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The Badlander
An unmoving sun over a land where time stands still. Embittered gods, clutching the last threads of power. A desperate search for mankind's only hope.
When disgraced master of antiquities Cyprian Fontaine is asked to join an expedition to find a relic that could save his collapsing civilization, he sees his chance at redemption. But the journey will not be an easy one.
The expedition must pass through the cratered remains of the old kingdom, baking beneath the eternally static sun, and into the squalid ruins of the fallen capital city, locked in perpetual night. From wind-scoured mountain peaks to wastelands of ash, they will face sadistic cannibals, nightmarish specters of the dead, and dissension in their own ranks, all to find the broken pieces of a divine blade that, once restored, will grant access to a realm beyond their decaying world.
But hoarding the shards of this blade are monstrous gods, the survivors of a cosmic war that left the world's creator dead and the natural order broken. And guiding them to these hidden deities is an enigmatic wanderer from the wastes, a badlander who promises to be Cyprian's salvation... or his downfall.
When disgraced master of antiquities Cyprian Fontaine is asked to join an expedition to find a relic that could save his collapsing civilization, he sees his chance at redemption. But the journey will not be an easy one.
The expedition must pass through the cratered remains of the old kingdom, baking beneath the eternally static sun, and into the squalid ruins of the fallen capital city, locked in perpetual night. From wind-scoured mountain peaks to wastelands of ash, they will face sadistic cannibals, nightmarish specters of the dead, and dissension in their own ranks, all to find the broken pieces of a divine blade that, once restored, will grant access to a realm beyond their decaying world.
But hoarding the shards of this blade are monstrous gods, the survivors of a cosmic war that left the world's creator dead and the natural order broken. And guiding them to these hidden deities is an enigmatic wanderer from the wastes, a badlander who promises to be Cyprian's salvation... or his downfall.
650 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2023
About the author
Tom Golden
2 books4 followersTom Golden is a lifelong fan of fantasy, horror, and survival stories, and enjoys writing them as much as he enjoys reading them. By trade, he is a crime scene investigator and fingerprint examiner. When he's not working or writing, he enjoys painting, hiking, and traveling to distant and obscure lighthouses. He lives in Michigan with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 30, 2024
I would agree this novel falls within the Fantasy genre but in a Tolkien-like fashion with the brutality of Game of Thrones. A quest leads a diverse group of individuals (who each have unique skills) on an adventure with dangers to be overcome along the way. They are in an dystopian type world overcoming obstacles and situations in which they should perish and must band together to be successful. Plus there are definitely some plot twists that I didn’t see coming!
I give it 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars. I would have preferred less named characters and I admit I had to start taking notes to keep them all straight. For instance, I don’t believe that it was necessary for the haulers, the cook, and other side characters to have names. Simply to know they existed was good enough. The other thing that bothered me was the over used word “cycle”. I understand why day, hour, etc didn’t apply but the detail of “they walked for 2 cycles” or “half a cycle later” was not germane to the reader and that level of detail became annoying and could be eliminated.
This novel could easily have been a 4 Star read for me with just a few tweaks! My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read it!
I give it 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars. I would have preferred less named characters and I admit I had to start taking notes to keep them all straight. For instance, I don’t believe that it was necessary for the haulers, the cook, and other side characters to have names. Simply to know they existed was good enough. The other thing that bothered me was the over used word “cycle”. I understand why day, hour, etc didn’t apply but the detail of “they walked for 2 cycles” or “half a cycle later” was not germane to the reader and that level of detail became annoying and could be eliminated.
This novel could easily have been a 4 Star read for me with just a few tweaks! My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read it!
February 28, 2026
The Badlander by Tom Golden is a gripping narrative that immerses readers in a world of tension, suspense, and moral complexity. Golden’s storytelling is precise and compelling, blending high-stakes adventure with deeply human character arcs. From the opening pages, the reader is drawn into a landscape where danger lurks, decisions carry weight, and the protagonist’s journey challenges conventional notions of right and wrong.
Golden’s prose is both vivid and controlled, striking a balance between action-driven plot and introspective moments that reveal character depth. The novel’s pacing is expertly handled, maintaining suspense while providing room for emotional resonance. With carefully crafted world-building and attention to detail, The Badlander is a testament to Golden’s skill in crafting narratives that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. This book will appeal to fans of suspenseful fiction who appreciate nuanced storytelling and memorable characters navigating morally complex scenarios.
Golden’s prose is both vivid and controlled, striking a balance between action-driven plot and introspective moments that reveal character depth. The novel’s pacing is expertly handled, maintaining suspense while providing room for emotional resonance. With carefully crafted world-building and attention to detail, The Badlander is a testament to Golden’s skill in crafting narratives that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. This book will appeal to fans of suspenseful fiction who appreciate nuanced storytelling and memorable characters navigating morally complex scenarios.
January 16, 2024
RIVETING
The Badlander is a remarkable blend of adventure and fantasy with a touch of reality concerning human plights and environmental stressors the world faces today.
ACTION-PACKED
Tom Golden's writing is in vernacular comparable to other great writers in the same genre; think Lord of the Rings meets Dragonriders of Pern.
ENTHRALLING
Characters are beautifully molded throughout the book; having flaws, motivations, personal and external conflicts, making it easy to aborb yourself into the mind of each one.
A PAGE-TURNER
From beginning to anxiously awaiting the stories denouement, trying to guess how it will close after every twist and turn of each page. A must- read for anyone who enjoys fantasy or adventure.
The Badlander is a remarkable blend of adventure and fantasy with a touch of reality concerning human plights and environmental stressors the world faces today.
ACTION-PACKED
Tom Golden's writing is in vernacular comparable to other great writers in the same genre; think Lord of the Rings meets Dragonriders of Pern.
ENTHRALLING
Characters are beautifully molded throughout the book; having flaws, motivations, personal and external conflicts, making it easy to aborb yourself into the mind of each one.
A PAGE-TURNER
From beginning to anxiously awaiting the stories denouement, trying to guess how it will close after every twist and turn of each page. A must- read for anyone who enjoys fantasy or adventure.
January 13, 2026
3.5 stars. A worthy effort for a debut novel.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews