FIRST SNOW

Deity Chronicles #1

by Jake Vanguard

What if you only exist because you're the splinter of someone else's soul?

After spending his whole life in his brother's shadow, Zanoah gets banished from his home, paying the price for his brother's crime.

Thrown into a world unknown to him, he'll have to find himself and a purpose to live for. Crossing a half-sentient jungle, he's bound to find his destiny—a forgotten deity of all things.

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Adult, Fiction

333 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2024

About the author

Jake Vanguard (they/them) is an indie author of queer dark fantasy, science fantasy, horror, and a slice of erotica. In their stories, they love exploring queerness and contradictions, love and connections, family and friendship.
The first two books of the Deity Chronicles trilogy – FIRST SNOW and FIRST ROSE – are available now, as well as the paranormal novel, HIGANBANA (Angelverse 1), with more to come.
REMNANTS OF RELICS is their first curated anthology, a product of love and community, about the struggles and joys one works with when losing or gaining a new part of themselves.

When not writing, they love gaming and cuddling their kitties.

Reviews

[S.S. Genesee · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off: the world building in this astounding!! I love the atmosphere of every location we go to - from the futuristic city of Tadena to the lush, rich, thick jungle our characters traverse through. And Zanoah, our main character and POV, is written so well and so believable, that you can always feel his pain. Struggling with the inner turmoil of his past, the mystery behind it, and then how it affects those he meets in his new surroundings after being exiled from the city. He was such a sweetheart, so good, so pure, that no one else but another sweetheart like Caean would ever be more perfect for him.

I appreciated the slow growth of their relationship, how they felt some sort of supernatural attraction, and learning why and what that meant later on. After that climax of an ending, I'm very excited to see what happens in the next book! 💕💖

[U.R. Holm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the honor of receiving an ARC for this.

What can I say! I loved this book!
The world was unique and well though out. All the small things that built towards bigger things felt real and the people in it did too.

I also loved the characters relationships to each other and the mixture of technology and magic is always a bonus with me.

I also can’t ignore the fact that Ferox reminds me so much of one of my all time favorite characters. So yes, I may be biased. 😅

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.5 stars

First Snow is the first in the Deity Chronicles series from author Jake Vanguard. The story is narrated in third-person perspective from Zanoah’s point of view. It’s set in a fantastical world that feels like it’s divvied up like an adventuresome map with a sentient jungle and labyrinthine caves, a futuristic city under a seemingly permanent sand storm, and a town full of brainwashed acolytes loyal to an evil deity. Each location highlights how differently the people in this world are. As varied as the locales and groups are, however, they all have a part to play in the story. If you enjoy stories that come full circle, I think you’ll enjoy how Vanguard has worked that concept into the story.

The world building in this story, the imaginative settings and the various cultures and values depicted, are amazing.

Overall, this was an ambitious, sweeping tale of found family and new love. It’s built around Zanoah’s journey of self-acceptance and has far reaching implications for the world he inhabits. If you’re looking for a story that has an immersive world and sweet characters who discover their inner strength while finding their place in the world, keep an open mind about narrative voice and I think you’ll enjoy this story.

Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.

[Q Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful and I can't help daydreaming about how well it would lend itself to an anime setting. With the futuristic cities and sentient jungle world, I kept thinking the makers of Scavengers Reign would fit so well with this world and the characters. That's how visual the pages were to me and I had a fantastic journey reading it. I don't want to give too much away! If you like Sci-Fi Fantasy, this is a must read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Menoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I beta-read the first version and Jake is a friend. So OBVIOUSLY I won't be objective.

With that said you should add first Snow to your shelves because it's a great story and you all deserve to meet those characters. 🥰🔪

[J.M. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite thing about this book was how immersive the world building was. As a person who loves character-driven stories, First Snow was truly a gift to experience. The characters that Vanguard has created are as memorable as the ones in the other work I've read by him and you find yourself wishing you could go on a journey with every single person you meet. Except for a couple of baddies I would rather never see again! But the world building...I absolutely loved the DIFFERENCE between the places showcased in this book and I really enjoyed experiencing the different landscapes.

As with most first volumes, the book starts on a very exciting note then slows down for a bit while we begin to understand the premise, but the moment you reach the midpoint, you can be sure that you're going to want to keep turning the pages to get to the end with the very likable protagonist Zanoah. Can't wait for the second installment of this series.

[ThatReader]

A case of the concept being super interesting but the execution failed to deliver. I started this book a while ago, put it aside after the first chapter, decided to pick it up again, put it down two chapters later, decided to give it one more chance, and as much as I would love to be able to give this a nice review, I can't. Nearing 40% and I am STRUGGLING to keep reading it, so I need to be honest with myself - there is no way I'm going to be able to finish this on a joyful mindset. Perhaps I'm not the right audience, I don't know, truth is I couldn't get invested in the story and the characters, no matter how hard I tried. The prose isn't bad, it's just that... it never managed to capture me.

[Silvita Wake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very complex world, but really great world building that didn't make the book too overwhelming with all the exposition. Very cute romance with fun and exciting action sequences that I had to force myself to slow down and actually read rather than trying to speed read it because I was so invested.

[Kay Cobbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

"First Snow" is a thought-provoking novel that masterfully explores the eternal struggle between good and evil. Vanguard's worldbuilding is nothing short of extraordinary, with vividly imagined locales such as a technologically advanced yet sterile domed city, a sentient jungle teeming with plant life but no animals, and a primitive, technology-deprived city connected by a labyrinthine network of tunnels through the mountains. Vanguard also tantalizingly hints at other intriguing populations that I eagerly anticipate visiting in future installments.
The story is narrated in the third person and revolves around the character of Zanoah. Our understanding of what sets him apart unfolds simultaneously with his own revelations, fostering a deep sense of investment in his journey and fate.
The concept of deities, once revered and potentially still influential, is particularly compelling. Caean, the deity of nature, captivates the reader with their gentle yet powerful presence. In stark contrast, Basilios epitomizes malevolence, exuding darkness and a desire for domination that is unsettlingly relatable in today's world.
As I delved deeper into the plot, I found myself thoroughly engrossed. I yearned for a happy ending, but just when it seemed within reach, I was left hanging with THAT cliffhanger!

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the book towards its ending. It had a lot of emotions and I could actually feel the connection between characters making me attached to them and actually falling into the action. I also enjoyed the representation in this book, I don't usually read books with representation because I don't see many or hear people talk about them so this was refreshing. Again it was nice to see that we watched other characters connect beside the main characters.
However in the beginning it was hard to get into the story. It felt like many paragraphs were just the same thing repeated and even if the story seemed interesting I couldn't get into it. Also the MC just accepted everything so fast. All the plot twists were thrown so casually and he just accepted it and went with his day not a single shock in sight or anything.
And when he faced a problem the solutions just appeared in a second in front of him. We didn't see him struggle or any tension to be built until we reached a solution. The problem appeared and the solution was right behind it.
And the connection it was talked about at the start I couldn't feel. I couldn't connect with the characters and feel the emotions they were talking about.
The idea was nice and I liked that it was a mix of nature and technology but until towards the end I could not get into the story.

[atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of this book and here's my honest review.

My Rating: 3.75

CW: Ableism, alcohol, blood, child abuse, confinement, emotional abuse, forced marriage & pregnancy, death, medical procedures, sexual abuse, suicidal thoughts, suicide, torture, vomiting

My thoughts:
The setting is great: in a dystopian future after /some event/ individual cities are cut off from each other and in each one different ways of living/morals evolved. There is also a sentient jungle.

I also love the characters. Especially Zan, who I can relate to on a ridiculous level. And seeing some autistic rep on the aroace spectrum makes me so happy.

This book is also very fast-paced. There is a lot happening, I feel like it could have been spaced out over at least two books but go into more detail in the individual scenes/locations. It also makes it a bit difficult to get worried, because pretty much as soon as they're thrown into a bad situation they already got out again. That does make it a lighter/fun read though.

The writing did bother me a bit. I can't think of a better word than basic for it and at times repetitive. As in similar sentence, same information multiple times. So maybe another round of editing would have helped.

[Adrienne Lothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Snow is the first book in the ongoing Deity Chronicles series by Jake Vanguard. This book was such an awesome, wild ride, full of rich characterization and fascinating worldbuilding. Full of lush, emotional prose, settings that dance between sci-fi and fantasy and then back again, and memorable characters fighting their own battles both internal and external, First Snow was an absolute pleasure from cover to cover.

We are carried through this story in the point of view of Zanoah, who is dropped into a precarious situation right on page one and a building mystery that slowly reveals itself as the events of the story progress. Accompanying Zan is a cast of equally deep, emotionally rich characters I couldn't help but love, including Caean, who made my heart happy with their seamless enby representation.

If you like adventurous fantasy with a touch of sci-fi, magic, deities who walk the earth, and characters with rich interiority and struggle, all wrapped in a classic battle of good vs evil, I can't recommend this book (and series) enough!

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to reading this book for a long time now, and wow. This is so different than anything else I've read so far!

I think my favorite part of the book is the lore behind the deities we're introduced to in this book. This was a completely separate world compared to the one we live in, and learning how the deities and humans lived alongside each other, and what happened when they crossed paths kept me hooked.

I enjoyed the different parts of the world as well. As I read, I felt transported from one part of the world to the next, and it was so cool seeing how these different communities lived.

This novel also explores the complexities of family and personal relationships, and specifically how to find connection after trauma. These are some heavy subjects, and I really appreciated Jake's thoughtful approach in emphasizing how the characters helped each other, and the respect shown from one character to another.

I am so intrigued to see where the next book takes us!

[Heather Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 bumped up to 4 cause we can’t do half stars 🙄

Over all I did enjoy this book! The world in which this was set was fairly unique and interesting. The world building was great, and built up nicely with out being info dumpy.

However on and off through out the story there were times where I was “pulled out” so to speak, especially when more slang type words were thrown in. Also some of the actions and dialogue felt very juvenile even though I believe everyone is well into adulthood.

Other than that the book as a whole kept my attention, the characters were unique and interesting, and I’m very much looking forward to checking out book 2 in the future!

[Ken Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another saga

And another book I had to force myself to finish, from about the60% mark. Albeit well plotted and written, the angst got to be overwhelming and tedium settled in.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is fascinating. It combines a futuristic world with sci fi technology, jungle survival elements, LGBT romance, disability rep and gods-walking-the-earth fantasy. They don't sound like they should go together, but they do! Sometimes the combination made the plot feel like two books merged together, but on the whole, the storyline worked, and the entirely new world was fresh and interesting.

The characters are loveable and diverse, with believable emotions and reactions. The romance was subtle but powerful, and very respectful.

Sometimes the characters felt like caricatures, either wonderful or evil, and reacting as if the antagonists were entirely bad. However, this was mostly resolved in the plot as a whole, with a mix of redemption and comeuppance.

There are some dark elements in this book (pleaselook at the triger warnings) which were more graphic than I expected. However, they did mostly fit the plot and made sense within the world.

This book was an ARC but all views are my own.

[Freddie A. Clark]

I'm removing my past ratings and reviews from my author account, which will only serve its purpose of listing my works. Only reviews of recent purchases and ARCs will be reposted on the new account.
You can find my rating and review of this book, and other books I've reviewed before January 2024, on other platforms such as Amazon and Storygraph.