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The Resurrection Tower #1
The Dim Realm, Volume I
"When former blacksmith Corin Drey finds himself lying on his back in the midst of Orthin’s Wood, he cannot imagine what has happened. The last thing he remembers is searching for Thom Blaire’s wife—one of the disappeared. As he slowly sits up and looks around, he sees dead soldiers hanging from trees and other bodies scattered about the burnt forest floor. Corin knows he must find his way home—but how?
Seventeen-year-old Kara Kinfolk has an old soul. Her small town of Arrow’s Flight is idyllic and quiet. But when travelers and residents start to vanish, no one appears interested in finding them. Worse yet are the nightmares, the voices that whisper to her from the shadows, and the dark house at the center of town where secret rituals are performed. Now the house, which possesses powers that prevent anyone from entering or leaving town, has begun to desire Kara for reasons she cannot comprehend. Kara knows she must flee Arrow’s Flight—but how?
As Kara sets out on a quest to quell an ancient evil, she must rely on Corin and a stranger to help her follow a maze of clues that she hopes will lead to an escape—before it is too late."
Seventeen-year-old Kara Kinfolk has an old soul. Her small town of Arrow’s Flight is idyllic and quiet. But when travelers and residents start to vanish, no one appears interested in finding them. Worse yet are the nightmares, the voices that whisper to her from the shadows, and the dark house at the center of town where secret rituals are performed. Now the house, which possesses powers that prevent anyone from entering or leaving town, has begun to desire Kara for reasons she cannot comprehend. Kara knows she must flee Arrow’s Flight—but how?
As Kara sets out on a quest to quell an ancient evil, she must rely on Corin and a stranger to help her follow a maze of clues that she hopes will lead to an escape—before it is too late."
717 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 13, 2013
Originally posted at Daniel J. Weber Creates
No Dim words herein
Mature-content Rating: R (Coarse language, violence, and sexuality)
Have you ever woken up with a hang-over so bad that no amount of coffee can help you remember what happened last night? Perhaps, perhaps not, but I am willing to bet (don’t ask me how much) that once the truth of your night is revealed, it is nothing like the truth that Corin Drey discovers after waking up in similar straights. He wakes to find… dead bodies. How did they die, and what is he doing there? Find out in The Dim Realm by Matthew Holgate.
The Good:
The first thing that struck me was the length of this novel. A long book usually means one of two things: it is amazing, or it is awful. Within the first few pages I could tell that the former would be a more relevant description. The reader is immediately pulled into the scenes unfolding, hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling the world coming to life around them. The imagery in this book is amazingly flavourful, and the scenes are set beautifully. Holgate has a handle on how to use personification to bring a scene to life.
“Wind moaned in the trees behind him, drawing breath and then sighing. A lonely sound, a whispering voice born not of the ocean but of the land, one that yearned to cry out. It pleaded with the crash of waves and the pleas of gulls to listen, just as it pleaded with the traveller in words he almost knew. Come back to us. There is so much more to do.”
Not only is the description so rich and inviting that the reader can forget where they truly are (and no, this time it’s not because of too much alcohol), but the internal musings of the characters are brilliantly rich and masterfully implemented. The back-story reveals through internal monologue are pleasingly realistic. Just like our minds and memories ramble about, so do they in the heads of the character in The Dim Realm. This adds delightful flavour to the characters that is not often seen.
The different point-of-view characters are wonderfully interwoven with smatterings of what is to come in someone else’s POV section, or reminders of what has happened through clever word choice. Just when the reader is wondering how this new POV section connects to the rest, enough clues are revealed to keep things succinct while remaining interesting and mysterious.
The Bad:
Sadly, every good thing must come to an end. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It has a lot going for it. Holgate knows how to craft a scene, shape characters, and implement a plot, but it falls flat in many areas.
The Dim Realm has a bad case of “can’t see the forest for the trees.” The trees are beautiful, wonderful, glorious even, but there is so much focus on the trees that the forest becomes a haze. Some scenes are very over-drawn with too much meticulous description of scenery and passive voice to explain the history of the world/characters. Mostly character history was well done, but sometimes it droned on in an unengaging manner, adding length but no meat to a scene.
This plays into the gigantic pacing issues. Most of the book is extremely slow, and it takes 90% of the book until the plot finally gets going. The whole thing felt like a giant introduction. To be fair, this is only Volume I of The Dim Realm, and there is more to come, but after 700 pages, I was hoping the plot would go somewhere.
Many scenes that should realistically be one chapter are split over ten chapters, stopping in the middle to flip to some other POV, and then that scene is cut off to flip back to the first scene that was previously left unfinished. Because of the long chapter lengths, this makes the book feel incredibly disjointed. I kept having to remind myself, “Where is this character again? What are they doing?” because the scene resumed in the middle. It is almost like in the middle of a heart-pumping fight sequence the reader is thrown over to watching some guy take a walk in the park. Such antics make the whole thing feel incredibly unrefined and lacks focus/immersion value.
On the note of action sequences, a lot of them are split so because they drag on forever. They plod along too slow to keep the thrill up because of over-description of every single sword swipe interspersed with giant internal monologue sections which break the flow. This gives much of the book a stop and go feel. The pages are filled with lights coloured yellow and red, but not many greens.
A number of chapters end with poorly implemented foreshadowing that ruins the thrill of what is going to happen. Often, the reader will experience concluding sentences such as: “he would, however, not see them again, because he was about to die,” or “little did they know that the man would never be the same again.” Instead of adding suspense, most of the time, this ruins the coming scene because the reader already knows what is going to happen.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, what made this book good is also what made it bad. The flavourful description and internal monologue is excellent – more than excellent, it is downright amazing – but too often poorly implemented, throwing off the book’s pacing. The book is great if you love getting into the heads of characters, being invested in a scene so much that your senses come alive. After reading it, I almost feel like the world described and the characters/culture therein are real. Sadly, the pacing issues in this book diminish it’s enjoyability factor. If you like a great fantasy tale of truly epic proportions, this book is for you.
No Dim words herein
Mature-content Rating: R (Coarse language, violence, and sexuality)
Have you ever woken up with a hang-over so bad that no amount of coffee can help you remember what happened last night? Perhaps, perhaps not, but I am willing to bet (don’t ask me how much) that once the truth of your night is revealed, it is nothing like the truth that Corin Drey discovers after waking up in similar straights. He wakes to find… dead bodies. How did they die, and what is he doing there? Find out in The Dim Realm by Matthew Holgate.
The Good:
The first thing that struck me was the length of this novel. A long book usually means one of two things: it is amazing, or it is awful. Within the first few pages I could tell that the former would be a more relevant description. The reader is immediately pulled into the scenes unfolding, hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling the world coming to life around them. The imagery in this book is amazingly flavourful, and the scenes are set beautifully. Holgate has a handle on how to use personification to bring a scene to life.
“Wind moaned in the trees behind him, drawing breath and then sighing. A lonely sound, a whispering voice born not of the ocean but of the land, one that yearned to cry out. It pleaded with the crash of waves and the pleas of gulls to listen, just as it pleaded with the traveller in words he almost knew. Come back to us. There is so much more to do.”
Not only is the description so rich and inviting that the reader can forget where they truly are (and no, this time it’s not because of too much alcohol), but the internal musings of the characters are brilliantly rich and masterfully implemented. The back-story reveals through internal monologue are pleasingly realistic. Just like our minds and memories ramble about, so do they in the heads of the character in The Dim Realm. This adds delightful flavour to the characters that is not often seen.
The different point-of-view characters are wonderfully interwoven with smatterings of what is to come in someone else’s POV section, or reminders of what has happened through clever word choice. Just when the reader is wondering how this new POV section connects to the rest, enough clues are revealed to keep things succinct while remaining interesting and mysterious.
The Bad:
Sadly, every good thing must come to an end. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It has a lot going for it. Holgate knows how to craft a scene, shape characters, and implement a plot, but it falls flat in many areas.
The Dim Realm has a bad case of “can’t see the forest for the trees.” The trees are beautiful, wonderful, glorious even, but there is so much focus on the trees that the forest becomes a haze. Some scenes are very over-drawn with too much meticulous description of scenery and passive voice to explain the history of the world/characters. Mostly character history was well done, but sometimes it droned on in an unengaging manner, adding length but no meat to a scene.
This plays into the gigantic pacing issues. Most of the book is extremely slow, and it takes 90% of the book until the plot finally gets going. The whole thing felt like a giant introduction. To be fair, this is only Volume I of The Dim Realm, and there is more to come, but after 700 pages, I was hoping the plot would go somewhere.
Many scenes that should realistically be one chapter are split over ten chapters, stopping in the middle to flip to some other POV, and then that scene is cut off to flip back to the first scene that was previously left unfinished. Because of the long chapter lengths, this makes the book feel incredibly disjointed. I kept having to remind myself, “Where is this character again? What are they doing?” because the scene resumed in the middle. It is almost like in the middle of a heart-pumping fight sequence the reader is thrown over to watching some guy take a walk in the park. Such antics make the whole thing feel incredibly unrefined and lacks focus/immersion value.
On the note of action sequences, a lot of them are split so because they drag on forever. They plod along too slow to keep the thrill up because of over-description of every single sword swipe interspersed with giant internal monologue sections which break the flow. This gives much of the book a stop and go feel. The pages are filled with lights coloured yellow and red, but not many greens.
A number of chapters end with poorly implemented foreshadowing that ruins the thrill of what is going to happen. Often, the reader will experience concluding sentences such as: “he would, however, not see them again, because he was about to die,” or “little did they know that the man would never be the same again.” Instead of adding suspense, most of the time, this ruins the coming scene because the reader already knows what is going to happen.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, what made this book good is also what made it bad. The flavourful description and internal monologue is excellent – more than excellent, it is downright amazing – but too often poorly implemented, throwing off the book’s pacing. The book is great if you love getting into the heads of characters, being invested in a scene so much that your senses come alive. After reading it, I almost feel like the world described and the characters/culture therein are real. Sadly, the pacing issues in this book diminish it’s enjoyability factor. If you like a great fantasy tale of truly epic proportions, this book is for you.
July 8, 2013
My Review of The Dim Realm Volume I- An Epic Horror/Fantasy Novel for our Generation
“Afraid goes away after a fright, but terror lingers. It gets into your head, builds a nest, continues to work on you. It pulls stuff out to feed its young.” This quote from Matt Holgate’s epic horror/fantasy/action/thriller The Dim Realm Volume I, speaks volumes for the chilling and brilliantly written story Mr. Holgate has created. I’m not normally a fan of the horror genre, but this book is so much more than that. It’s also a mystery mixed with fantasy that felt a little Lord of the Rings like, and I can’t say enough about the writing. In my opinion, it’s one of the most well-written, gripping indie books I’ve read. The plot is unique and obviously well thought out with dialogue that is spot-on and quips that had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. It’s also tense, a little gory at times (but not overly so), and left me wanting for more after finishing it as it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (wherein I immediately purchased Volume II).
As far as the plot is concerned, The Dim Realm takes place in the small town of Arrow’s Flight where mysterious disappearances are occurring among the townsfolk as well as grisly slaughters, including those of many of the King’s men. What evil has possessed Arrow’s Flight? Who can be trusted? Where is the dark house of Kara Kinfolk’s (one of the main character’s) nightmares, and why has she been chosen to receive these visions? These are just some of the many questions plaguing the inhabitants and visitors of Arrow’s Flight, who find themselves trapped within its confines, unable to leave.
Although there are several very likeable, very well-written characters in The Dim Realm, the one who stands out the most for me is Kara Kinfolk. Kara, though only seventeen, is wise beyond her years, strong, and a complete smart ass -- in short, she’s my kind of girl. She also seems to be one of the more important characters in the book as it’s through her dreams that the rest of the characters, including ranger Tal Stormgren, who I also liked a great deal, are able to unravel the source of the evil that has invaded their town. Keeping in the fantasy genre, The Dim Realm also includes orcs, dwarves, and ogres interspersed with the main human characters. One of my other favorite characters, the orc Rinn, was thoroughly entertaining, and I gained a newfound appreciation for the fantasy genre through Mr. Holgate‘s book.
In short, The Dim Realm Volume I is the start of an epic, edge of your seat, horror/fantasy with a solid, brilliantly constructed plot, well-written dialogue, and loveable (for the most part), well-written and unforgettable characters. It’s clear that Mr. Holgate put a lot of work into this book and it has surely paid off. In fact, I’m not much for highlighting passages in novels, but I found myself highlighting numerous quotes, thinking to myself that I’d wish I’d written them.
I highly recommend Mr. Holgate’s The Dim Realm Volume I and will be delving into Volume II soon.
“Afraid goes away after a fright, but terror lingers. It gets into your head, builds a nest, continues to work on you. It pulls stuff out to feed its young.” This quote from Matt Holgate’s epic horror/fantasy/action/thriller The Dim Realm Volume I, speaks volumes for the chilling and brilliantly written story Mr. Holgate has created. I’m not normally a fan of the horror genre, but this book is so much more than that. It’s also a mystery mixed with fantasy that felt a little Lord of the Rings like, and I can’t say enough about the writing. In my opinion, it’s one of the most well-written, gripping indie books I’ve read. The plot is unique and obviously well thought out with dialogue that is spot-on and quips that had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. It’s also tense, a little gory at times (but not overly so), and left me wanting for more after finishing it as it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (wherein I immediately purchased Volume II).
As far as the plot is concerned, The Dim Realm takes place in the small town of Arrow’s Flight where mysterious disappearances are occurring among the townsfolk as well as grisly slaughters, including those of many of the King’s men. What evil has possessed Arrow’s Flight? Who can be trusted? Where is the dark house of Kara Kinfolk’s (one of the main character’s) nightmares, and why has she been chosen to receive these visions? These are just some of the many questions plaguing the inhabitants and visitors of Arrow’s Flight, who find themselves trapped within its confines, unable to leave.
Although there are several very likeable, very well-written characters in The Dim Realm, the one who stands out the most for me is Kara Kinfolk. Kara, though only seventeen, is wise beyond her years, strong, and a complete smart ass -- in short, she’s my kind of girl. She also seems to be one of the more important characters in the book as it’s through her dreams that the rest of the characters, including ranger Tal Stormgren, who I also liked a great deal, are able to unravel the source of the evil that has invaded their town. Keeping in the fantasy genre, The Dim Realm also includes orcs, dwarves, and ogres interspersed with the main human characters. One of my other favorite characters, the orc Rinn, was thoroughly entertaining, and I gained a newfound appreciation for the fantasy genre through Mr. Holgate‘s book.
In short, The Dim Realm Volume I is the start of an epic, edge of your seat, horror/fantasy with a solid, brilliantly constructed plot, well-written dialogue, and loveable (for the most part), well-written and unforgettable characters. It’s clear that Mr. Holgate put a lot of work into this book and it has surely paid off. In fact, I’m not much for highlighting passages in novels, but I found myself highlighting numerous quotes, thinking to myself that I’d wish I’d written them.
I highly recommend Mr. Holgate’s The Dim Realm Volume I and will be delving into Volume II soon.
December 19, 2013
The Dim Realm lures you in from the very first sentence, in which a mysterious ghostly voice speaks of ancient battles to the courageous descendant of an ancient hero. The reader is awed by ancient, unspeakable horrors and heroes of past ages. There is the sense that though the present age in which the novel takes place is a more mundane time, the epic conflicts of the past and their perpetrators are lurking under the surface of reality, ready to wreak havoc, much like in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
The evil Acolyte strives secretly to resurrect the dark lord Roth Kellmangion. Tal Stormgren, the descendant of an ancient hero, is the only one who realizes the danger his kingdom is facing. This evil will be soon unleashed on the tiny, unsuspecting village of Arrow's Flight, where Tal finds a few allies. But they are caught in losing battle as the evil has already leaked out into the village and is killing some townsfolk and enslaving others to its will. The Acolyte can make anyone, from an old man to a little girl, do its bidding. This creates a spine-tingling, suspenseful side to the narrative as danger could come from anyone at any time.
What I liked best about this novel was the way the fantasy world comes to life, both its present and its history. At times it was almost too unwieldy as I felt the plot could progress faster, but this may have ruined the epic atmosphere. It's definitely a novel to be savored and read slowly, fully immersing yourself in its world.
The characters, even the seemingly minor ones, were very well drawn. I really liked the blustering blacksmith and his cheeky protege, Kara, who is a teenager "too old for her age." Like most teenagers, Kara has plenty of attitude and sarcasm, but she's also weighed down with the burden of her special powers and her fight against evil that takes place even in her dreams.
I am often disappointed with high fantasy because it's usually kind of a dumbed down version of LOTR, but this is not the case at all with Matt Holgate's epic. His world is complex and expertly brought to life, both the greater kingdom and the microcosm of Arrow's Flight. I'm looking forward to reading the Dim Realm II!
The evil Acolyte strives secretly to resurrect the dark lord Roth Kellmangion. Tal Stormgren, the descendant of an ancient hero, is the only one who realizes the danger his kingdom is facing. This evil will be soon unleashed on the tiny, unsuspecting village of Arrow's Flight, where Tal finds a few allies. But they are caught in losing battle as the evil has already leaked out into the village and is killing some townsfolk and enslaving others to its will. The Acolyte can make anyone, from an old man to a little girl, do its bidding. This creates a spine-tingling, suspenseful side to the narrative as danger could come from anyone at any time.
What I liked best about this novel was the way the fantasy world comes to life, both its present and its history. At times it was almost too unwieldy as I felt the plot could progress faster, but this may have ruined the epic atmosphere. It's definitely a novel to be savored and read slowly, fully immersing yourself in its world.
The characters, even the seemingly minor ones, were very well drawn. I really liked the blustering blacksmith and his cheeky protege, Kara, who is a teenager "too old for her age." Like most teenagers, Kara has plenty of attitude and sarcasm, but she's also weighed down with the burden of her special powers and her fight against evil that takes place even in her dreams.
I am often disappointed with high fantasy because it's usually kind of a dumbed down version of LOTR, but this is not the case at all with Matt Holgate's epic. His world is complex and expertly brought to life, both the greater kingdom and the microcosm of Arrow's Flight. I'm looking forward to reading the Dim Realm II!
June 25, 2013
I’m a huge fan of fantasy. Add in some gore and thrills and you have me snagged! The Dim Realm (for me) was a nice combo of LOTR and GOT with some awesome thrills and a side of chills! It was a bit confusing here and there at the beginning because of all that is going on. But it all came together as it progressed and all in all it’s a good dark fantasy read packed full of adventure, gore, humor, various fantastical characters and some mystery that any fans of the genre will enjoy their time spent with :)
There are quite a few characters within that have a great deal to do with the story as a whole. Tal (through my eyes) seems to be on his own separate adventure or quest from where Kara is heading. But they both end up intertwined in one way or another as the story progresses. Great characters, descriptions and emotions vividly written throughout the story. It will definitely linger in the readers mind long after they read the last sentence and put the book down!
This is the first book of The Resurrection Tower series and a very good start. I look forward to what is to come in the next of the series and where Matt Holgate will take us.
3.5 rounded to a solid 4.
There are quite a few characters within that have a great deal to do with the story as a whole. Tal (through my eyes) seems to be on his own separate adventure or quest from where Kara is heading. But they both end up intertwined in one way or another as the story progresses. Great characters, descriptions and emotions vividly written throughout the story. It will definitely linger in the readers mind long after they read the last sentence and put the book down!
This is the first book of The Resurrection Tower series and a very good start. I look forward to what is to come in the next of the series and where Matt Holgate will take us.
3.5 rounded to a solid 4.
December 14, 2012
I was drawn to this book by looking inside and reading the first few pages - the ghost narrator at the start intrigued me enough to pick the book up. I must admit I'm mainly fond of Urban Fantasy and Horror so finding an Epic Fantasy that interested me enough to read from beginning to end over a single weekend was a big surprise.
The Dim Realm is rich in descriptions and full of properly gruesome horror, with some chilling scenes that really stayed with me after I put the book down. The main character Kara is immensely likeable right from the start and I found myself drawn into her world more so than the others, though Tal was also very likeable. I was pleasantly surprised to find a fair bit of humour and even some swearing - totally not what I'd been expecting!
The pace quickened towards the end and the cliffhanger means I just have to get the next one! This was an enjoyable read and I think it will appeal to anyone who likes a bit of escapism, or indeed a good horror story.
The Dim Realm is rich in descriptions and full of properly gruesome horror, with some chilling scenes that really stayed with me after I put the book down. The main character Kara is immensely likeable right from the start and I found myself drawn into her world more so than the others, though Tal was also very likeable. I was pleasantly surprised to find a fair bit of humour and even some swearing - totally not what I'd been expecting!
The pace quickened towards the end and the cliffhanger means I just have to get the next one! This was an enjoyable read and I think it will appeal to anyone who likes a bit of escapism, or indeed a good horror story.
May 1, 2014
This is a tale of dragons, elves, witches, orcs, wizards, dwarves, goblins, ghosts, and, yes, swirling mists and episodes of primitive combat and gruesome battles, but it is more than that. As we follow Tara and Corin in their quest to find an answer to the horrors taking place all around them, and ultimately to combat the evil that is responsible, we enter into an intricate world of fantasy and inter-related themes that is so well delineated and described as to acquire authenticity of the highest order. Matt Holgate shapes a world, and the characters which people it, that is both imposing and totally viable. It’s a terrifically-structured criss-crossing plot that kept me hooked throughout. Mention should also be made of the perfectly apt tone of the narrative, with the story’s portentous events told in suitably epic terms. Check this book out, and also the series it is part of. Not to be missed.
April 21, 2014
Stepping out of my comfort zone of primarily reading romance novels I was quite excited to begin the epic dark fantasy, 'THE DIM REALM'. From the first lush paragraph Mr. Holgate left me astounded with a sweeping tale so graphic in intensity and prose that I was literally mesmerized. He possesses the rare gift of transporting the reader to the very epicenter of the fervent action with his multi-layered descriptions. I highly recommend this talented author to anyone interested in a blend of horror and fantasy. I look forward to reading Volume II.
October 4, 2021
Really great story
Ok, firstly, I did enjoy this book. The storyline, characters and ultimately the way it was written was great....It was the fact I kept getting lost in the details and needed to go back and re-read and O couldn't just pick up the book and continue the story. I needed to go back and read the last few pages to make sure I knew where I was. Other than that,it was a story that really engrossed me as a reader
Ok, firstly, I did enjoy this book. The storyline, characters and ultimately the way it was written was great....It was the fact I kept getting lost in the details and needed to go back and re-read and O couldn't just pick up the book and continue the story. I needed to go back and read the last few pages to make sure I knew where I was. Other than that,it was a story that really engrossed me as a reader
January 21, 2016
From beginning to end, it's clear that Matt Holgate has an extraordinary talent for world building. His first chapter lures you in and the story keeps your attention with his descriptions which are packed with rich details. At times I felt it did slow the pace down but I could forgive that since many of the passages seemed lyrical and gave me chills. It has an interesting plot and strong characters to make it an interesting read.
January 11, 2015
This wasn't my cup of tea. There are a lot of exquisite descriptions in this book and for anyone who loves fantasy and loves it well enough to enjoy very detailed writing, then this would be a great book for you. I didn't find myself captivated by the story line, it didn't tug at me relentlessly, but that doesn't mean someone else wouldn't adore it. I'm saying it was just okay for my taste.
July 30, 2015
i don't think i ever got past chapter 5. I'll never finish it
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews