one character, which usually isn't good, but it ALSO made the story better, because every character felt just a touch more real, as mentioned above. So, this one is mostly my own preference that as I'm writing this I'm not even sure I have.
The pedantic!
- Being an utter nut for medieval weapons myself, one of the characters using a "short pike" annoyed me, and I am sure I am the only person on earth who would be annoyed by this. The short pike isn't described as a pike in any way save that it's a pole but is instead a voulge/bardiche/billhook/generic poleaxe of some kind. It would be like constantly referring to a hatchet as a short sword with a different blade on it. This didn't ruin the story in any way of course, it's just me being pedantic.
Final verdict:
The main thing that kept taking me out of the story was the typos. It kept reminding me I was reading a book written by someone, instead of letting me be immersed in the world Sean has created. I'm giving it 3.5, but honestly, I'd happily give it 4 if not for the typos, and I am very excited to read the next book in the world of the Godless Lands.
I don't write many reviews, because I figure anything I might have to say has already been said, and most of the books I read are swimming in reviews anyway. However, having just finished this one by Sean Crow, I noticed a disturbing lack of reviews, so I figured I'd throw in a few comments myself. I have both praise and critique for The Godless Lands, but my intention with this review is to get you to read the darned book if you are in any way into the classics, such as David Gemmel's works. I'll try to keep it short-ish (I'm sorry that's probably a lie).
The Good:
- The setting: As someone with a vivid imagination, it can get frustrating when authors try to describe things TOO specifically. I'm good with small hints and clues allowing me to paint my own picture of the forest or city the characters are in, and Sean manages to build a world that's both simple and interesting. At times it reminded me of Fallout Fantasy Edition (in a very good way) - and though the world is bleak, there's still plenty of hope to be found.
- The tone of the book was a good combination of grim and hopeless without ever going full grimdark, as heroes exist, acting the part without looking the part, and the good guys are generally still good guys.
- The length of the book and the characters: It's a simple, straight forward tale and it has to be, because it's a short book. This was refreshing to me, because not every book as to be 800 pages long, and while I usually prefer fewer characters that are more fleshed out, Sean manages to use his POV characters in a way that moves the story forward without having them feel like simple plot devices, as I have seen happen elsewhere. While few of the characters are especially deep, you get the FEELING that there's more to them and that they're actual people, which is what good story telling is all about. I especially liked Arlo the Death Knight and Katrina, a ten year old kid or thereabout, where I really feel Sean managed to capture that POV beautifully several places.
- I liked the battle scenes, they felt real and gritty and human. No heroes able to take out entire armies, just regular people doing their best to survive.
The Not so Good:
- Typos! I usually would never comment on this, because few books are entirely without them, but there were so many in The Godless Lands that they took me out of the story and had me rereading sentences - In total, I counted 40, which is far too many for a book of around 200 pages. Some pages there'd be 2 in a row. Usually it was wrong tense and missing words, which is such a shame because while the prose isn't fantastic, it serves its purpose well apart from the typos breaking (at least my) immersion.
- A few too-convenient instances of characters somehow knowing almost exactly what their enemy is thinking made certain plot points a little too forced. Still, nothing too grievous here.
- The characters: Okay, I liked the characters, as I said, so this isn't so much bad as it is me feeling that at some points in the story I would have preferred fewer POVs. The effect Sean achieves by having a lot of POVs means I never really cared about any one character, which usually isn't good, but it ALSO made the story better, because every character felt just a touch more real, as mentioned above. So, this one is mostly my own preference that as I'm writing this I'm not even sure I have.
The pedantic!
- Being an utter nut for medieval weapons myself, one of the characters using a "short pike" annoyed me, and I am sure I am the only person on earth who would be annoyed by this. The short pike isn't described as a pike in any way save that it's a pole but is instead a voulge/bardiche/billhook/generic poleaxe of some kind. It would be like constantly referring to a hatchet as a short sword with a different blade on it. This didn't ruin the story in any way of course, it's just me being pedantic.
Final verdict:
The main thing that kept taking me out of the story was the typos. It kept reminding me I was reading a book written by someone, instead of letting me be immersed in the world Sean has created. I'm giving it 3.5, but honestly, I'd happily give it 4 if not for the typos, and I am very excited to read the next book in the world of the Godless Lands.
November 15, 2023
Godibilissimo, spero di avere altri approfondimenti sul mondo post piaga raccontato in terre senza dio.
December 14, 2022
A solid grimdark read !!
January 13, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
The main characters were very well written. The side characters felt thin.
There were a ton of grammatical errors that became distracting.
Overall a good read!
The main characters were very well written. The side characters felt thin.
There were a ton of grammatical errors that became distracting.
Overall a good read!
August 13, 2023
The fourth Badlands by Lettere Elettriche (italian editor) takes us to a dark world, dominated by defeat and the Plague, where humanity is lost, but still has small bonfires that lighten the darkness.
The oppression and darkness of the soul of Robert Kirkman (the walking dead) are amalgamated with the heroism and storytelling of David Gemmell (legends), leaving us with an exceptional book.
Sean Crow describes living, deep characters and contrasts them with a silent and lethal world. We follow them in a story where defeat weighs heavily on the protagonists, where events and action follow one another at an excellent pace, where cruelty coexists with humanity. These elements, and many others, are in a self-contained volume, a story that runs smoothly, without unnecessary frills, which is consumed in one breath. Embellished with the cover and illustrations by Tomas Duchek , which were also an inspiration for the story and characters.
Also present in the volume are two excellent essays on the zombie world, Alex Girola brings us an exhaustive collection of the best zombie-apocalyptic novels, while Massimo Sandal tells us, in a scientific spirit, a possible zombie apocalypse situation in a medieval context.
BADLANDS confirms itself as an excellent collector of unique stories!
The oppression and darkness of the soul of Robert Kirkman (the walking dead) are amalgamated with the heroism and storytelling of David Gemmell (legends), leaving us with an exceptional book.
Sean Crow describes living, deep characters and contrasts them with a silent and lethal world. We follow them in a story where defeat weighs heavily on the protagonists, where events and action follow one another at an excellent pace, where cruelty coexists with humanity. These elements, and many others, are in a self-contained volume, a story that runs smoothly, without unnecessary frills, which is consumed in one breath. Embellished with the cover and illustrations by Tomas Duchek , which were also an inspiration for the story and characters.
Also present in the volume are two excellent essays on the zombie world, Alex Girola brings us an exhaustive collection of the best zombie-apocalyptic novels, while Massimo Sandal tells us, in a scientific spirit, a possible zombie apocalypse situation in a medieval context.
BADLANDS confirms itself as an excellent collector of unique stories!
August 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I thought that it was well written and well thought out. It has a dystopian setting and the Blight felt VERY real. The characters were well developed and had depth, the fight scences were very realisitc, and the pacing was spot on. I hit about half way through the book and found myself not wanting to put it down and powered though this to get to the end to see what transpires...it was a great ending by the way. I would definately recommend this work by Sean Crow to anyone looking for a dystopian fantasy with some shocking, yet, true to life scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat (and may make some squimish), with a heart pumping build up to the end.
February 2, 2022
Medieval, dark fantasy meets post apocalyptic fantasy. Sean Crow paints a terrifying yet promising world in Godless Lands. First, the characters are wonderful and complex. Each has a unique and driving tale that makes you want to discover more about their backstory. If you love a good damsel in defense adventure, this one is for you. (Literally, from losing an appendage to becoming a zombie, Bethany is as tough as they come) I really hope to read about them again. Second, the pacing is spot on. Each chapter made me want to discover more of the world. Can’t wait to see what Sean has brewing for us next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2022
Just wanted to say that i love this Book! Really like how the Book made me think about how the lands were before the blight.. i want more of this so starting book 2 right now. Thanks for writing this amazing book
May 30, 2020
It’s really quite unbelievable that this is Crow’s debut novel. I tend to stay away from fantasy but wanted to support a local author. Not only did it not disappoint, I will anticipate more!
October 3, 2021
Godless Lands was a short grimdark read and I definitely enjoyed my time with it.
September 22, 2021
Medieval apocalypse
This was a quick read, and interesting premise of an apocalyptic medieval fantasy. Never was boring and had a tight, focused story. Very entertaining.
This was a quick read, and interesting premise of an apocalyptic medieval fantasy. Never was boring and had a tight, focused story. Very entertaining.
July 5, 2022
7.5/10*
A good read
A good read
August 26, 2022
I was intrigued when author Sean Crow approached me to review Godless Lands, which boasts a premise that piqued my interest enough – a post-zombiepocalypse, secondary world fantasy novel. Which makes a change from contemporary zombie tales that draw heavily on the rather sprawling The Walking Dead franchise. So kudos to the author for pulling off something a little different.
At its heart, this is a story about hope rather than epic stuffed with derring-do and high-octane adventuring, as we follow the movements of a bunch of survivors: including a woman who's run away from a secure settlement to protect her young daughter; a scarred, blighted veteran who hasn't gone full zombie (much to everyone's consternation); and an equally scarred warrior who's trying to make a life for himself in a community that's eking out an existence in a world turned hostile to living things.
In this setting, the zombies are known as withers, and they're really the kind of thing you'd like to avoid on any day. The conflict is primarily between three human groups, who all have vastly different approaches on how to deal with their half-dead world. The community of Brightridge has high walls, and keeps the Godless Lands without; the Farm is made up of survivors who dream of reclaiming the Godless Lands while staying out of everyone else's clutches; and the Riven are a bloodthirsty pack of cannibals who worship the aptly named Hungry God. These are all different solutions to dealing with the awful reality in which humanity finds itself, and it's inevitable that some sort of showdown will take place – as the conflict in this book is presented.
Our heroes do their best to cling to decency in a decayed world, and the price they pay for their sovereignty is often the highest anyone would be willing to offer, in order to make their world a better place. Because when awful people turn even rotten, they become like the Butcher and his Hungry God – monsters any sane person would want to steer clear of.
Overall, this was a solid read. I did feel that the editing was a wee bit wonky in places, but the little gremlins weren't deal-breakers for what turned out to be an enjoyable, tension-filled survival tale.
At its heart, this is a story about hope rather than epic stuffed with derring-do and high-octane adventuring, as we follow the movements of a bunch of survivors: including a woman who's run away from a secure settlement to protect her young daughter; a scarred, blighted veteran who hasn't gone full zombie (much to everyone's consternation); and an equally scarred warrior who's trying to make a life for himself in a community that's eking out an existence in a world turned hostile to living things.
In this setting, the zombies are known as withers, and they're really the kind of thing you'd like to avoid on any day. The conflict is primarily between three human groups, who all have vastly different approaches on how to deal with their half-dead world. The community of Brightridge has high walls, and keeps the Godless Lands without; the Farm is made up of survivors who dream of reclaiming the Godless Lands while staying out of everyone else's clutches; and the Riven are a bloodthirsty pack of cannibals who worship the aptly named Hungry God. These are all different solutions to dealing with the awful reality in which humanity finds itself, and it's inevitable that some sort of showdown will take place – as the conflict in this book is presented.
Our heroes do their best to cling to decency in a decayed world, and the price they pay for their sovereignty is often the highest anyone would be willing to offer, in order to make their world a better place. Because when awful people turn even rotten, they become like the Butcher and his Hungry God – monsters any sane person would want to steer clear of.
Overall, this was a solid read. I did feel that the editing was a wee bit wonky in places, but the little gremlins weren't deal-breakers for what turned out to be an enjoyable, tension-filled survival tale.
January 12, 2024
Quarto volume in ordine di uscita del Mondo Badlands. Ambientazione post-apocalittica delineata sin dalle prime pagine in modo diretto ed essenziale senza lasciare dubbi di sorta ma che non spicca di originalità e col tempo lenisce la curiosità verso la profonda comprensione di ciò che ha portato le Terre senza Dio a divenire tali. È forse proprio questa l'unica vera pecca riscontrata in questa opera; un world building che colpisce e incuriosisce molto inizialmente ma che non viene poi pompato a sufficienza di particolari da fare crescere l'attenzione per questo aspetto. Di contro i personaggi di questo Epic Dark Zombie Fantasy sono veramente iconici, azzeccatissimi tutti i ruoli presenti, dal primo all'ultimo: calibrato alla perfezione il progredire della caratterizzazione di ognuno di loro di pari passo alla trama. Anche qui ne avrei voluto golosamente sapere di più, ma non posso negare che l'autore sazia la fame con la presentazione alternata di personaggi di alto spessore, dal più temuto ed onorevole dei Nominati ad uno dei crudi quanto attraenti villain che io abbia mai incontrato su carta stampata. Descrizioni e momenti introspettivi sono inseriti in maniera ben dosata tra un'azione e l'altra. È un mondo duro e cupo quello che viene descritto, fatto di pochi fronzoli e tanto sangue.
In un marasma di lotte per la sopravvivenza, di lotte per il potere materiale, spirituale e famelico, e spirali di vendetta cremisi, si ergono sprazzi di valore puro che prendono forma in alcune di quelle anime che sono riuscite a tenere più viva in loro la fiamma di un passato migliore, contro il grigiore ed il nero portato con sé dalla devastante Piaga che ha completamente invaso il mondo ideato da Crow. L'aspetto militaresco si è rivelato essere la vera perla di questo romanzo , in quanto è sempre presente sullo sfondo e risalta spesso attraverso chicche di arte della guerra a ranghi ridotti, sfoggio di pregiate tecniche di combattimento corpo a corpo e cruente descrizioni di scontri all'ultimo respiro nel più pieno e vero senso del termine.
Continua sempre più saldamente a confermarsi la forza di questo meraviglioso Mondo delle Badlands!!
In un marasma di lotte per la sopravvivenza, di lotte per il potere materiale, spirituale e famelico, e spirali di vendetta cremisi, si ergono sprazzi di valore puro che prendono forma in alcune di quelle anime che sono riuscite a tenere più viva in loro la fiamma di un passato migliore, contro il grigiore ed il nero portato con sé dalla devastante Piaga che ha completamente invaso il mondo ideato da Crow. L'aspetto militaresco si è rivelato essere la vera perla di questo romanzo , in quanto è sempre presente sullo sfondo e risalta spesso attraverso chicche di arte della guerra a ranghi ridotti, sfoggio di pregiate tecniche di combattimento corpo a corpo e cruente descrizioni di scontri all'ultimo respiro nel più pieno e vero senso del termine.
Continua sempre più saldamente a confermarsi la forza di questo meraviglioso Mondo delle Badlands!!
June 25, 2020
Medieval fantasy plus zombies and a post-apocalyptic hellscape.
Crow tells a decent story with a few nice twists, and he’s not overly sentimental, killing off characters left and right, even some you might have expected to make it.
But the characters fell a bit flat for me. As a collection of characteristics, many of the characters had solid potential, but I think it came down to two things for me: 1) too much telling vs showing and 2) motivations across the board that were too straightforward and unchanging to be really interesting or feel real. For instance, one character is clearly presented as being on a redemption arc, and we seem to see some of that in the part shown in the prologue, but then throughout the rest of the novel he’s just a good, strong person. No inner conflict to speak of, no real self-doubt, no real sense that his years of solitary survival have marked him.
And while each of the other characters was different, they each felt that way to me.
I also felt like there was a missed opportunity with the landscape. While I don’t care for overdone descriptive passages, with a plague that has destroyed plant life and turned people into zombies, there’s some scope for really distinctive description that was missed.
Crow tells a decent story with a few nice twists, and he’s not overly sentimental, killing off characters left and right, even some you might have expected to make it.
But the characters fell a bit flat for me. As a collection of characteristics, many of the characters had solid potential, but I think it came down to two things for me: 1) too much telling vs showing and 2) motivations across the board that were too straightforward and unchanging to be really interesting or feel real. For instance, one character is clearly presented as being on a redemption arc, and we seem to see some of that in the part shown in the prologue, but then throughout the rest of the novel he’s just a good, strong person. No inner conflict to speak of, no real self-doubt, no real sense that his years of solitary survival have marked him.
And while each of the other characters was different, they each felt that way to me.
I also felt like there was a missed opportunity with the landscape. While I don’t care for overdone descriptive passages, with a plague that has destroyed plant life and turned people into zombies, there’s some scope for really distinctive description that was missed.
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