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The Dark is Knocking: a novella
Death would soon come for all, and he was going to take as many Illian down with him before the end.
Absalom believes one thing above all else...
Being found useful to the ruling Philios nation
means survival...
Even if you'd rather slit their throats and watch
them bleed out.
Contracts have ruled Absalom's world since boyhood, and the consequence of breaking them means death. He already has to conceal his tics lest that make his overlords see him as a liability. When he suspects a despotic noble of involvement in a counterfeiting ring, he wonders how far up the deceptions stretch.
Before he can completely sever the cord tying him to his conscripted work as an assassin hunter, he has to consider how close he is to earning a death sentence himself. So, instead, he seeks to prove the autocrats have forfeited their contract.
His quest for answers is further complicated when he is saddled with an insufferable ward. He hopes skills from her exotic homeland prove useful, but also that she'd shut up about it already.
This is a 5-episode novella season, designed to be read in order and in its entirity. There are two more seasons of 5 novellas each already being drafted which will fully complete the tale. Although each episode tells a complete portion of the story, the five novellas - ready together - forges one epically gritty experience.
Absalom believes one thing above all else...
Being found useful to the ruling Philios nation
means survival...
Even if you'd rather slit their throats and watch
them bleed out.
Contracts have ruled Absalom's world since boyhood, and the consequence of breaking them means death. He already has to conceal his tics lest that make his overlords see him as a liability. When he suspects a despotic noble of involvement in a counterfeiting ring, he wonders how far up the deceptions stretch.
Before he can completely sever the cord tying him to his conscripted work as an assassin hunter, he has to consider how close he is to earning a death sentence himself. So, instead, he seeks to prove the autocrats have forfeited their contract.
His quest for answers is further complicated when he is saddled with an insufferable ward. He hopes skills from her exotic homeland prove useful, but also that she'd shut up about it already.
This is a 5-episode novella season, designed to be read in order and in its entirity. There are two more seasons of 5 novellas each already being drafted which will fully complete the tale. Although each episode tells a complete portion of the story, the five novellas - ready together - forges one epically gritty experience.
141 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2023
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 31, 2023
This is my first high fantasy novella (emphasis on novella.) I was pleasantly surprised; normally it takes me a while to get in to an author’s high fantasy world, magic system, whatever. But I’m also not an avid reader of the genre.
This was fast-paced. I finished the book in two or three days, even with two children ages 2 and under in the home. I’d say that my curiosity was hooked by page 7, and then I felt myself sink in to their world around page 21. Already, I am looking forward to Book 2 coming out next month. I am now also following the author on Amazon.
The Shadow Realm was well described. As for the different races and powers, I didn’t have to go back and reference the first pages to remember who was who. I could picture/get a gist of each character fairly quickly.
There is a disclaimer at the front of the book that Absolam’s experience with Tourette’s Syndrome is not the same as everyone’s. However, the writing was good enough to give the story flavor and open my mind to what someone with Tourette’s might think or feel in certain settings.
I will say that for me, Absolam’s other character traits took a few pages to get used to. But Absolam is also the reason I got hooked and transitioned easily in to the author’s world. So I recommend sticking with him.
Great read for high fantasy, especially if you’re thinking of trying out the genre as a novella.
This was fast-paced. I finished the book in two or three days, even with two children ages 2 and under in the home. I’d say that my curiosity was hooked by page 7, and then I felt myself sink in to their world around page 21. Already, I am looking forward to Book 2 coming out next month. I am now also following the author on Amazon.
The Shadow Realm was well described. As for the different races and powers, I didn’t have to go back and reference the first pages to remember who was who. I could picture/get a gist of each character fairly quickly.
There is a disclaimer at the front of the book that Absolam’s experience with Tourette’s Syndrome is not the same as everyone’s. However, the writing was good enough to give the story flavor and open my mind to what someone with Tourette’s might think or feel in certain settings.
I will say that for me, Absolam’s other character traits took a few pages to get used to. But Absolam is also the reason I got hooked and transitioned easily in to the author’s world. So I recommend sticking with him.
Great read for high fantasy, especially if you’re thinking of trying out the genre as a novella.
Displaying 1 of 1 review