Tomb of Merellien

by J.R. Snyder

When a routine monster contract spirals into a deadly conspiracy, sin eater Asher Norwood finds himself facing the hangman's noose alongside his loyal friend and former pirate, Rane Moxley. But salvation comes in an unexpected form when a renowned historian offers them a chance at freedom in exchange for unraveling a sinister murder mystery.


Joined by a motley crew consisting of a bookish potions master, a timid monk, and a woodsman with a dark past, Asher and Rane delve deeper into the web of intrigue, unearthing ancient secrets that could alter the very fabric of their world. Amidst their pursuit, the riddle of the Season of Ravens—a mystery that has haunted Asher's mind for a year—beckons, promising answers that could change everything.


Join Asher Norwood on a journey through realms of magic and mystery, where alliances are tested and darkness threatens to consume all. In this fantasy adventure, the fate of Eyora hangs in the balance, and only the courage of a sin eater and his faithful raven partner can tip the scales.

Genres: Fantasy

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

J. R. Snyder is a fantasy author living in the Puget Sound area of Washington with his family, two cats, and a handful of chickens. When he’s not writing, he enjoys gardening, beekeeping, hiking, and exploring the rocky beaches near his home.

The Sin Eater Tales series is currently comprised of three novels with more on the way.

Reviews

[Amina (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want book four like, yesterday if you please?
Mr. Snyder, what on earth was that cliffhanger? And why 🤨
This third volume was highly entertaining, most might think not much action could be found but let me tell you, lots of information was displayed and it was heavy!
I was delighted to meet again with Asher, oh kind hearted Asher and Aetheon, I love my raven girl!
Rane, the forever practical Rane!
The binome was joined by, a not your very typical, company and it was merrier that way (they wouldn't be of mu my opinion believe me 😂)
The plot was well woven, the pace was good, the info distilled 😒 but the execution was awesome!
The characters are well written with their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses. i loved how each one contributed with his/her bit to the adventure.
The style is, as always, fluid and the unrolling of the events kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page.
I can assure you that I delayed finishing it as much as I could, but every awesome thing, eventually come to an end, and what end!

I seriously can't wait for book four to be out cause it's gonna be wild!!

Thank you Booksirnens and Mr. Snyder for the advance review cop, knowing that I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adventures continue. I loved the beginning of this one—it was great to be back with the familiar cast.

The world is expanding, the stakes are getting higher, and new characters are added to the crew to complete the mission in this book. That said, the pacing felt a bit off in places, and the cast dynamics didn’t quite click for me.

The second book in the series still stands out as the strongest, but I’m curious to see where the next adventure will take us. I especially enjoyed the use of magic and the chance to explore more of the world—it kept things engaging.

[Christopher Warman · Rating 5 out of 5]

And it is here that our story truly begins.

At this point, reading about Asher and Anthony (with late addition of the ex-pirate Rane) feels like being reunited with a crew of old friends. And this feeling is solidified through the text itself, in which Asher is forced to team up with an unlikely band to learn about the meaning and ramifications of a prophecy.

Now, I'm a sucker for a team/party story. And Tomb of Merellien absolutely nails the party dynamics in a way not many can. Each personality shines, backstories are fleshed out, and interpersonal relationships within the crew are believable and rich. When the party cares for one another after a particularly tough monster encounter, their reactions and warranted and carefully thought out. Horatio is knowledgeable and studious. Gregor is naive but helpful. Osian Brice is morose yet curious. Sofia is charming and crafty, albeit chaotic. Rane is at times comedic relief, and at others the real heart of the group. And then there's Asher, the compass and foil that wraps them all and allows each character to make sense as a unit.

I had a wonderful time with this adventure, and I'm beyond excited to see what Season may come next.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great installment from J. R. Snyder. I really enjoyed this read. We were introduced to some new characters and dove more into the world building. It is quite an adventurous book. There is a specific chapter that is written in a way that is so very comforting. It really put me there and made me feel the calm and coziness of the environment and the moment. So much I didn't want them to leave it! haha

Looking forward to the next book. Thanks for the read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Scott Widener · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. This book was in the middle of a series so I was a little lost at the beginning. But the author did a good job of defining the characters, their past, and how they interacted with each other. I did feel the pacing at times was a little slow. But overall, it was a well written book in regard to the prose, themes, characters in world building.

[Bridget Book Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels almost like a book 2 or later half of book 1, because the story really gets going and ends in a cliffhanger (though not too torturous). The lore and prophecy are delved into even deeper amidst some new companions and landscapes along the way. Still a genre mix of dark and cozy fantasy, it is a fun and fast read. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
Thanks to BookSirens and J.R. Snyder for the ARC opportunity.

[Chrissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! I love the world the author has created and the world lore is captivating.
The characters are well developed and the adventures they embark on are filled with humour, drama, moral dilemmas, action and a camaraderie that simply works. Each character bringing their talents and beliefs to improve the journey.

[Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC.
Highly entertaining read, competently written, with well-rounded characters and settings. This is the third book in what is presently a trilogy. I've bought the first volume now on the strength of this latest volume.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the series expands the Sin Eater world to new lands, characters, and adventures. Each character maintains their own unique voice, and the writing creates vivid and dynamic scenes that kept me reading! Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[MICHELE CVETKOVIC]

This was a very fast read. Very engaging a great read on every page. At the end I wanted the story to continue.