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The Father of Shadow and Death: A Fantasy Horror Novel
"Expect clean, precise language, lashings of death and gore, and a keen eye for the dynamics of relationships, both healthy and not so. Well recommended." – Jan Miklaszewicz, author of the Hartmouth Horrors series
"Dark fantasy at its finest. Tim McKay builds a world thick with dread, mystery, and myth, and the tension never lets up. This is a book that knows exactly what it wants to be — brutal, atmospheric, and unforgettable." – Jasper Renwick, fantasy author
"This is the book that has finally brought back my pleasure of reading. The prose is as strong as that of any book I can remember, and the characters are well-rounded and amazingly annoying at times, as they should be." – Matt Falcon, author of Tethered to Darkness
Beneath the splendor of empires, there ever beats a poisoned heart.
In the city of Naemralda, a glorious capital of untold wealth and glamor, the people of Ceremai live in exile — content but loathed, and ever dreaming of the homeland they left behind. Only a scorned arbiter and failed priest, Braddock Tuzzein, knows the truth.
That the lands they seek, the lands their ancestors escaped at great cost, are home to a fallen god.
Hakaz, the Dark One, whose waking spirits nearly shattered Braddock’s mind with a single touch.
And now, the wolves of the fallen god are coming for them all.
A tale of grisly murders, monsters, and madness, The Father of Shadow and Death follows one man’s doomed quest to save his people — from the wrath of a vengeful god, and the traitors who hound his every step.
But woe to those who would break a man’s soul.
For the shame of the father begets wrath of the son.
Dar’shenna Cere Ma’z.
“Glory to the children of wrath.”
"Dark fantasy at its finest. Tim McKay builds a world thick with dread, mystery, and myth, and the tension never lets up. This is a book that knows exactly what it wants to be — brutal, atmospheric, and unforgettable." – Jasper Renwick, fantasy author
"This is the book that has finally brought back my pleasure of reading. The prose is as strong as that of any book I can remember, and the characters are well-rounded and amazingly annoying at times, as they should be." – Matt Falcon, author of Tethered to Darkness
Beneath the splendor of empires, there ever beats a poisoned heart.
In the city of Naemralda, a glorious capital of untold wealth and glamor, the people of Ceremai live in exile — content but loathed, and ever dreaming of the homeland they left behind. Only a scorned arbiter and failed priest, Braddock Tuzzein, knows the truth.
That the lands they seek, the lands their ancestors escaped at great cost, are home to a fallen god.
Hakaz, the Dark One, whose waking spirits nearly shattered Braddock’s mind with a single touch.
And now, the wolves of the fallen god are coming for them all.
A tale of grisly murders, monsters, and madness, The Father of Shadow and Death follows one man’s doomed quest to save his people — from the wrath of a vengeful god, and the traitors who hound his every step.
But woe to those who would break a man’s soul.
For the shame of the father begets wrath of the son.
Dar’shenna Cere Ma’z.
“Glory to the children of wrath.”
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2025
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Tim McKay
5 books144 followersTim McKay is an author, editor, and part-time writing professor from Ottawa, Canada. A lifelong pursuer of meaning and joy through the written word — with a small helping of thrills and adventure on the side.
He has degrees in history and public policy, along with a diploma in professional writing, but likes nothing more than hiking in the woods, running along the Rideau Canal, and connecting with the people he loves.
Oh, and reading a good book.
He has degrees in history and public policy, along with a diploma in professional writing, but likes nothing more than hiking in the woods, running along the Rideau Canal, and connecting with the people he loves.
Oh, and reading a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 22, 2025
Excellent from start to finish
I am thoroughly impressed. I think this is Tim’s best book so far by a sizable margin. I loved the Lovecraftian atmosphere. Excellent, excellent worldbuilding and atmosphere
I am thoroughly impressed. I think this is Tim’s best book so far by a sizable margin. I loved the Lovecraftian atmosphere. Excellent, excellent worldbuilding and atmosphere
December 17, 2025
My rating 4.25
I really enjoyed this dark story that definitely leans horror!
The writing is strong with a clear direction, the author knows what he wants to say and does it excellently.
World building is fulsome and unique, I enjoyed the fast pace of the story.
Braddock is a powerful character that is easy to follow, he has a distinct voice and despite the horrors he experiences, he stays true to himself. Ceremai is such a cool character, his story arc with Braddock really made the book for me. Their interactions were a highlight.
I'm looking forward to more from Tim!
The only slight negative is the narration in the ALC I was thoughtfully provided. While Tim did a great job, a professional voice actor would have brought the story to life in a different way. I also know how expensive it is to produce an audiobook so take that with a grain of salt!
I really enjoyed this dark story that definitely leans horror!
The writing is strong with a clear direction, the author knows what he wants to say and does it excellently.
World building is fulsome and unique, I enjoyed the fast pace of the story.
Braddock is a powerful character that is easy to follow, he has a distinct voice and despite the horrors he experiences, he stays true to himself. Ceremai is such a cool character, his story arc with Braddock really made the book for me. Their interactions were a highlight.
I'm looking forward to more from Tim!
The only slight negative is the narration in the ALC I was thoughtfully provided. While Tim did a great job, a professional voice actor would have brought the story to life in a different way. I also know how expensive it is to produce an audiobook so take that with a grain of salt!
November 9, 2025
Your efforts will not save them
November 6, 2025
Thank you to Tim for the ARC.
Tim’s excellent world building allows the reader to fall straight into this fast paced story. The characters are all so real, with their own complicated lives that we weave in and out of. Main character Braddock really suffers throughout this story, and we are whisked on this hellish ride with him. Can't wait to read more horror from Tim!
Tim’s excellent world building allows the reader to fall straight into this fast paced story. The characters are all so real, with their own complicated lives that we weave in and out of. Main character Braddock really suffers throughout this story, and we are whisked on this hellish ride with him. Can't wait to read more horror from Tim!
November 15, 2025
An intense fantasy horror novel filled with thrilling plots, and the unravelling of fates that threaten the world - the tale of the Ceremai and Braddock's development throughout (trying not to spoil the story!) are some of the most compelling reasons that made me rush to finish the book!
December 30, 2025
This is the book that has finally brought back my pleasure of reading. It has been a while since I actually read frequently, but once I started this story, I found it hard to put away.
The prose is as strong as that of any book I can remember, and the characters are well-rounded and amazingly annoying at times, as they should.
Combine that with a plot that will hook you from page 1, and you’ll realise the clock has struck twice (yup, 2AM), before finally being able to put it away. 3 or 4 hours of sleep is enough, right?
TLDR; Cannot recommend enough. Thrilling read.
The prose is as strong as that of any book I can remember, and the characters are well-rounded and amazingly annoying at times, as they should.
Combine that with a plot that will hook you from page 1, and you’ll realise the clock has struck twice (yup, 2AM), before finally being able to put it away. 3 or 4 hours of sleep is enough, right?
TLDR; Cannot recommend enough. Thrilling read.
December 5, 2025
The Father of Shadow and Death is dark fantasy at its finest. Tim McKay builds a world thick with dread, mystery, and myth, and the tension never lets up. Braddock is a flawed, deeply human protagonist whose downward spiral feels unnervingly real, and the horror elements are executed with precision. The audiobook narration pulled me straight into the story and didn’t let go. This is a book that knows exactly what it wants to be — brutal, atmospheric, and unforgettable.
November 17, 2025
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
My first entry into the work of Tim Mckay and I will definitely be checking out more of his work. A well written and entertaining murder mystery blending fantasy and horror elements.
My first entry into the work of Tim Mckay and I will definitely be checking out more of his work. A well written and entertaining murder mystery blending fantasy and horror elements.
January 8, 2026
A puzzle of light, dark, and insidious
Braddock is a tormented hero that you want desperately to have peace.
instead we're given a grim tale that tortures Braddock relentlessly.
excellent writing, powerful stakes.
I highly recommend!
Braddock is a tormented hero that you want desperately to have peace.
instead we're given a grim tale that tortures Braddock relentlessly.
excellent writing, powerful stakes.
I highly recommend!
November 21, 2025
“Death and shadow, and the return of a fallen god.”
“The Father of Shadow and Death” yes. That’s the title that you want if you are looking for a horror novel, and once you add fantasy to it and you are like: “Oh, what kind of gem do we have here…?” as you proceed to pick the book from the shelf of the bookstore. * Nods head in approval*
If you don’t know Tim J. MacKey, nor read any of his amazing books so far (you can find reviews of them here) you will only need to read until the note of the author for his name to be burnt in your mind forever because it goes like something like this:
“For the weak of heart, I offer my sincerest apologies should you press on with this book”.
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA.
There are very few horror books that have made me stop reading them in shock, digust, or brutality, as I am highly tolerant for the macabre, so let’s see if the note of the author delivers or not, and knowing Tim MacKay, it will deliver. High hopes and fingers crossed 😀 Bring on the darkness!
The first thing that you will ask yourself is: why do we start the book with our main character, Car Tazzian Braddock, The Vindicar (Vicar/High Priest), celebrations (and flirting with other men’s wives?).
He, as the main character is a very smart and polished man, with an incredibly messed life. One can say he is the perfect definition of a rebel loser without a cause. His family is torn, his wife left him and hates him, his kid hates him, most people see him from the sides and his only friend, or best-friend that still believes in him is starting to lose faith, so yeah, things can’t go downhill from here, or can they?
Suprise, they can, and they will! Haahahahaha, and this is because he is trying to solve a string of murders in his town that can be related to mythical wolves of death, and as he goes to the king to ask for his blessing, it seems like the king himself is also going through a balls-tightening situation. But wait, there’s more!
In his very posh and royal-like fashion, our main characther (poor guy), as he tries to lift himself by his shoes-strings, with a single word, makes himself an enemy of death and darkness encarnate, hahahahahahahah, this is fantastic bad luck if you ask me, but oh, if only things were kept this way and the ones he loved wouldn’t start dying mysteriously, things would just be jolly, but the book keeps getting darker and darker, just like how we like it, and our main character seems to have no chance, nor a clue, on how to solve the chaos that is unfolding.
As you read the book, you will encounter many of the almost poetic choice of words that make Tim McKay’s books quotable, and you will understand why his works leave lingering “spells” on readers. Talk about a je ne sais qoui and stuff. Small things like:
“In the years since Braddock’s encounter with Hakaz, he’d suffered many a day when one foul turn led to another, a downward spiral into misery. Some said these things came in threes, but for Braddock, so low a number, so few misfortunes, would have been welcome.
Today was shaping up to be such a day.”
As people are massacred in the most brutal ways, and somehow our main character that isn’t already hated enough by everyone in town is always there to witness the carnage, we as readers begin to ask ourselves: “How can anyone stop a person, or entity that literally can turn into magic smoke and disappear in thin air after murdering everybody? How can anyone believe our poor main character given that he is always there, and there are very little clues not to frame him?” And maybe most important question, “how much more misery will this poor guy endure?”
Along with the horrid killings driven by a maniac death cult (and the failed romantic attempts to be with other people’s wives,) one of the central pieces of the book is a necklace. Weird, I know, but the thing is that this necklace is one of the few things that keeps our main character alive as it protects him from evil, or so it was told to him but as the plot advances, this idea gets challenged again and again and the question becomes: Is the necklace protecting him from evil, or is it just a magical airtag of some entity that is trying to toy and torture him?
We found it awesome that the villains in this book are super organized and everything seems planned to detail and no clues are given as to whom, when or why they are going to strike, and the more the book develops, the more we as readers think that there is no way to stop them as they are too powerful and maybe this book won’t have a happy ending at all, which makes it even more interesting to read because we wouldn’t mind it not having one and if the chaos continued to escalate with each page. Awesome stuff right here.
The portrait of evil in this book is uncanny and surprisingly fitting.
It’s not an evil that is “in your face, I’ll kill you” style, but an evil that is evasive yet present, powerful and numerous yet pretends to be able to be stopped, highly intelligent but silent and never boasting, commanding yet always on the background and playing with the characters and the plot, and coming out of nowhere dominating everything and causing death, chaos and suffering on its wake when it attacks without hesitation, and there is little one can do to stop it. Unrestrained evil, and our MC has no plot armor to protect him.
And then after all the evil, all the senseless death, seemingly senseless torture (and 5 pages of bliss given to the main character so he wasn’t utterly miserably throughout the entire book…) the author, right at the end, in the last chapter, not only makes the connection with the first book of the series: Rise of Dresca (review here, great book by the way), but also pulls out, not one, not two, not three, not four, but five plot twists that will make you realize that this book wasn’t really about what we thought it was, and all this evil, might not be as evil as one thinks it was, (or it’s in truth really evil but we now just know why it exists), and the evil ones aren’t actually the ones you think they are.
Yes, we were fooled until the end, and Tim Mckay surprises us once again with another awesome story, giving an added sense to the series and renewed meanings to everything we have read so far.
Now, is the book worth the read? Yes! Very much so, specially if you have the guts to endure tragedy after tragedy just to be slapped with violent plot twists in the end.
How do you know if this book is for you? Well, if you are someone who likes psychological thrillers, fantasy, conspiracy, brutal deaths, or plot twists that will leave you questioning everything you’ve read to that point, you can’t miss with The Father of Shadow and Death by Tim McKay. This book will deliver. Btw, it has one of the BEST book ending we’ve read in years! Worth every second.
Pros:
Excellent characters, character development and relationships
Plot twists on the plot and on the character development stories
Plot twists on top of plot twists on top of plot twists
It explains a lot on the book Rise Of Dresca
A hero dog
Senseless death and carnage
Mystery from start to finish
Cool villains
Cons:
None
Favourite Character: Braddock.
Lesson of the book: If your people abandon themselves, say “fuck it”.
Book Rating: 8.7/10
Cover rating: 9.2/10
“The Father of Shadow and Death” yes. That’s the title that you want if you are looking for a horror novel, and once you add fantasy to it and you are like: “Oh, what kind of gem do we have here…?” as you proceed to pick the book from the shelf of the bookstore. * Nods head in approval*
If you don’t know Tim J. MacKey, nor read any of his amazing books so far (you can find reviews of them here) you will only need to read until the note of the author for his name to be burnt in your mind forever because it goes like something like this:
“For the weak of heart, I offer my sincerest apologies should you press on with this book”.
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA.
There are very few horror books that have made me stop reading them in shock, digust, or brutality, as I am highly tolerant for the macabre, so let’s see if the note of the author delivers or not, and knowing Tim MacKay, it will deliver. High hopes and fingers crossed 😀 Bring on the darkness!
The first thing that you will ask yourself is: why do we start the book with our main character, Car Tazzian Braddock, The Vindicar (Vicar/High Priest), celebrations (and flirting with other men’s wives?).
He, as the main character is a very smart and polished man, with an incredibly messed life. One can say he is the perfect definition of a rebel loser without a cause. His family is torn, his wife left him and hates him, his kid hates him, most people see him from the sides and his only friend, or best-friend that still believes in him is starting to lose faith, so yeah, things can’t go downhill from here, or can they?
Suprise, they can, and they will! Haahahahaha, and this is because he is trying to solve a string of murders in his town that can be related to mythical wolves of death, and as he goes to the king to ask for his blessing, it seems like the king himself is also going through a balls-tightening situation. But wait, there’s more!
In his very posh and royal-like fashion, our main characther (poor guy), as he tries to lift himself by his shoes-strings, with a single word, makes himself an enemy of death and darkness encarnate, hahahahahahahah, this is fantastic bad luck if you ask me, but oh, if only things were kept this way and the ones he loved wouldn’t start dying mysteriously, things would just be jolly, but the book keeps getting darker and darker, just like how we like it, and our main character seems to have no chance, nor a clue, on how to solve the chaos that is unfolding.
As you read the book, you will encounter many of the almost poetic choice of words that make Tim McKay’s books quotable, and you will understand why his works leave lingering “spells” on readers. Talk about a je ne sais qoui and stuff. Small things like:
“In the years since Braddock’s encounter with Hakaz, he’d suffered many a day when one foul turn led to another, a downward spiral into misery. Some said these things came in threes, but for Braddock, so low a number, so few misfortunes, would have been welcome.
Today was shaping up to be such a day.”
As people are massacred in the most brutal ways, and somehow our main character that isn’t already hated enough by everyone in town is always there to witness the carnage, we as readers begin to ask ourselves: “How can anyone stop a person, or entity that literally can turn into magic smoke and disappear in thin air after murdering everybody? How can anyone believe our poor main character given that he is always there, and there are very little clues not to frame him?” And maybe most important question, “how much more misery will this poor guy endure?”
Along with the horrid killings driven by a maniac death cult (and the failed romantic attempts to be with other people’s wives,) one of the central pieces of the book is a necklace. Weird, I know, but the thing is that this necklace is one of the few things that keeps our main character alive as it protects him from evil, or so it was told to him but as the plot advances, this idea gets challenged again and again and the question becomes: Is the necklace protecting him from evil, or is it just a magical airtag of some entity that is trying to toy and torture him?
We found it awesome that the villains in this book are super organized and everything seems planned to detail and no clues are given as to whom, when or why they are going to strike, and the more the book develops, the more we as readers think that there is no way to stop them as they are too powerful and maybe this book won’t have a happy ending at all, which makes it even more interesting to read because we wouldn’t mind it not having one and if the chaos continued to escalate with each page. Awesome stuff right here.
The portrait of evil in this book is uncanny and surprisingly fitting.
It’s not an evil that is “in your face, I’ll kill you” style, but an evil that is evasive yet present, powerful and numerous yet pretends to be able to be stopped, highly intelligent but silent and never boasting, commanding yet always on the background and playing with the characters and the plot, and coming out of nowhere dominating everything and causing death, chaos and suffering on its wake when it attacks without hesitation, and there is little one can do to stop it. Unrestrained evil, and our MC has no plot armor to protect him.
And then after all the evil, all the senseless death, seemingly senseless torture (and 5 pages of bliss given to the main character so he wasn’t utterly miserably throughout the entire book…) the author, right at the end, in the last chapter, not only makes the connection with the first book of the series: Rise of Dresca (review here, great book by the way), but also pulls out, not one, not two, not three, not four, but five plot twists that will make you realize that this book wasn’t really about what we thought it was, and all this evil, might not be as evil as one thinks it was, (or it’s in truth really evil but we now just know why it exists), and the evil ones aren’t actually the ones you think they are.
Yes, we were fooled until the end, and Tim Mckay surprises us once again with another awesome story, giving an added sense to the series and renewed meanings to everything we have read so far.
Now, is the book worth the read? Yes! Very much so, specially if you have the guts to endure tragedy after tragedy just to be slapped with violent plot twists in the end.
How do you know if this book is for you? Well, if you are someone who likes psychological thrillers, fantasy, conspiracy, brutal deaths, or plot twists that will leave you questioning everything you’ve read to that point, you can’t miss with The Father of Shadow and Death by Tim McKay. This book will deliver. Btw, it has one of the BEST book ending we’ve read in years! Worth every second.
Pros:
Excellent characters, character development and relationships
Plot twists on the plot and on the character development stories
Plot twists on top of plot twists on top of plot twists
It explains a lot on the book Rise Of Dresca
A hero dog
Senseless death and carnage
Mystery from start to finish
Cool villains
Cons:
None
Favourite Character: Braddock.
Lesson of the book: If your people abandon themselves, say “fuck it”.
Book Rating: 8.7/10
Cover rating: 9.2/10
October 30, 2025
Note: I read this as an ARC, and will be providing a spoiler free review.
2nd Note: I have never found horror books to be frightening at all, so I can't speak to how effective this book is in that regard. My favourite book, however, IS a horror book, which I love for its fascinating mystery and the way it weaves its lore into the very fabric of the story. I found this book to be comparable.
This book has the same "One more page" feeling to it that every good mystery should have. It also has the same "I need to read faster because I'm excited to get to the next big reveal" feeling every fast paced book should have, and this book IS fast paced. That's not to say it's too fast all the time, far from it. What Tim has done is found a near perfect balance between measured pace and fast thrills, each moment lasting precisely as long as it needs to. With 1 exception.
To me the first chapter felt a little slow and it didn't really give me a sense of what I was in for. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, however, if the chapter serves other purposes, which this does. It reads slowly, and yet hits with rapid fire information whilst laying a good foundation. Even so, it didn't leave me intrigued to know more, rather I felt largely indifferent.
Still, I continued on, and I am SO glad I did. That first chapter is the only one that feels slow to me, all the others are wonderfully crafted. So much so that I read Chapter 1 on one day, then the whole rest of the book the next day. It really was one I couldn't put down. Please, trust me, this book is worth sitting through the first chapter for. Heck, there's every chance my troubles with the first chapter are entirely down to me and not the book itself and you may love it as much as the rest, so really, don't let that put you off.
You'd be missing out on a stellar read if you did.
I give this a 4 star instead of a 5 because I thought the 1st chapter could have been better, and I didn't resonate with the horror elements, but in both cases these could be (and in the case of horror elements, most certainly are) my problems, not problems with the book itself. So please keep that in mind.
Final thoughts?
Well written, well paced, interesting, exciting. Loved it. Would absolutely recommend.
2nd Note: I have never found horror books to be frightening at all, so I can't speak to how effective this book is in that regard. My favourite book, however, IS a horror book, which I love for its fascinating mystery and the way it weaves its lore into the very fabric of the story. I found this book to be comparable.
This book has the same "One more page" feeling to it that every good mystery should have. It also has the same "I need to read faster because I'm excited to get to the next big reveal" feeling every fast paced book should have, and this book IS fast paced. That's not to say it's too fast all the time, far from it. What Tim has done is found a near perfect balance between measured pace and fast thrills, each moment lasting precisely as long as it needs to. With 1 exception.
To me the first chapter felt a little slow and it didn't really give me a sense of what I was in for. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, however, if the chapter serves other purposes, which this does. It reads slowly, and yet hits with rapid fire information whilst laying a good foundation. Even so, it didn't leave me intrigued to know more, rather I felt largely indifferent.
Still, I continued on, and I am SO glad I did. That first chapter is the only one that feels slow to me, all the others are wonderfully crafted. So much so that I read Chapter 1 on one day, then the whole rest of the book the next day. It really was one I couldn't put down. Please, trust me, this book is worth sitting through the first chapter for. Heck, there's every chance my troubles with the first chapter are entirely down to me and not the book itself and you may love it as much as the rest, so really, don't let that put you off.
You'd be missing out on a stellar read if you did.
I give this a 4 star instead of a 5 because I thought the 1st chapter could have been better, and I didn't resonate with the horror elements, but in both cases these could be (and in the case of horror elements, most certainly are) my problems, not problems with the book itself. So please keep that in mind.
Final thoughts?
Well written, well paced, interesting, exciting. Loved it. Would absolutely recommend.
January 9, 2026
Tim Mckay’s horror fantasy, The Father of Shadow and Death, tells an engrossing tale of a man’s efforts for salvation against impossible odds. The backdrop is that of a country and people who are struggling to understand who they are in light of a history they long since buried, but which refuses to die. The story is set in a complex and rich world full of politics, intrigue, friends and competitors where one must watch their step lest the fall out of favor with the social happenings of court and power, but give too much and you become a spineless fop worthy of scorn. Braddock straddles this world as an ambitious, though flawed, man.
We find ourselves rooting for this man in part in spite of his flaws, but also because of them. Braddock elicits our sympathy and reveals something real about most of us that we may rather ignore, much like his people’s attempt to leave their past behind. It’s hard to be a hero and sometimes our best efforts will fall short. But we cheer as we see Braddock try to become a better man and give him allowance when he fails, because he is all too human.
This story captures an almost Lovecraftian horror, as our unreliable narrator struggles to make sense of his own state of mind and the horrors that beset his world. You ask if he can maintain his sanity, save his country and become the person he wishes he could be by the end of the book. And the end of the book does not disappoint, but leaves us with a question to ponder.
We find ourselves rooting for this man in part in spite of his flaws, but also because of them. Braddock elicits our sympathy and reveals something real about most of us that we may rather ignore, much like his people’s attempt to leave their past behind. It’s hard to be a hero and sometimes our best efforts will fall short. But we cheer as we see Braddock try to become a better man and give him allowance when he fails, because he is all too human.
This story captures an almost Lovecraftian horror, as our unreliable narrator struggles to make sense of his own state of mind and the horrors that beset his world. You ask if he can maintain his sanity, save his country and become the person he wishes he could be by the end of the book. And the end of the book does not disappoint, but leaves us with a question to ponder.
October 19, 2025
The Unputdownable Reflection
I've been exploring indie authors, and this is a standout among the crowd.
I may have been influenced by the daily reads of one Novella per sunset, and then I happened to come upon this read.
At first, it felt very 'Chronicles of Narnia' with the occasional tap of morality with a modern slant of an interpretation of CS Lewis.
The main character, deeply broken, with the occasional flicker of a passionate soul seeking redemption for wrongs not necessarily wrong when viewed from the other side of the sword.
Along the magical roads of an almost Tolkien-like world described in such detail, it almost reads 3-dimensional to an occasional side kick that pops out just when he's needed most, to make the world straight again.
'No man in his hour of need could resist calling on what Gods may listen'. The story is waved with profound statements if one takes the time to understand and not just to read.
Few books fit this calibre of 'cannot put down vs what does that mean to me on reflection?
"Some men break before the darkness", said Braddock. "Some men bask in it"
PS - Read it without the index at the back. :0 - when is the next one coming out? - A new fan.
I've been exploring indie authors, and this is a standout among the crowd.
I may have been influenced by the daily reads of one Novella per sunset, and then I happened to come upon this read.
At first, it felt very 'Chronicles of Narnia' with the occasional tap of morality with a modern slant of an interpretation of CS Lewis.
The main character, deeply broken, with the occasional flicker of a passionate soul seeking redemption for wrongs not necessarily wrong when viewed from the other side of the sword.
Along the magical roads of an almost Tolkien-like world described in such detail, it almost reads 3-dimensional to an occasional side kick that pops out just when he's needed most, to make the world straight again.
'No man in his hour of need could resist calling on what Gods may listen'. The story is waved with profound statements if one takes the time to understand and not just to read.
Few books fit this calibre of 'cannot put down vs what does that mean to me on reflection?
"Some men break before the darkness", said Braddock. "Some men bask in it"
PS - Read it without the index at the back. :0 - when is the next one coming out? - A new fan.
November 19, 2025
It surprised me how much Tim made our main character suffer without me hating him for it and how many twists he was able to pull from the back of his pocket and throw at our faces as readers, and the plot twists get even more shocking for those who read the first two books.
The father of shadow and death is an amazing book from start to finish, and yes, you will like that mangly dog in the end, don't worry about it, ahahaha. Perfect start for the series, and created even more depth and meaning to the follow-up books (Now we understand why Dresca is so damn enraged and unhinged, hahahahhhaha).
If you haven't read any of the books of Tim, and you can handle horror, misery and lots of questions unanswered for more than 50 pages straight, than this grab this book and count yourself as a fan of the series once you start, because this is GREAT, but I can assure you, it only gets better from this, hahahahahah.
The father of shadow and death is an amazing book from start to finish, and yes, you will like that mangly dog in the end, don't worry about it, ahahaha. Perfect start for the series, and created even more depth and meaning to the follow-up books (Now we understand why Dresca is so damn enraged and unhinged, hahahahhhaha).
If you haven't read any of the books of Tim, and you can handle horror, misery and lots of questions unanswered for more than 50 pages straight, than this grab this book and count yourself as a fan of the series once you start, because this is GREAT, but I can assure you, it only gets better from this, hahahahahah.
November 20, 2025
This was okay, in that it was well written, but it felt like things were happening to the MC - it didn’t feel like he really made any choices through the whole book. I never thought at any point that there was any wondering what he would do, because it felt like he just did things without thinking.
December 28, 2025
Received this as an ARC, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s no secret I’m a fan of Tim and his work, and being a horror guy myself, it was cool to see him getting a bit darker here. And, to be honest, a bit brutal towards his poor main character, who he really grinds into the dirt. Expect clean, precise language, lashings of death and gore, and a keen eye for the dynamics of relationships, both healthy and not so. Well recommended.
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