What do you think?
Rate this book
Dogged
WARDOGS ARE BORN TO DIE.
In the final days of the Demon Empire a lone wardog goes in search of the answer to the only question she cares about: Who murdered her mate?
Utterly unqualified to solve a mystery, Dogged Determination has but one advantage: She never, ever gives up.
From the heart of a massive empire to the deepest foreboding jungles, Dogged is an unstoppable force of will.
In the final days of the Demon Empire a lone wardog goes in search of the answer to the only question she cares about: Who murdered her mate?
Utterly unqualified to solve a mystery, Dogged Determination has but one advantage: She never, ever gives up.
From the heart of a massive empire to the deepest foreboding jungles, Dogged is an unstoppable force of will.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2025
About the author
Michael R. Fletcher
54 books1,398 followersMichael R. Fletcher lives in the endless suburban sprawl north of Toronto. He dreams of trees and seeing the stars at night and being a ninja. He is an unrepentant whiskey-swilling reprobate of the tallest order and thinks grilled cheese sandwiches are a food group.
His novels include the Manifest Delusions trilogy (BEYOND REDEMPTION, THE MIRROR'S TRUTH, A WAR TO END ALL), the Obsidian Path trilogy (BLACK STONE HEART, SHE DREAMS IN BLOOD, AN END TO SORROW), the City of Sacrifice trilogy (SMOKE AND STONE, ASH AND BONES, SIN AND SORROW), and the standalone novels, SWARM AND STEEL, GHOSTS OF TOMORROW, THE MILLENNIAL MANIFESTO, NORYLSKA GROANS (co-written with Clayton W. Snyder). He also has a short story collection A COLLECTION OF OBSESSIONS.
http://michaelrfletcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFlet...
Twitter: @FletcherMR
Instagram: fletcher_michael_r
His novels include the Manifest Delusions trilogy (BEYOND REDEMPTION, THE MIRROR'S TRUTH, A WAR TO END ALL), the Obsidian Path trilogy (BLACK STONE HEART, SHE DREAMS IN BLOOD, AN END TO SORROW), the City of Sacrifice trilogy (SMOKE AND STONE, ASH AND BONES, SIN AND SORROW), and the standalone novels, SWARM AND STEEL, GHOSTS OF TOMORROW, THE MILLENNIAL MANIFESTO, NORYLSKA GROANS (co-written with Clayton W. Snyder). He also has a short story collection A COLLECTION OF OBSESSIONS.
http://michaelrfletcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFlet...
Twitter: @FletcherMR
Instagram: fletcher_michael_r
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Read
May 31, 2026The book's a finalist in SPFBO 11!
December 26, 2025
How the hell are you supposed to read with tears in your eyes? OMG I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much reading a book. My ribs hurt. 😂
Dogged is an absolute delight. It is absolutely absurd. Completely bonkers.
Word is the author spent months living as a dog would. Interacting with them. Drinking out of bowls. Chasing squirrels. 🐿️
Ok maybe not. But you would swear he did. He has nailed dog psychology 101. As I said before…I was crying. Hahaha.
Fletcher has always had a craziness to his worlds. Laced with his own trademark dark humour. In fact, the Obsidian Path series (which this belongs to) is one of my all time favourites.
I swear though, this one outdoes them all.
The pace of this book is incredible. It’s got all the action and gore you could expect. Wizards, dragons and wonderful nods to previous series for the Fletcher faithful. You don’t need to have read any of them to go into this one. (But definitely check them out!)
This adventure is one slobbery mess of hilarity and fun.
Absolutely fantastic.
Thanks so much to the author for this review copy.
Such a good boy. 🐕🦺
Dogged is an absolute delight. It is absolutely absurd. Completely bonkers.
Word is the author spent months living as a dog would. Interacting with them. Drinking out of bowls. Chasing squirrels. 🐿️
Ok maybe not. But you would swear he did. He has nailed dog psychology 101. As I said before…I was crying. Hahaha.
Fletcher has always had a craziness to his worlds. Laced with his own trademark dark humour. In fact, the Obsidian Path series (which this belongs to) is one of my all time favourites.
I swear though, this one outdoes them all.
The pace of this book is incredible. It’s got all the action and gore you could expect. Wizards, dragons and wonderful nods to previous series for the Fletcher faithful. You don’t need to have read any of them to go into this one. (But definitely check them out!)
This adventure is one slobbery mess of hilarity and fun.
Absolutely fantastic.
Thanks so much to the author for this review copy.
Such a good boy. 🐕🦺
August 3, 2026
WHO THE FUCK IS THIS FLETCHER GUY ANYWAYS?!
Awrighty. I wrote The Last Wardog for Grimdark Magazine (issue 37). It was one of those stories that stuck with me long after I'd written it. I wanted to write more about wardogs. I played around with a few short story ideas but none of them clicked.
At some point it hit me that I needed to write a wardog novel. After that, everything came together rather quickly.
While sketching out some basic character traits i realized I knew the main character's name. Following in the tradition set in the short story, she became Dogged Determination.
I hope you enjoy reading her adventures at least half as much as I enjoyed telling her tale (sorry).
Awrighty. I wrote The Last Wardog for Grimdark Magazine (issue 37). It was one of those stories that stuck with me long after I'd written it. I wanted to write more about wardogs. I played around with a few short story ideas but none of them clicked.
At some point it hit me that I needed to write a wardog novel. After that, everything came together rather quickly.
While sketching out some basic character traits i realized I knew the main character's name. Following in the tradition set in the short story, she became Dogged Determination.
I hope you enjoy reading her adventures at least half as much as I enjoyed telling her tale (sorry).
December 11, 2025
Dogged is an emotional and layered story about a wardog — essentially, a giant, human/dog hybrid soldier — whom is assigned to investigate a tragedy at the empire’s capital city.
Dogged Determination (one of many great names in this book) believes that wardogs are born to die. This is a mantra repeated throughout the ranks of the wardog battalion. Wardogs embody the traits of dogs — unflappable loyalty, single-minded focus, questionable intelligence — and they’re a perfect mercenary group, sent to other dimensions by the Emperor for conquest and expansion. Or as Dogged calls it, “bringing the Emperor’s peace.”
While Dogged isn’t conventionally intelligent — or so she thinks — her narration and insight offers wisdom and the tendency to cut to the quick of any situation. She is literal, without a sense of humor (though others might disagree), and doggedly determined to please the court and solve the mystery.
Fletcher gives the reader space to form our own conclusions. He gives just the right amount of information to loosely shape the history and culture of the empire, all seen through the lens of one of its most loyal soldiers. There’s a sweet sadness behind it all, which balances nicely with humor and the ultra-violent battle scenes.
Dogged is almost like a child being exposed to the world for the first time as she travels the land in search of answers. It is compelling to see how someone so prone to knee-jerk violence learns to adapt to social situations.
The book’s conclusion is among Fletcher’s best. This is a story that cut me deep enough to know that its impact will resonate over time.
I’ve read a lot of books this year. Star ratings are fine and good, but the great ones are the stories that I still feel, months later. The Raven Scholar. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Acts of Caine. And now Dogged has made this list. Go read it.
Dogged Determination (one of many great names in this book) believes that wardogs are born to die. This is a mantra repeated throughout the ranks of the wardog battalion. Wardogs embody the traits of dogs — unflappable loyalty, single-minded focus, questionable intelligence — and they’re a perfect mercenary group, sent to other dimensions by the Emperor for conquest and expansion. Or as Dogged calls it, “bringing the Emperor’s peace.”
While Dogged isn’t conventionally intelligent — or so she thinks — her narration and insight offers wisdom and the tendency to cut to the quick of any situation. She is literal, without a sense of humor (though others might disagree), and doggedly determined to please the court and solve the mystery.
Fletcher gives the reader space to form our own conclusions. He gives just the right amount of information to loosely shape the history and culture of the empire, all seen through the lens of one of its most loyal soldiers. There’s a sweet sadness behind it all, which balances nicely with humor and the ultra-violent battle scenes.
Dogged is almost like a child being exposed to the world for the first time as she travels the land in search of answers. It is compelling to see how someone so prone to knee-jerk violence learns to adapt to social situations.
The book’s conclusion is among Fletcher’s best. This is a story that cut me deep enough to know that its impact will resonate over time.
I’ve read a lot of books this year. Star ratings are fine and good, but the great ones are the stories that I still feel, months later. The Raven Scholar. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Acts of Caine. And now Dogged has made this list. Go read it.
July 13, 2026
Highly recommended. This is a great mash up of grimdark, a detective story, a unique character POV (the MC is a wardog), and a unique, dogesque character arc. Though it qualifies as grimdark in a lot of ways, what with the demons and violence and overall darkness of the world, the story is shot through with humor and the core story has a lot of heart. It won't bring you down, and you'll be cheering for Dogged (the MC's name) throughout.
December 16, 2025
Divorato in due giorni.. è stato davvero divertente ritrovare l'impero di Khraen nel pieno del suo fulgore.. i piccoli cammei di Henka, Nhil, e le menzioni di Khraen, sono davvero fighi.. ma soprattutto l'intero libro è disseminato di richiami a tutti i vari mondi del Fletcherverso letti, da Manifest Delusion a Ghost of Tomorrow, dal mondo degli Askharo a City of Sacrifice.. assurdo.. (più gli omaggi a Rob J Hayes🤣🤣)..
Per il resto il libro è un frenetico e divertente susseguirsi di rocamboleschi indizi di un indagine che Dogged deve portare avanti.. capire chi sta minacciando l'impero e l'imperatore stesso..
La caratterizzezione di Dogged è semplicemente spettacolare.. Un enorme uomo-cane, anzi per la precisione donna-cane, che ragiona non come un essere umano ma come un cane per molte cose.. scene ironiche e fraintendimenti, ma soprattutto il giudizio canino per stupidi ragionamenti tipici umani.. insomma, diverso dal solito, originale, ma pieno di emozioni e sentimenti come al solito..
In uno degli eventi più importanti nella storia dell'impero di Khraen, Dogged si troverà al centro di tutto, e come il più fedele amico dell'uomo, sarà pronta a dare la vita per il suo branco.. bella storia, finale alla Fletcher, libro davvero riuscito!!!
Per il resto il libro è un frenetico e divertente susseguirsi di rocamboleschi indizi di un indagine che Dogged deve portare avanti.. capire chi sta minacciando l'impero e l'imperatore stesso..
La caratterizzezione di Dogged è semplicemente spettacolare.. Un enorme uomo-cane, anzi per la precisione donna-cane, che ragiona non come un essere umano ma come un cane per molte cose.. scene ironiche e fraintendimenti, ma soprattutto il giudizio canino per stupidi ragionamenti tipici umani.. insomma, diverso dal solito, originale, ma pieno di emozioni e sentimenti come al solito..
In uno degli eventi più importanti nella storia dell'impero di Khraen, Dogged si troverà al centro di tutto, e come il più fedele amico dell'uomo, sarà pronta a dare la vita per il suo branco.. bella storia, finale alla Fletcher, libro davvero riuscito!!!
December 8, 2025
I've yet to read any of The Obsidian Path series but I'm very familar with Mr Fletchers other works so I jumped at the chance to receive an ARC of Dogged.
I throughly loved this from the first page to the last. Dogged Deterimination is a brutal killing machine with a heart of gold. Thrust into a world she doesnt feel ready for she undertakes a quest to solve a mystery and ends up learning more about herself than she bargained for. Just don't call her a "good girl" or you may just lose your head (literally!).
Demons, wizzards and horror lizzards abound in this brutal yet very endearing tale, that is as much about the meaning of loyalty and friendship as it is about rearranging your enemies internal organs
Wardogs were born to die......
I throughly loved this from the first page to the last. Dogged Deterimination is a brutal killing machine with a heart of gold. Thrust into a world she doesnt feel ready for she undertakes a quest to solve a mystery and ends up learning more about herself than she bargained for. Just don't call her a "good girl" or you may just lose your head (literally!).
Demons, wizzards and horror lizzards abound in this brutal yet very endearing tale, that is as much about the meaning of loyalty and friendship as it is about rearranging your enemies internal organs
Wardogs were born to die......
June 21, 2026
All the stars in the world, and then some.
Dogged by Michael R. Fletcher feels like it was written just for me.
Fletcher usually writes grimdark, the kind of dark that leaves bruises. Dogged is different. It's dark and cosy at the same time, bloody and a little bit insane, but somehow also the warmest thing he's written. The humour and the violence sit side by side and never once trip over each other.
That's the tone of the whole book. Pure logic, pure dog, devastating results.
She's a wardog, a hybrid between human and dog, and she'll use whatever the moment calls for. A spear when she needs range or something to throw. Teeth and claws when she's close enough to go for the throat. She never hesitates either way. What really sells her is the mind behind it all. Too many dogs in fiction think and act like humans wearing fur. She might not be an actual dog, but she thinks like a dog, she reasons like a dog, and acts like one. Fletcher never breaks character once. I read parts of this with my own dog snoring at my side and might have woken him with a snort at how accurate her instincts felt.
Wardogs are bred for one thing. Fight, serve, die for the kennel master and the demon emperor, no questions asked. "Wardogs are born to die" isn't just a tagline, it's the whole shape of their lives. Dogged was raised on that duty same as every other wardog. But the book lets her find something past it. Friends who aren't kennel mates. A reason to keep going that has nothing to do with the demon emperor. Watching her stumble into purpose outside of duty, almost by accident, is one of the quieter gut punches of the book.
That last line broke me a little.
Loyalty runs through everything Dogged does. The bonds she forms along the way aren't soft or sentimental, they're fierce and a little feral, exactly what you'd expect from her. Watching her hold onto the people she chooses, no matter the cost, is one of the most affecting parts of the book.
Dogged isn't carrying the story alone either. The people around her are well drawn, and watching her grow over the book is one of the real pleasures here. She's the star, no question, but the cast around her earns its place too.
The world deserves a mention too. It's strange and inventive, the kind of setting that could easily overwhelm you, but Fletcher never lets that happen. You're dropped in and trusted to keep up, and you can, no homework required.
There are small nods to Fletcher's other books set in this world, enough to reward readers who know them, never enough to confuse anyone who doesn't. This stands completely on its own. New readers lose nothing.
The prose carries all of it without effort. It's smooth, easy, never showy, the kind of writing that gets out of its own way and lets the story run.
Funny, bloody, and surprisingly tender, Dogged might be the most purely enjoyable thing Fletcher has written. If you love dogs, or just want to see how far loyalty and stubbornness can carry you, even when the price is steep, read this one.
Dogged by Michael R. Fletcher feels like it was written just for me.
Fletcher usually writes grimdark, the kind of dark that leaves bruises. Dogged is different. It's dark and cosy at the same time, bloody and a little bit insane, but somehow also the warmest thing he's written. The humour and the violence sit side by side and never once trip over each other.
“Are you refusing to take me to Aszyyr?”
“Not at all! I’ll take you as soon as I get back from Abieszan.”
I had to think about that one. It wasn’t an actual refusal, and I had no idea how far away Abieszan was. “How long will that take?”
“Hopefully not more than two months.”
I ripped his head off and threw it into the ocean. Then, because it was making a mess on the clean deck and I felt guilty, I tossed the rest of his body in after it.
That's the tone of the whole book. Pure logic, pure dog, devastating results.
She's a wardog, a hybrid between human and dog, and she'll use whatever the moment calls for. A spear when she needs range or something to throw. Teeth and claws when she's close enough to go for the throat. She never hesitates either way. What really sells her is the mind behind it all. Too many dogs in fiction think and act like humans wearing fur. She might not be an actual dog, but she thinks like a dog, she reasons like a dog, and acts like one. Fletcher never breaks character once. I read parts of this with my own dog snoring at my side and might have woken him with a snort at how accurate her instincts felt.
Wardogs are bred for one thing. Fight, serve, die for the kennel master and the demon emperor, no questions asked. "Wardogs are born to die" isn't just a tagline, it's the whole shape of their lives. Dogged was raised on that duty same as every other wardog. But the book lets her find something past it. Friends who aren't kennel mates. A reason to keep going that has nothing to do with the demon emperor. Watching her stumble into purpose outside of duty, almost by accident, is one of the quieter gut punches of the book.
“I know you can fight,” Sigaria said, voice gentle. “But should you?”
“I want to.” Blood Tooth stared at the Kennel Master’s feet, brow twisted with desperate hope, tail lashing in ill-concealed agitation. The smell of jerky wafted from the stuffed pockets of his vest. “So…yes?”
...
He lost one ear last year when some sorcerer from Aszyyr tried to claim the mines of Azal Syl for her own. The other ear perked up in misplaced hope.
That last line broke me a little.
Loyalty runs through everything Dogged does. The bonds she forms along the way aren't soft or sentimental, they're fierce and a little feral, exactly what you'd expect from her. Watching her hold onto the people she chooses, no matter the cost, is one of the most affecting parts of the book.
Dogged isn't carrying the story alone either. The people around her are well drawn, and watching her grow over the book is one of the real pleasures here. She's the star, no question, but the cast around her earns its place too.
The world deserves a mention too. It's strange and inventive, the kind of setting that could easily overwhelm you, but Fletcher never lets that happen. You're dropped in and trusted to keep up, and you can, no homework required.
There are small nods to Fletcher's other books set in this world, enough to reward readers who know them, never enough to confuse anyone who doesn't. This stands completely on its own. New readers lose nothing.
The prose carries all of it without effort. It's smooth, easy, never showy, the kind of writing that gets out of its own way and lets the story run.
Funny, bloody, and surprisingly tender, Dogged might be the most purely enjoyable thing Fletcher has written. If you love dogs, or just want to see how far loyalty and stubbornness can carry you, even when the price is steep, read this one.
July 10, 2026
Read for SPFBO, Review to come
July 31, 2026
A finalist in this years SPfbo finals its grimdark but funny, sad but heartwarming. A cracking read if you like fantasy.
You know how it is with TBRs ? But ill be coming back to Michael R Fletcher with dogged determination and a wag of my tail.
You know how it is with TBRs ? But ill be coming back to Michael R Fletcher with dogged determination and a wag of my tail.
December 17, 2025
A genuinely heartwarming story full of friendship, and plenty of violence. Dogged is such a good dog.
Set 3000 years before the events of the Obsidian Path books, there's no need to read them first, but there's some nice hints and easter eggs throughout for those who have.
More please!
Set 3000 years before the events of the Obsidian Path books, there's no need to read them first, but there's some nice hints and easter eggs throughout for those who have.
More please!
June 29, 2026
I love Dogged!
And I could probably leave my review at that and you would have my main reason for advocating this book. But I will try to go a little more into detail.
Dogged is a relatively short, but impactful read, and the story is situated in Michael R. Fletcher’s world of The Obsidian Path-series. A series I haven’t read and this did not diminish my love for or enjoyment of this book. (Dogged is actually the first Fletcher-book I have read so far).
Dogged is the title-giving main character of this book, or rather Dogged Determination, as is her full name. Dogged is a wardog, a hybrid between dog and human, bred for war and for blind obedience to the demon emperor (and by extension, everybody in-between in the chain of command). The story starts with Dogged and a batallion of wardogs being sent to ‘bring peace’ to another world via a magical portal. But right before she can step through, the portal closes, her mate – and many other wardogs – who crossed right in front of her, instantly killed by this. Dogged does not really understand what happened. Even less does she want to dwell on her feelings about this. What she wants is to find whoever was responsible for this and rip their throat out.
What makes Dogged so special is the main character’s POV. Dogged is not simply a furry human, she acts, feels and thinks very differently and I don’t think I have read a book where this difference to human behavior was as striking and as consequently pursued. Dogged is fierce, strong, loyal, determined, and has little clue about social interactions. Even though she wonders a lot about things humans do or say, she doesn’t question them too much, because questions hurt her head. She acts very little on logic (and does not really like it), but mainly on instinct and feelings. And that in turn makes me love Dogged Determination so much. She is so different from pretty much every other character I have read and might just have become my favorite character in a book in general.
So, just for a completely different reading experience through the POV, I would recommend Dogged. But there is more! It is extremely well written, it has solid worldbuilding, and most of all: it has tons of heart! Dogged is about finding (new) purpose, about dealing with grief and moving on, about found family/pack. Dogged Determination has a heartwarming connection to (some) secondary characters in this book. These wonderful characters do not steal her thunder, though, but really let her shine (and shine she does).
I don’t know if there is cozy dark fantasy yet, if not, Dogged will be the archetype for a new genre - and has set the bar really high up there.
Highly recommended for so many reasons!
And I could probably leave my review at that and you would have my main reason for advocating this book. But I will try to go a little more into detail.
Dogged is a relatively short, but impactful read, and the story is situated in Michael R. Fletcher’s world of The Obsidian Path-series. A series I haven’t read and this did not diminish my love for or enjoyment of this book. (Dogged is actually the first Fletcher-book I have read so far).
Dogged is the title-giving main character of this book, or rather Dogged Determination, as is her full name. Dogged is a wardog, a hybrid between dog and human, bred for war and for blind obedience to the demon emperor (and by extension, everybody in-between in the chain of command). The story starts with Dogged and a batallion of wardogs being sent to ‘bring peace’ to another world via a magical portal. But right before she can step through, the portal closes, her mate – and many other wardogs – who crossed right in front of her, instantly killed by this. Dogged does not really understand what happened. Even less does she want to dwell on her feelings about this. What she wants is to find whoever was responsible for this and rip their throat out.
What makes Dogged so special is the main character’s POV. Dogged is not simply a furry human, she acts, feels and thinks very differently and I don’t think I have read a book where this difference to human behavior was as striking and as consequently pursued. Dogged is fierce, strong, loyal, determined, and has little clue about social interactions. Even though she wonders a lot about things humans do or say, she doesn’t question them too much, because questions hurt her head. She acts very little on logic (and does not really like it), but mainly on instinct and feelings. And that in turn makes me love Dogged Determination so much. She is so different from pretty much every other character I have read and might just have become my favorite character in a book in general.
So, just for a completely different reading experience through the POV, I would recommend Dogged. But there is more! It is extremely well written, it has solid worldbuilding, and most of all: it has tons of heart! Dogged is about finding (new) purpose, about dealing with grief and moving on, about found family/pack. Dogged Determination has a heartwarming connection to (some) secondary characters in this book. These wonderful characters do not steal her thunder, though, but really let her shine (and shine she does).
I don’t know if there is cozy dark fantasy yet, if not, Dogged will be the archetype for a new genre - and has set the bar really high up there.
Highly recommended for so many reasons!
February 19, 2026
4.5 stars, rounded up. A little different in style (less grimdark, more (well-done) humor) than Fletcher’s other books I’ve read - and my favorite to date of his books. Part of a shared universe of books but absolutely can be read as a stand-alone.
April 14, 2026
Dogged is a relatively short but impactful grimdark novel that does exactly what I want my grimdark books to do: give me a bleak and or crazy brutal setting with a story and characters that have heart.
This was my first Michael R Fletcher novel as he came highly recommended for someone who loves grimdark stories and if Dogged is any indication of his other works I may have a new top tier author to add to my list.
The world set up here which I believe is the same universe or setting as some of the authors other series is grim, brutal, and bonkers but in all the best ways.
The titular Dogged Determination is a Wardog and “Wardogs are born to die.” but as the story progresses you learn more about the character and their naive and somewhat innocent view of the grimdark world works as a POV that’s not only entertaining but sometimes really funny.
There’s so much I loved about this book but going into a lot of it would be spoilers so I will just say that there’s a lot of heart packed into such short slice of this grimdark world and the authors balances the brutality, the humor, and the character work perfectly for me.
Definitely recommend anyone who loves grimdark like Joe Abercrombie or Matthew Stover to pick this one up.
5 stars!
This was my first Michael R Fletcher novel as he came highly recommended for someone who loves grimdark stories and if Dogged is any indication of his other works I may have a new top tier author to add to my list.
The world set up here which I believe is the same universe or setting as some of the authors other series is grim, brutal, and bonkers but in all the best ways.
The titular Dogged Determination is a Wardog and “Wardogs are born to die.” but as the story progresses you learn more about the character and their naive and somewhat innocent view of the grimdark world works as a POV that’s not only entertaining but sometimes really funny.
There’s so much I loved about this book but going into a lot of it would be spoilers so I will just say that there’s a lot of heart packed into such short slice of this grimdark world and the authors balances the brutality, the humor, and the character work perfectly for me.
Definitely recommend anyone who loves grimdark like Joe Abercrombie or Matthew Stover to pick this one up.
5 stars!
July 7, 2026
4.5 STARS
The demon emperor Khraen breeds wardogs to fight in his expansionists incursions. One such being is our protagonist, Dogged Determination, whose life gets upended when her mate dies. Dogged pursues a murder investigation that takes her across the empire, in the path of friends, and afoul of dangerous foes.
There are two reasons why this book is a favorite of the year.
(1) The plot barrels forward at a relatively quick pace, yet Dogged's narration takes the time to explain the wardog way of thinking and living, both of which are incredibly tragic. 'Wardogs were born to die.' Wardogs are bred for violence, conditioned to hero-worship the demon emperor and his pursuits and happy to lose their lives for his cause. They equate their worth with their ability to fight or otherwise contribute to the empire. They rarely live to thirty years old. They sacrifice everything but are seen by other inhabitants of their world as subhuman savages. Dogged may not technically be human, but the book masterfully weaves its themes into the narrative and forces reflection upon the human condition.
(2) Dogged is endlessly endearing. She exemplifies incredible courage, loyalty, and earnestness. She also possesses a straightforward and passionate personality. Her deep-seated love and grief over her lost mate can be viscerally felt throughout the story. 'Wardogs don't joke.' Dogged is unintentionally hilarious when she tries to relate to humans with her animal instincts. She's hungry all the time (and hint: she relishes eating things humans would not touch). Dogged is just as guileless in her instinctive brutality as she is in friendly conversation. I love the main character!
The two friends she makes along the way--a newly-made captain (after Dogged kills the former one) and an elementalist adventure seeker--bring out the best in Dogged: developing social skills and protectiveness. Captain Balen and Sahar strike up a cute little romance of their own (referenced but not a focal point). They add richness and texture to Dogged's existence and her evolving worldview.
Standalone? Yes. While I'm sure readers who've been plugged into the Obidian Path series will get more out of the story, I found this book enjoyable with no prior knowledge of the world.
I would recommend Dogged to fans of the clones from Star Wars The Clones Wars and The Bad Batch, as well as readers who liked the atypical quirky narrative voice of the Murderbot Diaries.
The demon emperor Khraen breeds wardogs to fight in his expansionists incursions. One such being is our protagonist, Dogged Determination, whose life gets upended when her mate dies. Dogged pursues a murder investigation that takes her across the empire, in the path of friends, and afoul of dangerous foes.
There are two reasons why this book is a favorite of the year.
(1) The plot barrels forward at a relatively quick pace, yet Dogged's narration takes the time to explain the wardog way of thinking and living, both of which are incredibly tragic. 'Wardogs were born to die.' Wardogs are bred for violence, conditioned to hero-worship the demon emperor and his pursuits and happy to lose their lives for his cause. They equate their worth with their ability to fight or otherwise contribute to the empire. They rarely live to thirty years old. They sacrifice everything but are seen by other inhabitants of their world as subhuman savages. Dogged may not technically be human, but the book masterfully weaves its themes into the narrative and forces reflection upon the human condition.
(2) Dogged is endlessly endearing. She exemplifies incredible courage, loyalty, and earnestness. She also possesses a straightforward and passionate personality. Her deep-seated love and grief over her lost mate can be viscerally felt throughout the story. 'Wardogs don't joke.' Dogged is unintentionally hilarious when she tries to relate to humans with her animal instincts. She's hungry all the time (and hint: she relishes eating things humans would not touch). Dogged is just as guileless in her instinctive brutality as she is in friendly conversation. I love the main character!
The two friends she makes along the way--a newly-made captain (after Dogged kills the former one) and an elementalist adventure seeker--bring out the best in Dogged: developing social skills and protectiveness. Captain Balen and Sahar strike up a cute little romance of their own (referenced but not a focal point). They add richness and texture to Dogged's existence and her evolving worldview.
Standalone? Yes. While I'm sure readers who've been plugged into the Obidian Path series will get more out of the story, I found this book enjoyable with no prior knowledge of the world.
I would recommend Dogged to fans of the clones from Star Wars The Clones Wars and The Bad Batch, as well as readers who liked the atypical quirky narrative voice of the Murderbot Diaries.
December 27, 2025
An absolutely awesome book. Michael R. Fletcher does it again.
As with with all his books, there is plenty of blood and gore, but also so much humour and heart. A great tale of found family and being part of a pack. loved Dogged.
As with with all his books, there is plenty of blood and gore, but also so much humour and heart. A great tale of found family and being part of a pack. loved Dogged.
June 11, 2026
Great Dark Fantasy Book.
This dark fantasy novel revolves around the character "Dogged Determination," one of the thousands of war dogs in the invincible, ancient army of the powerful Demon Emperor. "War dogs are born to die" is the mantra they follow in their eternal servitude to their Emperor. After the death of her companion, Dogged begins a quest to discover the reason for his demise, revealing that things are far bigger than she imagined. A story filled with dark humor, violence, morbidity, loneliness, friendship, loyalty, and above all, purpose; in which Dogged questions whether war dogs are truly born "only to die"...
5 stars
This dark fantasy novel revolves around the character "Dogged Determination," one of the thousands of war dogs in the invincible, ancient army of the powerful Demon Emperor. "War dogs are born to die" is the mantra they follow in their eternal servitude to their Emperor. After the death of her companion, Dogged begins a quest to discover the reason for his demise, revealing that things are far bigger than she imagined. A story filled with dark humor, violence, morbidity, loneliness, friendship, loyalty, and above all, purpose; in which Dogged questions whether war dogs are truly born "only to die"...
5 stars
July 9, 2026
Wow. This book is dark and funny and sad and heartwarming. I don't know how the author managed to pack so many emotions in 300 pages.
This is told from the perspective of Dogged Determination, a wardog who is sent to investigate a mystery. Wardogs are born to die, sent off to subjugate new worlds for the emperor. The perspective is really unique and it is impossible to not fall in love with Dogged
This is told from the perspective of Dogged Determination, a wardog who is sent to investigate a mystery. Wardogs are born to die, sent off to subjugate new worlds for the emperor. The perspective is really unique and it is impossible to not fall in love with Dogged
June 23, 2026
4.5 Rounded up! This was so much fun to read! Following the perspective of this Wardog was a joy. I see that this book is connected to other books by the author and will 100% be picking them up.
Congrats on being a SPFBO finalist!
Congrats on being a SPFBO finalist!
January 15, 2026
I loved everything about this book.
Dogged herself is one of the best characters I've read. Truely a dog, smell centred feelings and incredible skills as a Wardog. There is incredible sadness, both for the losses experienced and for the belief that Wardogs are born to die. That theme runs through the entire book and yet, there is humour and hope. A wonderful found family story, it's also grimdark and the author gets to it!
Dogged herself is one of the best characters I've read. Truely a dog, smell centred feelings and incredible skills as a Wardog. There is incredible sadness, both for the losses experienced and for the belief that Wardogs are born to die. That theme runs through the entire book and yet, there is humour and hope. A wonderful found family story, it's also grimdark and the author gets to it!
December 25, 2025
>me, reading Dogged without having read The Obsidian Path trilogy first
Hmm, I wonder if this guy named the Demon Emperor is a baddie or not...
Hmm, I wonder if this guy named the Demon Emperor is a baddie or not...
December 18, 2025
"Wardogs are meant to die."
Absolutely outstanding. If you love dogs, This us a must read.
Witty, sad, uplifting, nerve racking....
I hope there is a sequel.
Absolutely outstanding. If you love dogs, This us a must read.
Witty, sad, uplifting, nerve racking....
I hope there is a sequel.
June 5, 2026
My first book by Michael Fletcher and I was gripped from the beginning.
Great characters, great story and I loved the world he created.
Dogged is an awesome character you can’t help but love.
She had me smiling, laughing, crying, worrying and cheering her on in her quest.
I didn’t realise this fell into the middle of a series of books but I’m excited to go back and read them all and to explore his other books.
I’m so happy I’ve found a new authors amazing creations to enjoy.
Great characters, great story and I loved the world he created.
Dogged is an awesome character you can’t help but love.
She had me smiling, laughing, crying, worrying and cheering her on in her quest.
I didn’t realise this fell into the middle of a series of books but I’m excited to go back and read them all and to explore his other books.
I’m so happy I’ve found a new authors amazing creations to enjoy.
July 26, 2026
I knew from the first two pages that this was going to be a winner story.
Would never have thought how far a wardog can come with just asking questions - and ripping off a head occasionly. Exploring identity, purpose, friendship and emotion from a wardogs perspective.
Would never have thought how far a wardog can come with just asking questions - and ripping off a head occasionly. Exploring identity, purpose, friendship and emotion from a wardogs perspective.
May 11, 2026
I enjoyed Michael R. Fletcher's "Obsidian Path" trilogy, but I after I'd read the third book I had thought that it was finished. Not so! "Dogged" is a prequel story, set long before the events of the main trilogy. In this time the Demon Empire is still hale and strong. The Demon Emperor uses Wardogs as shock troops to "bring peace" to other dimensions. The likable protagonist of this story is a Wardog called "Dogged Determination". Her mate dies when a portal mysterious collapses, and she is tasked with finding out why.
Dogged is wholly unsuited for this purpose! As a Wardog she doesn't really make plans, preferring to live in the moment and kill whoever the Demon Emperor tells her. (She fully believes that her job is to bring peace to other dimensions -- when the truth is that their inhabitants are sacrificed to bind more demons for the Demon Empire.) But she's committed, and if some people have to die during her investigations then that's all right. Dogged's mental abilities make for an unusual investigation because she doesn't always remember what she had been planning on doing. Also, she's very literal-minded which makes for humorous interactions. Dogged acquires a couple of human friends along the way, who help her -- and she protects them.
The writing is very enjoyable. There's action, humor, companionship, and everything moves along briskly.
Dogged is wholly unsuited for this purpose! As a Wardog she doesn't really make plans, preferring to live in the moment and kill whoever the Demon Emperor tells her. (She fully believes that her job is to bring peace to other dimensions -- when the truth is that their inhabitants are sacrificed to bind more demons for the Demon Empire.) But she's committed, and if some people have to die during her investigations then that's all right. Dogged's mental abilities make for an unusual investigation because she doesn't always remember what she had been planning on doing. Also, she's very literal-minded which makes for humorous interactions. Dogged acquires a couple of human friends along the way, who help her -- and she protects them.
The writing is very enjoyable. There's action, humor, companionship, and everything moves along briskly.
December 24, 2025
Upto now my favourite books by Mr Fletcher were ghosts of tomorrow and norylska groans, this surpasses those in my opinion, heartfelt and violent what more do you need to know, I read the physical book but will also be getting the audio if and when it comes out
February 10, 2026
Wonderful, I wasn’t expecting that 😊
This was a really different story, not one I was expecting, but it kept a great pace and got better all the time.
This was a really different story, not one I was expecting, but it kept a great pace and got better all the time.
December 26, 2025
Exceptional fun
Enjoyed this immensely. Fast paced and action packed. Real character development throughout. I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter now.
Enjoyed this immensely. Fast paced and action packed. Real character development throughout. I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter now.
March 22, 2026
A tasty treat
I just finished this with my dog asleep on my feet. We both liked it a lot.
I find Fletcher's books so hard to put down and this was no different. A worthy addition to the Obsidian canon.
I just finished this with my dog asleep on my feet. We both liked it a lot.
I find Fletcher's books so hard to put down and this was no different. A worthy addition to the Obsidian canon.
August 2, 2026
This was a fun and emotional read. Who knew a wardog's point of view would be such a blast?
Dogged pretty much only thinks her purpose in life is to serve the Demon Emperor in life and to death. Besides, wardogs are born to die. She goes on a mission to find out why her mate died, since it was not in battle. She uncovers more than she was prepared for. She takes things very literally, which adds a lot of humor. She claims not to know love or loss, but she had me fooled.
Michael Fletcher gained a fan out of me for sure!
Dogged pretty much only thinks her purpose in life is to serve the Demon Emperor in life and to death. Besides, wardogs are born to die. She goes on a mission to find out why her mate died, since it was not in battle. She uncovers more than she was prepared for. She takes things very literally, which adds a lot of humor. She claims not to know love or loss, but she had me fooled.
Michael Fletcher gained a fan out of me for sure!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews