Rumors say the rotten gods have returned. The order knows they never truly left.
Deep below the surface of Asodhra, horrifying creatures awaken, eager to deceive and devour the souls of humankind.
In the jeweled city of Sonanarth, Pyoshara Zanesh enjoys an undeserved life of luxury, completely oblivious to the evil rising from the depths.
But when Pyoshara and his friend Zafira attend a party in a secluded forest glade, he comes face to face with a rotten god in the flesh. As his shock turns to action, Pyoshara discovers a mysterious order of assassin priests that has been waging a covert war against the rotten gods for centuries.
After seeing the harsh lives the assassins lead, he considers returning to his life of privilege. But when a powerful rotten god latches onto Zafira’s soul, Pyoshara forsakes his wealth to join the order, determined to confront her tormentor before her time runs out.
Jeremy was born in Ontario, Canada, where he lives with his wife Samantha and their two children. As a person of mixed Indo-Caribbean and European descent, Jeremy loves to write about heroes who learn to integrate the wisdom of different cultures. When he isn't writing or reading, he's either getting beaten to a pulp in the latest Soulslike or Metroidvania game, or dreaming about where to go scuba diving next.
An adventure in what happens when a hero falls to temptation and the promise of power. But Pyo isn't alone, he has friends depending on him. But with each step he uncovers more secrets and lies. An exploration of flawed heroes and what happens when even those we are rooting for fall short and need a hand up. Thankfully Pyo had those people around him. This Dark Fantasy is a perfect example of why it is important to have a varied cast of characters with different motivations. First read of 2026 this one is setting the bar high. 5stars and I will not be shutting up about this one for a while yet. Jeremy did an amazing job of blending eldritch horror and fantasy. I cannot wait for book 2.
Special thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I read this in two sittings, and only because I had to go to work. The world and the characters were so compelling, and I found myself thinking about them during my brief pauses between reading.
The pacing was excellent, and the whole story was so well-constructed. I was so absorbed by the rotten gods and their story, and I genuinely cannot wait for future books to come out.
If you enjoy a new look at a Big Bad in fantasy, and want to throw yourself into a story full of lore and twists and turns, this is definitely the one for you!! And as a fellow Canadian, it was awesome to read such an incredible story from a Canadian author!
"Rotten Gods" plunges readers into a darkly captivating world, seamlessly blending the intricate world-building and sweeping scope often found in high fantasy with the gritty realism and morally ambiguous characters that define dark fantasy. From the outset, Adams crafts a narrative steeped in political and religious intrigue, where power struggles and ancient faiths collide with terrifying consequences. At the heart of this treacherous landscape are the flawed main characters, individuals burdened by their pasts and forced to navigate a world teeming with deadly monsters and shadowy conspiracies. Their imperfections make them relatable and compelling, drawing the reader into their struggles for survival and perhaps even redemption. There's a refreshing lack of idealized heroes here; instead, we encounter individuals wrestling with difficult choices in a morally gray world. While distinctly its own creation, "Rotten Gods" subtly nods to familiar fantasy tropes, adding a layer of dark mystique to its already potent atmosphere. The author masterfully builds suspense, revealing just enough to tantalize while keeping the true horrors lurking in the shadows. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the complex political machinations and the weight of the characters' burdens to resonate deeply. Readers who appreciate the immersive world-building and intricate plotlines of high fantasy will find much to devour here. Those who enjoy a touch of grimdark, with its unflinching portrayal of violence and morally compromised individuals, will find themselves right at home amidst the darkness that permeates "Rotten Gods." Overall, "Rotten Gods" is a compelling and memorable read. It's a dark and dangerous journey through a richly imagined world, populated by characters who linger in the mind long after the final page is turned. This is a book that will satisfy those craving a fantasy epic with a distinctly sharp and shadowy edge.
I really enjoyed Rotten Gods. I especially enjoyed the fact that the MC was definitely not perfect. He had his flaws right from the beginning that he struggled and sometimes failed to overcome on his own.
The pantheon of God's and their roles in the world were definitely a unique and refreshing change. It was a wild ride and I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.
The only thing I would have liked to see was a little more happening in one or two areas. However, that being said, it would have made the book that much longer and not necessarily lent anything to the plot.
Thank you from a fellow Canadian for letting me take part in your ARC!
Jeremy Bruce Adams' debut novel, Rotten Gods, is a fresh and captivating take on duty, devotion, and lengths one will go to protect their truly held beliefs. The main character, Pyoshara, is wonderfully written, and there is a great depth given to the young priest’s motivations and to the journey that he is barely ready for. The vibrant world building and well balanced characters really draw you in. I especially loved the story's build to the epic final confrontation, which definitely kept me guessing and did not leave me disappointed! I am glad this book is the start of a trilogy, as I am excited to read more about this gods-fearing world Jeremy has created.
What an amazing concept. A secret order of priests who enter the dreams of grotesque, defiling, false gods in order to assassinate them. Undeniably cool.
Unfortunately the book didn't resonate with me for multiple reasons. A major grievance is that the pacing is weird. There's no real breathing room, but neither any high stakes, as months pass and issues are resolved in mere sentences or pages.
Even worse, the main character is the most confused turncoat I've ever experienced. No other character has ever managed to flip-flop between opinions, allegiances and actions as quickly as this guy. He never really seems to stick with any real code of conduct, which leaves something to be desired.
Picked this book up from Word on the Street festival, and it has such a fun and interesting world concept. The problem is the pacing is a mess. Things happen and resolve so quickly that there's no stakes or build-up whatsoever. The main character (who has so many personality traits that none of them shine) at one point changes from full good to full evil and back again in the span of 25 pages. I really enjoyed the concepts and world building. I just wish any of the plot events had more weight to them.
TLDR, Rotten Gods is an action oriented (but not overtly so) dark fantasy story that has managed to carve a corner of its own with ideas that feel fresh in an oversaturated genre. While the book maintains many traditional elements from fantasy adventures, presentation of such elements manages to surprise even a jaded fantasy veteran of bygone years such as myself. Within its genre I definitely recommend Rotten Gods to just about anyone who enjoys fantasy literature.
I'm new to Goodreads, in fact I joined only because of receiving ARC of Rotten Gods. So maybe I'm taking things a little too literally, but to me the word review calls for a slightly longer deliberation.
So let's take a look at the good and the bad. Starting with the good.
For starters, I'm an international reader and English is not my first language. In terms of complexity, vocabulary of Rotten Gods hits the right spot for me. It doesn't require a simultaneous reading of thesaurus, but remains rich and imaginative in expression.
I enjoyed the rather unique desert setting as well as the caste based culture therein. With the current (from the first book in series) knowledge especially the human culture draws juicy real world parallels. For example, Marazhen caste is the most important and has the most power because it is able to wield the strongest magics. This is true for the Marazhen as well as for the lower castes, but for the reader it remains ambivalent if Marazhen is able to wield the most powerful magic, because it has the access to knowledge what affects magical powers, as well as privileged training on the matters?
The setting expands nicely as you read. A pleasant aura of unknown and mystery shrouds the book, it's characters, institutions and story itself. I didn't notice gigantic infodumps of the intricacies of the world. When bigger explanations were in order, they were presented in a believable, natural situation. So there was this nice sensation of uncovering something, as opposed to being explained to. Also, I got to tip my hat for a believable topographical explanation given for a major change in climate on a nearby region. Look, it's my hat. It has tipped: c]
Storywise I was surprised at the amount of times I got surprised by the course of action plot takes. At times plot twists kept me going for hours at a time, which seems to be rare for me these days.
Another curious aspect was how strong the divide between good and evil appeared... but only kind of. This one is hard to explain if I try to stay brief, so let's just say that personally I would have found the amount of black and white in this book off-putting if it wasn't for the amount of hints that we're not seeing the full picture. This kind of teasing me with my pet peeve is what actually intrigues me to no end with this storyline, and makes me want to continue with the series to see how it unfolds. There's a lot of "doing the right thing for the wrong reasons" and also "doing the wrong thing for the right reasons" vibes going on.
Let's take a look on some of the pitfalls next. Most of which come from me as a reader.
Actual action scenes and flashy magics have lost their appeal to me, and the book and the setting has a good amount of both. But that's certainly no fault of the writer if that is what he's going after. But even for me, their pacing was quite good and at least they all served a purpose other than prolong text for the sake of action. Towards the end of the book the balanced pacing falls off, but it felt natural enough because of epic confrontations. Still there were some well placed lulls to appreciate juicy eerie imagery.
Main character and his personality is a bit of a mixed bag. It is absolutely a positive thing how he does have personal flaws, some of which arise from his privileged background. It is also good how he sometimes slips back into his former way of seeing the world. But at times the switch is surprisingly drastic, and at times his personal accountability is almost wiped clean by plot points. Although changes aren't always that drastic when you take into account the in-book time, and I get it that relatively fast paced action doesn't have the time to depict a slow descent to worst of main character's personality. But often when he slips back to his arrogance and sense of superiority, it feels too sudden because at his best he is intensely devout. So much so, that he'd feel more real character if that devotion was but a surface level mask. But that wasn't my reading of Pyoshara. So, perhaps his dual nature could use some refining.
Also at other times the writing feels a bit rushed to the point that it breaks up some immersion. It's not a big minus as it's not all over the place, but I'll list it anyway for the sake of honesty.
So while the storytelling does have some minor hiccups along the way, it doesn't detract from the high entertainment factor Rotten Gods has in it. The story manages to keep asking questions that the reader wants answers for, and the world building offers some hooks for allegories told in deeper layers.
But I wasn't supposed to turn this into a full-blown analysis, I trust this already offers a bit deeper dive (without spoilers) into what you might be getting into by reading Rotten Gods.
Rotten Gods captivated me almost immediately. The plot takes off very quickly in an imaginative and rich setting. I appreciated how the author avoided large world-building infodumps, but rather let the reader organically learn about the fantasy world through character interactions and the main character's own thoughts. The book kept me gripped all the way through, but despite that, I found myself stopping to think about some of the interesting questions and concepts posed by the author or to guess an upcoming plot twist.
Despite the engrossing foundation, this book had several shortcomings that I had to force myself to look past as I finished the story. Below is a more detailed breakdown with very minor spoilers.
I would recommend this book to any fantasy enjoyer looking for an interesting setting. I would not recommend this book to someone who cares a lot about rich characters.
Characters Character depth and development in this novel leave a lot to be desired. The main character is (understandably and thankfully) the most developed, but his development is all over the place. This can be attributed to plot points (avoiding spoilers here) to an extent, but even factoring them aside, I feel like the pacing, lack of detail, and lack of realistic inner thoughts made the main character's character whiplash very jarring and felt cheap as a reader.
The supporting cast is full of surface-level archetypes who seem to only exist to drive the plot forward.
My recommendation would be for the author to flesh out his characters a bit more and make them more understandable, relatable, and sympathetic. I found myself not caring about the characters at all and only caring about the overall plot.
Plot The plot had me hooked. There is nothing innovative from a high level, but the rich setting that the author has created did a lot of heavy lifting in keeping me engaged. While the pacing was far from perfect, I feel like it really worked for me - the plot moved forward quickly, with every chapter bringing something new and exciting, without being full of cliffhangers, which I personally abhor. I found myself constantly guessing what would happen next and what kind of twists there would be, as the author laid lots of clues that things are not entirely as they seem.
There were several questionable occurrences within the overall plot that felt like the author was handwaving away a problem to make the plot move forward. In addition, the pacing issues others have mentioned accelerated in the last act of the novel. The climax was rushed and felt very unimpactful and cliché for me. I did not find any twists or interesting developments in the story (though there are seeds for Book 2, it seems).
Setting The setting is where Rotten Gods shines. Asodhran is a remarkably interesting world, developed without inundating the reader with pages of exposition. We have a fully fledged magic system and society that is never fully explained, but feels authentic and tangible. We go through not 1 but 3 magic schools here, a trope done to death, but the author makes them interesting, concise, and relevant to the plot, making them a refreshing break from the overall action of the novel.
I would have liked to see more of the world and explore it from different angles, but I suppose that's what the other books are for.
Writing Style The author's writing style had some room for improvement for me. Starting with the positives - I didn't notice a single spelling mistake or grammatical error. The prose is simple but not overly so - descriptions are rich without droning on. We don't dwell on things that don't matter here - I found very few wasted words here.
I did notice a big pattern of telling rather than showing. Particularly with character development. We hear about the main character's relationships and devotions, but we do not know why or how or see them develop. We know that the main character changes his core personality (several times in fact), but we do not see the change in a way that is satisfying to a reader. We see plot events happen, but we don't feel them. I think this ties in with the pacing issues.
I would recommend the author mix up the writing style, breaking up the action and X->Y->Z plot development with some slower sections, allowing the rich setting and plot to breathe and develop.
Jeremy Bruce Adams' Rotten Gods is a riveting masterpiece that plunges readers into the depths of Asodhra, a world teeming with ancient evils and hidden wars. This dark fantasy novel brilliantly combines the allure of opulent cityscapes with the terror of an underworld ruled by malevolent deities, creating a narrative that is as gripping as it is profound.
The story centers on Pyoshara Zanesh, a young man who lives a life of luxury in the jeweled city of Sonanarth, blissfully unaware of the darkness creeping just beneath the surface. Adams skillfully paints Pyoshara’s transformation from a carefree aristocrat to a determined warrior against the forces of evil, making his character arc not only believable but deeply compelling. The sudden and violent intrusion of the supernatural into Pyoshara's sheltered existence at a secluded party is a pivotal moment that Adams uses to challenge and redefine his protagonist’s worldview.
The concept of the "rotten gods"—ancient beings eager to deceive and devour human souls—is chillingly rendered. Adams’ depiction of these entities combines horror and mythology in a way that revitalizes the dark fantasy genre. The rotten gods are not just antagonists; they are symbols of the corruption and decay that can infiltrate societies and souls.
Adams introduces readers to a secretive order of assassin priests, whose lives of harsh discipline and covert operations contrast sharply with Pyoshara’s former world of decadence. This juxtaposition enriches the narrative, offering a gritty, unromanticized glimpse into what it truly means to fight against darkness. Pyoshara's reluctant decision to join this order after his friend Zafira becomes a victim adds layers of urgency and personal stakes to the fight against the rotten gods.
The setting of Sonanarth is another highlight of the novel. Described as a "jeweled city," it is a place of both beauty and deceit, mirroring the dual nature of many characters Adams introduces. The city’s architecture and social dynamics are well-crafted, providing a rich backdrop against which the drama unfolds.
Adams’ prose is eloquent and vivid, with a narrative voice that expertly balances descriptions of terrifying encounters with introspective moments. The pacing is impeccable, maintaining tension and intrigue while allowing for character development and world-building.
Rotten Gods is a triumph of storytelling, a novel that not only entertains but also invites reflection on themes of privilege, responsibility, and the nature of evil. With its complex characters, meticulously constructed world, and a plot that seamlessly marries action with emotional depth, this book earns a well-deserved five stars. Jeremy Bruce Adams has delivered a dark fantasy that resonates with the times and will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on its readers.
On my YouTube channel, I exclusively review self-published and indie fantasy books. Rotten Gods is the type of fantasy book I LIVE to discover. Wow, wow, wow. I could not ask for a book more suited to my fantasy reading preferences, so it's no surprise that it ended up with a 9.4/10 on my INDIE ranking scale. My full review can be seen here: https://youtu.be/-mF_3r4SBjY?si=1lDx-...
Here is a brief overview of my breakdown:
Immersion (worldbuilding): 9.5/10 - The worldbuilidng was excellent. You've got rich religious histories and conflicts, varied landscapes that immerse you, politics, secret societies and rituals... what more could you ask for? I want more from this universe.
Names (characters): 8.5/10 - Pyroshara was an interesting main character. It was interesting to see how his newness/incompetence played an essential role in this story. I've never read anything like that. But the standouts for me were the rest of the cast! Loved Henathi (excellent female lead). Zakareoth was a fantastic villain. Getayu was a great mentor. Zafira was a little weak imo, somewhat of a mary sue. I would've liked to see Pyroshara really rise and make more decisions, but it worked within this story.
Da Magic (& creatures): 10/10 - Assassins hunting and killing immortal monsters using dream stalking?? Yes, please. I LOVED the magic of this world. You have mages that can use elemental magic externally and internally. You have thought magic where aspects of the mind can be controlled. You have the dream stalking where you are hunting in these 'paradise' constructs. The rotten gods themselves are such great fantastical creatures. This is what fantasy is all about.
Infrastructure (plot, pacing, prose, etc.): 9/10 - If you like Brandon Sanderson prose, pacing and plot, then you'll like this one. It felt if Sando had written a story for Elden Ring. Very accessible, dark, but also a sort of coming of age story. My only qualm was that I felt like we needed more of a resolution at the end, and maybe a different prologue. But the rest was great.
Enjoyment: 10/10 - This has everything I want in a fantasy–great characters, effective pacing and plot, cool magic and creatures, and unique worldbuilding. Very excited for what's in store in this dream stalking universe!
This is a must read. Highly recommend. My favorite book of the year so far.
Overall a very good book. I enjoyed my time with it regardless of the issues and nitpicks I had with it.
I loved the setting and the vibe I got while imagining the world. The whole idea of people being warped and twisted into immortal beings is the kind of dark and gritty lore I enjoy. The story had a good pace, falling into a medium pace, nothing ended up dragging on or overstaying its welcome.
The main issue of I had was with the main character. For me, it felt like the MC didn’t exactly have a set personality and just alternated between one or the other. Rich kid looking down on the lower class, the next he is super thankful and a paragon of virtue. It was a hard line jump between the two rather than a blurred line.
Nitpicks I had were simply ignorance on my end. I was not used to the name structure so reading them would take me out of the story as I tried to grasp them. The other thing is the in world religion is based on a caste system that again, I am not heavily familiar with so it would take me out of the story while I wrapped my head around it. (Again, these are nitpicks, not anything that made a negative impact on my enjoyment of the story, just minuscule things that did stick with me as I read.)
I started this book as my first try as an ARC reader. and I can honestly tell you I was not disappointed.
May contain spoilers
The story follows a young priest living large from the name of his father that once entangled into a situation must now decide if he wishes to step up, fight and follow his destiny or if he intends to keep living large thanks to his father's influence. he makes the right choice but only then do his real trouble starts.
The story is absolutely breathtaking. The descriptions transports you to the heart of the action . The lore is rich. It contains everything to take you into a great adventure, keeping you on your toes. The rotten gods are so much more then expected, there are layers upon layers in this book.
As a first installment it promises wonders for the books to come.
I was given the amazing opportunity to receive a free ARC copy of this book for my honest review.
Where do I even start with this book! Jeremy immediately piqued my interest with assassin priests and did not disappoint one bit!!! I love the story concept, the imagery and the pacing of the story flows so naturally that you BREEZE through chapters like nothing!
The MMC, Pyoshara is easily relatable and lowkey an awesome MMC! The different twists and turns he has to face and his character arc is just insane! The supporting characters you meet throughout the book are all unique and bring their own challenges to the table!
Overall, I absolutely loved it and I am super excited to see what Rotten Gods are next!
Special shout out to the author for providing me with an ARC copy! The concept of rotten gods is an incredible one! I love the thought of there being a special service to defeat the bad guys! I saw a few comments about how quickly he flip flops between good and evil. I actually quite enjoyed the fact that within another 25 pages he was back to his usual self. In a magical world one would think that could be the case of how quickly it happened! (Plus let’s be real, if it had taken 3 chapters that would have been way to drawn out and the book would be 192828 pages long) This story drew me in and wouldn’t let me go until I finished the book! It’s really well written. I liked the pace the story moved at honestly not mad at the ending! Love the book!
Refreshing to find a mythical fantasy book that isn't clearly heavy influenced by Greek myth.
Compelling story and characters, within the first few pages you're drawn in to the mystery. Hints of an 'assassins creed' type of storyline. Young adults finding their path in life in light of startling revelations about the world they thought they knew.
Very glad to find this is the first of a trilogy because I definitely want to continue reading more.
Well rounded characters, creative world building. Can't say too much without ruining the story but absolutely worth reading if you enjoy myths and fantasy with a hints of horror, for fans of R.A. Salvatore, Rick Riordon and the like.
From the beginning I thought I knew where the plot might be going but it completely goes somewhere. With a massive time skip (thank you) we get right into the hunt. And even though I felt like a drag a certain spots, I gotta admit the hunt for a god, yeah I makes sense why it would take so long. If it were any shorter it would be considering. It leaves us with a great ending and many questions about the world and what is real and what might be an illusion. Solid start to a trilogy.
I am rounding up to a 4 because I would give this one a 3.5. I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure if I liked it. The writing was great. The world was intriguing. I struggled to connect with our protagonist, and some of the twists felt forced. HOWEVER! This was a great fantasy with deep political and religious intrigue. I just felt like our beginning was rushed. I didn't understand enough of what was going on to invest myself into our MMC and FMC. I do want to continue this series when book 2 comes out. It was too intriguing of a world not to.
An interesting new foray into a darker fantasy world. An engaging main character who helps draw you into the world and makes you want to learn more about it.
The mystery of the rotten gods and their horror are well done and stay true to the description adding a darker tone that was quite enjoyable.
Definitely keeping an eye out for future books and look forward to what comes next.
* Family Friendly oriented storytelling which is easy to read and addictive * Strong descriptive characters with oacked actions * Mysterious full of surprises, emotions and surprises * A Perfect evening read Jeremy Bruce Adams’s Has written a masterpiece for his first novel and I will highly recommend this book to everyone
Rotten Gods completely pulled me in from the start. The world-building is rich and immersive, and I felt like I was right there with the characters. The pacing was spot on, with plenty of action to keep things moving, and the buildup to the climax was really well done. The ending was satisfying and left me excited for the sequel. I definitely recommend giving Rotten Gods a read!
Step into a world where religion holds prominence but the reality below the surface shows through the cracks as corruption and stagnation. How much do you conform to society and why would you? Jeremy Bruce Adams explores these complexities in Rotten Gods and makes you ask yourself. . . how far are you willing to go against your values and confirm. . . to defeat evil?
This was a fantastic story. The world building was great, the setting was unique and refreshing. The main character really became someone you wanted to cheer for with the odds stacked so strongly against him. Cannot wait to read more from Jeremy Bruce Adams and hope this is the first of many books in a long successful career.
I don't read fantasy, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! The pacing was great, no scene felt too rushed or seemed to drag on. The worlds that Adams created were magnificent, they stayed with me during my breaks from reading. I'm looking forward to the second book of the trilogy!
This books is a great start to an interesting world filled with eldritch horrors and flawed heroes in cerulean blue, the pace of the book keeps you reading.