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Labyrinth War
Long ago, alien abominations ruled the world. Now, they have returned…
The fugitive aristocrat Titus Maximus fled into the giant living labyrinth of Gawana and vanished.
A decade later Octavos Maximus finds his father's journal. He joins an intrigue-ridden army headed southward with an unwanted arranged marriage awaiting him. But fate has other plans…
Bao is a provincial princess enraged at the prospect of marrying into the despised Maximus clan. Pity this one is so cute…
Curtis joined the army as a favor to a dying emperor – but a stranger fate than fighting barbarians awaits him…
Carina is a fugitive sorceress who took refuge with the thieves and peddlers trailing the army. Unfortunately, the witch hunters are already there.
Chimp is a military scout striving to keep his squad alive. However, they keep getting sent out on suicide missions…
Git-Vik's people fled this world long ago. Now they are back and are determined to regain their former prominence – once they deal with these pesky savages…
These characters and others clash in a conflict that spans the world – but has Gawana at its center.
The fugitive aristocrat Titus Maximus fled into the giant living labyrinth of Gawana and vanished.
A decade later Octavos Maximus finds his father's journal. He joins an intrigue-ridden army headed southward with an unwanted arranged marriage awaiting him. But fate has other plans…
Bao is a provincial princess enraged at the prospect of marrying into the despised Maximus clan. Pity this one is so cute…
Curtis joined the army as a favor to a dying emperor – but a stranger fate than fighting barbarians awaits him…
Carina is a fugitive sorceress who took refuge with the thieves and peddlers trailing the army. Unfortunately, the witch hunters are already there.
Chimp is a military scout striving to keep his squad alive. However, they keep getting sent out on suicide missions…
Git-Vik's people fled this world long ago. Now they are back and are determined to regain their former prominence – once they deal with these pesky savages…
These characters and others clash in a conflict that spans the world – but has Gawana at its center.
702 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2024
1 person is currently reading
About the author
Tim Goff
18 books19 followersI was raised on an Alaskan homestead at the edge of civilization, an upbringing that brought with it passing knowledge of everything from mechanics to gardening to carpentry.
I was an avid reader from an early age - and started my first writing efforts as a teenager. It took me a while to actually get published.
I was an avid reader from an early age - and started my first writing efforts as a teenager. It took me a while to actually get published.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 19, 2025
Just finished Labyrinth War and wow - what a wild ride! Imagine if LOTR met Alien inside a living, breathing maze. Love how Goff blends military fantasy with cosmic horror while juggling multiple POVs that actually work. The arranged marriage subplot between Octavos and Bao had me hooked. Perfect for fans of genre-bending epic fantasy!
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February 11, 2025
"Labyrinth War" was a great read, perfectly balancing reality and hardcore Sci-Fi. The balance throughout the story kept me reading until the end: You receive explanations for what is needed and can discover the rest for yourself through dialogues that are natural and uninterrupted through internal monologues.
June 10, 2025
Labyrinth War throws you into a massive universe that can feel more like a reference guide than a novel. From ancient alien abominations that once ruled humanity to the sentient maze of Gawana, every element is vivid and alive—but there’s just so much of it. If you’re someone who prefers tight storytelling, you might find yourself drowning in data and side characters before you even reach the main arc.
The cast is huge: Octavos Maximus digging into his father’s secrets, Bao wrestling with royal constraints, Curtis and Chimp taking on impossible odds, and that’s only scratching the surface. The constant shifts between their storylines can make it hard to stay invested. It almost feels like you need a flowchart to keep track of who’s who and what’s happening where.
That said, Goff has a real talent for atmosphere. The labyrinth works as both setting and antagonist—its shifting walls feel alive, and the threat is constant. The crumbling temples and alien machinery are described with enough detail to feel vivid, and the mix of magic and tech lands naturally. The prose handles action, mystery, and tension well enough to keep the pages turning.
My main issue is with the book’s length and scope. It easily could’ve been a trilogy. As it is, it drags in places. If you're into dense world-building and don't mind juggling a large cast, Labyrinth War delivers. For others, it might work better in smaller, more focused chunks.
The cast is huge: Octavos Maximus digging into his father’s secrets, Bao wrestling with royal constraints, Curtis and Chimp taking on impossible odds, and that’s only scratching the surface. The constant shifts between their storylines can make it hard to stay invested. It almost feels like you need a flowchart to keep track of who’s who and what’s happening where.
That said, Goff has a real talent for atmosphere. The labyrinth works as both setting and antagonist—its shifting walls feel alive, and the threat is constant. The crumbling temples and alien machinery are described with enough detail to feel vivid, and the mix of magic and tech lands naturally. The prose handles action, mystery, and tension well enough to keep the pages turning.
My main issue is with the book’s length and scope. It easily could’ve been a trilogy. As it is, it drags in places. If you're into dense world-building and don't mind juggling a large cast, Labyrinth War delivers. For others, it might work better in smaller, more focused chunks.
August 13, 2025
Tim Goff throws you headfirst into a world where aliens, twisting labyrinths, political intrigue, and forced marriage all crash together under the shadow of strange, dangerous magic. The story shifts through multiple points of view, each revealing a different piece of the puzzle—sometimes dizzying, but in a way that keeps the tension high. You never quite know where the next turn will take you, and that unpredictability is half the fun.
The writing has a raw, unpolished edge—typos and all—but it oddly suits the rough, unpredictable tone of the world. It’s not a slow, careful build; it’s a headlong plunge into strange lands and stranger alliances, and the pace rarely lets up. If you like your dark fantasy with a shot of sci-fi weirdness and don’t mind a bit of grit in the delivery, Labyrinth War will pull you in and keep you guessing until the end.
The writing has a raw, unpolished edge—typos and all—but it oddly suits the rough, unpredictable tone of the world. It’s not a slow, careful build; it’s a headlong plunge into strange lands and stranger alliances, and the pace rarely lets up. If you like your dark fantasy with a shot of sci-fi weirdness and don’t mind a bit of grit in the delivery, Labyrinth War will pull you in and keep you guessing until the end.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews