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The Fleshed Lands have worshipped their Gods and Goddesses for as long as time stands. Folk of The Fleshed lands are dedicated relentlessly to whom they worship, that even blood will not deter their allegiances. Raids, riches and thraldom inspire some of these lands, while others seek peace and will protect it fearlessly. Fenra, The Wolf Goddess and Jörma, The Snake Goddess, are bound by chains and caged in Skýjaþorp, a hall where Gods and Goddesses feast. Fenra and Jörma have selected champions in The Fleshed Lands to find the Twin-Bladed Axe to fulfil the prophecy spoken of in saga tales. For some champions, raids have taken away everything, including family, and survival is the only goal. For others, the quest for greatness and to triumph on behalf of their goddess is the only option. Regardless, all are desperate to find the weapon of prophecy, but at what cost?'
The Kinslayer, is a norse mythology inspired tale of those that all share a common cause, to protect those they love. Even if the Gods and Goddesses aren’t on their side…

275 pages, Paperback

Published November 9, 2023

2 people are currently reading
70 people want to read

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S.K. Putt

6 books7 followers

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for K.D. Marchesi.
Author 1 book86 followers
November 4, 2023
S.K. Putt's Debut was a fast paced, action heavy Norse Inspired fantasy with some really cool animal companions, backstories and a surprising amount of heart.

If you like a page turning adventure filled with an immersive world, animal companions and high stakes, you are going to want to check this one out.

For all those Norse lovers out there, this was a lot of fun! I read it in two sittings.

Profile Image for Max Francis.
Author 1 book886 followers
December 1, 2023
I would first like to thank the author, who gave me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am an avid reader of epic fantasy, and so I was really excited to pick this one up and it did NOT fall short of my expectations! The Kinslayer was thrilling, captivating, action-packed, dark and filled with characters of questionable morality and lively wit. I was hooked from the start. Usually with fantasy books it takes me some getting used to the world, but this dove straight into it.

I only docked off a star because I would have liked a bit more character development (maybe a few more filler chapters would have been nice to really sympathise with the characters and understand them and their histories with one another a little more) but this is a minor piece of feedback. All in all, a great debut from a fellow Aussie author!
Profile Image for L.R. Schulz.
Author 5 books133 followers
January 18, 2024
This debut Norse inspired novel is great for those seeking a short Viking quest to dive into!

I can see clearly the Gwynne/Hobb/God of War influences and I think Putt has done a fantastic job at building his own world around this setting. The characters were likeable and well thought out, and the plot was interesting and engaging as well.

The worldbuilding is done really well and feels natural, the fight scenes were well thought out as well.

Because this was a debut, I think I have to give Putt a bit of leeway in his writing craft. The story is all there, and it’s great, but I think a there can be improvement in sentence structure, character dialogue and character development and I can’t wait to see this happen in the next book! I’m sure it will be a real kick in the guts when Putt gets a good handle on those key emotional moments!

If you’re suffering from a Gwynn/Hobb hangover and want something light the fits the mood, then look no further than the Kinslayer!
Profile Image for Blaise.
466 reviews132 followers
May 18, 2024
Done! Fast paced Norse inspired epic with plenty of blood, grit, and prophecies. Darker tones than I anticipated and not for the light of heart. Solid story overall.
1 review
August 16, 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Kinslayer by S. K. Putt is an absolute blast! If you like Norse mythology, this book needs to be on your TBR. One of the driving plots in this book is how the main characters are chosen by the gods and goddesses to bond with powerful animal champions.

The book is told from different points of view, which keeps things fresh and exciting. You get to see how each character’s bond with their animal champion shapes their journey, and it’s all thanks to the gods' mysterious plans.

The world-building is spot-on, with every scene dripping with that gritty, Norse vibe. Whether it's a fierce battle or a quiet moment of reflection with their animal companion, the characters’ struggles and triumphs feel real.

If you’re into Norse mythology, epic fantasy, or just love the idea of gods giving out animal sidekicks, The Kinslayer is a must-read. S. K. Putt nailed it with this one, and I can’t wait to see what happens next in this wild, mythic world!
1 review
November 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this Norse-inspired story. The characters and their animal companions made the tale come alive. I particularly appreciated the presence of strong female characters, who added depth and diversity to the world. The action scenes were pretty intense and realistic, making the story even more exciting. This was a pretty solid debut novel in my opinion, and it's a series I'll definitely continue when more books are available in the future.

This is a tale that combines mythology, well-crafted characters, and thrilling action into an epic adventure. If you're a fan of Norse mythology or simply love a good, fast-paced read, do yourself a favor and pick up this gem.
Profile Image for Lara R..
354 reviews9 followers
January 23, 2024
As a fan of Norse inspired fantasy this was right up my alley.

The Kinslayer is the debut novel of author S.K. Putt.
The beginning was slow and had a few repetitions, but the further into the book the more you see the author grow during the writing process. The last 30% just flew by and I'm definitely gonna keep an eye out for the sequel.

I'm someone who appreciates battle scenes, multiple POVs and animal companions in a brutal world full of warriors (including females⚔️💪🏻) - all this can be found in this book plus a lot of mythology and a gripping story.

Highly appreciated the pronunciation examples in the beginning of the book as well.
Profile Image for Elven Teahouse.
3 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2023
I was gifted an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Kinslayer is a norse-inspired fantasy which would be perfect for fans of Vikings and The Shadow of the Gods. It's a relatively short read, but very much follows in the traditions of John Gwynne and Robin Hobb. Putt's character work is fantastic, and each of the POV characters have their own distinct voices.
I rated this somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 as there were some parts of the writing that kept me at arm's length but ultimately this is a really strong debut and I'm excited to see where this story goes.
Profile Image for Matthew J. Turner.
Author 2 books12 followers
January 18, 2025
A book highlighting Norse mythology always snags my attention. A book using those myths to cast an original spin on such legends is always a win. S.K Putt does a fantastic job of utilising Scandinavian folkloric tales and Norse lore to weave a captivating, bloodthirsty story which is certain to keep you engrossed from beginning to end. A master storyteller for sure. As a writer myself, I wish I could mirror Putt's engrossing, razor-sharp style.
Profile Image for Julia Caro.
40 reviews33 followers
Read
December 25, 2023
🗻First and foremost THANK YOU so much to @s.k.putt_author for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (I would die for a physical copy but I am too far away✈️)

🗻The Kinslayer is a Norse myth/Viking inspired epic, packed with action, blood, and heart. It was really easy to get sucked into this one - the worldbuilding is very very familiar, with recognizable language, themes, and iconography, which made it easy to focus more on the characters and the story itself rather than trying to understand the world/environment, etc.

🗻Something I love (which I know is divisive) is a huge cast of characters, and The Kinslayer DELIVERED. My personal faves were Øxa and Reiđi, and of course, Mokka 🐺 while some were more engaging than others, each POV brought something unique and readable.

🗻I also really appreciate the pronunciation guide at the front 😆 I've read a loooooot of Viking stuff, and still didn't have certain words nailed down.

🗻Ultimately The Kinslayer is great for fans of John Gwynne, Jonathan French, Thilde Kold Holdt, and Shauna Lawless. I'm excited to see how S.K. Putt's writing evolves with the sequel, and what he has in store for these truly epic characters.

Don't forget - this book is AVAILABLE NOW
Profile Image for Emily.
50 reviews29 followers
November 6, 2023
I received an ARC of S.K. Putt’s debut novel, The Kinslayer for an honest review. I also got to alpha read this one and it’s been fun getting to see the areas where the story has really improved and added more depth to the characters and their journeys.

The Kinslayer is a Norse-inspired fantasy with interesting characters across multiple POVs and a solid story that ties them all together. Putt has creatively taken Norse mythologies and reimagined them with his own unique twist which was both refreshing and familiar. You can tell he loves the lore and has put that love into the story.

The story is fast-paced and very character-focused. Each character has their own distinct view of the world and Gods, and very different personal battles they had to overcome which kept me interested throughout. Characterisation is definitely Putt’s biggest strength and it’s easy to see each character as a fully-formed person rather than simple plot devices.

As a debut author, there are bound to be areas for improvement, such as sentence-level titbits like the flow of certain sentences and occasional repetitions. But these are easily improved upon with edits as Putt develops and grows as a writer and finds his unique style and voice. He is relatively new to writing so the fact that he has pumped out a whole novel in such a short time is telling for what he is capable of. I’m excited to see what he brings us next.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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