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Heroes of Ferth
As the revolution's final battle reaches its bloody crescendo, things look bleak for the rebels and their dream of a free county. The tyrant king's armies are greater and they march to trap the scattered rebel forces. But the rebels still have one advantage—the powerful venomborn. Alas, in the chaos of war, the lines of communication have broken down. Right when they are needed most, the venomborn platoon has gone missing.
It falls to an unlikely messenger to save the day, to speed across the raging battlefield and find the lost venomborn platoon. The fate of Ferth County rests on her shoulders. But she was never supposed to be here to begin with...
It falls to an unlikely messenger to save the day, to speed across the raging battlefield and find the lost venomborn platoon. The fate of Ferth County rests on her shoulders. But she was never supposed to be here to begin with...
ebook
Published September 6, 2024
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13 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Aeveryn
11 books43 followersBenjamin Aeveryn is an author of upmarket SFF about love, nature, and monsters. He lives in Cambridgeshire with his beautiful wife and a grumpy old cat. His debut Salt in the Wound was both an SPFBO and BBNYA semi-finalist and his novella Blackcap was a SFINCS finalist.
Grab a free fantasy novella at benjaminaeveryn.com/mailing-list
Grab a free fantasy novella at benjaminaeveryn.com/mailing-list
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 2, 2025
Heroes of Ferth might be a small book, but holy smokes, does it pack some big emotions. Set 100 years before the events of the main instalments in the Echoes of Elarien series, this prequel novella is a perfect little appetizer of the epicness you can expect in the world of Alveon.
While battlefield settings and stories that just throw you right into the thick of the action will probably never be my favourite, Aeveryn somehow made it all work surprisingly well for me in Heroes of Ferth. We're transported into a world caught in the middle of a desperate rebellion, and the rebels are pushed to the edge with hope running thin. Their only chance lies with the venomborn, a group of magically gifted warriors who have disappeared right when their strength is needed most.
Doesn't sound like too unique of a set-up if you've read your fair share of (military) fantasy, but it's the uniquely wonderful protagonist Eva who makes this tale stand out from the crowd for me. She's a brave young girl who is just trying to find her heroic (?) brother Tommie in the midst of battle, only to find herself semi-accidentally carrying a message that may change the course of the war.
Aeveryn does a brilliant job of balancing the fast pacing with quiet emotional moments that let you connect with Eva and the people she meets along the way, which really built the stakes and kept me fully engrossed. I also loved how this world feels so gritty and lived in, with magic that comes at a cost, creatures that inspire equal parts terror and awe, and characters who are trying to survive difficult choices that might just kill them inside.
Even with the short length, there is a real sense of atmosphere, depth, and complexity, which makes me beyond excited to dig deeper into this world and discover more of both its horrors and wonders in the main series. Heroes of Ferth does exactly what a good prequel novella should do, and I would highly recommend it if you are in the mood for a tragic yet hopeful one-sitting read that leaves you desperate for more in the best way possible.
While battlefield settings and stories that just throw you right into the thick of the action will probably never be my favourite, Aeveryn somehow made it all work surprisingly well for me in Heroes of Ferth. We're transported into a world caught in the middle of a desperate rebellion, and the rebels are pushed to the edge with hope running thin. Their only chance lies with the venomborn, a group of magically gifted warriors who have disappeared right when their strength is needed most.
Doesn't sound like too unique of a set-up if you've read your fair share of (military) fantasy, but it's the uniquely wonderful protagonist Eva who makes this tale stand out from the crowd for me. She's a brave young girl who is just trying to find her heroic (?) brother Tommie in the midst of battle, only to find herself semi-accidentally carrying a message that may change the course of the war.
Aeveryn does a brilliant job of balancing the fast pacing with quiet emotional moments that let you connect with Eva and the people she meets along the way, which really built the stakes and kept me fully engrossed. I also loved how this world feels so gritty and lived in, with magic that comes at a cost, creatures that inspire equal parts terror and awe, and characters who are trying to survive difficult choices that might just kill them inside.
Even with the short length, there is a real sense of atmosphere, depth, and complexity, which makes me beyond excited to dig deeper into this world and discover more of both its horrors and wonders in the main series. Heroes of Ferth does exactly what a good prequel novella should do, and I would highly recommend it if you are in the mood for a tragic yet hopeful one-sitting read that leaves you desperate for more in the best way possible.
April 3, 2025
4.5 Stars
This read might have been a personal faux pas moment for me. The reason why is I'm already knee deep in Benjamin Aeveryn's Rainfallen series and haven't finished it. Yet, here I am reading the prequel novella of his latest project Heroes of Ferth (Venomborn). It just happened this way as I was looking for some novellas to read to give me a break from my recent epic reads that have been draining me emotionally. I really enjoyed this one though even if it does have it's own emotional struggles which I'll touch on shortly.
The pacing in Heroes of Ferth was average leaning toward the fast simply due to the action, excitement and suspense found throughout this short read. Since this tale is being told during a rather large scale battle there are a good number of characters to keep track of but I don't think it was over the top by any means. I didn't have any issues with characters or names either.
The worldbuilding has me really excited for things to come in this series. This one focuses mostly around a single region and city with the battle taking place but there still seems a lot of potential for the world at large. There is some really interesting magic introduced in this novella as well has how that magic fits into a mass battle of what appears to be a current ruling noble tyrant army and the rebel forces. You'll need to read this one to figure out which side our antagonist may be assisting.
The character development was solid. There are quite a few characters introduced in this short read. It takes a bit of time to settle in on which one we will be following for the remainder of this tale. We have a subtle character arc with our protagonist and several good supporting characters as well. I'll be interested to see how this novella transitions into the main series. I've read some stories like this that are solid introductions into the world but then by the next book the focus shifts to other characters primarily. We suppose we shall see in time.
All in all I really enjoyed this read. It was an exciting story following an unsuspecting hero. As I've only read a couple of other works from Benjamin I still feel this has his usual vibes present here. If you've read anything from the Rainfallen series and enjoyed it, I'm sure you'll enjoy what we have from this one.
This read might have been a personal faux pas moment for me. The reason why is I'm already knee deep in Benjamin Aeveryn's Rainfallen series and haven't finished it. Yet, here I am reading the prequel novella of his latest project Heroes of Ferth (Venomborn). It just happened this way as I was looking for some novellas to read to give me a break from my recent epic reads that have been draining me emotionally. I really enjoyed this one though even if it does have it's own emotional struggles which I'll touch on shortly.
The pacing in Heroes of Ferth was average leaning toward the fast simply due to the action, excitement and suspense found throughout this short read. Since this tale is being told during a rather large scale battle there are a good number of characters to keep track of but I don't think it was over the top by any means. I didn't have any issues with characters or names either.
The worldbuilding has me really excited for things to come in this series. This one focuses mostly around a single region and city with the battle taking place but there still seems a lot of potential for the world at large. There is some really interesting magic introduced in this novella as well has how that magic fits into a mass battle of what appears to be a current ruling noble tyrant army and the rebel forces. You'll need to read this one to figure out which side our antagonist may be assisting.
The character development was solid. There are quite a few characters introduced in this short read. It takes a bit of time to settle in on which one we will be following for the remainder of this tale. We have a subtle character arc with our protagonist and several good supporting characters as well. I'll be interested to see how this novella transitions into the main series. I've read some stories like this that are solid introductions into the world but then by the next book the focus shifts to other characters primarily. We suppose we shall see in time.
All in all I really enjoyed this read. It was an exciting story following an unsuspecting hero. As I've only read a couple of other works from Benjamin I still feel this has his usual vibes present here. If you've read anything from the Rainfallen series and enjoyed it, I'm sure you'll enjoy what we have from this one.
November 26, 2024
This is a fantastic teaser trailer for Benjamin's new series coming next year. This novella is short but wow is it packed with action from start to finish! We are dropped headfirst into a losing battle and right off the bat no character we meet has plot armour, they've got to use all their skills to survive. The snapshot of the world we get is turbulent, inhabited by humans, venomborn and other worldly creatures. Add into that mix a tyrannical King and an ongoing rebellion and you have the recipe for a fantastic reading delight. I can't wait for the first novel in the series to be available as this has certainly whetted my appetite.
February 16, 2026
I am writing this review for the SFINCS3 competition. These thoughts are my own and do not reflect those of any of the other judges.
A very good novella on all accounts. The themes and vibes are perfect, and I'm utterly enthralled by the idea of the Venomborn. I read this novella knowing it might have ties to one of the author's novels, though I'm not sure if this novella is a prequel or a side story. There are hints all around to more in the world, but it works well here. It's a taste, a little tease, of more available if you want some, while also standing well on its own. And as a teaser, it sunk its claws into me effortlessly. I absolutely want to read the Venomborn novels now, to learn more about these people who take on the abilities of monsters. Moreover, I want to know more about the women who turn their babies into Venomborn. It's the sort of dark fantasy content I live to consume. Give me all the horrors and brutalities of a medieval fantasy world, give me the heroes and the hunters, the monsters and the mysteries. This novella is pure medieval fantasy goodness and I'd easily recommend it to any fantasy fanatic, especially if they have a preference for the darker, grittier, war-focused stories.
Overall, the writing is competent and full of emotion. Sometimes it can be a bit cheesy about honor and heroes, but honestly, I like a little bit of cheese now and then. I'm not going to criticize it for wearing its heart on its sleeve.
I am knocking it a point because there were times the dialogue felt… off. I understand it's hard to write children characters. As an author, I've struggled with it myself. Heroes of Ferth is told mostly from the perspective of a 12 year old girl and there were times I felt her dialogue was either too young or too old… or that the way other people spoke to her wasn't right for the scene.
A very good novella on all accounts. The themes and vibes are perfect, and I'm utterly enthralled by the idea of the Venomborn. I read this novella knowing it might have ties to one of the author's novels, though I'm not sure if this novella is a prequel or a side story. There are hints all around to more in the world, but it works well here. It's a taste, a little tease, of more available if you want some, while also standing well on its own. And as a teaser, it sunk its claws into me effortlessly. I absolutely want to read the Venomborn novels now, to learn more about these people who take on the abilities of monsters. Moreover, I want to know more about the women who turn their babies into Venomborn. It's the sort of dark fantasy content I live to consume. Give me all the horrors and brutalities of a medieval fantasy world, give me the heroes and the hunters, the monsters and the mysteries. This novella is pure medieval fantasy goodness and I'd easily recommend it to any fantasy fanatic, especially if they have a preference for the darker, grittier, war-focused stories.
Overall, the writing is competent and full of emotion. Sometimes it can be a bit cheesy about honor and heroes, but honestly, I like a little bit of cheese now and then. I'm not going to criticize it for wearing its heart on its sleeve.
I am knocking it a point because there were times the dialogue felt… off. I understand it's hard to write children characters. As an author, I've struggled with it myself. Heroes of Ferth is told mostly from the perspective of a 12 year old girl and there were times I felt her dialogue was either too young or too old… or that the way other people spoke to her wasn't right for the scene.
September 19, 2024
Wow, what a punchy, quick exciting read. This Novella is clearly a work to wet the apatite for Benjamin Aeveryn next book series, and it did the job perfectly. For such a short novella, it really packs a lot in, and I found myself caring for the characters after only a few chapters. I want more from this world, and the full book release can not come quick enough.
There is war, panic, tension, heart, and a whole lot of world building in this short story with the authors usual brilliant way with words.
A message needs to arrive to help turn the tides of war, and the ways that piece of paper changes hands is crafted seamlessly between chapters.
There is war, panic, tension, heart, and a whole lot of world building in this short story with the authors usual brilliant way with words.
A message needs to arrive to help turn the tides of war, and the ways that piece of paper changes hands is crafted seamlessly between chapters.
September 21, 2024
There's something uniquely captivating about Aeveryn's writing that finds a delicate balance between heart-wrenching despair and persevering hope, and Heroes of Ferth epitomises that in a short flashpoint on the outskirts of a vast civil war. The tropes balance nicely between traditional and explorative: the nature of venomborns, and the strangeness of the krakanen blended nicely with the intensity of forest escapes and sudden life or death skirmishes. The story felt quick and energised and also deeply emotive, and I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction to this new Aeveryn world.
February 18, 2025
Gosh I liked this novella! It was heartbreaking in so many ways and yet so full of hope. Hego, Eva, Ladybird and the others all captured my heart.
For such a small book (page count) it was huge in scope, character depth and world building. I was invested!
This novella introduces us to the Venomborn and I want more! I'm looking forward to reading Venomborn (book #1) next!
For such a small book (page count) it was huge in scope, character depth and world building. I was invested!
This novella introduces us to the Venomborn and I want more! I'm looking forward to reading Venomborn (book #1) next!
March 23, 2025
This was an excellent novella to kick off the authors new series. I received a free ebook by signing up for his newsletter.
I was rooting for Eva to find her brother Tommy in the midst of a huge battle.. she is only 12 but probably the bravest in her family. I look forward to book one of the series.
I was rooting for Eva to find her brother Tommy in the midst of a huge battle.. she is only 12 but probably the bravest in her family. I look forward to book one of the series.
September 12, 2024
Okay, I want more!
My first entry into Aeveryn's work, this was enough to get me hooked and excited for the first full length novel into this world. I enjoyed the writing and characters, and the setting of this novella reminded me of the Witcher 2 for some reason, which is right up my alley!
My first entry into Aeveryn's work, this was enough to get me hooked and excited for the first full length novel into this world. I enjoyed the writing and characters, and the setting of this novella reminded me of the Witcher 2 for some reason, which is right up my alley!
September 9, 2024
Lots of action but not enough character depth for my tastes. Makes me want the first book in the series even more
December 5, 2025
This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews
Heroes of Ferth took me to a lot of places. Most of them I felt very stressed for Eva, and also a lot of love for Eva.
But I’m getting ever so slightly ahead of myself.
We open with what I can only describe as one of the best opening paragraphs to a story and meet Hego. Hego is our first glimpse into the war that is set to splinter the kingdom of Ortland and reach their dream of a free country.
As expected with a war story, things are not going well. Like super not well. Like they lost contact with Uhtic and his magic venomborn platoon not well. Nothing with the word ‘Venomborn’ should go missing.
Anyway! This is also our first introduction to the venomborn. Now I thought this was a suuuuuper interesting form of magic. It reminded me of The Witcher type magic and The Smokesmiths series by João F. Silva. I find consumption based body altering magic super neat. (Not a sentence I ever thought I’d write.)
Now Hego is tasked with sending a message to the lost contact platoon. No big deal right? For reasons you will need to pick up this short book to discover, it falls to Eva. If you have not guessed, Eva is the “unlikely messenger” the blurb mentions.
So with Eva we get the bigger context of things as she races to get this message to the lost platoon. Within this task is a bit of dialogue that was probably not meant to be as funny as it was: I can’t be telling Uhtric’s whereabouts to any strange girl who comes running through here.
Which is a very fair statement but I had to question how often this was happening.
Through the dialogue we also really get the impact of the task Eva has undertaken. The contrast between what the army around her is saying and her own words is the perfect contrast for this. *Chef’s kiss* I love it.
Now as always with characters of slightly ambiguous age, I struggled to know exactly how fitting the actions/dialogue were to the age range. Eva is “shy of her teen years” and while I don’t spend tons of time with 11-12 year olds, especially ones in a war delivering messages to missing platoons of magically modified soldiers, I just felt like some her thought processes were a little naïve in comparison to the other interactions we see her in. I’m sure someone with an 11-12 year old is going to roll their eyes at this comment. It’s just a comment! It’s not even a critique! I don’t know a lot of children!
I can see Benjamin Aeveryn has many more books in his catalogue. Apparently, I have already marked one on GR, but if I do not get more of Eva and Uhtic from this venomborn world, I will bombard Benjamin with sad cat pictures on every social media platform regularly.
Heroes of Ferth took me to a lot of places. Most of them I felt very stressed for Eva, and also a lot of love for Eva.
But I’m getting ever so slightly ahead of myself.
We open with what I can only describe as one of the best opening paragraphs to a story and meet Hego. Hego is our first glimpse into the war that is set to splinter the kingdom of Ortland and reach their dream of a free country.
As expected with a war story, things are not going well. Like super not well. Like they lost contact with Uhtic and his magic venomborn platoon not well. Nothing with the word ‘Venomborn’ should go missing.
Anyway! This is also our first introduction to the venomborn. Now I thought this was a suuuuuper interesting form of magic. It reminded me of The Witcher type magic and The Smokesmiths series by João F. Silva. I find consumption based body altering magic super neat. (Not a sentence I ever thought I’d write.)
Now Hego is tasked with sending a message to the lost contact platoon. No big deal right? For reasons you will need to pick up this short book to discover, it falls to Eva. If you have not guessed, Eva is the “unlikely messenger” the blurb mentions.
So with Eva we get the bigger context of things as she races to get this message to the lost platoon. Within this task is a bit of dialogue that was probably not meant to be as funny as it was: I can’t be telling Uhtric’s whereabouts to any strange girl who comes running through here.
Which is a very fair statement but I had to question how often this was happening.
Through the dialogue we also really get the impact of the task Eva has undertaken. The contrast between what the army around her is saying and her own words is the perfect contrast for this. *Chef’s kiss* I love it.
Now as always with characters of slightly ambiguous age, I struggled to know exactly how fitting the actions/dialogue were to the age range. Eva is “shy of her teen years” and while I don’t spend tons of time with 11-12 year olds, especially ones in a war delivering messages to missing platoons of magically modified soldiers, I just felt like some her thought processes were a little naïve in comparison to the other interactions we see her in. I’m sure someone with an 11-12 year old is going to roll their eyes at this comment. It’s just a comment! It’s not even a critique! I don’t know a lot of children!
I can see Benjamin Aeveryn has many more books in his catalogue. Apparently, I have already marked one on GR, but if I do not get more of Eva and Uhtic from this venomborn world, I will bombard Benjamin with sad cat pictures on every social media platform regularly.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews