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Path Of The Azdinist: Lu
- GenresFantasy
318 pages, Paperback
Published December 28, 2023
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11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 21, 2024
I just finished this book and figured I'd write my first actual Goodreads review for it. I love fantasy books, and I love progressive metal, so when I saw that singer/guitarist Chris Sampson of the fantasy-themed prog metal/rock band Azure had just released his debut fantasy novel based on lyrics from the band's songs I of course had to immediately order it.
First thing to note about the book is that you definitely don't need to have any previous knowledge of the band and their songs the book is based on, it stands completely on its own legs as a great fantasy story. It's a magical and fantastical journey following the titular main character Lu. The book is split up into three parts which all relate to each other but are quite different in feel.
The first and fairly short part introduces us to the mysterious Lu and the curse he's under, trapped on a desolate and opresssive island. The story quickly unfolds and Lu is set upon a quest to free himself from the curse.
The second part was my favorite. It was a heartfelt and intimate story focusing on Lu and the magical being he has to befriend in his quest. The final two chapters of this part were the highlight of the book for me, and I was amazed at how much Sampson managed to make me care for these two characters and their relationship in less than a hundred pages.
The third part took the story in a new turn following and building upon the events in the previous part, leading into becoming an epic fantasy story with a larger scope and more characters introduced. I felt a slight lull at the start of this part coming down from the great finale of the second part, but it quickly picks up again. The world expands and the magic of this world (which also truly feels magical) is introduced and explored more and more as we progress. The ending of the book was satisfyingly epic and left off with some mysteries and plot threads that I can't wait to find out more about in the next book.
The plot was fast paced but still found the time to slow down at times to explore the characters and the fantastical world Sampson has crafted. I couldn't put the book down once I started it and now that I've finished it I'm eagerly awaiting the continuation.
First thing to note about the book is that you definitely don't need to have any previous knowledge of the band and their songs the book is based on, it stands completely on its own legs as a great fantasy story. It's a magical and fantastical journey following the titular main character Lu. The book is split up into three parts which all relate to each other but are quite different in feel.
The first and fairly short part introduces us to the mysterious Lu and the curse he's under, trapped on a desolate and opresssive island. The story quickly unfolds and Lu is set upon a quest to free himself from the curse.
The second part was my favorite. It was a heartfelt and intimate story focusing on Lu and the magical being he has to befriend in his quest. The final two chapters of this part were the highlight of the book for me, and I was amazed at how much Sampson managed to make me care for these two characters and their relationship in less than a hundred pages.
The third part took the story in a new turn following and building upon the events in the previous part, leading into becoming an epic fantasy story with a larger scope and more characters introduced. I felt a slight lull at the start of this part coming down from the great finale of the second part, but it quickly picks up again. The world expands and the magic of this world (which also truly feels magical) is introduced and explored more and more as we progress. The ending of the book was satisfyingly epic and left off with some mysteries and plot threads that I can't wait to find out more about in the next book.
The plot was fast paced but still found the time to slow down at times to explore the characters and the fantastical world Sampson has crafted. I couldn't put the book down once I started it and now that I've finished it I'm eagerly awaiting the continuation.
August 31, 2024
I have spent most of the past few months repeatedly listening to an album called Fym, created by Christopher Sampson's band Azure. (My current album of the year!). This book is set in the same universe that Fym, and in fact all of Azure's albums, is set in. So I had to read it. It is a very very good read, especially for a first entry. With the way that Christopher writes, I found myself getting attached to characters very quickly, despite not spending many pages with them. I highly recommend this book if you are into fantasy and love rich world building.
4.5/5 stars!
(I also highly recommend that you listen to all of Azure's albums, but this is not a music review)
4.5/5 stars!
(I also highly recommend that you listen to all of Azure's albums, but this is not a music review)
April 19, 2024
Path of the Azdinist: Lu follows a dark fantasy genre that's customarily bleak, brutal, and intensely critical of humanity. This is a story that retains that bleakness throughout.
The author will make you invested in characters, and then take them away. They'll make you empathise with the protagonist, then punish him to no end. You'll come come to know and love the sights and sounds of a small town before it's razed to the ground.
At the same time, and with intense descriptive language, we're shown that this brutal world is also one that's full of colour, camaraderie, and music. Sampson's dark fantasy is a kaleidoscope of blood red, yet also floral pink, and ocean blue. In this way they take the sword and sorcery genre and make it truly their own.
I must say that this is genuinely impressive for a debut novel, and I look forward to where we'll be taken next.
The author will make you invested in characters, and then take them away. They'll make you empathise with the protagonist, then punish him to no end. You'll come come to know and love the sights and sounds of a small town before it's razed to the ground.
At the same time, and with intense descriptive language, we're shown that this brutal world is also one that's full of colour, camaraderie, and music. Sampson's dark fantasy is a kaleidoscope of blood red, yet also floral pink, and ocean blue. In this way they take the sword and sorcery genre and make it truly their own.
I must say that this is genuinely impressive for a debut novel, and I look forward to where we'll be taken next.
April 14, 2024
This book was a joy to read. I found it because I am a fan of Chris's band Azure, but I am also a lover of fantasy novels so this was the perfect crossover for me. Previous familiarity with Azure is not really needed, but their music did do a lot to warm me up for the vibe of this fantasy.
The problem a completely unfamiliar fantasy setting can pose to an author is that it can become an infodump at the reader. Lu as a protagonist was I think an elegant solution here, a sort of immortal being taken out of his own time by a curse of clouds, simultaneously an old visitor and a newcomer.
Lu is kind of a tragic figure, cursed by unremembered youthful arrogance, only freed for the purposes of forces too big for him to understand, and ultimately dooming himself the moment he starts to feel in control again. Something terrible was looming for him, and more may yet come.
You as a reader are placed on the level of Lu, only really seeing glimpses of the greater story he seems to be a pawn in.
Chris paints a lush world around this tragic tale, filled with fantastic locales, side characters you want to know more about, and a mystical system of magic.
One thing that especially stood out to me is how Chris handles queerness in this world. As a queer woman myself, I loved seeing a world where homophobia is seemingly absent, and queerness and queer relations are just treated as part of the natural diversity of people. Lu is a pansexual icon.
The problem a completely unfamiliar fantasy setting can pose to an author is that it can become an infodump at the reader. Lu as a protagonist was I think an elegant solution here, a sort of immortal being taken out of his own time by a curse of clouds, simultaneously an old visitor and a newcomer.
Lu is kind of a tragic figure, cursed by unremembered youthful arrogance, only freed for the purposes of forces too big for him to understand, and ultimately dooming himself the moment he starts to feel in control again. Something terrible was looming for him, and more may yet come.
You as a reader are placed on the level of Lu, only really seeing glimpses of the greater story he seems to be a pawn in.
Chris paints a lush world around this tragic tale, filled with fantastic locales, side characters you want to know more about, and a mystical system of magic.
One thing that especially stood out to me is how Chris handles queerness in this world. As a queer woman myself, I loved seeing a world where homophobia is seemingly absent, and queerness and queer relations are just treated as part of the natural diversity of people. Lu is a pansexual icon.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews