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Ravenslayer #1
The Eternal's Chosen
What would you sacrifice to save the ones you love? Would you risk becoming the evil you seek to defeat?
Marcus craves peace.
After fifteen Summers of war, all he wants is to return home and heal the scars that haunt him. But peace is fleeting.
When a savage orc horde murders its way across the continent and razes his village, Marcus is forced to take up his sword once more to save his siblings.
What begins as a desperate rescue mission quickly spirals into something far darker. The orcs are only the beginning—an ancient dark power stirs, its influence spreading. As chaos grows, Marcus must battle not only the encroaching darkness but also his own inner demons.
Haunted by the blood on his hands, Marcus is driven closer to a terrifying truth: can he stop the evil before sacrificing the last remnants of his humanity?
Marcus craves peace.
After fifteen Summers of war, all he wants is to return home and heal the scars that haunt him. But peace is fleeting.
When a savage orc horde murders its way across the continent and razes his village, Marcus is forced to take up his sword once more to save his siblings.
What begins as a desperate rescue mission quickly spirals into something far darker. The orcs are only the beginning—an ancient dark power stirs, its influence spreading. As chaos grows, Marcus must battle not only the encroaching darkness but also his own inner demons.
Haunted by the blood on his hands, Marcus is driven closer to a terrifying truth: can he stop the evil before sacrificing the last remnants of his humanity?
500 pages, Hardcover
Published October 22, 2023
2 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Ashton
4 books27 followersP. J. Ashton writes grimdark fantasy soaked in blood and the kind of humour that grows from watching empires collapse in slow motion. He has lived in London, Australia, Russia, Germany and now Thailand, which means he has seen enough to know most kingdoms fall for very stupid reasons.
As a writer he serves as a beloved dictator, crafting worlds with care and carrying out frequent executions when the story demands it. His books follow cynical soldiers and unwilling heroes who survive through grit, luck and weaponised sarcasm.
He is the author of Blades Forged and writes The Bloodied Quill, a grimdark newsletter for readers who enjoy a little laughter in the dark.
https://bloodiedquill.substack.com/
As a writer he serves as a beloved dictator, crafting worlds with care and carrying out frequent executions when the story demands it. His books follow cynical soldiers and unwilling heroes who survive through grit, luck and weaponised sarcasm.
He is the author of Blades Forged and writes The Bloodied Quill, a grimdark newsletter for readers who enjoy a little laughter in the dark.
https://bloodiedquill.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 20, 2023
This book is full of magic, spells, battles, a mission, love and death. The main characters of the book are Elara, an Elf, and Marcus, a human. Together they join to find and fight the dark forces that threaten their homes, as well as locate loved ones that were stolen away from Marcus’ village in a recent invasion. They meet many obstacles and oppositions along the way. Finding unlikely adversaries along the way to conquer the impending darkness - they also find love. This book is not for people that do not like to read about sexual immoralities, but I would recommend it to readers that are not faint of heart. I did come across a few punctuation mistakes, but the story is still written to keep the reader’s attention from start to finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2023
Hmm, while the story has potential, it feels like the author's first attempt. There's an abundance of repetitive words that could easily be substituted with synonyms. The world-building is peculiar and might not resonate with everyone. Numerous events and character decisions lack logical sense. It's not merely a matter of being 'spicy'; the evident erotic tension between the main character, his sister, and mother can be unsettling.
Additionally, a considerable portion (perhaps 30% or more) of the book seems extraneous and adds little significance to the overall story. It appears that overly enthusiastic 5-star reviews stem from acquaintances rather than unbiased critics.
Additionally, a considerable portion (perhaps 30% or more) of the book seems extraneous and adds little significance to the overall story. It appears that overly enthusiastic 5-star reviews stem from acquaintances rather than unbiased critics.
March 16, 2024
The Eternal’s Chosen is an epic fantasy focusing on Marcus Blackthorne, in the aftermath of a huge battle against the orcs. He was instrumental in the victory, but it has come at a huge personal cost. And as it turns out, the victory may not be as complete as he thought.
First thing to say about this novel is that it is definitely for mature audiences only. It’s something I wasn’t expecting, going into this, and I feel it’s something that ought to have been made clear on the cover or in the blurb. The worldbuilding, making it clear that polygamy is the norm in this culture, was a bold choice, but I would have liked the author to have shown a little more subtlety in showing this. Sex scenes in general tend not to interest me – I tend to skip past them – and I have to say that there were significant portions that made me uncomfortable. The way certain words and phrases are thrown around so casually was off-putting and a particularly graphic violent rape scene was, in view, going too far.
That being said, when it came to the fantasy side of things, there was much to enjoy. The plot, when it wasn’t getting interrupted, was engaging. The relationships – when they didn’t revolve around sex – were strong and interesting. Particularly between Marcus and his father. The best character out of the band of heroes was Isabella who was fun and engaging. More than any of the others, it felt like she had a life of her own beyond the serving the plot.
The battle scenes were well handled, making it clear what was going on, and the solutions to problems seemed to flow naturally from what had gone before. Opening the book with a flashback told in present tense was a brilliant idea, making events seem so much more visceral and alive. Something that the author returned to later in the book, to similar effect.
One of the big questions for me in any series is, will I come back for the next book? And, unusually for me, I’m not sure. The thought of sitting through more of that extreme adult content is putting me off. Yet, on the other hand, the developments at the end did leave me wanting to know more – even if the plot twist itself was a bit too well signposted, in my opinion.
Time will tell.
In conclusion: If you’re a fan of epic fantasy adventure, there’s a lot to enjoy here. Your level of enjoyment will very much depend on how you get on with adult content.
First thing to say about this novel is that it is definitely for mature audiences only. It’s something I wasn’t expecting, going into this, and I feel it’s something that ought to have been made clear on the cover or in the blurb. The worldbuilding, making it clear that polygamy is the norm in this culture, was a bold choice, but I would have liked the author to have shown a little more subtlety in showing this. Sex scenes in general tend not to interest me – I tend to skip past them – and I have to say that there were significant portions that made me uncomfortable. The way certain words and phrases are thrown around so casually was off-putting and a particularly graphic violent rape scene was, in view, going too far.
That being said, when it came to the fantasy side of things, there was much to enjoy. The plot, when it wasn’t getting interrupted, was engaging. The relationships – when they didn’t revolve around sex – were strong and interesting. Particularly between Marcus and his father. The best character out of the band of heroes was Isabella who was fun and engaging. More than any of the others, it felt like she had a life of her own beyond the serving the plot.
The battle scenes were well handled, making it clear what was going on, and the solutions to problems seemed to flow naturally from what had gone before. Opening the book with a flashback told in present tense was a brilliant idea, making events seem so much more visceral and alive. Something that the author returned to later in the book, to similar effect.
One of the big questions for me in any series is, will I come back for the next book? And, unusually for me, I’m not sure. The thought of sitting through more of that extreme adult content is putting me off. Yet, on the other hand, the developments at the end did leave me wanting to know more – even if the plot twist itself was a bit too well signposted, in my opinion.
Time will tell.
In conclusion: If you’re a fan of epic fantasy adventure, there’s a lot to enjoy here. Your level of enjoyment will very much depend on how you get on with adult content.
April 4, 2024
The Eternal's Chosen is the first book in a fantasy series called The Ravenslayer Chronicles. While I was quite taken by the opening chapter, with a warrior called Marcus returning full of guilt after his recent battles, I found my confusion increasing through the rest of the book. The place and time for various events seemed to bob about following this chapter.
The violence and sexual mores of this historical fictional, but very dark fantasy became a distraction from the development of the various characters. His torment is understandable but the evil characters from the Underworld, and its ‘Dark Lord,’ are so reminiscent of the orcs and elves found in Tolkein’s books it seemed too much of a coincidence. That and the explicit descriptions of rape and violence resulted in spoiling my ultimate enjoyment of the book.
Adding a fair amount of shocking sexual incidents did nothing for my interest. Maybe if I had been a ‘very mature’ teenage reader there might have enough titillation to make me want to carry on reading. But I could not say it had that effect upon this reader. The ‘Mordor effect’ of wars and jarring industrialisation has been well covered in the works of Tolkein and Mervyn Peake, so adding the graphic sexual violence in this book became an irrelevance for me. I just skimmed past those sections of the novel to look for other interesting characters like the tormented Marcus Blackthorne.
Ashton’s writing skill is exemplified well through his curious and thoughtful world building of the pagan communities. Within them there is a responsibility upon men to produce many heirs, and thus they are expected to take many wives. This leads to an unfortunate neglect of older women, but to an even more unfortunate choice of the very young females as potential ‘breeders’ and which, today, we would consider as an abuse of girls who are still children. Admittedly the author does introduce groups of women who wish to reject the system, thus providing conflict within their society.
Mature fans of dark fantasy might enjoy this book.
The violence and sexual mores of this historical fictional, but very dark fantasy became a distraction from the development of the various characters. His torment is understandable but the evil characters from the Underworld, and its ‘Dark Lord,’ are so reminiscent of the orcs and elves found in Tolkein’s books it seemed too much of a coincidence. That and the explicit descriptions of rape and violence resulted in spoiling my ultimate enjoyment of the book.
Adding a fair amount of shocking sexual incidents did nothing for my interest. Maybe if I had been a ‘very mature’ teenage reader there might have enough titillation to make me want to carry on reading. But I could not say it had that effect upon this reader. The ‘Mordor effect’ of wars and jarring industrialisation has been well covered in the works of Tolkein and Mervyn Peake, so adding the graphic sexual violence in this book became an irrelevance for me. I just skimmed past those sections of the novel to look for other interesting characters like the tormented Marcus Blackthorne.
Ashton’s writing skill is exemplified well through his curious and thoughtful world building of the pagan communities. Within them there is a responsibility upon men to produce many heirs, and thus they are expected to take many wives. This leads to an unfortunate neglect of older women, but to an even more unfortunate choice of the very young females as potential ‘breeders’ and which, today, we would consider as an abuse of girls who are still children. Admittedly the author does introduce groups of women who wish to reject the system, thus providing conflict within their society.
Mature fans of dark fantasy might enjoy this book.
March 21, 2024
The Eternal's Chosen is a fantasy adventure about Marcus "Ravenslayer" Blackthorn, a warrior haunted by his past who sets off on a quest to rescue his family. Along the way, he meets others chosen by the Eternals, and they band together to collect the powerstones in order to stop the Dark Lord and his orc hordes.
The story itself is fast-paced and uses many classic fantasy elements (medieval-style setting, orcs, dragons, magic powers, etc.), which makes it appealing to lovers of fantasy in general. We get to spend time with a whole cast of characters from very different backgrounds. As a lover of action and gory battles, this hit the mark. There were tons of fight scenes to scratch that itch.
Unfortunately, the lack of editing throughout the book is distracting and makes reading frustrating. The perspective often jumps between characters several times within a scene, making it difficult to follow along and get to know any one character deeply.
While a large part of this world's culture is centered around sexuality, this has a number of unsettling drawbacks: 1) the unusual tension between Marcus and his sister and mother; 2) "coming of age" is mentioned as being around thirteen years old, and there are characters described as having just come of age who partake in sexual activity with much older characters; 3) there is an enormous amount of assault depicted throughout, often needlessly, which readers may wish to be aware of before deciding whether this book is for them.
Overall, I can appreciate the story that the author is trying to tell and only wish for more editing, more character development, and less sexual violence so that I could truly enjoy the journey.
The story itself is fast-paced and uses many classic fantasy elements (medieval-style setting, orcs, dragons, magic powers, etc.), which makes it appealing to lovers of fantasy in general. We get to spend time with a whole cast of characters from very different backgrounds. As a lover of action and gory battles, this hit the mark. There were tons of fight scenes to scratch that itch.
Unfortunately, the lack of editing throughout the book is distracting and makes reading frustrating. The perspective often jumps between characters several times within a scene, making it difficult to follow along and get to know any one character deeply.
While a large part of this world's culture is centered around sexuality, this has a number of unsettling drawbacks: 1) the unusual tension between Marcus and his sister and mother; 2) "coming of age" is mentioned as being around thirteen years old, and there are characters described as having just come of age who partake in sexual activity with much older characters; 3) there is an enormous amount of assault depicted throughout, often needlessly, which readers may wish to be aware of before deciding whether this book is for them.
Overall, I can appreciate the story that the author is trying to tell and only wish for more editing, more character development, and less sexual violence so that I could truly enjoy the journey.
May 23, 2024
The Eternal's Chosen -- or should it be The Eternals' Chosen ..? -- was a difficult book to read, and all the more to review. Books like these remind me of that judicious Abe Lincoln quote: "People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like." This novel made me feel exactly so; it wasn't my cup of tea, but it's not to say that it can't be your monster drink.
While it's wordy and needs meticulous editing, this book was obviously written with zeal and enthusiasm and a writer's love of writing, which is certainly commendable. Unfortunately for me, it's also gratuitous in the amount of graphic violence, erotic scenes, and rape that litters the story (there's borderline incest too, from what I gathered from the parts I didn't skip). I'm all for violence and sex in books when they serve their purpose in character development or worldbuilding, and a little bit usually goes a long way; the Greeks were wise to say "pan metron ariston" (everything is good within limits). The Eternal's Chosen has no limits in this sense, and much of its potential gets muddled in the content and execution.
Ashton's novel is a sweeping fantasy that pays tribute to legendary storytellers like Tolkien, following in their footsteps by conjuring similar fantastical worlds brimming with creatures we're all familiar with -- elves, orcs, and so on. And this is good, for imitation is the sincerest flattery. Ashton gives it his own personal spin -- again, personalization is wonderful -- and presents conventional plotlines (the tormented hero's return home / the quest for the whatever-equates-to-his-personal-holy-grail) in an unconventional way.
While it's wordy and needs meticulous editing, this book was obviously written with zeal and enthusiasm and a writer's love of writing, which is certainly commendable. Unfortunately for me, it's also gratuitous in the amount of graphic violence, erotic scenes, and rape that litters the story (there's borderline incest too, from what I gathered from the parts I didn't skip). I'm all for violence and sex in books when they serve their purpose in character development or worldbuilding, and a little bit usually goes a long way; the Greeks were wise to say "pan metron ariston" (everything is good within limits). The Eternal's Chosen has no limits in this sense, and much of its potential gets muddled in the content and execution.
Ashton's novel is a sweeping fantasy that pays tribute to legendary storytellers like Tolkien, following in their footsteps by conjuring similar fantastical worlds brimming with creatures we're all familiar with -- elves, orcs, and so on. And this is good, for imitation is the sincerest flattery. Ashton gives it his own personal spin -- again, personalization is wonderful -- and presents conventional plotlines (the tormented hero's return home / the quest for the whatever-equates-to-his-personal-holy-grail) in an unconventional way.
January 25, 2024
For Mature Audiences Only
An alcoholic whore monger kills a Lot of monsters and is Chosen by gods for their mission.
This is a mash up of fantasy and horror with a generous coating of sex and violence.
Marcus slays a lot of monsters (?), has a guilty conscience, attempts to drink it off as he chases everything in skirts back in his village. The village women (from very young to old) can’t wait to literally roll in the hay and get his ‘seed’. And on and on for 500 pages. I didn’t like Marcus and the only remotely interesting character is Isabella - and that’s not saying much. Every female is a whore or a ‘c’ (the book’s word) and every male is desperate to spread his seed at any cost.
The first chapter is so chaotic I couldn’t wait until it was over. Too many things happen, too many characters are introduced, and the ‘c’ word is thrown around to a great extent during a violent rape (one of many, many more to come). I felt lost at the rapid change from one scene and character to another - in the same chapter.
I can’t believe there is a market for this kind of book but judging by the horde of positive reviews (mostly by women no less), apparently there is. More power to the author.
This book reminds me of why I am not a fan of fantasy. It seems as part of the price of admission the author must use made up words for things that already have perfectly suitable terms: hours are bells, days are moons, years are summers, like mages are magicians and of course yer have to drink mead and talk like pirates.
I will not be reading the next book.
An alcoholic whore monger kills a Lot of monsters and is Chosen by gods for their mission.
This is a mash up of fantasy and horror with a generous coating of sex and violence.
Marcus slays a lot of monsters (?), has a guilty conscience, attempts to drink it off as he chases everything in skirts back in his village. The village women (from very young to old) can’t wait to literally roll in the hay and get his ‘seed’. And on and on for 500 pages. I didn’t like Marcus and the only remotely interesting character is Isabella - and that’s not saying much. Every female is a whore or a ‘c’ (the book’s word) and every male is desperate to spread his seed at any cost.
The first chapter is so chaotic I couldn’t wait until it was over. Too many things happen, too many characters are introduced, and the ‘c’ word is thrown around to a great extent during a violent rape (one of many, many more to come). I felt lost at the rapid change from one scene and character to another - in the same chapter.
I can’t believe there is a market for this kind of book but judging by the horde of positive reviews (mostly by women no less), apparently there is. More power to the author.
This book reminds me of why I am not a fan of fantasy. It seems as part of the price of admission the author must use made up words for things that already have perfectly suitable terms: hours are bells, days are moons, years are summers, like mages are magicians and of course yer have to drink mead and talk like pirates.
I will not be reading the next book.
December 11, 2023
Marcus Blackthorn, Ravenslayer, is not one of those heroes who returns home full of swagger and bravado. He is wracked with PTSD and nightmares about the lives he has taken, which makes him much more believable and sympathetic to the reader. When the Dark Lord of the Underworld schemes to obtain Powerstones that give magical powers to those that possess them, Marcus is chosen by the Eternals, God entities, to stop this.
I found the beginning a bit tedious. The world-building, though excellent, was thorough to the point of being overwritten, and made me impatient to move on.
The book increases pace as Marcus and his team set out on their quest. Characters are well-developed through actions and emotions. Comic relief is provided in the form of Lirien, while Isabella proves to be a force to be reckoned with.
I found the graphic descriptions of rape and gore disturbing and unnecessary. Less of that would not have detracted from the story-telling and instead would have kept the focus on the plot itself. At times, the narration sounded like it needed more copy editing. Unrelated thoughts were stringed together with just commas. I don’t know if this was intentional or not, but it felt as though in his zeal to tell the story, the author dismissed writing conventions. Besides these issues, the story is good.
I found the beginning a bit tedious. The world-building, though excellent, was thorough to the point of being overwritten, and made me impatient to move on.
The book increases pace as Marcus and his team set out on their quest. Characters are well-developed through actions and emotions. Comic relief is provided in the form of Lirien, while Isabella proves to be a force to be reckoned with.
I found the graphic descriptions of rape and gore disturbing and unnecessary. Less of that would not have detracted from the story-telling and instead would have kept the focus on the plot itself. At times, the narration sounded like it needed more copy editing. Unrelated thoughts were stringed together with just commas. I don’t know if this was intentional or not, but it felt as though in his zeal to tell the story, the author dismissed writing conventions. Besides these issues, the story is good.
August 16, 2024
In “The Eternal’s Chosen”, the narrative thrusts readers into a world rich with the promise of profound themes and gritty realities. The story depicts scenes of intense violence and passionate love, providing an authentic experience within its setting. Marcus, a battle-weary warrior grappling with PTSD, is pushed back into action when his village faces siege, accompanied by Elara and Isabella on a journey fraught with complexity.
Throughout their journey, the characters navigate morally ambiguous terrain, often making ethically questionable decisions while displaying vulnerability. Coupled with layers of fantastical elements, the narrative flows through, filled with relationships and detailed battle sequences.
The novel struggles with an overabundance of mature content, however, disrupting the organic development of characters and narrative flow. Excessive detail and prolonged focus on mundane activities detract from reader engagement, somewhat overshadowing the potential intrigue of the plot. Despite the promise of an enthralling storyline, the prospect of encountering further explicit content may deter some readers from future installments.
Nevertheless, “The Eternal’s Chosen” is a great example of dark fantasy, and will appeal to readers familiar with the genre.
https://www.editorsweekly.com/book-re...
Throughout their journey, the characters navigate morally ambiguous terrain, often making ethically questionable decisions while displaying vulnerability. Coupled with layers of fantastical elements, the narrative flows through, filled with relationships and detailed battle sequences.
The novel struggles with an overabundance of mature content, however, disrupting the organic development of characters and narrative flow. Excessive detail and prolonged focus on mundane activities detract from reader engagement, somewhat overshadowing the potential intrigue of the plot. Despite the promise of an enthralling storyline, the prospect of encountering further explicit content may deter some readers from future installments.
Nevertheless, “The Eternal’s Chosen” is a great example of dark fantasy, and will appeal to readers familiar with the genre.
https://www.editorsweekly.com/book-re...
December 6, 2023
THE ETERNAL’S CHOSEN is a sweeping epic fantasy that is the first in a planned nine book series. Marcus, the Ravenslayer, is chosen by the Eternals for a special destiny and after a devastating orc attack in his village, sets off along with a band of fellow travelers to fulfill his quest.
Author PJ Ashton does an amazing job with world-building and descriptions. Everything from battle scenes to the local tavern to his mother’s house is described in intricate detail. This does make the book quite long and for me would have been stronger if it had been tightened up in a few places, but readers of epic fantasy who love super long chonkers will eat this up. After somewhat of a slow introduction, the book picks up after Marcus and other key players set off. I especially liked Isabelle and Elara, and we meet more interesting characters along the way. One thing that can make a fantasy novel hard to read is too many invented names the reader has to struggle to hang onto and Ashton avoids that here, making his novel flow very well. I liked the magic system and enjoyed the battle scenes against the orcs. The biggest thing that detracted from this read for me is that there is a lot of violence committed against women in this book, specifically graphic sexual assault and rape that happens frequently and is described in extended detail. The author is very good at descriptions (in all aspects of the book) but for some readers, these details may be too much. 3/5 stars.
Author PJ Ashton does an amazing job with world-building and descriptions. Everything from battle scenes to the local tavern to his mother’s house is described in intricate detail. This does make the book quite long and for me would have been stronger if it had been tightened up in a few places, but readers of epic fantasy who love super long chonkers will eat this up. After somewhat of a slow introduction, the book picks up after Marcus and other key players set off. I especially liked Isabelle and Elara, and we meet more interesting characters along the way. One thing that can make a fantasy novel hard to read is too many invented names the reader has to struggle to hang onto and Ashton avoids that here, making his novel flow very well. I liked the magic system and enjoyed the battle scenes against the orcs. The biggest thing that detracted from this read for me is that there is a lot of violence committed against women in this book, specifically graphic sexual assault and rape that happens frequently and is described in extended detail. The author is very good at descriptions (in all aspects of the book) but for some readers, these details may be too much. 3/5 stars.
December 23, 2023
While both enjoying a bit of gratuitous violence and a lover of orcs due to my teenage stint as a gorkamorka aficionado, I found myself conflicted by this book. Those poor orcs!
Authored by a masterful storyteller, this epic, dark fantasy series kicks off with a gripping tale that unfolds in the year 982 A.D., where Marcus Blackthorn, the legendary Ravenslayer, faces a perilous journey that transcends the boundaries of life and death. Haunted by the ghosts of his past and tormented by the cries of the departed, he is drawn back to Willow Creek, only to find himself thrust into a malevolent conspiracy that threatens not just his existence but the destiny of an entire continent. And chosen by the mysterious Eternals, assembles a motley crew of unlikely heroes, readers are taken on a pulse-pounding odyssey fraught with gruesome battles and magical encounters.
Littered with relentless action sequences this book this book is fun, but is also so much more, delving into the poignant relationships that develop amidst chaos. And with touching side plots that add emotional depth to the narrative, it shows that even in the darkest of times, there is room for bonds that transcend the horrors of war.
Authored by a masterful storyteller, this epic, dark fantasy series kicks off with a gripping tale that unfolds in the year 982 A.D., where Marcus Blackthorn, the legendary Ravenslayer, faces a perilous journey that transcends the boundaries of life and death. Haunted by the ghosts of his past and tormented by the cries of the departed, he is drawn back to Willow Creek, only to find himself thrust into a malevolent conspiracy that threatens not just his existence but the destiny of an entire continent. And chosen by the mysterious Eternals, assembles a motley crew of unlikely heroes, readers are taken on a pulse-pounding odyssey fraught with gruesome battles and magical encounters.
Littered with relentless action sequences this book this book is fun, but is also so much more, delving into the poignant relationships that develop amidst chaos. And with touching side plots that add emotional depth to the narrative, it shows that even in the darkest of times, there is room for bonds that transcend the horrors of war.
October 2, 2024
traditional fantasy
The Eternal's Chosen is very much a traditional, classic fantasy. We have the quest, the heroic male main character, the women - the exploited, the magical, beautiful, but all seemingly very much written for the male gaze. That this book is traditional fantasy says very little.
It was very difficult to read. There were so many pov changes and there was never a clear focus on the goals of each character. We kept getting lost in gratuitous scenes of murder and people hooking up. Or more often than that, being assaulted. I'm not a prude, it just seemed the actual story was lost in these scenes that I felt showed me very little. Because of the repitition of these scenes and the overwrought writing, I struggled to finish.
I also think the book could much shorter. Somewhere in here is a straightforward story that's worth a meaningful and fun traditional high fantasy plot. Somewhere in here are details that paint a colorful tapestry. But it's lost in disorganization.
2.5 stars rounded to 3. I enjoyed the second book much more. And I rounded to 3 because clearly a lot of effort went into developing this tale.
The Eternal's Chosen is very much a traditional, classic fantasy. We have the quest, the heroic male main character, the women - the exploited, the magical, beautiful, but all seemingly very much written for the male gaze. That this book is traditional fantasy says very little.
It was very difficult to read. There were so many pov changes and there was never a clear focus on the goals of each character. We kept getting lost in gratuitous scenes of murder and people hooking up. Or more often than that, being assaulted. I'm not a prude, it just seemed the actual story was lost in these scenes that I felt showed me very little. Because of the repitition of these scenes and the overwrought writing, I struggled to finish.
I also think the book could much shorter. Somewhere in here is a straightforward story that's worth a meaningful and fun traditional high fantasy plot. Somewhere in here are details that paint a colorful tapestry. But it's lost in disorganization.
2.5 stars rounded to 3. I enjoyed the second book much more. And I rounded to 3 because clearly a lot of effort went into developing this tale.
April 18, 2024
When writing The Eternal's Chosen, P.J. Ashton would have done well to heed the advice of the crime writer Elmore Leonard. "Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip."
Leonard's observation sums up the major problem with this book. It's much too long, and contains too much description of too many mundane activities. For example, it doesn't take long to realize that the Ravenslayer Marcus is suffering from PTSD from his participation in warfare. Yet we are reminded of this again and again, each time in great detail. A second problem with the story is the explicit sex and violence, including violent sex. A little bit of this goes a long way, and there's more than a little bit in this story.
So what did the author do right? The world building is exceptionally good, and the characters are well-rounded and described in explicit detail. The story is plausible and believable given the genre.
I'm sure there are fans of this sort of book who will revel in immersing themselves in Ashton's epic tale. Unfortunately. I am not one of them.
Leonard's observation sums up the major problem with this book. It's much too long, and contains too much description of too many mundane activities. For example, it doesn't take long to realize that the Ravenslayer Marcus is suffering from PTSD from his participation in warfare. Yet we are reminded of this again and again, each time in great detail. A second problem with the story is the explicit sex and violence, including violent sex. A little bit of this goes a long way, and there's more than a little bit in this story.
So what did the author do right? The world building is exceptionally good, and the characters are well-rounded and described in explicit detail. The story is plausible and believable given the genre.
I'm sure there are fans of this sort of book who will revel in immersing themselves in Ashton's epic tale. Unfortunately. I am not one of them.
November 13, 2023
I picked this up on kindle unlimited and I wasn't disappointed. The book starts off slow. The main character Marcus keeps having nightmares of a battle where he earned the name Ravenslayer. He goes returns home suffering from PTSD. Of course, the battle has made him famous and plenty of people flock to him, including women, but he's a drunk and mead is all he cares about. The first chapter is an excellent introduction to the three main characters, highlighting their different lives. For me, Isabella's introduction was the strongest part of the chapter, and there is a really gruesome scene where she commits an act of violence that made me wince. The first four chapters introduce you to the world, the religion, and customs, and it is completely show, don't tell, although it is a bit of a slow burner. Then the book gets going around ch 5 where the MC's village is attacked and that sets him off on the quest. BTW, the elves! Interesting to see a different take to the usual sexless beings we get in fantasy. They take sexual pleasure to a whole new level here! A fantastic book and I look forward to the second book.
November 13, 2023
The Eternal's chosen was an unexpected book. I got it on amazon when it was on a free promotion. The plot is a basic quest story. The MC has to rescue his villagers from orcs who raided and kidnapped several, mostly to take the men to be changed into other orcs, as well as to sell the women in the slave markets, mostly into prostitution. However, along the way, the quest actually changes and becomes more about saving the continent from the dark lord. The characters were interesting. Each was chosen by one of the gods in this universe - named Eternals and they need to obtain these stones in order to defeat the dark lord. To be honest, the dark lord isn't really represented, he's in the shadows and the main villain are the orcs and their general, a human mage named Zorn, who has been so transformed, he doesn't even consider himself human. In his own words, he is more! The author writes a few scenes from his perspective and it's great to get into his thoughts and discover more about him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2024
Eternal’s Chosen – P.J. Ashton
Eternal’s Chosen is an Adult Oriented Lord of the Rings.
Very ambitious and captivating at the same time.
The action is fast paced and entertaining.
All the races from Middle Earth are here arrayed against the Dark Lord. Mages, Elves, Dragon Born, Humans, Orcs, and Dragons.
The author has written a compelling tale of good vs evil.
The main characters are well defined and interesting.
The battle scenes are carefully described, the reader almost feels like they are in the battles themselves.
I liked the Magic Stones and how they affected the battles.
I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all Lord of the Rings fans.
Note: This is a book for Mature Audiences. The Violence is off the charts along with a lot of sex.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Eternal’s Chosen is an Adult Oriented Lord of the Rings.
Very ambitious and captivating at the same time.
The action is fast paced and entertaining.
All the races from Middle Earth are here arrayed against the Dark Lord. Mages, Elves, Dragon Born, Humans, Orcs, and Dragons.
The author has written a compelling tale of good vs evil.
The main characters are well defined and interesting.
The battle scenes are carefully described, the reader almost feels like they are in the battles themselves.
I liked the Magic Stones and how they affected the battles.
I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all Lord of the Rings fans.
Note: This is a book for Mature Audiences. The Violence is off the charts along with a lot of sex.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
April 6, 2025
A dark and violent fantasy.
The Ravenslayer is chosen by 'the eternals' for a specific quest and joins with others of his ilk to combine their power.
As a fantasy book, the author brings his world to life with great detail and unusual naming of things and characters as the readers of this genre expect. After a slow start, we get into the exciting stuff and the battles are well crafted and engaging.
What lets this book down is the portrayal of women (and even girls) as merely sexual objects. I'm not against sexual assault or violence in a book, but it needs to serve a purpose and ideally the woman/girl should have a moment of overcoming it or bringing down their abuser. If only portraying that this is an unfortunate situation of this particular 'fantasy' world, then once would have been enough.
The Ravenslayer is chosen by 'the eternals' for a specific quest and joins with others of his ilk to combine their power.
As a fantasy book, the author brings his world to life with great detail and unusual naming of things and characters as the readers of this genre expect. After a slow start, we get into the exciting stuff and the battles are well crafted and engaging.
What lets this book down is the portrayal of women (and even girls) as merely sexual objects. I'm not against sexual assault or violence in a book, but it needs to serve a purpose and ideally the woman/girl should have a moment of overcoming it or bringing down their abuser. If only portraying that this is an unfortunate situation of this particular 'fantasy' world, then once would have been enough.
November 3, 2023
I love this book. The characters are amazing. My favourite is Isabella who is full of life and feels so real. Even when the most terrible of situations occur, she remains cool and acts. She certainly is not passive. The way the author writes and describes the characters makes me feel there with her.
Another characterisation that I loved was Marcus and his relationship with his father. When he first went off to war, he wanted to make his father proud, but he soon realises it is detrimental to him.
The author describes the society well and there is an interesting theme of age and reactions to fame.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of dark fantasy, especially readers who love strong characters.
Another characterisation that I loved was Marcus and his relationship with his father. When he first went off to war, he wanted to make his father proud, but he soon realises it is detrimental to him.
The author describes the society well and there is an interesting theme of age and reactions to fame.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of dark fantasy, especially readers who love strong characters.
November 8, 2023
I loved this book. It was horrifying and bloody. There were scenes of violence and torture that were so well described I could picture it like I was there.
I won't go into spoilers, but there was a scene where a character died and the main character witnessed it. You could feel and picture the scene through his thoughts. It was very intense, the anger and rage inside him.
Later in the book, there was a scene where some characters are captured. The author writes this well and gets into the emotion of the characters.
The author jumps around to the perspectives of different characters in the book which was excellent from an emotional point of view because it gives you the opportunity to discover different people and their feelings.
This book was excellent.
I won't go into spoilers, but there was a scene where a character died and the main character witnessed it. You could feel and picture the scene through his thoughts. It was very intense, the anger and rage inside him.
Later in the book, there was a scene where some characters are captured. The author writes this well and gets into the emotion of the characters.
The author jumps around to the perspectives of different characters in the book which was excellent from an emotional point of view because it gives you the opportunity to discover different people and their feelings.
This book was excellent.
November 9, 2023
Hats-off to the author for taking us through such a thrilling and spine-chilling narration. It is dark, exciting, suspenseful and gritty. It took me back into the Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Resurrection, Vikings and Spartacus days.
The characterisation is superb; they are not only well defined and laid out, but one can also actually feel them as well as their emotions - very intense writing, I must say!
The plot of the story is well thought out, structurally planned and immersively written! Let me say that it is nothing less than a roller-coaster ride, as soon as we start diving into it...
The characterisation is superb; they are not only well defined and laid out, but one can also actually feel them as well as their emotions - very intense writing, I must say!
The plot of the story is well thought out, structurally planned and immersively written! Let me say that it is nothing less than a roller-coaster ride, as soon as we start diving into it...
December 7, 2023
Wow! This book was really intense and dark, packed with adventure and thrill. The characters were so well crafted and their quest to save their world from the dark lord had me hooked till the end. There is a strong theme to this book with intricately written plot and great characterisation. The detailed description of battles throughout the book was on-point, and the world-building was extremely engaging as well. It clearly feels like the author has given his best to reach for perfection. I look forward to reading volume two. It is a true dark fantasy with a lot of violence, and if you enjoy this genre then this book is right up your alley.
February 11, 2024
A story of adventure from beginning to end, plays out on battlefields and beyond throughout the pages. With a wide array of interesting characters, most interacting with each other sexually; monogamy didn't exist, humans, elves, and beings to be had.
The story flows being as well written, imagery pulls you right in to the book itself.
The outrageous and horrific rapes scenes carried out by the dark side are overkill and constant through the book, not for the faint of heart making it most certainly a mature read. That aside, I found myself very pulled in enjoying the many twists and turns, especially when moving through a portal.
The story flows being as well written, imagery pulls you right in to the book itself.
The outrageous and horrific rapes scenes carried out by the dark side are overkill and constant through the book, not for the faint of heart making it most certainly a mature read. That aside, I found myself very pulled in enjoying the many twists and turns, especially when moving through a portal.
November 13, 2023
This book is an absolute gem, though it's not for the faint of heart due to its intense and dark themes. The author masterfully explores the gritty aspects of the world, painting a vivid and brutal landscape. The descriptive violence and passionate love scenes add depth and authenticity to the narrative.
Lirien brings humor to the story, but also beneath his rough exterior, there's a hidden side that adds complexity to his character. Isabella, on the other hand, is a vibrant and compelling character, breathing life into the story. One of the book's strengths lies in the portrayal of Marcus and the effects of PTSD.
If you're a fan of dark fantasy or grimdark literature, this book is a must-read. The combination of intriguing themes, well-crafted characters, and a richly detailed world makes it an unforgettable and highly recommended experience.
Lirien brings humor to the story, but also beneath his rough exterior, there's a hidden side that adds complexity to his character. Isabella, on the other hand, is a vibrant and compelling character, breathing life into the story. One of the book's strengths lies in the portrayal of Marcus and the effects of PTSD.
If you're a fan of dark fantasy or grimdark literature, this book is a must-read. The combination of intriguing themes, well-crafted characters, and a richly detailed world makes it an unforgettable and highly recommended experience.
November 13, 2023
A great read. I enjoyed the first battle at Willow Creek when the villagers were killed or kidnapped. There were some interesting themes discussed too, like polygamy as the religion is pagan. I enjoyed learning about the world as I went along. A lot came out piece by piece, like the pact, the binding, the festival of sun, terms like summers, moons, cycles, standing before Analia, come of age. It was nice to see this as show rather than tell. If there was any weakness, I'd say that some of the sex was a bit too graphic for my tastes and some of the rape scenes were horrific.
November 13, 2023
The plot is a relentless and thrilling ride, filled with danger, magic, and action. The brutality of the world, with relentless orc attacks and the harsh realities the characters face, adds a gripping and visceral layer to the story.
While the book contains some explicit and graphic scenes, including sexual content, these moments are integrated into the story to serve the narrative and character development, rather than gratuitously. They add to the complexity of the world and the characters' experiences.
While the book contains some explicit and graphic scenes, including sexual content, these moments are integrated into the story to serve the narrative and character development, rather than gratuitously. They add to the complexity of the world and the characters' experiences.
November 23, 2023
If you like sex, blood, and guts, The Eternal's Chosen: The Ravenslayer Chronicles is a must for you. The world-building is first-rate, the characters are likable, and the plot is fast-paced. I especially liked Isabella's revenge.
The book was way more graphic than I would have liked, and I found myself skipping large sections. However, it was enticing enough to keep reading. I would have liked a bit of an ending instead of a cliffhanger, but when there's another book in the works, I guess you have to keep them wanting more.
The book was way more graphic than I would have liked, and I found myself skipping large sections. However, it was enticing enough to keep reading. I would have liked a bit of an ending instead of a cliffhanger, but when there's another book in the works, I guess you have to keep them wanting more.
December 13, 2023
The Eternal's Chosen is a violent book that lingers in the mind. It is both compelling and richly layered. To be honest, the gore and violence, while not for everyone creates a sense of stakes. We see what the characters are going through and this add depth to the narrative and the brutal reality of war. Marcus is not your typical hero, he commits acts of torture and suffers from PTSD. He most certainly is not a white hat and reminds me a bit of Logen in the blade itself. The world descriptions are fantastic and vivid. This world really comes to life.
January 3, 2025
The Eternal's Chosen (Ravenslayer, #1) by P.J. Ashton is catered to a mature audience. We follow Marcus--the Ravenslayer, Elara, and others in a world where orcs and elves are commonplace. Also, in their world, the land is split into different regions where the characters travel across. I liked the action scenes and the good pacing of the book, given it's around 580 pages for the version I read. I also admired the author's fictional language for spellcasting.
September 14, 2025
The Eternal's Chosen has all the hallmarks of classic grimdark fantasy with a war-weary hero, brutal battles, and the struggle between darkness and humanity. Marcus is a strong protagonist and the central question of what someone would sacrifice to save loved ones is compelling. However, I found the story somewhat repetitive, and while it captures the genre's atmosphere well, it did not fully draw me in. A decent read for fans of traditional dark fantasy, but it did not stand out for me
November 13, 2023
This book is seriously steamy, featuring morally grey characters that add complexity to the narrative. The plot kicks off with a village attacked by orcs, leading to the kidnapping of the villagers. Marcus embarks on a quest to rescue them, uncovering a horrifying reality where the men are changed and the women sold into slavery, vividly described yet deeply unsettling. But that's just the beginning; the story evolves into a quest for powerful stones as Marcus unravels the mysteries behind the orc attacks. The battle scenes are thrilling and dynamic, leaving me on the edge of my seat. The cliffhanger ending has me eagerly anticipating book two.
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