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Defined by Damnation
Let those who define themselves in failure be forever damned.
Raph seeks to stop the return of an ancient lord of fire and ash. Domina hunts the veiled hand behind the assassination of an entire noble family. Eric Blackhand just wants to believe that he is a good man. Little do these aspiring heroes know the collision course they are set upon. As the fate of all who call Duralaans home weighs upon their shoulders, they must force themselves through the fires of tribulation and see themselves redefined…
Or emerge as little more than smoldering ash.
Defined by Damnation is a character driven fantasy novel, exploring a variety of characters and the different ways they cope with the people the world has forced them to become. As a threat greater than them emerges, they must decide whether they are to accept themselves as they are or attempt to become something far greater.
Raph seeks to stop the return of an ancient lord of fire and ash. Domina hunts the veiled hand behind the assassination of an entire noble family. Eric Blackhand just wants to believe that he is a good man. Little do these aspiring heroes know the collision course they are set upon. As the fate of all who call Duralaans home weighs upon their shoulders, they must force themselves through the fires of tribulation and see themselves redefined…
Or emerge as little more than smoldering ash.
Defined by Damnation is a character driven fantasy novel, exploring a variety of characters and the different ways they cope with the people the world has forced them to become. As a threat greater than them emerges, they must decide whether they are to accept themselves as they are or attempt to become something far greater.
454 pages, Paperback
Published December 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 5, 2025
Disclosure: I received this book as an ARC
I really enjoyed this. It's not a groundbreaking story, and you've surely seen some of the elements presented here before, but there is something of value to be found in the way these tropes are used. We follow a selection of heroes, all working toward a similar end through different means, but none are able to find a perfect solution. This might not be their first rodeo, but it is that fact which sees them face the most danger, as the weight of their past has risen to an almost unbearable point.
This book is like a puzzle, each point of view is a piece, and the only person allowed to see the full picture is the reader. This led to a few times where I would be able to understand the larger meaning behind a character's motives, while the current pov character would not, creating an interesting dynamic as a body removed from the story being told.
While there are elements of mystery within, it seems more like a vessel for the character driven plot that is this book's real focus. As I touched on at the top, the characters we follow are heavily affected by what they have encountered in their personal history and struggle to find a way to balance the tumultuous lives they live with their own needs. These characters are thrown through the bloody wringer, but that only makes their conclusions all the more rewarding. I was especially moved by Raph's story, finding a lot of familiarity in her difficulty to trust the help of others, though it is communicated as more of a need to go it alone than a fear of rejection, so I guess the comparison isn't perfect, but I was still moved quite strongly by the end to her particular storyline.
As far as issues go, I found the greatest one to be pacing. This book could have benefitted from a bit more fleshing out, as certain elements do seem to conclude too quickly to deliver the weight they deserve. This is a fact that is justified by the characters themselves, but still detracts from the overall experience. A few more wrinkles thrown into the plotline could have more time to spend with each character and better develop them as they progress.
Overall, this is a strong debut for Anderson, and I would gladly read this story's follow up, granted they take on board the lessons learned from this release.
I really enjoyed this. It's not a groundbreaking story, and you've surely seen some of the elements presented here before, but there is something of value to be found in the way these tropes are used. We follow a selection of heroes, all working toward a similar end through different means, but none are able to find a perfect solution. This might not be their first rodeo, but it is that fact which sees them face the most danger, as the weight of their past has risen to an almost unbearable point.
This book is like a puzzle, each point of view is a piece, and the only person allowed to see the full picture is the reader. This led to a few times where I would be able to understand the larger meaning behind a character's motives, while the current pov character would not, creating an interesting dynamic as a body removed from the story being told.
While there are elements of mystery within, it seems more like a vessel for the character driven plot that is this book's real focus. As I touched on at the top, the characters we follow are heavily affected by what they have encountered in their personal history and struggle to find a way to balance the tumultuous lives they live with their own needs. These characters are thrown through the bloody wringer, but that only makes their conclusions all the more rewarding. I was especially moved by Raph's story, finding a lot of familiarity in her difficulty to trust the help of others, though it is communicated as more of a need to go it alone than a fear of rejection, so I guess the comparison isn't perfect, but I was still moved quite strongly by the end to her particular storyline.
As far as issues go, I found the greatest one to be pacing. This book could have benefitted from a bit more fleshing out, as certain elements do seem to conclude too quickly to deliver the weight they deserve. This is a fact that is justified by the characters themselves, but still detracts from the overall experience. A few more wrinkles thrown into the plotline could have more time to spend with each character and better develop them as they progress.
Overall, this is a strong debut for Anderson, and I would gladly read this story's follow up, granted they take on board the lessons learned from this release.
January 24, 2026
(I have received this as an ARC and read it before, currently re-reading)
Good book 👍
Good book 👍
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews