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Annals of the God Eater #1
Deathless: Annals of the God Eater book 1
Seven were the Godless Kings who took their war to Heaven.
King Ertide Hostain was once known as the Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and he has yet to choose which squabbling prince will be his heir.
The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realises not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is heaven hiding?
Immortality has a price, and it is paid in blood.
A new epic fantasy saga full of angels, demons, and mystery, from award-winning author, Rob J. Hayes. Perfect for fans of Brandon Sanders, John Gwynne, and Ryan Cahill.
King Ertide Hostain was once known as the Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and he has yet to choose which squabbling prince will be his heir.
The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realises not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is heaven hiding?
Immortality has a price, and it is paid in blood.
A new epic fantasy saga full of angels, demons, and mystery, from award-winning author, Rob J. Hayes. Perfect for fans of Brandon Sanders, John Gwynne, and Ryan Cahill.
186 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2024
103 people are currently reading
1565 people want to read
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
45 books1,917 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
May 28, 2024
4.5/5 stars
Deathless was, unbelievably, even better than Demon; this is an intense and dark political epic fantasy done right.
First, I will repeat what I said in my review for Demon. The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes is a big series divided into three trilogies. Herald is the first book in Age of the God Eater trilogy. Deathless is the first book in Annals of the God Eater trilogy, and it takes place a thousand years before the events of Herald. Finally, Demon is the first book in Archive of the God Eater trilogy, and the story begins three thousand years before the events of Herald. These three surmised the first phase of The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes. Hayes wrote the three first volumes concurrently, and he’s currently writing the second phase of The God Eater Saga, the respective sequel to these three books.
Although I am not following the recommended reading order of The God Eater Saga, which is to read Herald, Deathless, and Demon in that order, I must say… Rob J. Hayes has done a superb job in making sure each first book in a series worked as a standalone or a suitable starting point. If you read Deathless after reading Herald, I have no doubt your reading experience of this 70,000 words long short novel will differ from mine. But in my case, I read Demon first, and I can confidently say that I do not regret reading the saga in chronological order. Not one bit. It’s the other way around. I have read Demon, but I haven’t read Herald, and I believe my reading experience of Deathless was elevated because of it. I have a feeling Herald will explain the events that happened in Deathless and will spoil the elements of surprise.
Two thousand years have passed since the origin story of Dien Hostain in Demon started. In Deathless, we follow the story of King Ertide Hostain, who was once known as the legendary Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and nearing his death, he has yet to choose which of his squabbling princes will be his heir. The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realizes not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is Heaven hiding?
Immortality has a price, and it is paid in blood. If Demon is a survival and origin story of Dien Hostain, Deathless is a political epic fantasy story that depicts the genesis of the Godless Kings who took their war to Heaven. It will require a bit of time to get used to the many names of the Hostain family. Ertide is the sole POV character of Deathless, and most of the main supporting characters in this novel (unless certain revelations are revealed in later books) are descendants of Dien Hostain, the main character of Demon. In my opinion, The Hostain dynasty is starting to become one of the most fascinating fictional families brimming with potential for intricacies and family-tree explorations I have ever read. In a way, reading the story of the Hostain family in Demon and Deathless reminded me of the Targaryen from A Song of Ice and Fire or Radagon’s family in Elden Ring video game. I have yet to read Herald, and I am already sad I will be done with the first phase of The God Eater Saga soon.
Ertide Hostain and his descendants, especially Rikkan, Mertred, Caran, Emrik, and Arandon, are some of the most memorable characters in Deathless. As I mentioned, give yourself time to adjust to the many names quickly forwarded to the reader. But once you get the bearing of who’s who and their respective crucial role in the narrative, I guarantee you it will be a challenge to put Deathless down. The first half is basically the calm before the storm moments. Hayes needed this section to efficiently establish the build-up before the explosive second half. And the payoff is utterly brilliant. I read the second half of Deathless in one sitting. The scheming, the manipulations, the revelations, and the brutal confrontations of ideals, wishes, freedom, and greed made Deathless a thoroughly engaging read with a satisfying ending. The angel of the First Age—Orphus—and the Fourth Age—Oronesus—are more involved in the plotlines when compared to Demon. It was an incredible experience to read and learn more about the world-building and history Hayes has prepared for The God Eater Saga with each book. And I cannot wait to read more of it.
Because this is a short novel, I will not take too much of your time reading this review. Deathless is a blaze of glory that became one of the author's best works to date. I wholeheartedly recommend Demon and Deathless. Hayes is brewing something special with The God Eater Saga. And to think that I haven’t even read the main novel of the saga, Herald, yet! However, after reading Demon, Deathless, and The Mortal Techniques series, I already feel secure in proclaiming Rob J. Hayes as one of my favorite fantasy authors. The magnificent tale of greed, ambition, power, faith, and fall from grace in Deathless is bound in blood. I have a strong instinct that the repercussions of the vermillion actions in Annals of the God Eater, even when the second and third phase of the saga is not written yet, will seep into Age of the God Eater series. I am ready for Herald.
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew S, Annabeth, Anne, Arliss, Barbara, Bev, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Cullen, Dan, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, James, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Nick, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Rue, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Sophia, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
Deathless was, unbelievably, even better than Demon; this is an intense and dark political epic fantasy done right.
"It takes more than one person to birth a conspiracy."
First, I will repeat what I said in my review for Demon. The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes is a big series divided into three trilogies. Herald is the first book in Age of the God Eater trilogy. Deathless is the first book in Annals of the God Eater trilogy, and it takes place a thousand years before the events of Herald. Finally, Demon is the first book in Archive of the God Eater trilogy, and the story begins three thousand years before the events of Herald. These three surmised the first phase of The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes. Hayes wrote the three first volumes concurrently, and he’s currently writing the second phase of The God Eater Saga, the respective sequel to these three books.
"A civilisation is lost, not when the messages of our heroes are forgotten, but when they are corrupted. When we are led by those with the loudest voices, rather than those with the keenest minds. When learning is ridiculed and ignorance lauded."
Although I am not following the recommended reading order of The God Eater Saga, which is to read Herald, Deathless, and Demon in that order, I must say… Rob J. Hayes has done a superb job in making sure each first book in a series worked as a standalone or a suitable starting point. If you read Deathless after reading Herald, I have no doubt your reading experience of this 70,000 words long short novel will differ from mine. But in my case, I read Demon first, and I can confidently say that I do not regret reading the saga in chronological order. Not one bit. It’s the other way around. I have read Demon, but I haven’t read Herald, and I believe my reading experience of Deathless was elevated because of it. I have a feeling Herald will explain the events that happened in Deathless and will spoil the elements of surprise.
"When faith becomes religion, and worship is enforced with threat and fear, morality actual suffers in the shadow of morality implied."
Two thousand years have passed since the origin story of Dien Hostain in Demon started. In Deathless, we follow the story of King Ertide Hostain, who was once known as the legendary Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and nearing his death, he has yet to choose which of his squabbling princes will be his heir. The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realizes not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is Heaven hiding?
"Do the people serve the king, or does the king serve the people? Consider the circle. Strong and flexible, but a single break in the line and the structure falls apart. Therefore it might be better to say: The people DO serve the king, so that the king MAY serve the people."
Immortality has a price, and it is paid in blood. If Demon is a survival and origin story of Dien Hostain, Deathless is a political epic fantasy story that depicts the genesis of the Godless Kings who took their war to Heaven. It will require a bit of time to get used to the many names of the Hostain family. Ertide is the sole POV character of Deathless, and most of the main supporting characters in this novel (unless certain revelations are revealed in later books) are descendants of Dien Hostain, the main character of Demon. In my opinion, The Hostain dynasty is starting to become one of the most fascinating fictional families brimming with potential for intricacies and family-tree explorations I have ever read. In a way, reading the story of the Hostain family in Demon and Deathless reminded me of the Targaryen from A Song of Ice and Fire or Radagon’s family in Elden Ring video game. I have yet to read Herald, and I am already sad I will be done with the first phase of The God Eater Saga soon.
“So many faces here I recognize… And just as many I don’t. I’m sorry about that. I wish I’d spent more time getting to know you all. But ours is a broad family. A tree with roots as deep as the world, and more branches than rivers feeding the World Vein. The Hostain blood runs strong in us all. The blood of the Saint, who forged humanity into an empire. The blood of rulers, who have held us all together and brought us prosperity and wisdom and strength.”
Ertide Hostain and his descendants, especially Rikkan, Mertred, Caran, Emrik, and Arandon, are some of the most memorable characters in Deathless. As I mentioned, give yourself time to adjust to the many names quickly forwarded to the reader. But once you get the bearing of who’s who and their respective crucial role in the narrative, I guarantee you it will be a challenge to put Deathless down. The first half is basically the calm before the storm moments. Hayes needed this section to efficiently establish the build-up before the explosive second half. And the payoff is utterly brilliant. I read the second half of Deathless in one sitting. The scheming, the manipulations, the revelations, and the brutal confrontations of ideals, wishes, freedom, and greed made Deathless a thoroughly engaging read with a satisfying ending. The angel of the First Age—Orphus—and the Fourth Age—Oronesus—are more involved in the plotlines when compared to Demon. It was an incredible experience to read and learn more about the world-building and history Hayes has prepared for The God Eater Saga with each book. And I cannot wait to read more of it.
"History is mutable, written not by the hand of relevance, but instead by those with ink to spare."
Because this is a short novel, I will not take too much of your time reading this review. Deathless is a blaze of glory that became one of the author's best works to date. I wholeheartedly recommend Demon and Deathless. Hayes is brewing something special with The God Eater Saga. And to think that I haven’t even read the main novel of the saga, Herald, yet! However, after reading Demon, Deathless, and The Mortal Techniques series, I already feel secure in proclaiming Rob J. Hayes as one of my favorite fantasy authors. The magnificent tale of greed, ambition, power, faith, and fall from grace in Deathless is bound in blood. I have a strong instinct that the repercussions of the vermillion actions in Annals of the God Eater, even when the second and third phase of the saga is not written yet, will seep into Age of the God Eater series. I am ready for Herald.
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew S, Annabeth, Anne, Arliss, Barbara, Bev, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Cullen, Dan, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, James, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Nick, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Rue, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Sophia, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
December 4, 2024
This was so good!
4.5
4.5
May 7, 2024
I decided to read the trilogy of trilogy series in chronological order of all the book ones. So I have already read Demon reading this one but haven't read Herald yet.
I enjoyed this one just not as much as I enjoyed demon. This one does have a slow start. You don't really understand the over arching point of this story until about 50% in, which made it drag a little for me. But as soon as I understood I was like OOOHHHH YES!
I loved the character work that was put down in this. And I loved seeing the Hostain blood line. All the little Easter eggs to demon and probably a lot of hints to herald were so fun. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this one as a series on its own. But as part of this epic world and series I thought it was interesting.
I enjoyed this one just not as much as I enjoyed demon. This one does have a slow start. You don't really understand the over arching point of this story until about 50% in, which made it drag a little for me. But as soon as I understood I was like OOOHHHH YES!
I loved the character work that was put down in this. And I loved seeing the Hostain blood line. All the little Easter eggs to demon and probably a lot of hints to herald were so fun. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this one as a series on its own. But as part of this epic world and series I thought it was interesting.
June 3, 2024
Deathless is the second book 1 (sequentially) of Rob Hayes’ ambitious three-trilogy Godeater series. It has a vastly different tone than Demon, which I read just previous to Deathless. While Demon focused on the common man’s struggle against an invading horde, Deathless picks up 1,000 years later, telling the story of Ertide, a king nearing the end of his reign and his life.
As Ertide’s rule draws to a close, he wrestles with his legacy and where the power truly lies. Immortal angels who claim to follow God’s will heavily influence most of Ertide’s decrees through his lifetime. The angels have immense power and Ertide has had little choice in following Heaven’s plan, lest he be named a heretic. But when new information about the history of humans and angels come to light, is there anything Ertide can do to change the balance of power?
There are many characters introduced in this novel, and much of it feels like table-setting for bigger events to come — then an exciting and game-changing conclusion has me fired up to continue this timeline’s story. It asks as many questions as it answers, and I’m excited to see more of what Hayes’ overarching vision is for this massive saga.
This series is a lot of fun - intriguing, mysterious, sprawling, and has some excellent action scenes. Highly recommend you checking this out.
Starting “Herald” in 5… 4… 3…
As Ertide’s rule draws to a close, he wrestles with his legacy and where the power truly lies. Immortal angels who claim to follow God’s will heavily influence most of Ertide’s decrees through his lifetime. The angels have immense power and Ertide has had little choice in following Heaven’s plan, lest he be named a heretic. But when new information about the history of humans and angels come to light, is there anything Ertide can do to change the balance of power?
There are many characters introduced in this novel, and much of it feels like table-setting for bigger events to come — then an exciting and game-changing conclusion has me fired up to continue this timeline’s story. It asks as many questions as it answers, and I’m excited to see more of what Hayes’ overarching vision is for this massive saga.
This series is a lot of fun - intriguing, mysterious, sprawling, and has some excellent action scenes. Highly recommend you checking this out.
Starting “Herald” in 5… 4… 3…
June 1, 2024
Okay, these are sooo good
April 6, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
Holy smokes, Rob J. Hayes has done it again! Brimming with cutthroat political intrigue, complex family dynamics, twisted truths, and morally questionable actions, Deathless is a deliciously diabolical take on a dark political fantasy.
Set 2000 years after the events of Demon, but 1000 years before the events of Herald, this book kicks off the middle trilogy in the epic God Eater Saga. Through the eyes of the ailing King Ertide, we get an intimate glimpse into the Hostain dynasty, the family that has ruled over the Sant Dien Empire for millennia. And for those who have read Demon, yes, those names should indeed ring a bell.
The main focus of the narrative is the succession crisis that King Ertide finds himself embroiled in. The angels have demanded that he abdicates his throne, yet for a variety of reasons, none of his five children seem suitable to be named heir. Add to that the fact that Ertide’s faith has been waning over the years, and the tension and stakes soon rise to ungodly heights.
While I can see how some people might find the pacing of Deathless to be a bit too slow, I personally really enjoyed the intimate and introspective nature of this narrative. We really get to dive deep into Ertide’s troubled psyche, offering riveting inner turmoil that both fascinated and frightened me in equal measure. Plus, I was honestly eating up all the tumultuous familial drama between the multiple generations of Hostains, especially because the characterisation for each individual family member was so ridiculously strong.
Moreover, there’s a truly riveting air of mystery and intrigue woven into the narrative, and I truly could not stop turning the pages to uncover more hidden truths. Themes of religion, faith, ambition, corruption, and the twisting of history are explored in a way I have never seen before, bringing a level of depth and nuance to this novel that is honestly astounding for its shorter pagecount.
I was also absolutely glued to the page by the presence and role of the angels in this story, and I loved that these children of God are not presented as a monolithic community. Especially the eccentric angel Moon really captured my heart, and I loved the complex dynamic between him and King Ertide. All of these characters are constantly tiptoeing the dangerously thin line between good and evil, making Deathless a masterclass in how to explore moral ambiguity in a morbidly fascinating way!
Now, much as I loved the slow build-up of tension and tantalising unveiling of ancient hidden truths, I do think the resolution was a bit rushed compared to the slow set-up. Don’t get me wrong, the actual climax itself was bloody shocking in the best way possible, but I feel like some of the emotional impact was lost in how quickly everything escalated and then exploded.
Fortunately, this is only the first instalment in the Annals of the God Eater trilogy (and one of the nine instalments in the wider God Eater Saga), so there is tons of potential to explore the true horrors and world-shattering implications of the brutal actions at the end in much more depth in the rest of the series. And you better bet I am counting down the days until we get the continuation of this story, because this ending left me hungering for more in the best way possible.
With Deathless, Hayes once again proves that he is a masterful storyteller and a straight-up genius bastard. The God Eater Saga is already shaping up to be one of the most epic and visionary fantasy series I have ever read, and I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.
This review is based on the Kickstarter edition. Deathless will be available for general sale on July 9, 2024.
Holy smokes, Rob J. Hayes has done it again! Brimming with cutthroat political intrigue, complex family dynamics, twisted truths, and morally questionable actions, Deathless is a deliciously diabolical take on a dark political fantasy.
Set 2000 years after the events of Demon, but 1000 years before the events of Herald, this book kicks off the middle trilogy in the epic God Eater Saga. Through the eyes of the ailing King Ertide, we get an intimate glimpse into the Hostain dynasty, the family that has ruled over the Sant Dien Empire for millennia. And for those who have read Demon, yes, those names should indeed ring a bell.
The main focus of the narrative is the succession crisis that King Ertide finds himself embroiled in. The angels have demanded that he abdicates his throne, yet for a variety of reasons, none of his five children seem suitable to be named heir. Add to that the fact that Ertide’s faith has been waning over the years, and the tension and stakes soon rise to ungodly heights.
While I can see how some people might find the pacing of Deathless to be a bit too slow, I personally really enjoyed the intimate and introspective nature of this narrative. We really get to dive deep into Ertide’s troubled psyche, offering riveting inner turmoil that both fascinated and frightened me in equal measure. Plus, I was honestly eating up all the tumultuous familial drama between the multiple generations of Hostains, especially because the characterisation for each individual family member was so ridiculously strong.
Moreover, there’s a truly riveting air of mystery and intrigue woven into the narrative, and I truly could not stop turning the pages to uncover more hidden truths. Themes of religion, faith, ambition, corruption, and the twisting of history are explored in a way I have never seen before, bringing a level of depth and nuance to this novel that is honestly astounding for its shorter pagecount.
I was also absolutely glued to the page by the presence and role of the angels in this story, and I loved that these children of God are not presented as a monolithic community. Especially the eccentric angel Moon really captured my heart, and I loved the complex dynamic between him and King Ertide. All of these characters are constantly tiptoeing the dangerously thin line between good and evil, making Deathless a masterclass in how to explore moral ambiguity in a morbidly fascinating way!
Now, much as I loved the slow build-up of tension and tantalising unveiling of ancient hidden truths, I do think the resolution was a bit rushed compared to the slow set-up. Don’t get me wrong, the actual climax itself was bloody shocking in the best way possible, but I feel like some of the emotional impact was lost in how quickly everything escalated and then exploded.
Fortunately, this is only the first instalment in the Annals of the God Eater trilogy (and one of the nine instalments in the wider God Eater Saga), so there is tons of potential to explore the true horrors and world-shattering implications of the brutal actions at the end in much more depth in the rest of the series. And you better bet I am counting down the days until we get the continuation of this story, because this ending left me hungering for more in the best way possible.
With Deathless, Hayes once again proves that he is a masterful storyteller and a straight-up genius bastard. The God Eater Saga is already shaping up to be one of the most epic and visionary fantasy series I have ever read, and I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.
This review is based on the Kickstarter edition. Deathless will be available for general sale on July 9, 2024.
December 16, 2024
A fantastic follow read to Herald!
So many questions answered, but even more raised. What Rob J. Hayes is doing here is really something special and I feel bad for anyone not reading this saga.
So many questions answered, but even more raised. What Rob J. Hayes is doing here is really something special and I feel bad for anyone not reading this saga.
April 5, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.
3.5 stars, rounded up
When Rob J. Hayes first announced the God Eater Saga, I had no doubt in my mind that the sum of its parts would equal a truly unique and tremendous epic. Having recently read Demon, the first chronological book in the saga, my expectations going into Deathless, the first of the Annals of the God Eater trilogy, were very high. And while it did not reach the same heights as Demon, this entry is still highly enjoyable and is only further cementing that this saga is going to be a modern-day classic.
Set one thousand years before the events of the main trilogy, Deathless follows King Ertide Hostain, the monarch of the Sant Dien Empire. For millennia, the Empire has stood alongside angels to defend its borders in accordance with the will of God. However, for all his heroics in his younger years, Ertide is now an old man inching nearer and nearer to death, and the angels, much to his chagrin, are pulling him along on strings to satisfy God’s will and pushing him to abdicate his throne and name on of his children as heir to the empire. But things are never so simple, and when the veil covering the relationship between humanity and angels is lifted from Ertide’s eyes, he has no choice but to question his faith and seek out how to cut the strings that have long pulled him along.
At its core, Deathless is a political fantasy. Running in the background for much of the book is the question of who Ertide is going to name as his heir. However, none of his five children are suitable to succeed him for a variety of reasons, from disinterest in ruling to arrogance to madness, and the insistence of the angels for him to abdicate his throne only exacerbates the issue. While this plotline felt a bit rushed, and the payoff ultimately feeling an afterthought, the dynamic of family politics was explored quite well. Royal succession is an interesting affair in this book, where the first in line does not want the throne and wants only to fight, while the youngest in the line of succession may be the best suited, but naming him as heir would be an unwanted disruption.
With this in the background, at the forefront lies the conspiracy of what the angels are hiding from humanity. There is a secret to the power the angels hold over them, but few are those who Ertide believes he can entrust it to.
There’s a slow build-up to everything until it all erupts at the end, but after the relentless pace of Demon, Deathless feels a bit more of a meander in comparison. It’s not bad by any means, mind, and the pieces are placed on the board well. However, for the shorter length of the book, I felt the ratio of set-up to payoff was a bit more skewed toward the set-up, and the payoff did not last nearly long enough for me to fully appreciate it and let it sink in.
This would be more of an issue, though, if the main cast did not lift Deathless up their shoulders as well as they did. Ertide is a fascinating and unique lead—one of the first terminally ill elderly protagonists I’ve encountered in an epic fantasy work—and his relationship with his eccentric angel companion Moon, his interactions with his children and grandchildren, the marital obligations with his young wife, they are all enough to make this a page-turner even when the story is at a slow crawl. This is a consistent strength in Hayes’ books, and it is no different here in Deathless.
I believe there’s also a lift given to Deathless by having read Demon first. While much of the references to the first chronological novel are of an Easter egg variety, the conspiratorial nature of the Deathless’ plot was enough to make me reflect on the events of Demon and think on what had happened in the intervening millennia. What became of the relationship between humanity and Heaven? How much of history will be rewritten? Hayes has spoken at length of getting the whole picture by reading each individual piece of this segmented saga, and I think doing so made Deathless that much more enjoyable for me.
Overall, Deathless feels like a foundational book. It’s a very enjoyable one, but it takes a bit too much time getting to where it wants to go, but where it’s going to take off from here, I truly cannot wait to see.
3.5 stars, rounded up
When Rob J. Hayes first announced the God Eater Saga, I had no doubt in my mind that the sum of its parts would equal a truly unique and tremendous epic. Having recently read Demon, the first chronological book in the saga, my expectations going into Deathless, the first of the Annals of the God Eater trilogy, were very high. And while it did not reach the same heights as Demon, this entry is still highly enjoyable and is only further cementing that this saga is going to be a modern-day classic.
Set one thousand years before the events of the main trilogy, Deathless follows King Ertide Hostain, the monarch of the Sant Dien Empire. For millennia, the Empire has stood alongside angels to defend its borders in accordance with the will of God. However, for all his heroics in his younger years, Ertide is now an old man inching nearer and nearer to death, and the angels, much to his chagrin, are pulling him along on strings to satisfy God’s will and pushing him to abdicate his throne and name on of his children as heir to the empire. But things are never so simple, and when the veil covering the relationship between humanity and angels is lifted from Ertide’s eyes, he has no choice but to question his faith and seek out how to cut the strings that have long pulled him along.
At its core, Deathless is a political fantasy. Running in the background for much of the book is the question of who Ertide is going to name as his heir. However, none of his five children are suitable to succeed him for a variety of reasons, from disinterest in ruling to arrogance to madness, and the insistence of the angels for him to abdicate his throne only exacerbates the issue. While this plotline felt a bit rushed, and the payoff ultimately feeling an afterthought, the dynamic of family politics was explored quite well. Royal succession is an interesting affair in this book, where the first in line does not want the throne and wants only to fight, while the youngest in the line of succession may be the best suited, but naming him as heir would be an unwanted disruption.
With this in the background, at the forefront lies the conspiracy of what the angels are hiding from humanity. There is a secret to the power the angels hold over them, but few are those who Ertide believes he can entrust it to.
There’s a slow build-up to everything until it all erupts at the end, but after the relentless pace of Demon, Deathless feels a bit more of a meander in comparison. It’s not bad by any means, mind, and the pieces are placed on the board well. However, for the shorter length of the book, I felt the ratio of set-up to payoff was a bit more skewed toward the set-up, and the payoff did not last nearly long enough for me to fully appreciate it and let it sink in.
This would be more of an issue, though, if the main cast did not lift Deathless up their shoulders as well as they did. Ertide is a fascinating and unique lead—one of the first terminally ill elderly protagonists I’ve encountered in an epic fantasy work—and his relationship with his eccentric angel companion Moon, his interactions with his children and grandchildren, the marital obligations with his young wife, they are all enough to make this a page-turner even when the story is at a slow crawl. This is a consistent strength in Hayes’ books, and it is no different here in Deathless.
I believe there’s also a lift given to Deathless by having read Demon first. While much of the references to the first chronological novel are of an Easter egg variety, the conspiratorial nature of the Deathless’ plot was enough to make me reflect on the events of Demon and think on what had happened in the intervening millennia. What became of the relationship between humanity and Heaven? How much of history will be rewritten? Hayes has spoken at length of getting the whole picture by reading each individual piece of this segmented saga, and I think doing so made Deathless that much more enjoyable for me.
Overall, Deathless feels like a foundational book. It’s a very enjoyable one, but it takes a bit too much time getting to where it wants to go, but where it’s going to take off from here, I truly cannot wait to see.
December 29, 2024
This was a fantastic novel. A great deep dive in to the years leading up to crucial events of Herald. Enjoyed this novel much more than Demon. So much history and lore. So excited to see where these go!
November 14, 2024
3.5*
Much better than Herald, mostly because it's so much shorter. Ertide is Emrik's grandfather and king at the time. This book covers the very beginning of the rebellion against God.
What didn't make sense here is that the beginning starts extremely oppresively, even Ertide as king is afraid to say anything "heretical" out loud out of fear that omnipresent God would hear him and punish him. He needs an angel to tell him that God can't hear him. How the hell wouldn't he know by the age of 70?! The king. Master strategist with excellent memory who inherited heretical texts from his father. Not a monk or some village fool from the middle of nowhere...
And as reading order goes, I did benefit from reading Herald first. It has most of the explanations of how the world works and so Deathless doesn't need to explain almost anything (but sometimes it does). I still wonder -knowing what I know after reading this book - if Herald wouldn't be more enjoyable if I started reading the series in reverse order. I would've understood more about the divine lies.
Much better than Herald, mostly because it's so much shorter. Ertide is Emrik's grandfather and king at the time. This book covers the very beginning of the rebellion against God.
What didn't make sense here is that the beginning starts extremely oppresively, even Ertide as king is afraid to say anything "heretical" out loud out of fear that omnipresent God would hear him and punish him. He needs an angel to tell him that God can't hear him. How the hell wouldn't he know by the age of 70?! The king. Master strategist with excellent memory who inherited heretical texts from his father. Not a monk or some village fool from the middle of nowhere...
And as reading order goes, I did benefit from reading Herald first. It has most of the explanations of how the world works and so Deathless doesn't need to explain almost anything (but sometimes it does). I still wonder -knowing what I know after reading this book - if Herald wouldn't be more enjoyable if I started reading the series in reverse order. I would've understood more about the divine lies.
June 2, 2024
This is the second book in the first trilogy I have read (after Demon) and I enjoyed this one more.
While Demon focuses on the storyline of the human race, Deathless primarily focuses on the storyline of a King who is dying and feeling he is losing control of his own kingdom to Angels.
I really enjoy political fantasy when it’s done well (think ASOIAF) and this was done well. Rob has really filled in a gap here in our knowledge of what the world is like between humans and Angels, at least 1,000 years ago, and I can’t wait to see where this specific storyline goes because I feel that there could be some very shocking twists.
Despite being a novella I felt this packed in a lot of character development and some minor world building. I really liked hearing and learning more about the Angels and it’s clear to me that Moon will be a fan favourite for all the right reasons.
I’m on to Herald next which is the main storyline set 1,000 years after this and while I can see where this trilogy is headed (Annals of the Godeater), I don’t have a clue what the main storyline will involve which is exciting in its own right.
While Demon focuses on the storyline of the human race, Deathless primarily focuses on the storyline of a King who is dying and feeling he is losing control of his own kingdom to Angels.
I really enjoy political fantasy when it’s done well (think ASOIAF) and this was done well. Rob has really filled in a gap here in our knowledge of what the world is like between humans and Angels, at least 1,000 years ago, and I can’t wait to see where this specific storyline goes because I feel that there could be some very shocking twists.
Despite being a novella I felt this packed in a lot of character development and some minor world building. I really liked hearing and learning more about the Angels and it’s clear to me that Moon will be a fan favourite for all the right reasons.
I’m on to Herald next which is the main storyline set 1,000 years after this and while I can see where this trilogy is headed (Annals of the Godeater), I don’t have a clue what the main storyline will involve which is exciting in its own right.
August 16, 2024
I’m really starting to love Rob J Hayes. He’s a badass story teller. I started with DEMON (also God eater series but the one set 3000 years before) because I wanted to read this in chronological order. It’s just my preferred method. Anyways, DEMON was phenomenal and began the entire God Eater story, explaining how things got started. I immediately moved on to DEATHLESS which is book 1 of the second trilogy. Now DEATHLESS was also great but it’s a different type of story which I really enjoyed. It’s a little more political but it does an amazing job of filling in a lot of blanks. The world building here is even more incredible and really makes you rethink a lot of what you learned in DEMON.
As you might know, Hayes is putting out 3 trilogies to cover this entire world. All 3 book 1’s were just released and these are the 3 I started with.
Upon finishing DEMON (book 1) and then DEATHLESS (book 1), I’m on to the final book 1 called HERALD. I can’t wait for the 3 book 2’s to come out next. All 3 of these trilogies are going to be phenomenal.
As you might know, Hayes is putting out 3 trilogies to cover this entire world. All 3 book 1’s were just released and these are the 3 I started with.
Upon finishing DEMON (book 1) and then DEATHLESS (book 1), I’m on to the final book 1 called HERALD. I can’t wait for the 3 book 2’s to come out next. All 3 of these trilogies are going to be phenomenal.
July 11, 2025
4.25 stars.
I think I enjoyed this even more than Demon. Love the lore and history here and this makes me even more excited to read HERALD.
I think I enjoyed this even more than Demon. Love the lore and history here and this makes me even more excited to read HERALD.
June 15, 2025
3.5 stars definitely a lot of buildup. Next one should be very interesting
April 28, 2024
Let the feast begin. Damn that was dark political fantasy at its finest, absolutely gripping stuff from start to finish. I love all of Rob J. Hayes works, but this might be his best writing, in my opinion. This GodEater series is truly tremendous.
Deathless is the first book in Annals Of The GodEater, and the series will be three trilogies set over 3000 years from the Demon wars, the fall of heaven, and an empires will to stamp out all divinity and heresy from the world all together.
I knew when I first saw these books being advertised for a kickstarter that I had to be a part of it. After reading the synopsis, you just knew these books were going to be epic, and as usual, Rob J. Hayes did not disappoint with his master storytelling.
Deathless takes place 1000 years before the main trilogy, and the first book Herald. It is short read and is packed full of wonderful, political intrigue, family drama, and characters that draw you in and emerses you into the world of the Sant Dien Empire and Heaven.
Rob J. Hayes continues to create amazing dark worlds. To continue to weave amazing stories one after the other is a gift, and he just keeps on giving. With his fantastic worldbuilding, his plot twist holds no bounds, and the writing is just exquisite.
Ertide is King of the Sant Dien Empire. He is old sick and dying. The Hoistain dynasty has ruled for 2000 years after the demon wars, but only by God's will. Ertide is tired of God's will and the angels divinity over them, and something needs to change.
When darks secrets and uncovered, a secret that could save his life, and give him immortality, plots, and schemes start to unfold, and there is no going back when first blood is spilt. Things are about to get dark and bloody. War is coming, and Heaven best be ready.The Hoistain Empire will never be the same again.
Wow, absolutely fantastic reading, I very highly recommend that you check out this series when it's released on amazon. You won't regret it....🔥🔥🔥
Deathless is the first book in Annals Of The GodEater, and the series will be three trilogies set over 3000 years from the Demon wars, the fall of heaven, and an empires will to stamp out all divinity and heresy from the world all together.
I knew when I first saw these books being advertised for a kickstarter that I had to be a part of it. After reading the synopsis, you just knew these books were going to be epic, and as usual, Rob J. Hayes did not disappoint with his master storytelling.
Deathless takes place 1000 years before the main trilogy, and the first book Herald. It is short read and is packed full of wonderful, political intrigue, family drama, and characters that draw you in and emerses you into the world of the Sant Dien Empire and Heaven.
Rob J. Hayes continues to create amazing dark worlds. To continue to weave amazing stories one after the other is a gift, and he just keeps on giving. With his fantastic worldbuilding, his plot twist holds no bounds, and the writing is just exquisite.
Ertide is King of the Sant Dien Empire. He is old sick and dying. The Hoistain dynasty has ruled for 2000 years after the demon wars, but only by God's will. Ertide is tired of God's will and the angels divinity over them, and something needs to change.
When darks secrets and uncovered, a secret that could save his life, and give him immortality, plots, and schemes start to unfold, and there is no going back when first blood is spilt. Things are about to get dark and bloody. War is coming, and Heaven best be ready.The Hoistain Empire will never be the same again.
Wow, absolutely fantastic reading, I very highly recommend that you check out this series when it's released on amazon. You won't regret it....🔥🔥🔥
July 13, 2025
4 stars
Deathless is the first entry in Rob J. Hayes’ Annals of the Godeater, part of his ambitious trilogy of trilogies being released in parallel. It plunges readers a thousand years before the events of Herald, told from the POV of King Ertide Hostain, the once-mighty Crimson Prince whose body is now failing. As he deals with his own mortality, he also begins to face the inequities of human existence in comparison to the angels.
I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging this book was. Instead of feeling like a dry infodump of historical backstory, it delivered a compelling narrative centered on Ertide and the fraught dynamics within his family. The mystery surrounding heaven’s secrets kept me hooked, and it was fascinating to see the seeds of rebellion that will echo into the events of Herald.
My only regret is not reading this before (or directly after) Herald. I occasionally struggled to remember whether I’d met some characters already, and I’ll definitely need a reread before he releases the second books of the trilogies. But for now, Demon!
Series Ratings:
Age of the Godeater:
Herald 4.5 stars
Annals of the Godeater:
Deathless 4 stars
5.0 —One of the best I've ever read! It will be burned into my brain. If there were any flaws, I didn't care. I would recommend to everyone.
4.5 —I loved this! It was very memorable. There weren't many flaws. I would recommend to anyone.
▌4.0 —I really liked this. It probably will be memorable. There may have been some minor flaws. I'd recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —I mostly liked it. It might be memorable. There were some notable flaws. I'd recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —I somewhat liked it. It might be memorable. There were significant flaws. I might recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —I was underwhelmed or unimpressed. It wasn't memorable. It had significant flaws. I might recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —I was disappointed. It wasn't memorable or it was memorable for the wrong reasons. It had major flaws. I probably wouldn't recommend.
1.5 —I did not like this at all. It was memorable for the wrong reasons. It had so many flaws. I wouldn't recommend to anyone.
1.0 —I hated this. I wish I never wasted my time on it. I would actively dissuade people from reading this.
Deathless is the first entry in Rob J. Hayes’ Annals of the Godeater, part of his ambitious trilogy of trilogies being released in parallel. It plunges readers a thousand years before the events of Herald, told from the POV of King Ertide Hostain, the once-mighty Crimson Prince whose body is now failing. As he deals with his own mortality, he also begins to face the inequities of human existence in comparison to the angels.
I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging this book was. Instead of feeling like a dry infodump of historical backstory, it delivered a compelling narrative centered on Ertide and the fraught dynamics within his family. The mystery surrounding heaven’s secrets kept me hooked, and it was fascinating to see the seeds of rebellion that will echo into the events of Herald.
My only regret is not reading this before (or directly after) Herald. I occasionally struggled to remember whether I’d met some characters already, and I’ll definitely need a reread before he releases the second books of the trilogies. But for now, Demon!
Series Ratings:
Age of the Godeater:
Herald 4.5 stars
Annals of the Godeater:
Deathless 4 stars
5.0 —One of the best I've ever read! It will be burned into my brain. If there were any flaws, I didn't care. I would recommend to everyone.
4.5 —I loved this! It was very memorable. There weren't many flaws. I would recommend to anyone.
▌4.0 —I really liked this. It probably will be memorable. There may have been some minor flaws. I'd recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —I mostly liked it. It might be memorable. There were some notable flaws. I'd recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —I somewhat liked it. It might be memorable. There were significant flaws. I might recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —I was underwhelmed or unimpressed. It wasn't memorable. It had significant flaws. I might recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —I was disappointed. It wasn't memorable or it was memorable for the wrong reasons. It had major flaws. I probably wouldn't recommend.
1.5 —I did not like this at all. It was memorable for the wrong reasons. It had so many flaws. I wouldn't recommend to anyone.
1.0 —I hated this. I wish I never wasted my time on it. I would actively dissuade people from reading this.
June 18, 2025
I finally finished the first leg of the God Eater saga, having previous read Herald and Demon. This book takes place in the middle of both of those series, and while it's technically my least favorite of the 3, it's still a great book.
The story takes place 2,000 years after the events in Demon. The events of Dien Hostain are legend at this point, and the Sant Dien Empire is ruled by her descendant Ertide Hostain. The king is old and is pressured by the angels who live among them to choose a successor. However, there is definitely tension between the angels of Heaven and the king, especially after he discovers information that suggests things might not be what they seem.
This storytelling is much different than both Demon and Herald. There is virtually no action, with this being 95% political maneuvering and scheming. Because of that, this starts off very slowly. However, once it gets going, it's a joy to read.
Because this is such a short book, there isn't too much time for character development for all seven Godless kings, but Rob J. Hayes still does a very good job at making them feel distinct enough. One thing I will say about this (and really the entire God Eater saga as a whole) is that it's very entertaining reading about characters who are legends in the later series and seeing what actually happened. It would be like reading Mistborn while simultaneously reading about the Lord Ruler before he became the Lord Ruler. It's a fascinating storytelling device, and I'm all for it.
So far, the God Eater saga is shaping up to be one of my favorites of all-time. I'm very excited to read the next book in all 3 trilogies.
The story takes place 2,000 years after the events in Demon. The events of Dien Hostain are legend at this point, and the Sant Dien Empire is ruled by her descendant Ertide Hostain. The king is old and is pressured by the angels who live among them to choose a successor. However, there is definitely tension between the angels of Heaven and the king, especially after he discovers information that suggests things might not be what they seem.
This storytelling is much different than both Demon and Herald. There is virtually no action, with this being 95% political maneuvering and scheming. Because of that, this starts off very slowly. However, once it gets going, it's a joy to read.
Because this is such a short book, there isn't too much time for character development for all seven Godless kings, but Rob J. Hayes still does a very good job at making them feel distinct enough. One thing I will say about this (and really the entire God Eater saga as a whole) is that it's very entertaining reading about characters who are legends in the later series and seeing what actually happened. It would be like reading Mistborn while simultaneously reading about the Lord Ruler before he became the Lord Ruler. It's a fascinating storytelling device, and I'm all for it.
So far, the God Eater saga is shaping up to be one of my favorites of all-time. I'm very excited to read the next book in all 3 trilogies.
October 24, 2024
Congrats to Deathless for being the winner of The Most Abrupt Ending of the Year!
My Kindle said I had 31mins left and then it ended! I was so shocked for it to end on that specific point. Obviously major segue to the next book but it was still jarring.
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Demon, it was a totally different setup and vibe but I did like way this one developed and ended. It was much more political and I really loved the characters.
As with Demon, I'm really looking forward to how this continues in book 2.
My Kindle said I had 31mins left and then it ended! I was so shocked for it to end on that specific point. Obviously major segue to the next book but it was still jarring.
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Demon, it was a totally different setup and vibe but I did like way this one developed and ended. It was much more political and I really loved the characters.
As with Demon, I'm really looking forward to how this continues in book 2.
April 16, 2024
9/10. I’m going to try and record an episode on this and the other short story tomorrow if I get the chance.
July 28, 2024
An interesting start to the story but yet also continuation ish. It'll be interesting to see what happens in 1000 years when I read herald next.
April 3, 2025
Solid 5 - Stars
Deathless by Rob J Hayes is my second read from the God Eater Saga. This is still such a unique release as he released three book ones from different trilogies but all connected to the same world. This truly baffled me until I read Deathless. Now I'm settling in and things are actually working for me.
Each of the first books are from the same world but separated by generations worth of time. Now I'm starting to see how they are connecting and as I said, I'm rather liking it.
The pacing worked really well for me. This was a very quick and easy read. There is of course the fact it's only around 200 pages which helped. But the fact I visually read this one rather than audio like I did Herald, it definitely allowed me to hyper focus on the read and really enjoy it. As usual I didn't find any glaring editing issues during my read through.
There is a good number of characters to keep track of especially if you already read either Herald or Demon before Deathless. It shouldn't take long to notice those connections between each of the books. For me this was another thing that helped me stay focused as I wanted to catch those as they popped up.
The world building continues to be great in the God Eater Saga. The relationships between the humans and angels is intriguing but for me it was the history that unfolds in this one. Not only due to the fact this book is history on its own compared to Herald but during this story, our characters uncover even more history of this amazingly dark yet interesting world.
There is plenty of magic within this world along with plenty of political intrigue extending not only across human empires but when you factor in that relationship with the angels as well.
The character development was on full display with this short read. This really put things into a different perspective and understanding of the Hostain family. There are a lot of potential spoilers on the tip of my tongue that I want to mention here but I'll just say the Hostain family tree has a lot of different individuals that we see grow. And how some of them interact with the different angels also makes me want to go back and experience Herald again knowing what I do now.
I still have single book one remaining to get to for this saga which I believe goes in further back in time which should shed more light on this story. I'm not sure when Rob anticipates to get the second installment for each of this out but I'll be waiting as patiently as I can. I will more than likely also give Herald another listen leading up to that release to experience it all again with the new knowledge and prepare for the continuation of things.
I would certainly recommend both Herald and Deathless to readers of fantasy. They are on the darker side of tales at times so be prepared for that. This author is not afraid to kill characters. I will also confirm the reading order of Herald, Deathless and Demon comes from the authors recommendation upon release and I can see why.
Deathless by Rob J Hayes is my second read from the God Eater Saga. This is still such a unique release as he released three book ones from different trilogies but all connected to the same world. This truly baffled me until I read Deathless. Now I'm settling in and things are actually working for me.
Each of the first books are from the same world but separated by generations worth of time. Now I'm starting to see how they are connecting and as I said, I'm rather liking it.
The pacing worked really well for me. This was a very quick and easy read. There is of course the fact it's only around 200 pages which helped. But the fact I visually read this one rather than audio like I did Herald, it definitely allowed me to hyper focus on the read and really enjoy it. As usual I didn't find any glaring editing issues during my read through.
There is a good number of characters to keep track of especially if you already read either Herald or Demon before Deathless. It shouldn't take long to notice those connections between each of the books. For me this was another thing that helped me stay focused as I wanted to catch those as they popped up.
The world building continues to be great in the God Eater Saga. The relationships between the humans and angels is intriguing but for me it was the history that unfolds in this one. Not only due to the fact this book is history on its own compared to Herald but during this story, our characters uncover even more history of this amazingly dark yet interesting world.
There is plenty of magic within this world along with plenty of political intrigue extending not only across human empires but when you factor in that relationship with the angels as well.
The character development was on full display with this short read. This really put things into a different perspective and understanding of the Hostain family. There are a lot of potential spoilers on the tip of my tongue that I want to mention here but I'll just say the Hostain family tree has a lot of different individuals that we see grow. And how some of them interact with the different angels also makes me want to go back and experience Herald again knowing what I do now.
I still have single book one remaining to get to for this saga which I believe goes in further back in time which should shed more light on this story. I'm not sure when Rob anticipates to get the second installment for each of this out but I'll be waiting as patiently as I can. I will more than likely also give Herald another listen leading up to that release to experience it all again with the new knowledge and prepare for the continuation of things.
I would certainly recommend both Herald and Deathless to readers of fantasy. They are on the darker side of tales at times so be prepared for that. This author is not afraid to kill characters. I will also confirm the reading order of Herald, Deathless and Demon comes from the authors recommendation upon release and I can see why.
April 17, 2024
5.0 stars—-
I find the Hostain dynasty interesting and I enjoyed getting to know the motivations of the family when they rebelled against the angels.
Deathless takes place 1000 years before Herald, but paints Emrik in a completely different light from the tyrant he became after hunting the remaining angels for close to a millennia.
When I first received Demon, Deathless and Herald simultaneously, I wasn’t sure which to start with. I chose Herald (700+ pages), but only got 20% through before deciding to try the other 2 novella that predated the main Herald novel and its two future releases in the “Herald trilogy” (not out yet). Herald wasn’t bad, I just wanted to know the history referenced throughout, and had a feeling the shorter “Demon” and “Deathless” would give me different perspectives. I’m glad I did this, because now I’m not sure who to root for in Herald.
I love the mysteries of the magic system that are slowly being revealed.
Chronologically:
Demon (3000 years ago)- demons enslave humans until a heroine becomes a leader and leads her people to freedom. This was super dark.
Deathless (1000 years ago)- humans realize angels lied about their history, manipulated and oppressed them, and now plan to rebel and consume the angels to steal their power.
Herald (present day)- humans have killed God and hunted the angels to near extinction. religion or praying is punishable by death, but some faithful remain. The protagonist is a young girl on the side of the angels, who are represented as the “good guys”.
I find the Hostain dynasty interesting and I enjoyed getting to know the motivations of the family when they rebelled against the angels.
Deathless takes place 1000 years before Herald, but paints Emrik in a completely different light from the tyrant he became after hunting the remaining angels for close to a millennia.
When I first received Demon, Deathless and Herald simultaneously, I wasn’t sure which to start with. I chose Herald (700+ pages), but only got 20% through before deciding to try the other 2 novella that predated the main Herald novel and its two future releases in the “Herald trilogy” (not out yet). Herald wasn’t bad, I just wanted to know the history referenced throughout, and had a feeling the shorter “Demon” and “Deathless” would give me different perspectives. I’m glad I did this, because now I’m not sure who to root for in Herald.
I love the mysteries of the magic system that are slowly being revealed.
Chronologically:
Demon (3000 years ago)- demons enslave humans until a heroine becomes a leader and leads her people to freedom. This was super dark.
Deathless (1000 years ago)- humans realize angels lied about their history, manipulated and oppressed them, and now plan to rebel and consume the angels to steal their power.
Herald (present day)- humans have killed God and hunted the angels to near extinction. religion or praying is punishable by death, but some faithful remain. The protagonist is a young girl on the side of the angels, who are represented as the “good guys”.
September 18, 2024
Deathless, book 1 in the Annals of the God Eater trilogy, middle of 3 trilogies making up the God Eater Saga from our brilliant (possibly morbid 😋) author Rob J. Hayes. This is exactly what those of us that want a deeper dive into the lore and background of the events followed in these grand epics...and boy is this how it's done!
I decided to read this series in the recommended order from the author, Herald / Deathless / Demon. Deathless is setting us 1000 years prior to the events of the main Saga (Herald) and follows King Ertide Hostain and his rule during the 4th age. With his family having been placed at the top of the political ladder for decade after decade now... Ertide starts to slowly find and learn that his reign (molded firmly by God and his Angels) might not be the holy truth him and his people have been fed. With the help of a family held book from his father and a possibly jaded Angel, the king starts to find there may be dark secrets held from them by the very religious beings they all thank their very existence for.
This slow building story of political gain, secrets, deception, love and betrayal sets the table we are dining at in the main Saga (boy what a spread it is too 😈) Hayes really has a knack for twisting the age old story of religion and making us question, research..and devour 😏 everything thrown at us in these wild Sagas. Herald had me itching to see what could be next, Deathless has me now demanding Demon be my next read and books 2 need to be available asap!!
Dark, deceiving and shocking Deathless will leave you wondering how ..why and dear God what are we in for?! This was deliciously tantalizing and leaves you hungry for more. Rob my man, save me a seat at the table, I'm hungry for more!! 😈🔥📚
4.5⭐ of bloody brutal brilliance! The march on the gates is coming ..what side will you find yourself on?! 🙏😈🍻
I decided to read this series in the recommended order from the author, Herald / Deathless / Demon. Deathless is setting us 1000 years prior to the events of the main Saga (Herald) and follows King Ertide Hostain and his rule during the 4th age. With his family having been placed at the top of the political ladder for decade after decade now... Ertide starts to slowly find and learn that his reign (molded firmly by God and his Angels) might not be the holy truth him and his people have been fed. With the help of a family held book from his father and a possibly jaded Angel, the king starts to find there may be dark secrets held from them by the very religious beings they all thank their very existence for.
This slow building story of political gain, secrets, deception, love and betrayal sets the table we are dining at in the main Saga (boy what a spread it is too 😈) Hayes really has a knack for twisting the age old story of religion and making us question, research..and devour 😏 everything thrown at us in these wild Sagas. Herald had me itching to see what could be next, Deathless has me now demanding Demon be my next read and books 2 need to be available asap!!
Dark, deceiving and shocking Deathless will leave you wondering how ..why and dear God what are we in for?! This was deliciously tantalizing and leaves you hungry for more. Rob my man, save me a seat at the table, I'm hungry for more!! 😈🔥📚
4.5⭐ of bloody brutal brilliance! The march on the gates is coming ..what side will you find yourself on?! 🙏😈🍻
August 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Deathless by Rob J. Hayes is another stellar entry in the God Eater saga. This novella focuses on King Ertide Hostain and takes us 1000 years before the events of Herald. If you're following the series, I highly recommend reading Herald first to avoid potential spoilers.
While Herald is rich in action, Deathless leans more towards political fantasy, with the action ramping up towards the end. Despite its slower start, the story remains captivating, showcasing Hayes' brilliant storytelling.
One of the strengths of Deathless lies in its ability to answer some of the lingering questions left by Herald, while also introducing a host of new mysteries.
A standout character in this installment is Moon, who we first met in Herald. In Deathless, we get to spend much more time with him, and he quickly becomes a fascinating figure. His dialogue, whether casual or central to the plot, is always compelling, making him one of the most interesting characters in the saga. Moon might just be my favorite character in the God Eater saga yet.
I'm excited to find out where the series will take us next.
Deathless by Rob J. Hayes is another stellar entry in the God Eater saga. This novella focuses on King Ertide Hostain and takes us 1000 years before the events of Herald. If you're following the series, I highly recommend reading Herald first to avoid potential spoilers.
While Herald is rich in action, Deathless leans more towards political fantasy, with the action ramping up towards the end. Despite its slower start, the story remains captivating, showcasing Hayes' brilliant storytelling.
One of the strengths of Deathless lies in its ability to answer some of the lingering questions left by Herald, while also introducing a host of new mysteries.
A standout character in this installment is Moon, who we first met in Herald. In Deathless, we get to spend much more time with him, and he quickly becomes a fascinating figure. His dialogue, whether casual or central to the plot, is always compelling, making him one of the most interesting characters in the saga. Moon might just be my favorite character in the God Eater saga yet.
I'm excited to find out where the series will take us next.
April 28, 2024
4 stars
This is the first book in the middle series by the author set 1000 years before Herald while Demon takes place 3000 years before Herald. Follows King Ertide as he reckons with having his best days behind him and feelings of not being in control of his empire due to Humans alliance with God and his Angels. Mostly a book of Political Intrigue and a slower paced read. Most Impressed with the world and how releasing 3 separate trilogies at the same time spread out over thousands of years plays with the truth and shapes the future series
This is the first book in the middle series by the author set 1000 years before Herald while Demon takes place 3000 years before Herald. Follows King Ertide as he reckons with having his best days behind him and feelings of not being in control of his empire due to Humans alliance with God and his Angels. Mostly a book of Political Intrigue and a slower paced read. Most Impressed with the world and how releasing 3 separate trilogies at the same time spread out over thousands of years plays with the truth and shapes the future series
November 13, 2024
This is a shorter book than the main book Herald. Coming in at about 180 pages and is set 1000 years before the main books story.
We follow Ertide who is Emrik’s (Immortal King in Herald) grandfather.
We find out how the war against the angels starts and what motivates and drives through Hostain family to turn on God and the angels.
This was actually better than the main book. It’s a real pity it was shorter as I found myself much more immersed in this time setting and found Ertide to be a great main character.
I love how Rob J Hayes has really made it tough to decide on who is right here. The humans or the angels. I am finding the angels hard to side with.
We follow Ertide who is Emrik’s (Immortal King in Herald) grandfather.
We find out how the war against the angels starts and what motivates and drives through Hostain family to turn on God and the angels.
This was actually better than the main book. It’s a real pity it was shorter as I found myself much more immersed in this time setting and found Ertide to be a great main character.
I love how Rob J Hayes has really made it tough to decide on who is right here. The humans or the angels. I am finding the angels hard to side with.
December 23, 2024
I was worried how this book would play out honestly! It's a prequel to a book in which the characters slowly uncover a conspiracy, but could be read before it, so how would they keep everything in the box and yet keep it interesting to those who know what's in the box. The solution Hayes uses is so much fun - have them uncover some next level of the conspiracy, whilst the events the first book's conspiracy unveiled are about to happen, creating an onion of conspiracies, lies, myths and fake histories that give the whole world and its magical control system such a rich realistic feel to it! So much fun!
May 8, 2024
"Deathless" is the first volume of "Annals of the God Eather, the second trilogy in the "God Eater Saga".
It was a short and efficient installment, seting a solid base for the events to came.
I started with "Herald", in the order recommended by the author and I hope that was a worthy bett.
You can now support my passion for books with a small donation here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
It was a short and efficient installment, seting a solid base for the events to came.
I started with "Herald", in the order recommended by the author and I hope that was a worthy bett.
You can now support my passion for books with a small donation here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
December 12, 2024
Very pleasantly surprised by this one and a big improvement over ‘Demon’. The characters were far more interesting and greyer. The angels had a quiet menace about them, but by the end I was still wondering if our human protagonist wasn’t the villain after all. Only time will tell. I’m intrigued to read ‘Herald’ next.
February 1, 2025
Great!
I am starting to love all this saga and very curios how will get to the end because we know the end .
Why is moon lying and why is he helping out - he knows they will kill or try to kill god?
How can you change a whole kd that loves god to one that fights against him !?!
I am starting to love all this saga and very curios how will get to the end because we know the end .
Why is moon lying and why is he helping out - he knows they will kill or try to kill god?
How can you change a whole kd that loves god to one that fights against him !?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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