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A Dirge For Cascius #1
A Dirge For Cascius: Part I
Madness seeps into the Valsollas Galaxy.
Born in the black flames of planetary genocide, Cascius Carcyde rose from the ashes with a gifted mind and hardened himself into the most renowned scrutineer across the Velutra. For two centuries, he has solved impossible mysteries while hunting the foul subjects of Malnetha who murdered his homeworld, all at a terrible cost.
Cascius’ addiction to reliving his sorrows has almost claimed his life. But when the Sages demand he take a new partner—a young illuavan named Kirella—Cascius must forfeit his destructive ways to catch the elusive Red Hand killer. As the ocean of dissolved victims swells, the scrutineers uncover a larger machination at play, one they must stop before the entire Velutra falls into oblivion.
Born in the black flames of planetary genocide, Cascius Carcyde rose from the ashes with a gifted mind and hardened himself into the most renowned scrutineer across the Velutra. For two centuries, he has solved impossible mysteries while hunting the foul subjects of Malnetha who murdered his homeworld, all at a terrible cost.
Cascius’ addiction to reliving his sorrows has almost claimed his life. But when the Sages demand he take a new partner—a young illuavan named Kirella—Cascius must forfeit his destructive ways to catch the elusive Red Hand killer. As the ocean of dissolved victims swells, the scrutineers uncover a larger machination at play, one they must stop before the entire Velutra falls into oblivion.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
426 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2024
35 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
Calum Lott
7 books38 followersBorn and raised in Australia, Calum Lott is the science-fantasy author of a Dirge For Cascius, Arkoma, and the series My Mortal Memories, all set in the vast Valsollas galaxy. His greatest inspirations are the video game Bloodborne, the manga Berserk and The Lord of the Rings. In his spare time, you'll find Calum adequately playing the guitar, reading at a snail's pace, watching movies (LOTR over and over), annoying his gorgeous partner or sitting at his laptop writing stories whilst getting a sore arse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 2, 2024
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
Calum Lott pushes boundaries and shatters expectations in A Dirge for Cascius: Part 1, a dark, mind-bending and emotionally challenging epic sci-fantasy murder mystery that is somehow both wildly alien and relatably human.
Stricken with grief and completely in the grips of his crippling addiction to reliving his trauma and sorrow, 200-year-old Cascius Carcyde is not the fearsome scrutineer he once was. But when a new string of murders starts threatening the entire Valsollas Galaxy, he is forced to pull himself back from the ever-tempting brink of death one last time. Together with his reluctantly assigned new partner, Cascius is thrown headfirst into a harrowing journey full of ancient schemes, deadly action, and devastating revelations, yet ultimately his own inner demons might just be the most dangerous threat in the universe.
Now, I have no shame in admitting that A Dirge for Cascius challenged me in ways that I could never have anticipated. Lott takes a very bold sink-or-swim approach to his storytelling that shouldn’t feel unfamiliar to fans of Malazan: Book of the Fallen or the Dark Souls video games. And honestly, with the help of the extensive glossary and some skillful context clues, I somehow (if a bit ungracefully) doggy paddled my way to the end without drowning, and the pay-off was more than worth it.
On top of that, Lott doesn’t shy away from exploring the darkest depths of the mind, tackling heavy topics of depression, addiction, grief, (war) trauma, and suicidal ideation. Even though I personally always felt a slight emotional disconnect from the characters, I did really enjoy how intimately familiar we got with both the bloody history of this world as well as with Cascius’ devastating personal backstory through flashbacks (Recalls) and metaphysical visits to the past (sceluspaces). Especially Cascius’ rough mental health struggles are almost too frighteningly well written, and I deeply appreciated the authentically messy depiction of his attempts at healing; the back and forth, the self-sabotaging, the desperate hope, the inevitable relapses… it all hit scarily close to home for me.
And yet, for all that this story is so dense, complex, bleak and heavy, I was surprised at how easily I found myself blazing through the pages. From the very first chapter, there’s just this alluring sense of mystery and intrigue, and Lott’s excitingly wild imagination immediately had me completely enthralled. A Dirge for Cascius is just exploding with inventive concepts, unique races, and shocking revelations, which is exactly what makes it such a dangerously addictive pageturner.
Moreover, I really enjoyed the unconventional and weirdly amusing dynamic between our main detective duo of Cascius and the Illuavan Kirella, who are both way too cunning and smart for their own good. In a way, they almost have a bit of a grumpy/sunshine vibe going on between them, and I loved how their culture clashing and razor-sharp snarky banter added some much welcomed levity into the narrative. Their slowly (and begrudgingly) developing friendship ends up becoming such a strong grounding force throughout this increasingly insane journey, which I personally really latched onto amidst all the chaos and destruction.
Though speaking of chaos, I do have to admit that there were points in A Dirge for Cascius where I almost lost the plot. This entire whirlwind of a story takes place over a day or two (though, there is some time fuckery because *sci-fi*), and sometimes the pacing and character/relationship development felt a bit off to me. Also, while I think it is incredibly admirable how Lott balanced and interwove the core murder mystery with all the inventive futuristic concepts and the intricate history of this galaxy, some of the revelations admittedly fell a bit flat for me because I couldn’t grasp the full implications.
All that said, there is no denying that A Dirge for Cascius is one of the most ambitious and impressive debuts I have ever read, and I think any struggles I had with it were more a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’. This is simply not an easy breezy popcorn read, but it absolutely shines in its bold uniqueness if you are dedicated to putting in the brain power, trust, and patience. And after that pulse-pounding and revelatory ending, I’ll bet you’ll feel utterly gratified and start desperately counting down the days for the conclusion to this insanely epic duology.
While A Dirge for Cascius: Part 1 is absolutely unlike anything I have encountered before, I think fans of Christopher Ruocchio, James S.A. Corey, Robert Jackson Bennett, and Pierce Brown (in the second era of Red Rising) will find much to love here. It has both exhilarating action and stirring emotion, it perfectly balances horror with heart, and the jaw-dropping cool-factor is truly out of this world; so yes, please go ahead and judge this book based on its cover, because I guarantee that the story inside is even better than its stunning outsides might have you believe.
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Calum Lott pushes boundaries and shatters expectations in A Dirge for Cascius: Part 1, a dark, mind-bending and emotionally challenging epic sci-fantasy murder mystery that is somehow both wildly alien and relatably human.
Stricken with grief and completely in the grips of his crippling addiction to reliving his trauma and sorrow, 200-year-old Cascius Carcyde is not the fearsome scrutineer he once was. But when a new string of murders starts threatening the entire Valsollas Galaxy, he is forced to pull himself back from the ever-tempting brink of death one last time. Together with his reluctantly assigned new partner, Cascius is thrown headfirst into a harrowing journey full of ancient schemes, deadly action, and devastating revelations, yet ultimately his own inner demons might just be the most dangerous threat in the universe.
Now, I have no shame in admitting that A Dirge for Cascius challenged me in ways that I could never have anticipated. Lott takes a very bold sink-or-swim approach to his storytelling that shouldn’t feel unfamiliar to fans of Malazan: Book of the Fallen or the Dark Souls video games. And honestly, with the help of the extensive glossary and some skillful context clues, I somehow (if a bit ungracefully) doggy paddled my way to the end without drowning, and the pay-off was more than worth it.
On top of that, Lott doesn’t shy away from exploring the darkest depths of the mind, tackling heavy topics of depression, addiction, grief, (war) trauma, and suicidal ideation. Even though I personally always felt a slight emotional disconnect from the characters, I did really enjoy how intimately familiar we got with both the bloody history of this world as well as with Cascius’ devastating personal backstory through flashbacks (Recalls) and metaphysical visits to the past (sceluspaces). Especially Cascius’ rough mental health struggles are almost too frighteningly well written, and I deeply appreciated the authentically messy depiction of his attempts at healing; the back and forth, the self-sabotaging, the desperate hope, the inevitable relapses… it all hit scarily close to home for me.
And yet, for all that this story is so dense, complex, bleak and heavy, I was surprised at how easily I found myself blazing through the pages. From the very first chapter, there’s just this alluring sense of mystery and intrigue, and Lott’s excitingly wild imagination immediately had me completely enthralled. A Dirge for Cascius is just exploding with inventive concepts, unique races, and shocking revelations, which is exactly what makes it such a dangerously addictive pageturner.
Moreover, I really enjoyed the unconventional and weirdly amusing dynamic between our main detective duo of Cascius and the Illuavan Kirella, who are both way too cunning and smart for their own good. In a way, they almost have a bit of a grumpy/sunshine vibe going on between them, and I loved how their culture clashing and razor-sharp snarky banter added some much welcomed levity into the narrative. Their slowly (and begrudgingly) developing friendship ends up becoming such a strong grounding force throughout this increasingly insane journey, which I personally really latched onto amidst all the chaos and destruction.
Though speaking of chaos, I do have to admit that there were points in A Dirge for Cascius where I almost lost the plot. This entire whirlwind of a story takes place over a day or two (though, there is some time fuckery because *sci-fi*), and sometimes the pacing and character/relationship development felt a bit off to me. Also, while I think it is incredibly admirable how Lott balanced and interwove the core murder mystery with all the inventive futuristic concepts and the intricate history of this galaxy, some of the revelations admittedly fell a bit flat for me because I couldn’t grasp the full implications.
All that said, there is no denying that A Dirge for Cascius is one of the most ambitious and impressive debuts I have ever read, and I think any struggles I had with it were more a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’. This is simply not an easy breezy popcorn read, but it absolutely shines in its bold uniqueness if you are dedicated to putting in the brain power, trust, and patience. And after that pulse-pounding and revelatory ending, I’ll bet you’ll feel utterly gratified and start desperately counting down the days for the conclusion to this insanely epic duology.
While A Dirge for Cascius: Part 1 is absolutely unlike anything I have encountered before, I think fans of Christopher Ruocchio, James S.A. Corey, Robert Jackson Bennett, and Pierce Brown (in the second era of Red Rising) will find much to love here. It has both exhilarating action and stirring emotion, it perfectly balances horror with heart, and the jaw-dropping cool-factor is truly out of this world; so yes, please go ahead and judge this book based on its cover, because I guarantee that the story inside is even better than its stunning outsides might have you believe.
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 15, 2024
A Dirge for Cascius is an intriguing murder-mystery/whodunit space opera set on a rich world, and following a scrutineer (aka, a detective) who breaks all tropes of how detective characters should behave. It is an interesting story, but it is not easy to read. If you're looking for those books meant to be re-read, this is it.
Let me start with the prose. In general, the prose doesn't get in the way of enjoying the story, but there are a few things to consider. First, Lott has crafted an incredibly rich world that is also filled with new concepts, each with custom names—and this is clear in the prose. Some elements can sometimes be only explained through jargon, and these are not spelled out; the reader is expected to infer these concepts from the text itself. Although I'm generally okay with this type of prose and approach to world-building, I do understand it may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Likewise (and this is a detail I loved), sometimes the metaphors/comparisons rely on in-book/lore-related elements. In general, once I grasped the concepts, these elements added to the immersion... but then again, it can make the book more difficult to read.
This is a third-person past-tense narrative in which we follow the protagonist, Cascius, making the narrator quite unreliable. Cascius is an opinionated character, and those opinions leak through the page—even when we can infer, through the other characters' gestures—that Cascius is woefully misunderstanding them. More often than not, he seems to do this on purpose.
Furthermore, using an lore-related device, Cascius is purposefully hiding information from himself, and (at the same time), seems to be in no rush to solve the whodunnit and prevent the next murder. This generates an interesting dynamic around the mystery-solving aspect of the story.
The "mystery/whodunnit" itself is handled in a nonconventional way. In general, purely mystery books aim to put the reader in the position of the detective, where they can deduct what's happening as the detective solves a mystery. I found that doing this in A Dirge for Cascius was almost impossible. In my opinion, the reason for this is world-building. Without spoilers, most of the "clues" to solve the mystery are intrinsically related to in-book concepts—and because there are so many concepts to learn, the intricacies do not pop up on a first read. I don't think it is feasible for a first-time reader to "foresee" the mystery or pick up the foreshadowing.
Something that intrigued me from the world-building itself is that this isn't purely sci-fi. Yes, there is a reliance on technology, space travel, and other "core" (to call it some way) things you could expect in a sci-fi book... but there are also other fantasy elements. For example, within the book, people understand the universe in quite a mystical way, and space-travel itself doesn't seem to be your traditional FTL/slipspace travel, but something that crosses between realms.
Finally, and going back to Cascius himself, I think it is worth nothing that he is majorly depressed through the book. We can see how his depression stains his perception of the world and of other characters, and how this changes as Cascius undergoes "cycles" of depression—alternating between allowing himself a bit of hope, only for it to last a few pages before he falls again in another depressive bout. It is difficult to read, because his struggle feels real. His behaviour may sound "inconsistent" to some reader, but I truly think it's a great depiction of those dreaded cycles.
TL;DR: This is a great blend of genres that fans of fantasy and sci-fi may enjoy; it breaks a lot of the classical tropes of murder mystery. It can be difficult to follow up due to the extensive worldbuilding, and I wouldn't recommend it as an entry-level book to the genre. Finally, if you're a compulsive re-reader like I am, this book is for you. I think you can only grasp all the nuances of A Dirge for Cascius through a few re-reads.
Let me start with the prose. In general, the prose doesn't get in the way of enjoying the story, but there are a few things to consider. First, Lott has crafted an incredibly rich world that is also filled with new concepts, each with custom names—and this is clear in the prose. Some elements can sometimes be only explained through jargon, and these are not spelled out; the reader is expected to infer these concepts from the text itself. Although I'm generally okay with this type of prose and approach to world-building, I do understand it may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Likewise (and this is a detail I loved), sometimes the metaphors/comparisons rely on in-book/lore-related elements. In general, once I grasped the concepts, these elements added to the immersion... but then again, it can make the book more difficult to read.
This is a third-person past-tense narrative in which we follow the protagonist, Cascius, making the narrator quite unreliable. Cascius is an opinionated character, and those opinions leak through the page—even when we can infer, through the other characters' gestures—that Cascius is woefully misunderstanding them. More often than not, he seems to do this on purpose.
Furthermore, using an lore-related device, Cascius is purposefully hiding information from himself, and (at the same time), seems to be in no rush to solve the whodunnit and prevent the next murder. This generates an interesting dynamic around the mystery-solving aspect of the story.
The "mystery/whodunnit" itself is handled in a nonconventional way. In general, purely mystery books aim to put the reader in the position of the detective, where they can deduct what's happening as the detective solves a mystery. I found that doing this in A Dirge for Cascius was almost impossible. In my opinion, the reason for this is world-building. Without spoilers, most of the "clues" to solve the mystery are intrinsically related to in-book concepts—and because there are so many concepts to learn, the intricacies do not pop up on a first read. I don't think it is feasible for a first-time reader to "foresee" the mystery or pick up the foreshadowing.
Something that intrigued me from the world-building itself is that this isn't purely sci-fi. Yes, there is a reliance on technology, space travel, and other "core" (to call it some way) things you could expect in a sci-fi book... but there are also other fantasy elements. For example, within the book, people understand the universe in quite a mystical way, and space-travel itself doesn't seem to be your traditional FTL/slipspace travel, but something that crosses between realms.
Finally, and going back to Cascius himself, I think it is worth nothing that he is majorly depressed through the book. We can see how his depression stains his perception of the world and of other characters, and how this changes as Cascius undergoes "cycles" of depression—alternating between allowing himself a bit of hope, only for it to last a few pages before he falls again in another depressive bout. It is difficult to read, because his struggle feels real. His behaviour may sound "inconsistent" to some reader, but I truly think it's a great depiction of those dreaded cycles.
TL;DR: This is a great blend of genres that fans of fantasy and sci-fi may enjoy; it breaks a lot of the classical tropes of murder mystery. It can be difficult to follow up due to the extensive worldbuilding, and I wouldn't recommend it as an entry-level book to the genre. Finally, if you're a compulsive re-reader like I am, this book is for you. I think you can only grasp all the nuances of A Dirge for Cascius through a few re-reads.
August 13, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
A Dirge For Cascius: Part 1 marks the start to the eponymous science fantasy duology, an imaginative novel written by the Aussie author Calum Lott. With a story that could be pitched as a blend between True Detective and Hyperion, we can dive deep into one of the most original worldbuildings I've recently read while becoming spectators of a masterclass on breaking down a character.
200-year-old Cascius Carcyde is stricken with grief and self-pity, in the grip of the addiction to relieve his trauma; he's definitely far from the scrutineer he was. When a string of murders starts happening, threatening to subsume the whole Valsollas galaxy in chaos, he doesn't have an alternative than taking the call to action and hopefully, goes far from those sinister thoughts that are constantly with him. As he's not the one he used to be, a new partner is assigned to him to be the counterpart in this journey that will take Cascius to discover ancient schemes and harrowing revelations for Valsollas.
Despite this being a murder mystery story, Lott decides to play in a similar way to Disco Elysium, making a really extensive exploration through Cascius' mind at the same time the plot is being developed. He's not afraid of touching the darkest parts of the mind, especially related to depression and trauma, and how those factors can be the entrance door to self-destructive patterns, such as the addiction that the main character has.
In that regard, we can consider Cascius' partner as a counterpart, and most importantly, the way to project a different light over what's happening with Cascius. Coming from a totally different cultural background, it puts another point of view into the case and some of Cascius' problems, developing a big bond with him, and fighting for his life.
Apart from the own exploration of characters, the other aspect that out stands in Lott's novel is how original is the worldbuilding. At some point, I thought about describing it like a galaxy whose design was made under a hallucinogenic fungi effect, but to be fair, that wouldn't make it justice. You will find yourself confused at the start, and at many points, you just need to trust the author and continue reading, as most of the things end being explained in the way science-fantasy does sometimes; pretty much a "find, I left many hints" process.
While I love many of those characteristics, it is true that the pacing is quite irregular at points, especially due to how timeline is built; you can feel it drags a bit, but I can see that as a first novel thing.
If you are looking for a science fantasy which goes deep into the murder mystery while working on its characters in the style of Disco Elysium, A Dirge for Cascius: Part 1 is an excellent choice. A bold debut, which makes me wonder what Lott has still under the sleeve for the final Part 2.
A Dirge For Cascius: Part 1 marks the start to the eponymous science fantasy duology, an imaginative novel written by the Aussie author Calum Lott. With a story that could be pitched as a blend between True Detective and Hyperion, we can dive deep into one of the most original worldbuildings I've recently read while becoming spectators of a masterclass on breaking down a character.
200-year-old Cascius Carcyde is stricken with grief and self-pity, in the grip of the addiction to relieve his trauma; he's definitely far from the scrutineer he was. When a string of murders starts happening, threatening to subsume the whole Valsollas galaxy in chaos, he doesn't have an alternative than taking the call to action and hopefully, goes far from those sinister thoughts that are constantly with him. As he's not the one he used to be, a new partner is assigned to him to be the counterpart in this journey that will take Cascius to discover ancient schemes and harrowing revelations for Valsollas.
Despite this being a murder mystery story, Lott decides to play in a similar way to Disco Elysium, making a really extensive exploration through Cascius' mind at the same time the plot is being developed. He's not afraid of touching the darkest parts of the mind, especially related to depression and trauma, and how those factors can be the entrance door to self-destructive patterns, such as the addiction that the main character has.
In that regard, we can consider Cascius' partner as a counterpart, and most importantly, the way to project a different light over what's happening with Cascius. Coming from a totally different cultural background, it puts another point of view into the case and some of Cascius' problems, developing a big bond with him, and fighting for his life.
Apart from the own exploration of characters, the other aspect that out stands in Lott's novel is how original is the worldbuilding. At some point, I thought about describing it like a galaxy whose design was made under a hallucinogenic fungi effect, but to be fair, that wouldn't make it justice. You will find yourself confused at the start, and at many points, you just need to trust the author and continue reading, as most of the things end being explained in the way science-fantasy does sometimes; pretty much a "find, I left many hints" process.
While I love many of those characteristics, it is true that the pacing is quite irregular at points, especially due to how timeline is built; you can feel it drags a bit, but I can see that as a first novel thing.
If you are looking for a science fantasy which goes deep into the murder mystery while working on its characters in the style of Disco Elysium, A Dirge for Cascius: Part 1 is an excellent choice. A bold debut, which makes me wonder what Lott has still under the sleeve for the final Part 2.
August 13, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFFINSIDERS.COM
This was probably my most anticipated release of the year (okay, maybe a three-way tie with the God Eater Saga, and Wind and Truth). I started getting hyped for A Dirge for Cascius after reading the first two short stories, and my excitement kept rising with each new short. You can really see the efforts Lott has put in to build his world of Valsollas.
But, how does the novel fair before the massive hype that his shorts have built? Read on!
What I liked:
I’ll admit, I’ve been following Lott’s Tales of Valsollas right from the first story onwards. Not only are they a testament to the author’s versatility, but also serve as bite-sized tasters for the massive epic of Valsollas that he is working on. So, you can imagine my excitement going into the first full-length novel set in this world.
The prologue opens with an action-packed, emotion-driven sequence that’s reminiscent of Jor-El attempting to send Kal-El out of Krypton. I won’t go into what exactly happens, but it was handled so well that I wanted to scream at Zikirin for what he was doing. To jump from that adrenaline-heavy scene to a mellow, emotion-driven character-centric chapter 1 was equal parts jarring and awesome. I say jarring because my rushing adrenaline suddenly hit a dead end, and I was left crawling at a snail’s pace, trying to absorb the absurdly realized world of Valsollas through the lens of our hero, Cascius.
Lott takes his time to introduce Cascius. Getting to know him is a slow burn that can be annoying at its worst and heartbreaking at its best. It’s a trope, a protagonist with a dark and troubled past. But done right, and it makes for a compelling read. And that’s one of the primary reasons why I loved this book. The character’s pathos bleeds through each scene, and continues to influence every decision he takes. And masterfully, Lott takes these very elements that make Cascius who he is, and blends them with the narrative to make for a mind-blowing experience.
While the story itself is very straightforward, this interweaving of plots and character arcs makes it an equally intimidating and cathartic experience. I loved seeing the pieces fall into place. Also, I absolutely loved how every single short story found a place in this book, no matter how small. More importantly, I loved how Lott took all of these many elements and molded not just an epic story but an epic experience out of them.
A Dirge for Cascius is a real experience. While the world-building is intensely detailed, the world itself is visually striking beyond what I had anticipated. Imagine if Alejandro Jodorowsky were to remake Blade Runner, and that’s what this book read like to me. Every sceluspace, every setting, every memory came with its unique visual aesthetic that makes me crave for animators to acquire this book’s rights and make artful short films so this world can come alive. And this visual splendor gets cranked to eleven in the action scenes. I won’t go into spoilers, but that last 20-30% was pure art. Un-put-downable.
Lastly, and this is something I will also cover in the next section, is the narrative itself. It is an excruciatingly slow burn at first. In fact, the story didn’t really pick up for me for the first 20% or so. Up until then, I was only rooting for the character and relishing the rich world-building. The narrative was slower than I expected, and there was a lot of world-building and telling that happened pretty much throughout. But then again, this was a mystery being uncovered, so it made complete sense. Besides, the complex narrative becomes clearer and clearer as we get to the end, and watching everything fall into place was caosi satisfying. Given that, the telling felt justified.
What I didn’t like:
I won’t do the author a disservice by saying “everything was perfect”, because there were a few things about the book that I felt could have been handled better. However—and let me get this out of the way before I list my criticisms—the climax and ending of the book more than made up for the shortcomings.
Conclusion:
A Dirge for Cascius is a piece of art masquerading as a sci-fi book. Its action pieces are vivid tableaus of absurdism. It’s world itself is a unique blend of surreal dreamlike visuals. Its characters, complex yet believably real.
Part 1 was a fine book, and the way Lott ties everything together in that ending has me super hyped for book 2.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Complex narrative, interweaving of themes and character arcs, the protagonist, world-building and visual treatment of each setting, the ending.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: a tedious read in the first 20%, the introduction of one character, and some portions of the telling parts.
This was probably my most anticipated release of the year (okay, maybe a three-way tie with the God Eater Saga, and Wind and Truth). I started getting hyped for A Dirge for Cascius after reading the first two short stories, and my excitement kept rising with each new short. You can really see the efforts Lott has put in to build his world of Valsollas.
But, how does the novel fair before the massive hype that his shorts have built? Read on!
What I liked:
I’ll admit, I’ve been following Lott’s Tales of Valsollas right from the first story onwards. Not only are they a testament to the author’s versatility, but also serve as bite-sized tasters for the massive epic of Valsollas that he is working on. So, you can imagine my excitement going into the first full-length novel set in this world.
The prologue opens with an action-packed, emotion-driven sequence that’s reminiscent of Jor-El attempting to send Kal-El out of Krypton. I won’t go into what exactly happens, but it was handled so well that I wanted to scream at Zikirin for what he was doing. To jump from that adrenaline-heavy scene to a mellow, emotion-driven character-centric chapter 1 was equal parts jarring and awesome. I say jarring because my rushing adrenaline suddenly hit a dead end, and I was left crawling at a snail’s pace, trying to absorb the absurdly realized world of Valsollas through the lens of our hero, Cascius.
Lott takes his time to introduce Cascius. Getting to know him is a slow burn that can be annoying at its worst and heartbreaking at its best. It’s a trope, a protagonist with a dark and troubled past. But done right, and it makes for a compelling read. And that’s one of the primary reasons why I loved this book. The character’s pathos bleeds through each scene, and continues to influence every decision he takes. And masterfully, Lott takes these very elements that make Cascius who he is, and blends them with the narrative to make for a mind-blowing experience.
While the story itself is very straightforward, this interweaving of plots and character arcs makes it an equally intimidating and cathartic experience. I loved seeing the pieces fall into place. Also, I absolutely loved how every single short story found a place in this book, no matter how small. More importantly, I loved how Lott took all of these many elements and molded not just an epic story but an epic experience out of them.
A Dirge for Cascius is a real experience. While the world-building is intensely detailed, the world itself is visually striking beyond what I had anticipated. Imagine if Alejandro Jodorowsky were to remake Blade Runner, and that’s what this book read like to me. Every sceluspace, every setting, every memory came with its unique visual aesthetic that makes me crave for animators to acquire this book’s rights and make artful short films so this world can come alive. And this visual splendor gets cranked to eleven in the action scenes. I won’t go into spoilers, but that last 20-30% was pure art. Un-put-downable.
Lastly, and this is something I will also cover in the next section, is the narrative itself. It is an excruciatingly slow burn at first. In fact, the story didn’t really pick up for me for the first 20% or so. Up until then, I was only rooting for the character and relishing the rich world-building. The narrative was slower than I expected, and there was a lot of world-building and telling that happened pretty much throughout. But then again, this was a mystery being uncovered, so it made complete sense. Besides, the complex narrative becomes clearer and clearer as we get to the end, and watching everything fall into place was caosi satisfying. Given that, the telling felt justified.
What I didn’t like:
I won’t do the author a disservice by saying “everything was perfect”, because there were a few things about the book that I felt could have been handled better. However—and let me get this out of the way before I list my criticisms—the climax and ending of the book more than made up for the shortcomings.
Conclusion:
A Dirge for Cascius is a piece of art masquerading as a sci-fi book. Its action pieces are vivid tableaus of absurdism. It’s world itself is a unique blend of surreal dreamlike visuals. Its characters, complex yet believably real.
Part 1 was a fine book, and the way Lott ties everything together in that ending has me super hyped for book 2.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Complex narrative, interweaving of themes and character arcs, the protagonist, world-building and visual treatment of each setting, the ending.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: a tedious read in the first 20%, the introduction of one character, and some portions of the telling parts.
August 29, 2024
3.5/5
This was kinda close to a 4 but I'm holding off a bit to see what part 2 brings. Even so this was satisfying on its own and very impressive for a debut.
First of all man is this a cover buy it looks absolutely stellar. It's the reason I decided to give this a chance without reading any reviews and I'm happy I did.
As for the story it's an introduction to a vast world that's very ''Sun Eater'' in that I'd classify it as space-fantasy. You will go through the first 20% confused out of your mind before you get a good sense of the world, but don't worry. Just go with it.
Mainly it's a murder mystery but it's the atmosphere, setting and protagonist that makes it shine. I will continue with some ''Sun Eater'' comparisons because I think this is something fans of that series will enjoy as well.
Think of our main character Cascius as post ''Ashes of Man'' Hadrian. He's old, has been through shit and doesn't see the meaning anymore. Working as a sort of investigator the story kicks off when he needs a distraction. That distraction becomes the brutal ''Red Hand'' murders. High profile members in the Velutra of Valsollas are being killed in a way no one understands.
The planet ''Astril'' is where the main story takes place. But we get glimpses of a ton of other places as well (think Hyperion by Dan Simmons). Which is also another good comparison to make because this gets dark and has some serious space horror elements (Vorgossos..).
Despite a lot of it feeling like an epic space opera, it's very personal and character focused. This is Cascius story. It's about him trying to climb out of the darkness he finds himself in. I've no idea if this duology is all there will be. The world has much more to offer so I certainly hope not. And Calum is way too talented to not continue.
This was kinda close to a 4 but I'm holding off a bit to see what part 2 brings. Even so this was satisfying on its own and very impressive for a debut.
First of all man is this a cover buy it looks absolutely stellar. It's the reason I decided to give this a chance without reading any reviews and I'm happy I did.
As for the story it's an introduction to a vast world that's very ''Sun Eater'' in that I'd classify it as space-fantasy. You will go through the first 20% confused out of your mind before you get a good sense of the world, but don't worry. Just go with it.
Mainly it's a murder mystery but it's the atmosphere, setting and protagonist that makes it shine. I will continue with some ''Sun Eater'' comparisons because I think this is something fans of that series will enjoy as well.
Think of our main character Cascius as post ''Ashes of Man'' Hadrian. He's old, has been through shit and doesn't see the meaning anymore. Working as a sort of investigator the story kicks off when he needs a distraction. That distraction becomes the brutal ''Red Hand'' murders. High profile members in the Velutra of Valsollas are being killed in a way no one understands.
The planet ''Astril'' is where the main story takes place. But we get glimpses of a ton of other places as well (think Hyperion by Dan Simmons). Which is also another good comparison to make because this gets dark and has some serious space horror elements (Vorgossos..).
Despite a lot of it feeling like an epic space opera, it's very personal and character focused. This is Cascius story. It's about him trying to climb out of the darkness he finds himself in. I've no idea if this duology is all there will be. The world has much more to offer so I certainly hope not. And Calum is way too talented to not continue.
August 1, 2024
A Dirge For Cascius - @calumlott
Release: August 2nd
*Spoiler Free As Possible*
“Chaos is the cosmic arbiter of all that is foul, perhaps even everything in existence. Chaos has been winning the war ever since the very beginning.”
Well hot damn, look at me reading more indie fantasy. 2024 has been a great year so far, and A Dirge For Cascius doesn’t disappoint. Lott fabricates a raw, gritty, and unfiltered space detective story that pulls no punches. In a sea of authors trying to be cookie cutter, here is Calum Lott creating something unique and refreshing. Take your classic noir detective films and give them the intricacies of what space stories embody, and you have the tale of Cascius Carcyde. Space-Noir if you will.
“The ashes of death always blossom into flowers of love and life”.
Cascius is essentially depression incarnate. Forcing himself to relieve his traumatic past through all-too-real visions. When evil rears its head and Cascius is called upon to solve the mystery, can he get out of his own way to end the carnage?
Lott writes this story in a very raw and gritty way, but also doesn’t skimp on the details. It meshes insanely well with the themes that are being portrayed here; the human condition. He doesn’t hold the readers hand, and that accentuates the darkness that Cascius is fighting both within himself and in the cosmos.
Part of getting out of his own way is working with a partner that’s forced upon him. Fresh out of training, Kirella is essentially a mini Cascius in terms of aptitude for the work. Having two people cut from the same cloth creates a nice level of complexity to the plot. Lott’s character work is on a level where you actually forget that it’s a debut author. The internal strife of Cascius and how it affects his relationships with others is well developed.
I can liken A Dirge For Cascius to the recent release, The Tainted Cup. Except that ADFC has no training wheels. If that is something you’re interested in, then dive right in to this one, no further prompts.
Congrats to Calum for an awesome debut.
Release: August 2nd
*Spoiler Free As Possible*
“Chaos is the cosmic arbiter of all that is foul, perhaps even everything in existence. Chaos has been winning the war ever since the very beginning.”
Well hot damn, look at me reading more indie fantasy. 2024 has been a great year so far, and A Dirge For Cascius doesn’t disappoint. Lott fabricates a raw, gritty, and unfiltered space detective story that pulls no punches. In a sea of authors trying to be cookie cutter, here is Calum Lott creating something unique and refreshing. Take your classic noir detective films and give them the intricacies of what space stories embody, and you have the tale of Cascius Carcyde. Space-Noir if you will.
“The ashes of death always blossom into flowers of love and life”.
Cascius is essentially depression incarnate. Forcing himself to relieve his traumatic past through all-too-real visions. When evil rears its head and Cascius is called upon to solve the mystery, can he get out of his own way to end the carnage?
Lott writes this story in a very raw and gritty way, but also doesn’t skimp on the details. It meshes insanely well with the themes that are being portrayed here; the human condition. He doesn’t hold the readers hand, and that accentuates the darkness that Cascius is fighting both within himself and in the cosmos.
Part of getting out of his own way is working with a partner that’s forced upon him. Fresh out of training, Kirella is essentially a mini Cascius in terms of aptitude for the work. Having two people cut from the same cloth creates a nice level of complexity to the plot. Lott’s character work is on a level where you actually forget that it’s a debut author. The internal strife of Cascius and how it affects his relationships with others is well developed.
I can liken A Dirge For Cascius to the recent release, The Tainted Cup. Except that ADFC has no training wheels. If that is something you’re interested in, then dive right in to this one, no further prompts.
Congrats to Calum for an awesome debut.
July 29, 2025
July '25 reread of the relaunch version:
I stand by most things I said in my initial review. However, the rewrite has decreased the complexity of the worldbuilding and terminology quite a bit. The core terminology, such as the technologies and various entities, is still there, but a lot has been made "more digestible" as the author put it. There are also edits both ways, so parts that were taken out and others that have been added. But I think overall, the story definitely flows smoother now and is more accessible than before.
August '24:
I dove into "A Dirge for Cascius: Part I" with some confidence – after all, I'd read the short stories of Valsollas published up until then and I had at least some idea of what I was in for. Yet, the world of Valsollas still hit me like a high-speed bullet train. Which is to say that from the very first page, you're thrust right into this highly developed and intricate sci-fi space world and it's up to you to orient yourself in the midst of quite a bit of complex worldbuilding.
I'll say right away that I enjoyed this book. Yes, it can be dizzying, especially at the start, but if you keep going and reference the Nexus, i.e. the glossary, at the end of the book, it pays off hugely. That moment when I realised my brain had adapted to the most recurring terminology and ideas enough for me to just keep reading and flowing through the chapters while also keeping a relatively decent vision of it all in my mind's eye felt pretty awesome. And gosh, the imagery here is vivid and quite different, to say the least. I found myself constantly wishing to look up concept art or fanart for the book, just to see the characters, technology and locations truly come to life in front of my eyes.
But what's at the core of this story? To me, it was definitely the main character, Cascius Carcyde, a 200-year-old scrutineer whose experiences have dragged him to an absolute low-point where he is gripped by addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts. And that's when he gets dragged back to work to solve a series of mysterious murders along with a new partner, the Illuavan Kirella (side-note, lots of banter in this partnership, which was quite enjoyable). This takes Cascius on two journeys.
The first one involves actually working on solving the case, which showcases the politics and conflicts in this world along with the motivations of the parties connected to these. The second journey is a deeply personal one for Cascius where the different parts of his story are revealed to the reader and he is forced to face his wounds and work through them or fail. With the help of some in-world concepts, these moments of self-reflection turn very vivid and detailed at times, making for some of the most memorable highlights. So while the murder case is very much front and centre throughout, it's clear that Cascius's own story is the true heart of this book.
Now, I also wouldn't say that everything was flawless. Though I enjoyed it, the ideas and terminology can be very hard to get into at first. There's a definite learning curve to the world and there's really no way to get around it but through. Nonetheless, I admire how much thought and careful crafting has gone into creating this world (and it's a debut!).
If you love immersive reading like I do (think suitable ambience videos/music in the background), then not only has the author put together a great playlist to accompany the reading experience, there are also four original tracks composed specifically for this book by Nick Froud. I highly recommend giving both the OST and the playlist a listen if you plan to pick this book up.
So while I'll be looking forward to part II, I'll also recommend part I to anyone who geeks out at deep character growth combined with complicated (sci-fi) worldbuilding and a murder mystery/detective story.
I received the book as an eARC from the author. The thoughts here in the review are completely my own.
I stand by most things I said in my initial review. However, the rewrite has decreased the complexity of the worldbuilding and terminology quite a bit. The core terminology, such as the technologies and various entities, is still there, but a lot has been made "more digestible" as the author put it. There are also edits both ways, so parts that were taken out and others that have been added. But I think overall, the story definitely flows smoother now and is more accessible than before.
August '24:
I dove into "A Dirge for Cascius: Part I" with some confidence – after all, I'd read the short stories of Valsollas published up until then and I had at least some idea of what I was in for. Yet, the world of Valsollas still hit me like a high-speed bullet train. Which is to say that from the very first page, you're thrust right into this highly developed and intricate sci-fi space world and it's up to you to orient yourself in the midst of quite a bit of complex worldbuilding.
I'll say right away that I enjoyed this book. Yes, it can be dizzying, especially at the start, but if you keep going and reference the Nexus, i.e. the glossary, at the end of the book, it pays off hugely. That moment when I realised my brain had adapted to the most recurring terminology and ideas enough for me to just keep reading and flowing through the chapters while also keeping a relatively decent vision of it all in my mind's eye felt pretty awesome. And gosh, the imagery here is vivid and quite different, to say the least. I found myself constantly wishing to look up concept art or fanart for the book, just to see the characters, technology and locations truly come to life in front of my eyes.
But what's at the core of this story? To me, it was definitely the main character, Cascius Carcyde, a 200-year-old scrutineer whose experiences have dragged him to an absolute low-point where he is gripped by addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts. And that's when he gets dragged back to work to solve a series of mysterious murders along with a new partner, the Illuavan Kirella (side-note, lots of banter in this partnership, which was quite enjoyable). This takes Cascius on two journeys.
The first one involves actually working on solving the case, which showcases the politics and conflicts in this world along with the motivations of the parties connected to these. The second journey is a deeply personal one for Cascius where the different parts of his story are revealed to the reader and he is forced to face his wounds and work through them or fail. With the help of some in-world concepts, these moments of self-reflection turn very vivid and detailed at times, making for some of the most memorable highlights. So while the murder case is very much front and centre throughout, it's clear that Cascius's own story is the true heart of this book.
Now, I also wouldn't say that everything was flawless. Though I enjoyed it, the ideas and terminology can be very hard to get into at first. There's a definite learning curve to the world and there's really no way to get around it but through. Nonetheless, I admire how much thought and careful crafting has gone into creating this world (and it's a debut!).
If you love immersive reading like I do (think suitable ambience videos/music in the background), then not only has the author put together a great playlist to accompany the reading experience, there are also four original tracks composed specifically for this book by Nick Froud. I highly recommend giving both the OST and the playlist a listen if you plan to pick this book up.
So while I'll be looking forward to part II, I'll also recommend part I to anyone who geeks out at deep character growth combined with complicated (sci-fi) worldbuilding and a murder mystery/detective story.
I received the book as an eARC from the author. The thoughts here in the review are completely my own.
August 1, 2024
I enjoyed the book "A Dirge for Cassius" for its descriptive writing and portrayal of different races, all set within a murder mystery in space. I was immediately immersed in a richly developed world that has fantastic world-building.
The author poured an immense amount of time and effort into meticulously crafting every single detail of this world and its lore. On top of that, there's an expansive glossary, multiple maps, and custom soundtracks that enhance the storytelling. The book is incredibly accessible, making it easy for new readers to immerse themselves fully in the story. The quality of the writing in this book surpasses the expectations of a typical debut.
I enjoyed that using Kirella as a tool to explain the investigation process was effective and didn't feel condescending. Cassius struggles with an addiction called "recall," and to distract himself, he immerses himself in investigations, deliberately ignoring certain information to prolong the process. The story takes us to Astril as Cassius and Kirella work to solve the murders of the Heralds and the One Light Lord. I appreciated the details about how microorganisms like Taorillo replace everyday bodily functions, making the body more efficient. Cassius's development throughout the story, as he strives to improve himself while maintaining a gruff exterior, was engaging.
The moments where Cassius and Kirella open up about their pain show their partnership growing more substantial, and watching Cassius struggle with his addiction to recall made him more relatable and emotionally compelling. This book pulls you in on page one and continually ramps up as they fight against the clock.
The author poured an immense amount of time and effort into meticulously crafting every single detail of this world and its lore. On top of that, there's an expansive glossary, multiple maps, and custom soundtracks that enhance the storytelling. The book is incredibly accessible, making it easy for new readers to immerse themselves fully in the story. The quality of the writing in this book surpasses the expectations of a typical debut.
I enjoyed that using Kirella as a tool to explain the investigation process was effective and didn't feel condescending. Cassius struggles with an addiction called "recall," and to distract himself, he immerses himself in investigations, deliberately ignoring certain information to prolong the process. The story takes us to Astril as Cassius and Kirella work to solve the murders of the Heralds and the One Light Lord. I appreciated the details about how microorganisms like Taorillo replace everyday bodily functions, making the body more efficient. Cassius's development throughout the story, as he strives to improve himself while maintaining a gruff exterior, was engaging.
The moments where Cassius and Kirella open up about their pain show their partnership growing more substantial, and watching Cassius struggle with his addiction to recall made him more relatable and emotionally compelling. This book pulls you in on page one and continually ramps up as they fight against the clock.
July 31, 2025
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Review of A Dirge For Cassius
By Calum Lott
I’ve just finished this refreshed edition of A Dirge For Cascius, and I cannot imagine how it could have improved. I’d not read the original release of it, so I am coming to it with completely objective, “virgin eyes”, if you will.
The scenario is set many hundreds of years in the future, in a galaxy comprised of humans and humanoid beings, who are enhanced with some very interesting neural capabilities, and tech that is so fun to imagine it in use.
We begin in a very intense scenario, with a man and a woman desperately trying to escape death, all while attempting to shield their new born son, Cascius, and what eventually transpires.
Fast forward, and we meet the MC, Cascius, in the midst of a mental crisis. One of the things that Calum Lott didn’t shy away from, and that he brought into stark relief, were the ways people cope with grief, profound loss, and the self flagellation that more often than not accompanies it. It is the foundation from which all of Cascius’s actions spring.
Cascius is daily confronted by these demons from his past, and copes in very unhealthy ways. Mentally checking out with the use of a method called Recall, which sinks one into memories, and is a very unhealthy coping mechanism. There are limits to doing this, and he is dangerously close to using this method for the last, permanent, time. He feels he has no right to be alive, and carries the guilt of a survivor.
He’s also a detective of remarkable skill, a scrutineer as it’s known by, and works for the Velutra of Valsollas, a part of the galaxy that is a federation of various planets, moons, and stars. Each is overseen by a Sage.
One of the things I found utterly fascinating is how tech and the human body and mind have merged. There are these things called cryluns, which are “minute organic machines”, that can create a crystala, which is basically an overlayment that can act as clothing, a shield against weapons, the weapons themselves, or whatever is required. They can also heal a body if it’s been injured.
The other bit of very cool tech is called the Corpus. It’s a device embedded at the nape of the neck, typically right after birth. Elaspeech, the ability to communicate without verbalization, but instead with thought, is a part of it, as is being able to activate cryluns, weapons, and coscrafts among many others. But if the cryluns get destroyed, it can take a very long time for them to regenerate, leaving the host vulnerable to further damage.
And if a crime happened a great distance away, the corpus can “take you there” without the body having to physically be present. Cuts down on travel time and what to pack, for sure!
Cascius is a lone wolf who is paired with a partner, one whom the Sage he directly reports to insists he have, to keep him on the straight and non self destructive path. Said new partner Kirella is an illuavan, and inherently empathetic. Should be fun, right?
The story takes some rather unexpectedly dark twists and turns, which I found drew me deeper into it. Seemingly inexplicable deaths, threats from a zealous cult called the Red Hand, that seeks chaos in all its deadly glory, and the fractured minds of beings who have been so emotionally damaged, you wonder how they get up every day. And throughout it all, Kirella continues to struggle to connect with Cascius, who mocks him and generally dismisses his presence, unless he’s forced to interact. And all of it is so beautifully wrought by Calum’s ability to make you feel the emotions, the tension in the scenes where the fragmented pain of Cascius’s memories are brought into haunting and stark relief.
The writing is so immersive without it feeling bogged down in the minutiae of the technology being utilized, that I found I was able to comprehend it without needing a degree in bioengineering or astrophysics. And it is so much more than a scifi story. It addresses faith, and zealotry, loss, the fragility of mental health, and the gift of deep friendship.
But ever so slowly, cracks form in this protective mental shield that Cascius clutches so tightly. He will not fail another partner, nor will he go through the anguish of losing another friend, but these shields are eroding. Fragmenting. And gasp! Could he actually CARE about Kirella?
The misdirection, subterfuge, and outright treason that culminates in an explosive ending kept me from breathing normally. I found I had to gasp an intake of air because I’d been holding it during one of the more nail biting moments. But, there is more to come for this story, and I cannot wait to see where Calum takes it next!
Review of A Dirge For Cassius
By Calum Lott
I’ve just finished this refreshed edition of A Dirge For Cascius, and I cannot imagine how it could have improved. I’d not read the original release of it, so I am coming to it with completely objective, “virgin eyes”, if you will.
The scenario is set many hundreds of years in the future, in a galaxy comprised of humans and humanoid beings, who are enhanced with some very interesting neural capabilities, and tech that is so fun to imagine it in use.
We begin in a very intense scenario, with a man and a woman desperately trying to escape death, all while attempting to shield their new born son, Cascius, and what eventually transpires.
Fast forward, and we meet the MC, Cascius, in the midst of a mental crisis. One of the things that Calum Lott didn’t shy away from, and that he brought into stark relief, were the ways people cope with grief, profound loss, and the self flagellation that more often than not accompanies it. It is the foundation from which all of Cascius’s actions spring.
Cascius is daily confronted by these demons from his past, and copes in very unhealthy ways. Mentally checking out with the use of a method called Recall, which sinks one into memories, and is a very unhealthy coping mechanism. There are limits to doing this, and he is dangerously close to using this method for the last, permanent, time. He feels he has no right to be alive, and carries the guilt of a survivor.
He’s also a detective of remarkable skill, a scrutineer as it’s known by, and works for the Velutra of Valsollas, a part of the galaxy that is a federation of various planets, moons, and stars. Each is overseen by a Sage.
One of the things I found utterly fascinating is how tech and the human body and mind have merged. There are these things called cryluns, which are “minute organic machines”, that can create a crystala, which is basically an overlayment that can act as clothing, a shield against weapons, the weapons themselves, or whatever is required. They can also heal a body if it’s been injured.
The other bit of very cool tech is called the Corpus. It’s a device embedded at the nape of the neck, typically right after birth. Elaspeech, the ability to communicate without verbalization, but instead with thought, is a part of it, as is being able to activate cryluns, weapons, and coscrafts among many others. But if the cryluns get destroyed, it can take a very long time for them to regenerate, leaving the host vulnerable to further damage.
And if a crime happened a great distance away, the corpus can “take you there” without the body having to physically be present. Cuts down on travel time and what to pack, for sure!
Cascius is a lone wolf who is paired with a partner, one whom the Sage he directly reports to insists he have, to keep him on the straight and non self destructive path. Said new partner Kirella is an illuavan, and inherently empathetic. Should be fun, right?
The story takes some rather unexpectedly dark twists and turns, which I found drew me deeper into it. Seemingly inexplicable deaths, threats from a zealous cult called the Red Hand, that seeks chaos in all its deadly glory, and the fractured minds of beings who have been so emotionally damaged, you wonder how they get up every day. And throughout it all, Kirella continues to struggle to connect with Cascius, who mocks him and generally dismisses his presence, unless he’s forced to interact. And all of it is so beautifully wrought by Calum’s ability to make you feel the emotions, the tension in the scenes where the fragmented pain of Cascius’s memories are brought into haunting and stark relief.
The writing is so immersive without it feeling bogged down in the minutiae of the technology being utilized, that I found I was able to comprehend it without needing a degree in bioengineering or astrophysics. And it is so much more than a scifi story. It addresses faith, and zealotry, loss, the fragility of mental health, and the gift of deep friendship.
But ever so slowly, cracks form in this protective mental shield that Cascius clutches so tightly. He will not fail another partner, nor will he go through the anguish of losing another friend, but these shields are eroding. Fragmenting. And gasp! Could he actually CARE about Kirella?
The misdirection, subterfuge, and outright treason that culminates in an explosive ending kept me from breathing normally. I found I had to gasp an intake of air because I’d been holding it during one of the more nail biting moments. But, there is more to come for this story, and I cannot wait to see where Calum takes it next!
August 20, 2024
A Dirge for Cascius by Calum Lott is a gripping sci-fi murder mystery that starts with a bang—literally. The opening is packed with top-notch action, immediately pulling you into its world. Then, just as quickly, you're thrust 200 years into the future, and it's sink or swim from there.
Thankfully, there's a glossary that becomes your lifeline, especially in the beginning. I found myself referring to it frequently as I navigated this complex world.
Cascius, the main character, is enveloped in a dark mood, yet his core personality occasionally shines through the clouds above him, making him a character I could easily connect with.
The story itself is dense and heavy, but not at the cost of enjoyment. There's a mysterious atmosphere that permeates the narrative, keeping you hooked.
Lott has crafted a unique universe filled with actually diverse races, cultures, and technologies. The world-building is nothing short of impressive, especially for a debut novel.
However, this is not a book you can casually dip in and out of—it demands your full attention. I found myself needing to set aside other books just to fully immerse myself in Cascius' story. If you're looking for a sci-fi mystery that challenges you, A Dirge for Cascius is definitely worth your time.
Thankfully, there's a glossary that becomes your lifeline, especially in the beginning. I found myself referring to it frequently as I navigated this complex world.
Cascius, the main character, is enveloped in a dark mood, yet his core personality occasionally shines through the clouds above him, making him a character I could easily connect with.
The story itself is dense and heavy, but not at the cost of enjoyment. There's a mysterious atmosphere that permeates the narrative, keeping you hooked.
Lott has crafted a unique universe filled with actually diverse races, cultures, and technologies. The world-building is nothing short of impressive, especially for a debut novel.
However, this is not a book you can casually dip in and out of—it demands your full attention. I found myself needing to set aside other books just to fully immerse myself in Cascius' story. If you're looking for a sci-fi mystery that challenges you, A Dirge for Cascius is definitely worth your time.
August 19, 2024
Wow! Just Wow! After reading the blurb of this book, I was so intrigued to see what the whole story would intale and I am so glad that I got the chance to read this book. I loved the writing style of this book as soon as I started reading the book. This also helped with the fact that from the first chapter I was also gripped to the story, instantly wanting to find out what was going to happen next. The way in which that first chapter ended really made me want to read the book further to to figure out what was going on within the story. Oh boy the story line and plot line of this book was amazing. I loved the main character of this book, Cascous Carcyde was such an interesting character from the moment in which we met him on page. I loved the fact that for him to be able to do anything to save his surroundings and go after the culprits he needed to learn how to change from how he was at the start of the book, to who he became at the end. With how this book ended, I am definitly wanting to pick up another book within this series or world. And any other works by this author, as I want to see what else he has created.
August 22, 2024
Review coming soon
August 1, 2024
** I received this as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
A Dirge for Cascius is a sci-fi murder mystery with a suicidal protagonist trying to find a reason to live or the courage to die. It’s a story of despair, loss, humor amidst pain, perseverance and most importantly- hope.
I knew it sounded interesting when I signed up for the ARC but I wasn’t prepared for the empathy and depth of emotion I’d experience reading this debut novel. Calum Lott has finished part 1 of a fantastic sci-fi story full of criminal investigation in a deeply developed universe with wild technology, rich characters, well written action, and a terrifying enemy force in the galaxy. But above all of those things it’s about grief, loss, soul-searching, and how we both persevere and grow from the tragedies in our lives.
I didn’t get what I expected from this book and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s the rare novel, and a debut novel no less, that I finish and am left to process not just what happened with the story and characters and a really cool world but also how it relates to my own life and experiences. We join Cascius not at his lowest point, not when his grief is fresh but decades after and how not finding healthy ways to cope with tragedy can leave us lost, hopeless, nihilistic, and addicted. I don’t want to overshadow just how great of a sci-fi story this is because it surely is that, but the depth of it as humans and beings of the universe was what resonated most with me.
If you go into it expecting a cool murder mystery in how an evolved civilization deals with heinous crimes, a violent and corrupting force in the universe, and versatile tech mixed with spiritual “magic”, you’ll find it. If that’s what you take away from it, you’ll be completely satisfied. However as you start to see the facets that connect to your own life, our struggles, the weight of hopelessness, the things we resort to in grief, the scars it leaves, and the endurance of hope - I think you’ll agree that this is a special book.
Why are you still reading, go get it.
A Dirge for Cascius is a sci-fi murder mystery with a suicidal protagonist trying to find a reason to live or the courage to die. It’s a story of despair, loss, humor amidst pain, perseverance and most importantly- hope.
I knew it sounded interesting when I signed up for the ARC but I wasn’t prepared for the empathy and depth of emotion I’d experience reading this debut novel. Calum Lott has finished part 1 of a fantastic sci-fi story full of criminal investigation in a deeply developed universe with wild technology, rich characters, well written action, and a terrifying enemy force in the galaxy. But above all of those things it’s about grief, loss, soul-searching, and how we both persevere and grow from the tragedies in our lives.
I didn’t get what I expected from this book and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s the rare novel, and a debut novel no less, that I finish and am left to process not just what happened with the story and characters and a really cool world but also how it relates to my own life and experiences. We join Cascius not at his lowest point, not when his grief is fresh but decades after and how not finding healthy ways to cope with tragedy can leave us lost, hopeless, nihilistic, and addicted. I don’t want to overshadow just how great of a sci-fi story this is because it surely is that, but the depth of it as humans and beings of the universe was what resonated most with me.
If you go into it expecting a cool murder mystery in how an evolved civilization deals with heinous crimes, a violent and corrupting force in the universe, and versatile tech mixed with spiritual “magic”, you’ll find it. If that’s what you take away from it, you’ll be completely satisfied. However as you start to see the facets that connect to your own life, our struggles, the weight of hopelessness, the things we resort to in grief, the scars it leaves, and the endurance of hope - I think you’ll agree that this is a special book.
Why are you still reading, go get it.
July 25, 2024
“The ashes of death always blossom into flowers of love and life”
A Dirge for Cascius: Part I by Calum Lott is a unique fantasy that reminded me of DC Comic's Hellboy/Constantine and that's always a great thing. The detective thriller has some of the best world-building i've read and I cannot wait to find out what happens in Part II.
I enjoyed the way that Lott writes descriptions. We have an accessible debut that is easy to read whilst also being informative and easy to follow. Instead of telling us what is happening, Lott shows us through dialogue between the main characterse and, being a detective story, this seems instinctive of the world and these characters. The story itself is something that we really have to focus on. The writing is easy to read but the story itself is dense and I found myself re-reading a few times to understand it. This isn't a bad thing as Lott proved that they can write a complex story that has us intrigued throughout.
Cascius and Kirella are an incredible yet unlikely duo. Two haphazard people that have come together through no choice of their own that spent too much time with each other. It was great to read about their own struggles but also how that reflects on each other. Two people who are so alike that they clash. I especially enjoyed how Lott wrote Cascius, a broken person with such deep scars, himself his own worst enemy.
An incredible debut from Calum Lott and one that I can't wait to continue.
A Dirge for Cascius: Part I by Calum Lott is a unique fantasy that reminded me of DC Comic's Hellboy/Constantine and that's always a great thing. The detective thriller has some of the best world-building i've read and I cannot wait to find out what happens in Part II.
I enjoyed the way that Lott writes descriptions. We have an accessible debut that is easy to read whilst also being informative and easy to follow. Instead of telling us what is happening, Lott shows us through dialogue between the main characterse and, being a detective story, this seems instinctive of the world and these characters. The story itself is something that we really have to focus on. The writing is easy to read but the story itself is dense and I found myself re-reading a few times to understand it. This isn't a bad thing as Lott proved that they can write a complex story that has us intrigued throughout.
Cascius and Kirella are an incredible yet unlikely duo. Two haphazard people that have come together through no choice of their own that spent too much time with each other. It was great to read about their own struggles but also how that reflects on each other. Two people who are so alike that they clash. I especially enjoyed how Lott wrote Cascius, a broken person with such deep scars, himself his own worst enemy.
An incredible debut from Calum Lott and one that I can't wait to continue.
July 20, 2024
An OUTSTANDING debut from Mr. Lott that combines immersive storytelling with top of the line prose.
This novel introduces a broken protagonist who is on the verge of drowning in his sorrows, yet lacks the strength (or weakness) to finally stop struggling to stay float in a deep sea of darkness.
While a killer unleashes carnage throughout the cosmos, our protagonist uses the mystery behind these murders as a distraction from his own suffering and despair… but will it be enough???
~
We all are fighting our own battles, whether they are internal or external. This story beautifully demonstrates how we can either stay down in these battles or pick ourselves back up.
I am BAFFLED by how well the author managed to incorporate concepts involving the human condition into his wonderfully crafted story.
I am already ecstatic to read Part II of this duology, and Part I isn’t even officially out haha (August 2nd 👀)
Thank you for the ARC, Cosmic Lord 🫡🪐
This novel introduces a broken protagonist who is on the verge of drowning in his sorrows, yet lacks the strength (or weakness) to finally stop struggling to stay float in a deep sea of darkness.
While a killer unleashes carnage throughout the cosmos, our protagonist uses the mystery behind these murders as a distraction from his own suffering and despair… but will it be enough???
~
We all are fighting our own battles, whether they are internal or external. This story beautifully demonstrates how we can either stay down in these battles or pick ourselves back up.
I am BAFFLED by how well the author managed to incorporate concepts involving the human condition into his wonderfully crafted story.
I am already ecstatic to read Part II of this duology, and Part I isn’t even officially out haha (August 2nd 👀)
Thank you for the ARC, Cosmic Lord 🫡🪐
September 17, 2025
3.5/5.
Calum Lott has a real gift for worldbuilding. The lore is intricate, with fresh and imaginative sci-fi elements like crystalas, cryluns, mindsnares, and memory spaces. It’s clear there’s vision and intention behind every detail. At the same time, the sheer depth sometimes worked against the story. I often felt one step removed from the emotional weight of a revelation, or lost in the mechanics of how the world operated. Major factions like the Coavlen Knights, Bleeding Ruin, and Zenlians are presented as crucial (and very interesting), but their impact and motives felt distant until I turned to the “Nexus” appendix at the back. I would have preferred that richness woven directly into the narrative rather than tucked away.
Furthermore, the book frequently asks the reader to accept the magnitude of Cascius’s past grief without showing the full context — we’re told he has lost friends who meant everything to him, but we don’t spend enough time with those relationships to feel the devastation ourselves. That distance blunts some of the story’s power
However, (and a big however) where the book shines is in its handling of heavy themes. Grief, trauma, depression, survivor’s guilt — these are not treated lightly, and Cascius’s struggles carry real weight. He is not an easy character to like at first. Abrasive, dismissive, and hard-edged, he often belittles his new partner Kirella. But over time, their dynamic becomes the emotional core of the novel. Kirella’s humor, wit and care slowly chip away at Cassius’s bitterness, and by the final chapters I was surprised by how much I cared about them both. The payoff of their bond made me glad I trusted the process.
With that said I believe Lott delivers on his promises. Cascius emerges as more than just a detective — he is a warrior, a brother, and a legend whose wit and resourcefulness remind you why he commands respect. And Kirella, resilient and sharp-tongued, is a standout character I hope gets even more development in the sequel.
Overall, A Dirge for Cascius Part 1 is dense but rewarding. The worldbuilding can feel overwhelming, but the emotional depth lands by the end. If you’re willing to be patient and let the story unfold, there’s much to admire here. I’ll be picking up book two.
Calum Lott has a real gift for worldbuilding. The lore is intricate, with fresh and imaginative sci-fi elements like crystalas, cryluns, mindsnares, and memory spaces. It’s clear there’s vision and intention behind every detail. At the same time, the sheer depth sometimes worked against the story. I often felt one step removed from the emotional weight of a revelation, or lost in the mechanics of how the world operated. Major factions like the Coavlen Knights, Bleeding Ruin, and Zenlians are presented as crucial (and very interesting), but their impact and motives felt distant until I turned to the “Nexus” appendix at the back. I would have preferred that richness woven directly into the narrative rather than tucked away.
Furthermore, the book frequently asks the reader to accept the magnitude of Cascius’s past grief without showing the full context — we’re told he has lost friends who meant everything to him, but we don’t spend enough time with those relationships to feel the devastation ourselves. That distance blunts some of the story’s power
However, (and a big however) where the book shines is in its handling of heavy themes. Grief, trauma, depression, survivor’s guilt — these are not treated lightly, and Cascius’s struggles carry real weight. He is not an easy character to like at first. Abrasive, dismissive, and hard-edged, he often belittles his new partner Kirella. But over time, their dynamic becomes the emotional core of the novel. Kirella’s humor, wit and care slowly chip away at Cassius’s bitterness, and by the final chapters I was surprised by how much I cared about them both. The payoff of their bond made me glad I trusted the process.
With that said I believe Lott delivers on his promises. Cascius emerges as more than just a detective — he is a warrior, a brother, and a legend whose wit and resourcefulness remind you why he commands respect. And Kirella, resilient and sharp-tongued, is a standout character I hope gets even more development in the sequel.
Overall, A Dirge for Cascius Part 1 is dense but rewarding. The worldbuilding can feel overwhelming, but the emotional depth lands by the end. If you’re willing to be patient and let the story unfold, there’s much to admire here. I’ll be picking up book two.
October 14, 2024
This is a really unique and complex sci-fi with a murder mystery type story tossed in. It works so well and makes for a super intense and challenging read!
Cascius is a very interesting main character. His life struggles are present right from the start, and he's very down in the pits. I was instantly drawn to him and was immediately rooting for him. His development throughout and build up is great. One of my favorite things about the book is his growing relationship and interactions with fellow scrutineer Kirella. Their development as partners was fun to see unfold and even comes with some great snarky dialog between them.
The magic and space tech is fantastic. I was trying to think of what I could compare it to, and I couldn't. It's super unique, fun, and complex. There's so much cool stuff going on with it from body shields, conjuring weapons, a form of telepathy, stealth ships, etc. There's a ton to like here.
This is a challenging read for sure and definitely made my brain hurt a few times early on. You're not going to speed read this as it's meant to take your time and pay attention to all the details on each page. And it was so worth it. The buildup and the intensity of the last quarter of the book were awesome. Definitely a couple twist moments that caught me off guard. Ready to see what's in store for Cascius in part 2!
Cascius is a very interesting main character. His life struggles are present right from the start, and he's very down in the pits. I was instantly drawn to him and was immediately rooting for him. His development throughout and build up is great. One of my favorite things about the book is his growing relationship and interactions with fellow scrutineer Kirella. Their development as partners was fun to see unfold and even comes with some great snarky dialog between them.
The magic and space tech is fantastic. I was trying to think of what I could compare it to, and I couldn't. It's super unique, fun, and complex. There's so much cool stuff going on with it from body shields, conjuring weapons, a form of telepathy, stealth ships, etc. There's a ton to like here.
This is a challenging read for sure and definitely made my brain hurt a few times early on. You're not going to speed read this as it's meant to take your time and pay attention to all the details on each page. And it was so worth it. The buildup and the intensity of the last quarter of the book were awesome. Definitely a couple twist moments that caught me off guard. Ready to see what's in store for Cascius in part 2!
October 27, 2025
A Dirge of Cascius is a dark and introspective sci-fi tale of the our POV character, a maverick investigator,being dragged back into investigating a series of murders, which have links to his troubled past, reawakening his feelings of grief,guilt and loss, which is amplified by the fact he is forced to take on a young up and coming investigator as a partner.
It took me a little bit of time to fully get into this, their is a lot of teminolgy thrown at you early on to try and navigate your way through, but Cascius is such a self tortured figure that you cannot help but be drawn in and root for him, despite his own secretive nature and self destructive tendencies,and beyond that, the characters around him
A massive shout out has to go to Callum's writing as well, this one is a rare occasion of a book whose prose made me want to read it out loud and feel the shape of the world and the tonality of the world, really driving home the moments of destruction and despair, something that is driven home repeatedly throughout, with chapter 25 being the point where this book confirmed itself as a 5⭐ read for me, and I am excited to see where Callum takes this tale next.
It took me a little bit of time to fully get into this, their is a lot of teminolgy thrown at you early on to try and navigate your way through, but Cascius is such a self tortured figure that you cannot help but be drawn in and root for him, despite his own secretive nature and self destructive tendencies,and beyond that, the characters around him
A massive shout out has to go to Callum's writing as well, this one is a rare occasion of a book whose prose made me want to read it out loud and feel the shape of the world and the tonality of the world, really driving home the moments of destruction and despair, something that is driven home repeatedly throughout, with chapter 25 being the point where this book confirmed itself as a 5⭐ read for me, and I am excited to see where Callum takes this tale next.
September 1, 2025
Emotional rollercoaster
Not only is the storyline fresh and exciting, but the way Lott writes the emotions in his characters is staggering. He makes you feel as though you are going through the same woes and hardships that they are, then gives you their motivation as they battle through them. His take on the protagonist battling his depression is awe worthy, and adds massively to keeping you engrossed.
Worldbuilding, new races, amazing new tech that my mind could barely comprehend. This story really has it all, and I'm ready to dive into book 2 instantly!
Not only is the storyline fresh and exciting, but the way Lott writes the emotions in his characters is staggering. He makes you feel as though you are going through the same woes and hardships that they are, then gives you their motivation as they battle through them. His take on the protagonist battling his depression is awe worthy, and adds massively to keeping you engrossed.
Worldbuilding, new races, amazing new tech that my mind could barely comprehend. This story really has it all, and I'm ready to dive into book 2 instantly!
September 1, 2024
I received a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.75
This book was a unique, fairly well-paced science fantasy that follows the scrutineer Cascius as he investigates a series of intergalactic murders. There were times that I felt confused by some of the terminology, but I realized by the end that there is a helpful glossary at the back of the book.
I certainly enjoyed and am looking forward to the second one.
3.75
This book was a unique, fairly well-paced science fantasy that follows the scrutineer Cascius as he investigates a series of intergalactic murders. There were times that I felt confused by some of the terminology, but I realized by the end that there is a helpful glossary at the back of the book.
I certainly enjoyed and am looking forward to the second one.
August 29, 2025
I'm not going to die like this. Drowning in someone else's regrets. I don't want this, but it's the only way.
A Dirge for Cascius is a really dark, interesting read. You have a character struggling to battle his inner demons, a great "veteran partnered with a young whiz" trope (Kirella is awesome), an engaging murder mystery, and it's all set against a backdrop of a wonderfully intricate and fascinating sci-fi universe filled with deep lore.
For me, the best part is Cascius' struggle with himself and his arc across the story. You probably will need to be in the right mindset to read because it tackles some heavy themes, but Calum Lott does a great job of balancing the darkness with action, and making it worth the investment by the end. I'll definitely be reading Part II when it releases.
-
7.56/10
4/5 ⭐️
A Dirge for Cascius is a really dark, interesting read. You have a character struggling to battle his inner demons, a great "veteran partnered with a young whiz" trope (Kirella is awesome), an engaging murder mystery, and it's all set against a backdrop of a wonderfully intricate and fascinating sci-fi universe filled with deep lore.
For me, the best part is Cascius' struggle with himself and his arc across the story. You probably will need to be in the right mindset to read because it tackles some heavy themes, but Calum Lott does a great job of balancing the darkness with action, and making it worth the investment by the end. I'll definitely be reading Part II when it releases.
-
7.56/10
4/5 ⭐️
August 20, 2024
What a unique experience ! A Dirge for Cascius : Part I had me in a choke hold from the first chapter . World building , murder mystery , diverse characters , complex narrative - all very unique in delivery . "The Nexus " gives detailed descriptions . I read through that first before diving in and it really made for an engaging read . One of the best Sci-Fi books I have read in a long while . I will be waiting patiently for Part II. Go Read It !
August 1, 2024
《 ARC REVIEW 》
☆☆☆☆.5
"One cannot run out of time," Cascius said, "for it does not belong to anyone in the first place."
I just finished reading an ARC of The Dirge of Cascius by Calum Lott, and what an incredible debut!
This story follows along Cascius Carcyde in the distant future... the year 2689 to be exact, and futuristic it is! I've been on a sci-fi kick for awhile now, and this one did not disappoint. It's got some epic world-building, mystery and murders, and some major life lessons.
Without giving too much away, this book does have some intense moments, and it's like you're right there with Cascius. I loved it!
The Dirge of Cascius gets released on August 2nd, and is part of an epic space opera duology! And a huge thanks to @calumlott for the opportunity to read this ARC!
☆☆☆☆.5
"One cannot run out of time," Cascius said, "for it does not belong to anyone in the first place."
I just finished reading an ARC of The Dirge of Cascius by Calum Lott, and what an incredible debut!
This story follows along Cascius Carcyde in the distant future... the year 2689 to be exact, and futuristic it is! I've been on a sci-fi kick for awhile now, and this one did not disappoint. It's got some epic world-building, mystery and murders, and some major life lessons.
Without giving too much away, this book does have some intense moments, and it's like you're right there with Cascius. I loved it!
The Dirge of Cascius gets released on August 2nd, and is part of an epic space opera duology! And a huge thanks to @calumlott for the opportunity to read this ARC!
July 24, 2025
A Dirge for Cascius by Calum Lott was an intense sci-fi thriller with lots of action! Following Cascius on the brink of self-destruction, a new case gives him the right motivation to keep going. Unfortunately for him, a new partner is assigned to him. His grief with losing previous partners is what has put him in a wretched state, so this might be a deadly arrangement between him and Kirella.
I loved how Cascius and Kirella's relationship developed in a realistic fashion and made me emotionally invested in their success. The crime component was interesting and steeped in the world's history and alien species. This epic noir-thriller sci-fi/fantasy is an awesome blend of these genres!
Lastly, Cascius' addiction to grief and the way he is able to recall those terrible memories as an experience is fascinating. You get to dive into his soul and see how his grief has shaped him. I loved the way the world worked and how the readers are able to connect with that grief. 5/5 stars!
I loved how Cascius and Kirella's relationship developed in a realistic fashion and made me emotionally invested in their success. The crime component was interesting and steeped in the world's history and alien species. This epic noir-thriller sci-fi/fantasy is an awesome blend of these genres!
Lastly, Cascius' addiction to grief and the way he is able to recall those terrible memories as an experience is fascinating. You get to dive into his soul and see how his grief has shaped him. I loved the way the world worked and how the readers are able to connect with that grief. 5/5 stars!
Want to read
August 19, 2024🌞 Free on Amazon Aug 19, 2024 🌞
September 24, 2024
A Dirge for Cascius is a deep and intense story that asks big questions on memory and privacy. An outsider is sent to investigate something sinister and his powers make him uniquely skilled to handle the troubles the mission entails. Cascius as a character is well written, complex and most importantly flawed. He has room to grow but a complex history and because of this he is a character that is hard to put down. This is also an extremely interesting and well flushed out world. 5 stars!
Read
January 28, 2025I am one of the judges of team Space Girls for the SPSFC4 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Cut
Read: 27% (I cut here due to being end of chapter)
I was on the fence about this book: This was because it was a rare instance I really enjoyed the prologue despite the infamous mother dies soon after birth trope. (On an unrelated note, do these scifi magic crystals improve stamina? I can't imagine a woman giving birth an hour ago being able to fight the head honcho bad guy without fainting from blood loss or exhaustion).
And no, I didn't dislike the story's protagonist named Cascius despite his brooding mood. In fact, the addiction aspects of the book are handelled very well. My problem stems from an issue pertaining to the immense word count where tons of text are used to repeat information we already know over 30 times. Things such as Cascius's burned hands, remembering the dead tree he stopped watering in his house, or Kirllia's azure eyes whenever he is in a neutral emotional mood. Compound this issue with flowery description that talks a little bit about some obscure social order, then the scenery for 2 paragraphs, and finally Cascius's inner thoughts.
Some readers love these kinds of books that spend inordinate amounts of time describing the whole world with complex language. Comparing this book to others I have read having similar issues, this book does put better effort in the clarity aspect, so I didn't miss out of too much before feeling too worn down. Since the first 30% of the book focuses more on having the team of detectives band together and start investigating the homicide case, there isn't much action scenes, which is a huge bummer. The author's writing improves huge notches in every action scene. Which I believe is due to being able to better balance the description with readability. Plotwise, I like the story, the protagonist, and I especially LOVE the lizard guy Kirllia (does he grow a mane of black hair or is his hair more like a human growing on the back?).
Ah, so I have reached the part of the review about Mr. lizard alien guy with a cool demeanor peppered with a nice dose of haughtiness. I haven't read other reviews yet to compare what I felt, but I feel Kirllia steals the show despite appearing in few scenes so far.
And I think I know why I feel something was off about this book for me: I wanted Kirllia to be the protagonist.
Yup, that is correct. Whenever the book has Cascius and Kirllia together arguing about the crime scene, I didn't mind the descriptive writing style because he made the scenes easier to read. 100% an interesting fella. We barely know anything about him and I was already rooting for him!
Since I have not read the complete book, I don't know if my insane ideas about changing the primary POV would work. But what I do know is it could speed up the book by leagues and shorten the word count. Win! Win! It would also make the story seem more logical because Cascius's reckless addiction would be the reason why he is no longer being tasked with solving detective cases and the head honchos want to take away his badge. By having a more level-headed character moving the story along, it would feel like the book is advancing. I would have wanted Kirllia to be the person showing up at Cascius's doorstep in chapter 1 instead of the cloaked woman.
A story with 2 POVs where Cascius in some chapters feels annoyance some lizard guy is bossing him around while we get figments of his obsessive self-destructive behaviors would have worked. With only Cascius as the exclusive helm, I sometimes felt he was mansplaining too much. Would have liked seeing how lizard folk use their fighting crystals in a different manner than humans. From the plethora of positive reviews, I might belong to a minority that feels changing the entire story to have 2 protagonists might seem a bit extreme. Most readers seem to have enjoyed the book, and I harbor huge hopes later chapters have more action, which are certainly the scenes the author writes best.
Status: Cut
Read: 27% (I cut here due to being end of chapter)
I was on the fence about this book: This was because it was a rare instance I really enjoyed the prologue despite the infamous mother dies soon after birth trope. (On an unrelated note, do these scifi magic crystals improve stamina? I can't imagine a woman giving birth an hour ago being able to fight the head honcho bad guy without fainting from blood loss or exhaustion).
And no, I didn't dislike the story's protagonist named Cascius despite his brooding mood. In fact, the addiction aspects of the book are handelled very well. My problem stems from an issue pertaining to the immense word count where tons of text are used to repeat information we already know over 30 times. Things such as Cascius's burned hands, remembering the dead tree he stopped watering in his house, or Kirllia's azure eyes whenever he is in a neutral emotional mood. Compound this issue with flowery description that talks a little bit about some obscure social order, then the scenery for 2 paragraphs, and finally Cascius's inner thoughts.
Some readers love these kinds of books that spend inordinate amounts of time describing the whole world with complex language. Comparing this book to others I have read having similar issues, this book does put better effort in the clarity aspect, so I didn't miss out of too much before feeling too worn down. Since the first 30% of the book focuses more on having the team of detectives band together and start investigating the homicide case, there isn't much action scenes, which is a huge bummer. The author's writing improves huge notches in every action scene. Which I believe is due to being able to better balance the description with readability. Plotwise, I like the story, the protagonist, and I especially LOVE the lizard guy Kirllia (does he grow a mane of black hair or is his hair more like a human growing on the back?).
Ah, so I have reached the part of the review about Mr. lizard alien guy with a cool demeanor peppered with a nice dose of haughtiness. I haven't read other reviews yet to compare what I felt, but I feel Kirllia steals the show despite appearing in few scenes so far.
And I think I know why I feel something was off about this book for me: I wanted Kirllia to be the protagonist.
Yup, that is correct. Whenever the book has Cascius and Kirllia together arguing about the crime scene, I didn't mind the descriptive writing style because he made the scenes easier to read. 100% an interesting fella. We barely know anything about him and I was already rooting for him!
Since I have not read the complete book, I don't know if my insane ideas about changing the primary POV would work. But what I do know is it could speed up the book by leagues and shorten the word count. Win! Win! It would also make the story seem more logical because Cascius's reckless addiction would be the reason why he is no longer being tasked with solving detective cases and the head honchos want to take away his badge. By having a more level-headed character moving the story along, it would feel like the book is advancing. I would have wanted Kirllia to be the person showing up at Cascius's doorstep in chapter 1 instead of the cloaked woman.
A story with 2 POVs where Cascius in some chapters feels annoyance some lizard guy is bossing him around while we get figments of his obsessive self-destructive behaviors would have worked. With only Cascius as the exclusive helm, I sometimes felt he was mansplaining too much. Would have liked seeing how lizard folk use their fighting crystals in a different manner than humans. From the plethora of positive reviews, I might belong to a minority that feels changing the entire story to have 2 protagonists might seem a bit extreme. Most readers seem to have enjoyed the book, and I harbor huge hopes later chapters have more action, which are certainly the scenes the author writes best.
November 3, 2024
I was immediately struck by the scope of the world building, but rather than empty exposition it was clear this was a complex world Lott wanted the reader to be able to connect to so I settled back and enjoyed the story unfolding.
And I’m so glad I didn’t rush. Cascius is a compelling character in his brokenness, not in a flat stereotypical way but rather in his raw, unpredictable, grief and pain he felt real. His inward journey mirrored the untangling of the mystery he is tasked to solve and the stakes in both facets of the story are high.
I couldn’t help burning through the last 25% as everything came together in a nail biting but satisfying end to Part 1!
And I’m so glad I didn’t rush. Cascius is a compelling character in his brokenness, not in a flat stereotypical way but rather in his raw, unpredictable, grief and pain he felt real. His inward journey mirrored the untangling of the mystery he is tasked to solve and the stakes in both facets of the story are high.
I couldn’t help burning through the last 25% as everything came together in a nail biting but satisfying end to Part 1!
August 5, 2025
The story is told through the POV of Cascius Carcyde, who is an experienced scrutineer on Velutra from the Valsollas galaxy. Also, a sole survivor from a total planet genocide caused by those who follow Malnetha, a dark/corrupted force!
Over centuries, he has relied on his addiction & work to get him through his hardships till the Sage forced upon him a new partner, Kirella. Together, they must investigate a string of murders and catch the Red Hand Killer. Soon, they realize that this investigation leads to an even bigger discovery that can cause Velutra to fall into chaos.
This book is a revamped & re-release of the original! I didn't get a chance to read the original before the re-release, so I can't discuss the differences between the two.
Yet, I feel like this book is for those who love a much darker murder mystery story with some intense imagery/themes.
I enjoyed the unique world-building & form of investigating that Cascius & Kirella use in their detective work. I will say that it was a little bit of a challenging read for me as I had to refer back to the glossary a few times to understand some of the lingo & avoid confusion. Once, I really immersed myself into the story it was easy to fly through the pages and get caught up in the twists towards the end of the book.
The dynamic between Kirella & Cascius was fun to read, and I found myself favoring Kirella but feeling for Cascius because he has gone through some deep shit that has weighed heavily on him for centuries. He really is a tortured soul, finding some sort of peace in this book.
This review is long overdue, so I apologize, but what an intensely intricate space opera! 👏 Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot & if you are looking for something shorter, Arkoma is another excellent book written by Calum Lott
❗️Trigger Warnings ❗️
Thank you for reading 🔥🧡
Over centuries, he has relied on his addiction & work to get him through his hardships till the Sage forced upon him a new partner, Kirella. Together, they must investigate a string of murders and catch the Red Hand Killer. Soon, they realize that this investigation leads to an even bigger discovery that can cause Velutra to fall into chaos.
This book is a revamped & re-release of the original! I didn't get a chance to read the original before the re-release, so I can't discuss the differences between the two.
Yet, I feel like this book is for those who love a much darker murder mystery story with some intense imagery/themes.
I enjoyed the unique world-building & form of investigating that Cascius & Kirella use in their detective work. I will say that it was a little bit of a challenging read for me as I had to refer back to the glossary a few times to understand some of the lingo & avoid confusion. Once, I really immersed myself into the story it was easy to fly through the pages and get caught up in the twists towards the end of the book.
The dynamic between Kirella & Cascius was fun to read, and I found myself favoring Kirella but feeling for Cascius because he has gone through some deep shit that has weighed heavily on him for centuries. He really is a tortured soul, finding some sort of peace in this book.
This review is long overdue, so I apologize, but what an intensely intricate space opera! 👏 Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot & if you are looking for something shorter, Arkoma is another excellent book written by Calum Lott
❗️Trigger Warnings ❗️
Thank you for reading 🔥🧡
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