What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hallowed War #1
The Pagan Night
The Celestial Church has all but eliminated the old pagan ways, ruling the people with an iron hand. Demonic gheists terrorize the land, hunted by the warriors of the Inquisition, yet it’s the battling factions within the Church and age-old hatreds between north and south that tear the land apart.
Malcolm Blakley, hero of the Reaver War, seeks to end the conflict between men, yet it will fall to his son, Ian, and the huntress Gwen Adair to stop the killing before it tears the land apart. The Pagan Night is an epic of mad gods, inquisitor priests, holy knights bound to hunt and kill, and noble houses fighting battles of politics, prejudice, and power.
Malcolm Blakley, hero of the Reaver War, seeks to end the conflict between men, yet it will fall to his son, Ian, and the huntress Gwen Adair to stop the killing before it tears the land apart. The Pagan Night is an epic of mad gods, inquisitor priests, holy knights bound to hunt and kill, and noble houses fighting battles of politics, prejudice, and power.
602 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2016
62 people are currently reading
1281 people want to read
About the author
Tim Akers
52 books167 followersTim Akers was born in deeply rural North Carolina, the only son of a theologian. He moved to Chicago for college, where he lives with his wife of thirteen years and their German shepherd. He splits his time between databases and fountain pens.
- PyrSF
- PyrSF
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 6, 2016
This felt pretty old school and well, I love old school. Give me an epic story and I am all in.
We have a country that is really two countries. The south (those stuck up bastards!) and the north. The south wants a piece of the north.
Then we have the Church (arghhh the church!). See, there used to be peace with the land. Sure the old gods did a lot of damage but they,also cared for the earth. And without them things are going badly, but the church is stupid and is all kill all pagans!!! So yes you do not want to be a pagan here, you will die. I really liked his take on the gheists, gods, nature. It was very nice, it made me connect.
As for the story. We have a young man, Ian, who is waaaay too headstrong for his own good. His dad is a hero. And someone wants their help.
Then we have Gwen, another Lord's daughter, and one who hunts the bad things in the night. She on the other hand was very level headed for her age.
They have their own stories, doing their own things, and I cannot say more. Let's just say that all hell will break loose. And I do wonder where this story is going, very intriguing.
Good story.
We have a country that is really two countries. The south (those stuck up bastards!) and the north. The south wants a piece of the north.
Then we have the Church (arghhh the church!). See, there used to be peace with the land. Sure the old gods did a lot of damage but they,also cared for the earth. And without them things are going badly, but the church is stupid and is all kill all pagans!!! So yes you do not want to be a pagan here, you will die. I really liked his take on the gheists, gods, nature. It was very nice, it made me connect.
As for the story. We have a young man, Ian, who is waaaay too headstrong for his own good. His dad is a hero. And someone wants their help.
Then we have Gwen, another Lord's daughter, and one who hunts the bad things in the night. She on the other hand was very level headed for her age.
They have their own stories, doing their own things, and I cannot say more. Let's just say that all hell will break loose. And I do wonder where this story is going, very intriguing.
Good story.
did-not-finish
July 2, 2018He was trying too hard. The prose was pretentious misusing words a few times & the setting was overdone. Just irked me, didn't suck me in. Perhaps try again some other time when I haven't just finished books by really good authors.
January 19, 2016
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Tim Akers' The Pagan Night is the first novel of The Hallowed War series (it will be followed by The Iron Hound and The Winter Vow). It is the author's first foray into epic fantasy - and it's a good one.
Because I had previously read Tim Akers' The Burn Cycle and enjoyed it, I was excited when I heard that he had written The Pagan Night. I'm glad I had an opportunity to read it, because it's a strong and well written start to a new epic fantasy series. It is without a doubt among the most interesting epic fantasy novels published this year and will appeal to readers who like entertaining novels.
The Pagan Night is an interesting combination of different elements ranging from epic fantasy to dark fantasy. Tim Akers successfully blends epic fantasy elements with Celtic and mediaeval elements and creates a fascinating story. He writes well about conflicts and intrigue, and also does a fine job at writing about the characters' lives and feelings.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
In the beginning, Allaister leads Tenerran men to Gardengerry to kill Suhdrin men. Tunnie is suspicious of Allaister, because he knows nothing about him or his background. Soon the men enter Gardengerry where Allaister sacrifices Tunnie and turns him into something unholy... Artur is traveling towards Gardengerry with his daughter, Marie. They're going to meet Artur's brother there and celebrate the Allfire festival. When they arrive there, a carnage awaits them. They meet Frair Lucas who is an inquisitor of Suhdra. Frair Lucas hunts the gheist that destroyed Gardengerry. He is a bit afraid of what is growing in the trail of the demon... Ian Blakley, the son of the duke of Houndhallow, is practicing swordsplay before the high elector arrives to Houndhallow. The high elector meets Malcolm, Ian's father, and tells him that the church has need of him. The high elector wants Malcolm and Ian to go to Greenhall with him to spend the Allfire festival there. Greenhall is ruled by Gabriel Halverdt who may cause problems, because there are conflicts between the North and the South... Gwen Adair, the huntress of House Adair, is about to celebrate the Allfire festival with her family in the castle Fen Gate. She participates in the ancient pagan ritual that is carried out by a witch. Soon Frair Lucas arrives to the castle and tells Gwen's family that he's been tracking a gheist. He tells the huntress to call the hunt, because they have a god to kill...
This is the fascinating beginning of a story that has plenty of action, intrigue and supernatural elements. The author delivers a strong story that will keep readers turning pages to find out what happens at the end.
The characterisation is good and flawless. All of the main characters - Malcom and Ian Blakley and Gwen Adair - are realistic and well portrayed characters, each with their own characteristics and traits. They're interesting individuals who have problems and secrets of their own.
Malcolm Blakley, the duke of Houndhallow, is a level-headed man who does his best to keep peace. He is a hero of the Reaver War and many people trust and respect him. He feels the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and tries to seek a way to end the conflict between men before the land is torn asunder.
Ian Blackley, Malcolm's son, is a young man who is skilled at using a sword. He is not as experienced in politics and diplomacy as his father, but he wants to learn things. He's like any other young man and has a strong mind of his own. He knows the glory of battle and war, but doesn't entirely realise that he has a lot to learn.
The relationship between Malcolm and Ian is loving and protective, but there are disagreements between them. Malcolm tries to shelter his son from the horrors of war and tries to give him a chance for a childhood, but Ian is willing to take risks and wants to make a difference. Malcolm has plenty of knowledge about war, but Ian knows little of it except for the glory.
Gwen Adair is the huntress of House Adair. She has double faith - she is loyal to the church, but she is also to the old pagan ways. She secretly says old prayers to pagan gods. She knows that her family has a lot to lose if the church finds out about how they worship pagan gods.
I was positively surprised by the quality of the dialogues between the characters, because they were realistic. They felt believable and natural. The author seemed to have paid attention to them, which is great, because well written dialogues are an essential part of epic fantasy fiction.
The worldbuilding is good, because Tim Akers has created an interesting history for his fantasy world. It's great that the author gradually begins to reveal bits and pieces of the world and its history, because it feels natural to learn new things about the world as the story unfolds.
The conflicts between Tener and Suhdr are handled well, because there are tensions and some grudges have never truly been forgiven or forgotten. Suhdra is suffering from blight that affects fields and the forests are bare of game, but Tener doesn't have the same problems. Suhdr is a church-fearing land and the church has many followers there, but the northerners are more inclined to old pagan ways and some of them still hold the ancient rites close to their hearts. The southerners don't like those who worships pagan gods.
The church matters are portrayed excellently, because the author shows how much power the church has and how it meddles in people's lives. The church does good and banishes evil, but not everyone looks favourably upon its deeds and financial needs. It was fascinating to read about how people felt about the church and faith.
The supernatural elements are fascinating. Because I love the darker and weirder side of fantasy fiction, I enjoyed reading about the gheists. The author wrote well about them and what they do. It was interesting that the gheists were the gods of the old religion. Some of them had gone mad, because they were deprived of their sacrifices and abandoned to the quiet places of the forest. Tenerrans used to worship these spirits for generations before the crusaders arrived.
One of the best things about this fantasy novel is that it is genuinely intriguing and approriately intense. The author tells about the happenings in an engaging and fluid style that keeps the story flowing effortlessly. He delivers enough twists and surprises to keep readers fascinated by what happens to the characters.
The action scenes are well written and there's enough grittiness to please those who want roughness from their fantasy stories. In my opinion, Tim Akers writes good action scenes and knows how to keep them intriguing.
It's nice that this novel has maps. I personally consider maps to be an essential part of epic fantasy novels, because they give readers an opportunity to form a picture of the whole world.
I look forward to reading the sequel, The Iron Hound, because the author has created a good and strong story with interesting characters. I want to find out what happens next, because this novel offered an interesting glimpse into a world where conflicts abound and mad gods cause death and devastation.
This novel consists of every component that a good and entertaining fantasy novel should have - it contains action, grittiness, magic, intrigue and well created characters. It also has a few dark fantasy elements that will please readers who love the darker side of fantasy fiction.
I give this novel strong four stars on the scale from one to five stars, because the author has succeeded in creating a good story that deserves to be read. It's a satisfying reading experience. This may sound a bit strange and I'm not sure if all readers will agree with me on this, but this novel reads almost like an entertaining and exotic blend of Kate Elliott and Gail Z. Martin with a faint touch of Glen Cook.
The Pagan Night a strong start to The Hallowed War series, because it has heart, soul, style and grittiness in equal measure. It manages to be both entertaining and thrilling, and it never descends into mediocrity. It's a gripping read and should not be missed by fans of entertaining epic fantasy, because it is something familiar yet slightly different.
Highly entertaining epic fantasy!
Tim Akers' The Pagan Night is the first novel of The Hallowed War series (it will be followed by The Iron Hound and The Winter Vow). It is the author's first foray into epic fantasy - and it's a good one.
Because I had previously read Tim Akers' The Burn Cycle and enjoyed it, I was excited when I heard that he had written The Pagan Night. I'm glad I had an opportunity to read it, because it's a strong and well written start to a new epic fantasy series. It is without a doubt among the most interesting epic fantasy novels published this year and will appeal to readers who like entertaining novels.
The Pagan Night is an interesting combination of different elements ranging from epic fantasy to dark fantasy. Tim Akers successfully blends epic fantasy elements with Celtic and mediaeval elements and creates a fascinating story. He writes well about conflicts and intrigue, and also does a fine job at writing about the characters' lives and feelings.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
In the beginning, Allaister leads Tenerran men to Gardengerry to kill Suhdrin men. Tunnie is suspicious of Allaister, because he knows nothing about him or his background. Soon the men enter Gardengerry where Allaister sacrifices Tunnie and turns him into something unholy... Artur is traveling towards Gardengerry with his daughter, Marie. They're going to meet Artur's brother there and celebrate the Allfire festival. When they arrive there, a carnage awaits them. They meet Frair Lucas who is an inquisitor of Suhdra. Frair Lucas hunts the gheist that destroyed Gardengerry. He is a bit afraid of what is growing in the trail of the demon... Ian Blakley, the son of the duke of Houndhallow, is practicing swordsplay before the high elector arrives to Houndhallow. The high elector meets Malcolm, Ian's father, and tells him that the church has need of him. The high elector wants Malcolm and Ian to go to Greenhall with him to spend the Allfire festival there. Greenhall is ruled by Gabriel Halverdt who may cause problems, because there are conflicts between the North and the South... Gwen Adair, the huntress of House Adair, is about to celebrate the Allfire festival with her family in the castle Fen Gate. She participates in the ancient pagan ritual that is carried out by a witch. Soon Frair Lucas arrives to the castle and tells Gwen's family that he's been tracking a gheist. He tells the huntress to call the hunt, because they have a god to kill...
This is the fascinating beginning of a story that has plenty of action, intrigue and supernatural elements. The author delivers a strong story that will keep readers turning pages to find out what happens at the end.
The characterisation is good and flawless. All of the main characters - Malcom and Ian Blakley and Gwen Adair - are realistic and well portrayed characters, each with their own characteristics and traits. They're interesting individuals who have problems and secrets of their own.
Malcolm Blakley, the duke of Houndhallow, is a level-headed man who does his best to keep peace. He is a hero of the Reaver War and many people trust and respect him. He feels the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and tries to seek a way to end the conflict between men before the land is torn asunder.
Ian Blackley, Malcolm's son, is a young man who is skilled at using a sword. He is not as experienced in politics and diplomacy as his father, but he wants to learn things. He's like any other young man and has a strong mind of his own. He knows the glory of battle and war, but doesn't entirely realise that he has a lot to learn.
The relationship between Malcolm and Ian is loving and protective, but there are disagreements between them. Malcolm tries to shelter his son from the horrors of war and tries to give him a chance for a childhood, but Ian is willing to take risks and wants to make a difference. Malcolm has plenty of knowledge about war, but Ian knows little of it except for the glory.
Gwen Adair is the huntress of House Adair. She has double faith - she is loyal to the church, but she is also to the old pagan ways. She secretly says old prayers to pagan gods. She knows that her family has a lot to lose if the church finds out about how they worship pagan gods.
I was positively surprised by the quality of the dialogues between the characters, because they were realistic. They felt believable and natural. The author seemed to have paid attention to them, which is great, because well written dialogues are an essential part of epic fantasy fiction.
The worldbuilding is good, because Tim Akers has created an interesting history for his fantasy world. It's great that the author gradually begins to reveal bits and pieces of the world and its history, because it feels natural to learn new things about the world as the story unfolds.
The conflicts between Tener and Suhdr are handled well, because there are tensions and some grudges have never truly been forgiven or forgotten. Suhdra is suffering from blight that affects fields and the forests are bare of game, but Tener doesn't have the same problems. Suhdr is a church-fearing land and the church has many followers there, but the northerners are more inclined to old pagan ways and some of them still hold the ancient rites close to their hearts. The southerners don't like those who worships pagan gods.
The church matters are portrayed excellently, because the author shows how much power the church has and how it meddles in people's lives. The church does good and banishes evil, but not everyone looks favourably upon its deeds and financial needs. It was fascinating to read about how people felt about the church and faith.
The supernatural elements are fascinating. Because I love the darker and weirder side of fantasy fiction, I enjoyed reading about the gheists. The author wrote well about them and what they do. It was interesting that the gheists were the gods of the old religion. Some of them had gone mad, because they were deprived of their sacrifices and abandoned to the quiet places of the forest. Tenerrans used to worship these spirits for generations before the crusaders arrived.
One of the best things about this fantasy novel is that it is genuinely intriguing and approriately intense. The author tells about the happenings in an engaging and fluid style that keeps the story flowing effortlessly. He delivers enough twists and surprises to keep readers fascinated by what happens to the characters.
The action scenes are well written and there's enough grittiness to please those who want roughness from their fantasy stories. In my opinion, Tim Akers writes good action scenes and knows how to keep them intriguing.
It's nice that this novel has maps. I personally consider maps to be an essential part of epic fantasy novels, because they give readers an opportunity to form a picture of the whole world.
I look forward to reading the sequel, The Iron Hound, because the author has created a good and strong story with interesting characters. I want to find out what happens next, because this novel offered an interesting glimpse into a world where conflicts abound and mad gods cause death and devastation.
This novel consists of every component that a good and entertaining fantasy novel should have - it contains action, grittiness, magic, intrigue and well created characters. It also has a few dark fantasy elements that will please readers who love the darker side of fantasy fiction.
I give this novel strong four stars on the scale from one to five stars, because the author has succeeded in creating a good story that deserves to be read. It's a satisfying reading experience. This may sound a bit strange and I'm not sure if all readers will agree with me on this, but this novel reads almost like an entertaining and exotic blend of Kate Elliott and Gail Z. Martin with a faint touch of Glen Cook.
The Pagan Night a strong start to The Hallowed War series, because it has heart, soul, style and grittiness in equal measure. It manages to be both entertaining and thrilling, and it never descends into mediocrity. It's a gripping read and should not be missed by fans of entertaining epic fantasy, because it is something familiar yet slightly different.
Highly entertaining epic fantasy!
August 31, 2025
Tim Akers has a very distinct style, focusing on really interesting magic system and world building with dark(er) stories. This book is no exception, and Akers delivers a great blend of similar and unique at the same time.
What makes the book familiar is the basic set up of the story. This book shares many similarities to “A Game of Thrones”. We have a north vs south conflict, old gods and new gods, and a high up official who travels to the north to ask the (warden) to come down to the big southern city, splitting up his family. And a war breaks out between the North and South that sets off a chain of events for the series. Sound familiar?
But that’s about where the similarities end. Where this book differs is its usage of gods and gheists and paganism and such. Not only does Akers explore themes about religion and the spirit realm, but he really explores making those spirits have magical powers and historical significance and a genuine threat. I actually do not have a good enough comparison for this part of the book, because of just how different it is from other fantasy.
The first part of the book is the part that most resembles “a Game of Thrones” (see above comparisons). However, part two becomes basically one extended war (battle) sequences that lasts for quite a while. Fans of battle sequences will enjoy it. I personally do not like reading this kind of action a lot in books, so it didn’t appeal to me. But the third part of the book becomes its own story borrowing themes explored from various fantasy series (WOT, Runelords, GOT), and also going its own really unique place (see paragraph on spirits/gheists/gods).
While I enjoyed the general world structure and the main characters of Malcom, Ian, Gwen, Elsa, and Lucas, I thought the spirits stuff was just a little too much overboard for my taste. I enjoyed learning about how the church operated here and the corruption and loyalty people had, but the actual spirits stuff was just too into “hard magic system” for my taste. But I do believe fans of hard magic systems will eat this stuff up!
I also really enjoyed seeing Ian’s worldview challenged in the latter portion of the book, as well as Friar Lucas’ complex relationship with his worldview.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read that has some really strong elements that make me want to continue. But I do fear whether the rest of the series will put such an emphasis on the “gheists” that this one did. I’ll give this one an 8 out of 10.
What makes the book familiar is the basic set up of the story. This book shares many similarities to “A Game of Thrones”. We have a north vs south conflict, old gods and new gods, and a high up official who travels to the north to ask the (warden) to come down to the big southern city, splitting up his family. And a war breaks out between the North and South that sets off a chain of events for the series. Sound familiar?
But that’s about where the similarities end. Where this book differs is its usage of gods and gheists and paganism and such. Not only does Akers explore themes about religion and the spirit realm, but he really explores making those spirits have magical powers and historical significance and a genuine threat. I actually do not have a good enough comparison for this part of the book, because of just how different it is from other fantasy.
The first part of the book is the part that most resembles “a Game of Thrones” (see above comparisons). However, part two becomes basically one extended war (battle) sequences that lasts for quite a while. Fans of battle sequences will enjoy it. I personally do not like reading this kind of action a lot in books, so it didn’t appeal to me. But the third part of the book becomes its own story borrowing themes explored from various fantasy series (WOT, Runelords, GOT), and also going its own really unique place (see paragraph on spirits/gheists/gods).
While I enjoyed the general world structure and the main characters of Malcom, Ian, Gwen, Elsa, and Lucas, I thought the spirits stuff was just a little too much overboard for my taste. I enjoyed learning about how the church operated here and the corruption and loyalty people had, but the actual spirits stuff was just too into “hard magic system” for my taste. But I do believe fans of hard magic systems will eat this stuff up!
I also really enjoyed seeing Ian’s worldview challenged in the latter portion of the book, as well as Friar Lucas’ complex relationship with his worldview.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read that has some really strong elements that make me want to continue. But I do fear whether the rest of the series will put such an emphasis on the “gheists” that this one did. I’ll give this one an 8 out of 10.
May 9, 2016
Very interesting mix of magic, politics and religion.
The Teren north, most recently converted to the new religion, sits on the edge of the pagan territory. Suhdra to the south, was the earliest area conquered by the followers of Strife and Cinder, the newest gods.
But the old religion won't go quietly,
The gheists were the gods of the old religion, the spirits of stream and forest that the Tenerrans had worshiped for generations before the crusades. Now deprived of their sacrifices and abandoned to the quiet places of the forest, many of those spirits had gone mad. They manifested in strange and unexpected places, sometimes demanding tribute, other times taking their sacrifice in blood and fire.
Various kingdoms of the North are always suspect in the eyes of their counterparts to the South. Political intrigue, vow knights, priests of the Inquisition and the gods of old;
It was a hound, as big as a horse, bigger. Its tangled fur was twined through with twigs and leaves, its dirty coat cluttered with vines that seemed to grow through its body. It was black, black as night, and its bearded jaw hung open exposing scores of star-white teeth, each as big and as sharp as a gardener’s hook.
The hound passed close to him, nearly brushing his trembling arm with its hulking shoulder. It smelled like freshly tilled earth and old, damp leaves left under the forest canopy for seasons without end.
And then it was gone. The night came back, the insects filling the world with their song, the creek returning to life. The forest peeled away from the gheist’s path, leaving a road through the trees. Ian stumbled forward, up a hill, the ground nothing but smooth grass. As he crested the summit, the trail closed behind him, the trees creaking as they returned to their natural place, the earth groaning and shifting beneath his feet.
all make for an intriguing world with plenty of action and political/religious machinations.
7/10
The Teren north, most recently converted to the new religion, sits on the edge of the pagan territory. Suhdra to the south, was the earliest area conquered by the followers of Strife and Cinder, the newest gods.
But the old religion won't go quietly,
The gheists were the gods of the old religion, the spirits of stream and forest that the Tenerrans had worshiped for generations before the crusades. Now deprived of their sacrifices and abandoned to the quiet places of the forest, many of those spirits had gone mad. They manifested in strange and unexpected places, sometimes demanding tribute, other times taking their sacrifice in blood and fire.
Various kingdoms of the North are always suspect in the eyes of their counterparts to the South. Political intrigue, vow knights, priests of the Inquisition and the gods of old;
It was a hound, as big as a horse, bigger. Its tangled fur was twined through with twigs and leaves, its dirty coat cluttered with vines that seemed to grow through its body. It was black, black as night, and its bearded jaw hung open exposing scores of star-white teeth, each as big and as sharp as a gardener’s hook.
The hound passed close to him, nearly brushing his trembling arm with its hulking shoulder. It smelled like freshly tilled earth and old, damp leaves left under the forest canopy for seasons without end.
And then it was gone. The night came back, the insects filling the world with their song, the creek returning to life. The forest peeled away from the gheist’s path, leaving a road through the trees. Ian stumbled forward, up a hill, the ground nothing but smooth grass. As he crested the summit, the trail closed behind him, the trees creaking as they returned to their natural place, the earth groaning and shifting beneath his feet.
all make for an intriguing world with plenty of action and political/religious machinations.
7/10
June 6, 2016
I've been meaning for months to write this review--ever since the nights I stayed up late to finish it. The book is definitely a page-turner, with complex characters reacting realistically to complex problems in their world. I have really enjoyed Akers' previous works; he does an excellent job of world-building and character development, but precisely for those reasons, his short fiction was very frustrating because I was allowed only a small glimpse into a fascinating world. I always felt that the world of each of Akers' stories had so many other possible stories within it. In reading this novel I felt more satisfied with the ability to explore the world Akers created, and I'm really looking forward to the next two novels.
The sword-fighting image on the cover may be misleading to some readers and might cause some to overlook the novel (I know I wouldn't have picked it up if I hadn't already been familiar with the author). That would be a mistake. Yes, the book contains some violence, but that's not the focus of the story, and in fact nothing happens gratuitously, whether violent, sexual, magical, etc.--nothing feels like it's been added forcibly to keep the plot going. Female readers in particular will be pleased (and really all readers should be) to note that the story includes female warriors as a matter of course rather than having just one role-defying female warrior as an anomaly. While female warriors are less common than male warriors in the world of The Pagan Night, becoming a warrior is a valid and acceptable choice for a woman. That's just one of the ways in which Akers' characters demonstrate true human complexity and variability rather than conforming to stereotypes, whether gender-related or otherwise.
Whether you read a lot of fantasy fiction or not, if you enjoy good writing with well-developed characters in a well-paced and riveting plot, then you will not regret buying this book.
The sword-fighting image on the cover may be misleading to some readers and might cause some to overlook the novel (I know I wouldn't have picked it up if I hadn't already been familiar with the author). That would be a mistake. Yes, the book contains some violence, but that's not the focus of the story, and in fact nothing happens gratuitously, whether violent, sexual, magical, etc.--nothing feels like it's been added forcibly to keep the plot going. Female readers in particular will be pleased (and really all readers should be) to note that the story includes female warriors as a matter of course rather than having just one role-defying female warrior as an anomaly. While female warriors are less common than male warriors in the world of The Pagan Night, becoming a warrior is a valid and acceptable choice for a woman. That's just one of the ways in which Akers' characters demonstrate true human complexity and variability rather than conforming to stereotypes, whether gender-related or otherwise.
Whether you read a lot of fantasy fiction or not, if you enjoy good writing with well-developed characters in a well-paced and riveting plot, then you will not regret buying this book.
February 22, 2016
This is a great start to a new epic kinda sorta darkish fantasy series. I apologize first and foremost, I am kind of down and sick so this week's reviews wont be very long.
Easiest way to describe this book is classic epic fantasy with a Celtic middle ages flair, if you are a Game of Thrones person, this will be all up in your face, you will dig it tons.
Great action, very interesting world, and I care about the characters, worth your time and money to read.
Easiest way to describe this book is classic epic fantasy with a Celtic middle ages flair, if you are a Game of Thrones person, this will be all up in your face, you will dig it tons.
Great action, very interesting world, and I care about the characters, worth your time and money to read.
January 11, 2016
I get a little nervous when starting to read a new epic fantasy novel; I have a whole world to learn about and understand, as well as new characters and plots to remember as the book unfolds. There are a lot of epic fantasy stories out there and this book from author Tim Akers is the first in a new series of novels, so any help to ease me into the story would have been nice.
There's an obligatory map to make sure you know where you are - which, as it happens, I simply didn't need as I didn't feel that geography played a huge part in the story - and another map that details the battle lines that have been formed for a conflict, which was a little annoying as that tells me that there's a huge fight on it's way, so there's a little of the mystery of what's to come a ruined straight away.
Along with the uninspiring cover, which is a fine piece of art but I feel lacks the atmosphere and imagery that's inside the book, things did not bode well.
However, the book got off to a pretty good start. A mysterious figure unleashes a powerful gheist, an old god that is no longer worshipped, that travels the land causing trouble - a neat idea, and handled really well in the book with men of the Church hunting them out, and the people knowing they're a threat and protecting themselves accordingly. It's as if there was a period of history where devils and demons were driven out by the Church, and not in a metaphorical sense, but physically and at great cost. This makes for an intriguing and somewhat colourful world, but also a relatable one.
On the back of these annoying old gods we have an age-old conflict between the south and the north; the south are a Church-fearing land, while the north seem to hold on to their pagan past. Tensions are brewing between the two lands and Malcolm Blakley of the north, a hero of a previous war that almost tore the land apart, and his son Ian are caught in the middle. In addition, a hunter named Gwen Adair joins the fray to try to save the day.
Now, this is all well and good - you've got your age-old conflicts, war brewing (which you know is pretty much guaranteed to boil over into conflict, thanks to that map in the front of the book) and characters with some depth all thrown into the mix. The relationship between Malcolm and his son is familiar but different; they're at loggerheads and not because Malcolm is some damn big hero who wants his son to follow him, but because Malcolm knows the horrors of war and Ian wants to make his mark, and throws himself into danger almost haphazardly. Its a great relationship between the grizzled war veteran who knows the truth, and the young warrior who knows the glory.
Then there's Gwen, who I really hoped to have a larger part in the story other than strong-willed lady with a bow, but I never really felt she was fleshed out very well and she feels a little wasted. Perhaps I'm selling her short, and perhaps her story gets more complicated as the Hallowed War unfolds. Perhaps, with all the gheists, raging Inquisitors, gory body horror and potential wars going on I simply lost sight of her character, but if she was a stronger character then I'm sure she would have stood out a little more.
Tim Akers has a great ear for dialogue and it sits well with his descriptive narrative. The conversations feel natural and the exposition - a pet hate of mine, although I'm well aware of it's necessity - is handled well. The descriptions are lengthy enough to be informative but short enough so that you don't feel like you're reading about every blade of grass in the field. This means that there's a lot going on and, in the first half of this fast-paced book especially, the large canvas that Tim has created has been given some broad strokes and the scene has been set for what promises to be an entertaining series of books.
My issues with the battle map and Gwen Adair aside, this is a good book and at no time was I bored or frustrated. I started each chapter eager to know what was coming and I look forward to the following volumes. The Pagan Night is an epic fantasy story with action, intrigue and a good story, and that's what you want in a fantasy novel of this type.
Recommended.
There's an obligatory map to make sure you know where you are - which, as it happens, I simply didn't need as I didn't feel that geography played a huge part in the story - and another map that details the battle lines that have been formed for a conflict, which was a little annoying as that tells me that there's a huge fight on it's way, so there's a little of the mystery of what's to come a ruined straight away.
Along with the uninspiring cover, which is a fine piece of art but I feel lacks the atmosphere and imagery that's inside the book, things did not bode well.
However, the book got off to a pretty good start. A mysterious figure unleashes a powerful gheist, an old god that is no longer worshipped, that travels the land causing trouble - a neat idea, and handled really well in the book with men of the Church hunting them out, and the people knowing they're a threat and protecting themselves accordingly. It's as if there was a period of history where devils and demons were driven out by the Church, and not in a metaphorical sense, but physically and at great cost. This makes for an intriguing and somewhat colourful world, but also a relatable one.
On the back of these annoying old gods we have an age-old conflict between the south and the north; the south are a Church-fearing land, while the north seem to hold on to their pagan past. Tensions are brewing between the two lands and Malcolm Blakley of the north, a hero of a previous war that almost tore the land apart, and his son Ian are caught in the middle. In addition, a hunter named Gwen Adair joins the fray to try to save the day.
Now, this is all well and good - you've got your age-old conflicts, war brewing (which you know is pretty much guaranteed to boil over into conflict, thanks to that map in the front of the book) and characters with some depth all thrown into the mix. The relationship between Malcolm and his son is familiar but different; they're at loggerheads and not because Malcolm is some damn big hero who wants his son to follow him, but because Malcolm knows the horrors of war and Ian wants to make his mark, and throws himself into danger almost haphazardly. Its a great relationship between the grizzled war veteran who knows the truth, and the young warrior who knows the glory.
Then there's Gwen, who I really hoped to have a larger part in the story other than strong-willed lady with a bow, but I never really felt she was fleshed out very well and she feels a little wasted. Perhaps I'm selling her short, and perhaps her story gets more complicated as the Hallowed War unfolds. Perhaps, with all the gheists, raging Inquisitors, gory body horror and potential wars going on I simply lost sight of her character, but if she was a stronger character then I'm sure she would have stood out a little more.
Tim Akers has a great ear for dialogue and it sits well with his descriptive narrative. The conversations feel natural and the exposition - a pet hate of mine, although I'm well aware of it's necessity - is handled well. The descriptions are lengthy enough to be informative but short enough so that you don't feel like you're reading about every blade of grass in the field. This means that there's a lot going on and, in the first half of this fast-paced book especially, the large canvas that Tim has created has been given some broad strokes and the scene has been set for what promises to be an entertaining series of books.
My issues with the battle map and Gwen Adair aside, this is a good book and at no time was I bored or frustrated. I started each chapter eager to know what was coming and I look forward to the following volumes. The Pagan Night is an epic fantasy story with action, intrigue and a good story, and that's what you want in a fantasy novel of this type.
Recommended.
August 6, 2018
Review originally posted on my blog: https://literaryleisha.wordpress.com/...
It’s a mix of politics, religion, magic and war.
I found the plot to be quite slow and unmemorable. It wasn’t a bad story, there’s nothing that stood out as bad, it just wasn’t super exciting.
The story is so average and unmemorable for the majority of it that I kept putting it down, it wasn’t gripping or keeping me on edge. It was just so bland, it’s just a generic fantasy story with nothing overly original.
There was good world-building, a lot of it too, it’s a pretty big book. The world isn’t anything special, it’s basically another medieval-fantasy kind of deal. The magic was interesting but again, not super unique or different.
The fighting scenes were pretty well written though, they were more engaging than the overall story. However, I feel, since it was a pretty big book, it could’ve benefited from being edited down, some parts dragged too much. I’d put this book down for ages with not a lot of desire to pick it back up, I even started reading another book.
The story is kind of like Game of Throne, there’s friction between the North and the South and an impending war. There are old gods and new ones, in this world Paganism is the ruled out religion. The North was Pagan but have taken on the new religion of the South. (Which if the name was actually mentioned, I don’t remember it.)
Characters: I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, none of stood out or were overly likeable. A few did grow on me towards the end and I am interested in seeing where their stories go so I will continue to book two.
It’s a mix of politics, religion, magic and war.
I found the plot to be quite slow and unmemorable. It wasn’t a bad story, there’s nothing that stood out as bad, it just wasn’t super exciting.
The story is so average and unmemorable for the majority of it that I kept putting it down, it wasn’t gripping or keeping me on edge. It was just so bland, it’s just a generic fantasy story with nothing overly original.
There was good world-building, a lot of it too, it’s a pretty big book. The world isn’t anything special, it’s basically another medieval-fantasy kind of deal. The magic was interesting but again, not super unique or different.
The fighting scenes were pretty well written though, they were more engaging than the overall story. However, I feel, since it was a pretty big book, it could’ve benefited from being edited down, some parts dragged too much. I’d put this book down for ages with not a lot of desire to pick it back up, I even started reading another book.
The story is kind of like Game of Throne, there’s friction between the North and the South and an impending war. There are old gods and new ones, in this world Paganism is the ruled out religion. The North was Pagan but have taken on the new religion of the South. (Which if the name was actually mentioned, I don’t remember it.)
Characters: I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, none of stood out or were overly likeable. A few did grow on me towards the end and I am interested in seeing where their stories go so I will continue to book two.
November 1, 2018
1 star. DNF. Aimless Game of Thrones ripoff with too many POV by characters who hold no interest
June 26, 2019
It took me a while to get into it, because there are a lot of Points of View and at first, I didn't know the characters. But by the third act I couldn't put it down. It's that good. So if you're a fan of complex, multi-POV fantasy and like a bit of a slow build, this is the book for you.
Suitable for fans who like the complexity and big world building of Game of Thrones, but could do without the sex.
Suitable for fans who like the complexity and big world building of Game of Thrones, but could do without the sex.
November 29, 2024
A satisfactory dark fantasy read blending the political scheming, backstabbing and intrigues of A Song of Ice and Fire with the supernatural, more monstrous elements of Dragon Age Origins or Diablo II, as noble families plot and make alliances, corrupt priests and ambitious inquisitors seek ever greater power over the masses, and malevolent demons rampage across the countryside...
Was recommended this series as a potential comp title for my own writing and picked them up recently in a bookshop for next to nothing: a compelling story with Malcolm, Sorcha and Ian Blakeley coming across as more likeable expies of Ned, Catelyn and Robb Stark, and some unexpected moments that took me completely by surprise (a certain arrogant duke's death definitely made me very happy...)
A little convoluted in places, but overall a solid start to the series: this book had me hooked and I can't wait to start on the sequel!
Was recommended this series as a potential comp title for my own writing and picked them up recently in a bookshop for next to nothing: a compelling story with Malcolm, Sorcha and Ian Blakeley coming across as more likeable expies of Ned, Catelyn and Robb Stark, and some unexpected moments that took me completely by surprise (a certain arrogant duke's death definitely made me very happy...)
A little convoluted in places, but overall a solid start to the series: this book had me hooked and I can't wait to start on the sequel!
March 31, 2019
The Pagan Night details a beautifully built world full of intrigue, betrayal, mad gods and heroes. Tim Akers has put together a vividly fleshed-out adventure with a truly epic ending. What a ride!
December 19, 2020
This book was great. I was immediately enthralled by every story of every major character. Incredibly vivid battle scenes, gods, knights on fire... Great story! I am excited to continue the trilogy.
Want to read
January 20, 2022I read a bit of this. It is interesting. But I am not in a place for a world building series right now.
September 6, 2017
(Two-and-a-half stars) Akers put together a full world in "The Pagan Night" including political factions, religious heretics, family squabbles, and (my favorite part) ancient, elemental spirit gods of the land. The story kept me entertained, but there were parts of the book that were frustrating to get through. Point of view shifts within chapters, sometimes within scenes, made it difficult to feel close to some of the characters. And continuous arguing between Ian and his father made them both much less sympathetic than they should have been--particularly Ian. It took me months to get through the first of the Hallowed War book, and finishing it have decided that it didn't keep me engaged enough to continue with the series.
November 6, 2020
Clunky is the word. From spelling Friar as Frair, to the uneven characterisations (unless Akers's point is that religion makes you an intolerant bigot), this book had many stumbling blocks to affect my enjoyment of the effortful world-building. Lucas and Elsa have the most interesting plotline. Ian's daddy issues are annoying to read about (as are most bratty characters before their development).
October 27, 2017
I say thank you and goodbye to this series. It's not awful, but I just never got a chance to warm to the characters before there was war and all hell broke loose. I thought it was a pretty cool idea otherwise... pagan worshippers protecting actual deities, fallen priests of the accepted faith... Ah well.
November 5, 2017
A enjoyable if deeply flawed book kept my interests for the most part the magic system does not live up to the heights of a Sanderson or McClellan novel , and at times feels very clunky and confusing at times . Still I enjoyed it enough to read the rest of the series
September 7, 2020
This was a generally enjoyable fantasy book, although at times I felt it to be a bit jumbled and not fully fleshed out. I give it a moderate recommendation for fans of swords-and-horses fantasy, and I'm interested enough in what happens to have the next two books in the series on my to-be-read shelf.
The first in the Hallowed War series features two main nations with a long history of war between them. Tener, a land of loosely affiliated tribes north of the long Tallow River, appears to be a heavily forested and fertile land with a historical religious and cultural connection with nature spirits known as "gheists." This land is predominantly led by two families: Malcolm Blakley, lord of Hound Hallow, his strong and intelligent wife Sorcha, and son Ian; and Colm Adair, lord of Fen Gate, and his daughter Gwen, a huntress with her own connection to the old faith. South of the Tallow lies Suhdra, a nation whose dominant (and dominating) religion focuses on the twin gods of Lady Strife (the sun and summer) and Lord Cinder (the moon and winter). Before the events of this book, a war between the two nations had resulted in the Tenerrans at least nominally giving up their nature religion and becoming faithful to the Suhdrin Church; however, many of the Tenerran lords secretly keep belief in and icons of their old faith hidden in dark recesses. During an uneasy peace between nations, the Suhdrins use the inquisitor arm of their church to hunt down and destroy any gheists in their territory, and are shocked to find themselves with lands in drought and full of failing crops, leading the Suhdrin lords on the Tenerran border, especially Gabriell Halverdt, lord of Greenhall, to look to the north for the resources they need. Meanwhile, factions within the southern Church are secretly studying the magics associated with the northern nature religion, bringing forth dangerous beings, and manipulating the Suhdrins to instigate a war. The northern tribes must band together to confront the southern aggression, all while combating supernatural and religious forces.
The plot was mostly good, although it was a bit confused and jumbled at times. There's plenty of military and magical action, although at times the military scenes are given brief descriptions (a few sentences, followed by "cleaved his way through," or "all of a sudden the sentries were dead and here I am floating naked in a lake") and the sources of magical activity aren't always explained (vague references to "naetheric energy" or "black tendrils of power," but no real description of the sources or rules of magic in this world). It also seemed like some magical activities required a special type of person, training, or vow, while others that are just as powerful (or even more powerful) could be done by anyone with a willingness to shed some blood. And, in the realm of "how do you get Storm Troopers to work for you," there's a complete lack of explanation of why some members of the antagonists' side would continue to serve their masters even after those masters had revealed their treachery of their own stated beliefs and their all-consuming evil. I also found it odd that in the middle of battles, sieges, and forced marches to escape slaughter, trained soldiers keep going to sleep at night after removing their armor -- seriously, people get caught unguarded (or even naked) a large handful of times in this book. These problems are enough to take away a star from a full 5-star review. But that said, there were some good action scenes, and some compelling characters, and some interesting old-fashioned good-vs-evil confrontations, so I generally enjoyed the plot.
There were a few editorial issues that plagued me, though: lots of split infinitives, a smattering of subject/verb disagreements (like "the locks of her hair was twisted"), an inconsistent use of both "myriad"/"myriad of" and "couple"/"couple of." It wasn't a horrible example of writing, but it could have been cleaned up significantly, so I feel another star has to be deducted.
Overall, this was an interesting enough story that I've already ordered the next 2 books in the series, although I sincerely hope that some of the plot confusion and editorial mishaps are cleaned up in later books. I'll give it a mild recommendation for fans of fantasy novels.
The first in the Hallowed War series features two main nations with a long history of war between them. Tener, a land of loosely affiliated tribes north of the long Tallow River, appears to be a heavily forested and fertile land with a historical religious and cultural connection with nature spirits known as "gheists." This land is predominantly led by two families: Malcolm Blakley, lord of Hound Hallow, his strong and intelligent wife Sorcha, and son Ian; and Colm Adair, lord of Fen Gate, and his daughter Gwen, a huntress with her own connection to the old faith. South of the Tallow lies Suhdra, a nation whose dominant (and dominating) religion focuses on the twin gods of Lady Strife (the sun and summer) and Lord Cinder (the moon and winter). Before the events of this book, a war between the two nations had resulted in the Tenerrans at least nominally giving up their nature religion and becoming faithful to the Suhdrin Church; however, many of the Tenerran lords secretly keep belief in and icons of their old faith hidden in dark recesses. During an uneasy peace between nations, the Suhdrins use the inquisitor arm of their church to hunt down and destroy any gheists in their territory, and are shocked to find themselves with lands in drought and full of failing crops, leading the Suhdrin lords on the Tenerran border, especially Gabriell Halverdt, lord of Greenhall, to look to the north for the resources they need. Meanwhile, factions within the southern Church are secretly studying the magics associated with the northern nature religion, bringing forth dangerous beings, and manipulating the Suhdrins to instigate a war. The northern tribes must band together to confront the southern aggression, all while combating supernatural and religious forces.
The plot was mostly good, although it was a bit confused and jumbled at times. There's plenty of military and magical action, although at times the military scenes are given brief descriptions (a few sentences, followed by "cleaved his way through," or "all of a sudden the sentries were dead and here I am floating naked in a lake") and the sources of magical activity aren't always explained (vague references to "naetheric energy" or "black tendrils of power," but no real description of the sources or rules of magic in this world). It also seemed like some magical activities required a special type of person, training, or vow, while others that are just as powerful (or even more powerful) could be done by anyone with a willingness to shed some blood. And, in the realm of "how do you get Storm Troopers to work for you," there's a complete lack of explanation of why some members of the antagonists' side would continue to serve their masters even after those masters had revealed their treachery of their own stated beliefs and their all-consuming evil. I also found it odd that in the middle of battles, sieges, and forced marches to escape slaughter, trained soldiers keep going to sleep at night after removing their armor -- seriously, people get caught unguarded (or even naked) a large handful of times in this book. These problems are enough to take away a star from a full 5-star review. But that said, there were some good action scenes, and some compelling characters, and some interesting old-fashioned good-vs-evil confrontations, so I generally enjoyed the plot.
There were a few editorial issues that plagued me, though: lots of split infinitives, a smattering of subject/verb disagreements (like "the locks of her hair was twisted"), an inconsistent use of both "myriad"/"myriad of" and "couple"/"couple of." It wasn't a horrible example of writing, but it could have been cleaned up significantly, so I feel another star has to be deducted.
Overall, this was an interesting enough story that I've already ordered the next 2 books in the series, although I sincerely hope that some of the plot confusion and editorial mishaps are cleaned up in later books. I'll give it a mild recommendation for fans of fantasy novels.
December 29, 2018
Enjoyed this. Not perfect, but quite good. Akers is well ahead of many of his peers in that he understands the centrality of religion in a medieval-influenced setting. There is a respectable amount of recent history in the background, but I'm surprised that this is about as far as it goes. I imagine these people have thoughts about the creation of their world and the point of their lives and faith in their gods, but that's never really talked about, which is odd, given the centrality of faith and religion to the story. It's even more odd in the light of the fairly high levels of conviction and zeal in so many of the characters.
The gods themselves are interesting, with the civilized Celestial gods Cinder (lunar) and Strife (solar) coexisting with the gheists, the previous and more numerous deities who are tied to the land itself and specific localities. The former are benevolent if stern and often warlike (or at their followers are), while the latter, starved of most worship and sacrifice since the Celestial crusade, are now furious, hungry, and hopelessly insane, and their manifestations in the living world are so inevitably deadly that the Celestial church has an order of inquisitors dedicated to hunting down and ending their worship. These are accompanied by an order of paladins, commonly called 'vow knights', but holding the awesome formal title of "The Knights of the Winter Sun" - who provide the steel to send the gheists back into the netherworld. Both the gheists and the Celestial gods have considerable supernatural power at their disposal, so they are all pretty clearly real. The fact that the fully Celestial land of Sudhra is having severe problems with its harvests and the health of the land (while semi-pagan Tener does not) is telling but odd - if the gheists are vital to the health of the land itself, why didn't Sudhra start having problems earlier? Why does Tener seem unaffected, if it's seen a sharp decline in pagan worship? Why do Cinder and Strife have no apparent control over the health of the land?
The gheists were wild and hungry even when they were regularly worshipped, and it sounds as though the Celestial inquisition is not above torture and incarceration, so no one's hands are clean here.
The characters (and there are many) are pretty well-drawn. I was less enamoured of our dual leads than the supporting cast. Ian was certainly brave and capable, but his headstrong and arrogant nature was off putting. Gwen was more likable, but it's kind of aggravating to see yet another pagan lead be more sensible and decent than a religious lead. Malcolm I liked. He had conviction. My favorite characters were the inquisitor Frair Lucas and his vow knight Sir Elsa, and the other reviews I read seem to favor them as well.
It's an interesting mix of war, religion, growing up, family, loyalty, and stark horror. Not for kids. But darned if I'm not sucked in. Well done, Mr. Akers - you've convinced me to pick up the next volume.
The gods themselves are interesting, with the civilized Celestial gods Cinder (lunar) and Strife (solar) coexisting with the gheists, the previous and more numerous deities who are tied to the land itself and specific localities. The former are benevolent if stern and often warlike (or at their followers are), while the latter, starved of most worship and sacrifice since the Celestial crusade, are now furious, hungry, and hopelessly insane, and their manifestations in the living world are so inevitably deadly that the Celestial church has an order of inquisitors dedicated to hunting down and ending their worship. These are accompanied by an order of paladins, commonly called 'vow knights', but holding the awesome formal title of "The Knights of the Winter Sun" - who provide the steel to send the gheists back into the netherworld. Both the gheists and the Celestial gods have considerable supernatural power at their disposal, so they are all pretty clearly real. The fact that the fully Celestial land of Sudhra is having severe problems with its harvests and the health of the land (while semi-pagan Tener does not) is telling but odd - if the gheists are vital to the health of the land itself, why didn't Sudhra start having problems earlier? Why does Tener seem unaffected, if it's seen a sharp decline in pagan worship? Why do Cinder and Strife have no apparent control over the health of the land?
The gheists were wild and hungry even when they were regularly worshipped, and it sounds as though the Celestial inquisition is not above torture and incarceration, so no one's hands are clean here.
The characters (and there are many) are pretty well-drawn. I was less enamoured of our dual leads than the supporting cast. Ian was certainly brave and capable, but his headstrong and arrogant nature was off putting. Gwen was more likable, but it's kind of aggravating to see yet another pagan lead be more sensible and decent than a religious lead. Malcolm I liked. He had conviction. My favorite characters were the inquisitor Frair Lucas and his vow knight Sir Elsa, and the other reviews I read seem to favor them as well.
It's an interesting mix of war, religion, growing up, family, loyalty, and stark horror. Not for kids. But darned if I'm not sucked in. Well done, Mr. Akers - you've convinced me to pick up the next volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2019
I'm fairly torn between giving this 3 or 4 stars, knowing that in my heart it's a 3.5 but I can't give that. On one side, I was very intrigued with the story. Its an us vs them thing, complicated by the Church/Inquisition. North, South complicated by Paganism. The North, relatively new to the Church, has ostensibly given up its Pagan religions and are getting along with the south. But, it is an uneasy relationship that has forces of anarchy looking to upset this delicate situation. The primary Gods of the Church are the Ying and Yang of Winter and Summer. Cinder and Strife represent these two seasons and each has their own followers that include Vow Nights and clergy.
As a backdrop to all of this, we find that there are gheists that rise and walk the land on certain days, and in certain patterns. These are manifestations of gods, both from the church and pagan, that ravage the land and people until this aspect is destroyed, sending the god back to the everrealm. Some of the houses even have hunters whose job is specifically to hunt these gheists.
The book opens with one of the gheists rising and causing problems that set off the fuse for civil unrest between north and south. Ultimately, it is this triggering event upon which the rest of the book is built upon.
I really liked the premise and the story as it wound up from that triggering event. I liked the characters and the ambiance of the novel throughout. For this reason, I gave it a four stars. What nagged at me was the oftimes jarring transition at the chapters from one character to the next. This might be me wanting to stay with the character of the last chapter and not realizing the scene had changed putting us with another point of view. But I read enough books that does this very thing to suspect that the author had the challenge that many characters are in similar settings and it was hard to ease into a new POV without being blatant in the first sentence. So, I'd go a few paragraphs thinking we were in one POV when in fact we had changed to another, and I'd have to re-read or rethink through the paragraphs to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Also, I think there are a few concepts that were not, are not explained as well as they should be for the setting.
Please don't let this stop you. The book itself is very good. It has some unique ideas overlaying some bedrock ideals. I really enjoyed it and look forward to book 2.
As a backdrop to all of this, we find that there are gheists that rise and walk the land on certain days, and in certain patterns. These are manifestations of gods, both from the church and pagan, that ravage the land and people until this aspect is destroyed, sending the god back to the everrealm. Some of the houses even have hunters whose job is specifically to hunt these gheists.
The book opens with one of the gheists rising and causing problems that set off the fuse for civil unrest between north and south. Ultimately, it is this triggering event upon which the rest of the book is built upon.
I really liked the premise and the story as it wound up from that triggering event. I liked the characters and the ambiance of the novel throughout. For this reason, I gave it a four stars. What nagged at me was the oftimes jarring transition at the chapters from one character to the next. This might be me wanting to stay with the character of the last chapter and not realizing the scene had changed putting us with another point of view. But I read enough books that does this very thing to suspect that the author had the challenge that many characters are in similar settings and it was hard to ease into a new POV without being blatant in the first sentence. So, I'd go a few paragraphs thinking we were in one POV when in fact we had changed to another, and I'd have to re-read or rethink through the paragraphs to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Also, I think there are a few concepts that were not, are not explained as well as they should be for the setting.
Please don't let this stop you. The book itself is very good. It has some unique ideas overlaying some bedrock ideals. I really enjoyed it and look forward to book 2.
October 27, 2018
I'm honestly not sure what to make of this book. I enjoyed the read; I certainly wouldn't have read a 600+ page book I wasn't enjoying. However, I can't quite understand how I'm supposed to feel here.
If you've ever watched a religious debate between two religions, that's something like what's going on here. Only in this case very real evidence of both sides' gods are clear as day, but each side is still screaming that they are the right religion and those others are heretics and must die. Lots of zealotry and "fun" things like that.
I enjoyed the world building and explaination of religions, even if their followers could be nutcases (though I suppose that's true to life). There were a lot of well thought out characters, though it was getting close to a Game of Thrones level of confusion of names to remember. Both male and female knights were called "Sir," which didn't help matters any.
I liked Malcolm until .
Ian I found to be a petulent brat. He got mildly better toward the end. Gwen was slightly less so.
I think my favorite characters were Friar Lucas and Sir Elsa LaFey. Lucas was the most level-headed out of the lot. Elsa I instantly got the image of Gwendoline Christie's Brienne of Tarth in my brain and it never went away. Not that that's a bad thing.
If you've ever watched a religious debate between two religions, that's something like what's going on here. Only in this case very real evidence of both sides' gods are clear as day, but each side is still screaming that they are the right religion and those others are heretics and must die. Lots of zealotry and "fun" things like that.
I enjoyed the world building and explaination of religions, even if their followers could be nutcases (though I suppose that's true to life). There were a lot of well thought out characters, though it was getting close to a Game of Thrones level of confusion of names to remember. Both male and female knights were called "Sir," which didn't help matters any.
I liked Malcolm until .
Ian I found to be a petulent brat. He got mildly better toward the end. Gwen was slightly less so.
I think my favorite characters were Friar Lucas and Sir Elsa LaFey. Lucas was the most level-headed out of the lot. Elsa I instantly got the image of Gwendoline Christie's Brienne of Tarth in my brain and it never went away. Not that that's a bad thing.
April 4, 2024
I've been reading this on and off while on the train to or from work.
I finished on the way home from work yesterday and I'm not sure what to think.
The characters are a little flat. They seem to have overarching "personalities" and "wants/needs" but the wasn't a lot of depth. This wasn't a huge deal with the supporting characters, but the major players, like Ian, Gwen, Friar Lucas, and Sir LaFey it left me wanting.
Also, the world building started well, but then it seemed to fall off. I couldn't tell if that was because we were supposed to be learning about things as the characters learned (or didn't really learn).
The ending was a bit confusing. If I had been into the story more, then maybe it would have set the sequel up and left me really wanting to read it. Part of me does, just to see if things start to make sense, but I don't know if I'll make it around to reading book two with all the other options to read.
I finished on the way home from work yesterday and I'm not sure what to think.
The characters are a little flat. They seem to have overarching "personalities" and "wants/needs" but the wasn't a lot of depth. This wasn't a huge deal with the supporting characters, but the major players, like Ian, Gwen, Friar Lucas, and Sir LaFey it left me wanting.
Also, the world building started well, but then it seemed to fall off. I couldn't tell if that was because we were supposed to be learning about things as the characters learned (or didn't really learn).
The ending was a bit confusing. If I had been into the story more, then maybe it would have set the sequel up and left me really wanting to read it. Part of me does, just to see if things start to make sense, but I don't know if I'll make it around to reading book two with all the other options to read.
April 29, 2020
This book was thrilling, suspensful, and sction packed! This book covers a multitude of topics from war to religious influence to heresy. We were allowed to step into the shoes of characters from both sides of the war and see not only their motivations, but their feelings and intentions. The conflict took a long time to set up however and I almost got bored of it. But there are some great twists in the book that left me with my jaw dropped.
I gave this book five stars because of the intricacy of the characters relationships with each other and the substantial development that some of the characters undergo. The battle scenes however few, were very exiting. Overall amazing book and I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a great medevil style fantasy story.
I gave this book five stars because of the intricacy of the characters relationships with each other and the substantial development that some of the characters undergo. The battle scenes however few, were very exiting. Overall amazing book and I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a great medevil style fantasy story.
December 6, 2022
I enjoyed this book for the most part. As with most books that are a bit slower paced I struggled a little with retaining interest but that's nothing a snow day or a slow day at work won't fix. I'm usually not a terribly huge fan of religion in books but getting to see the gods or beings they call gods manifesting is intriguing and the way in which they do manifest even moreso. It's certainly a nice change of pace from your typical human based gods like you'd get from a greek or scandinavian pantheon. I do wish they'd flesh out exactly what the followers of these gods are capable of a little better. I like my magic systems to have very definite rules as to what can and can't be done and so far I'm seeing very little of that.
April 1, 2018
The book is interesting though not as gripping as some other fantasy novels I've read (except for the last quarter when the action becomes really engrossing). Tim Akers has a gift for describing surroundings: not too much detail but enough to make things really vivid. And his characters are well written enough to be sympathetic even when I feel they are being annoying and immature. And while the religious conflict is based on an old troupe, he pus an interesting spin on it. So, all in all, there was enough to keep me reading at a merry clip until things heated up, and I had trouble putting the book down. So, I'd recommend the book to fantasy lovers as worth it!
July 24, 2020
A random buy from the bookstore. I’ll probably get to book 2 at some point.
World full of brings called gods though they take the form of either nature spirits or demiurges who act like demons.
Malcolm has this odd loyalty to a church, it makes sense because he thinks the church can unite the people but the church has too much power and the church is Suhdrin. How he treats Fianna is gross.
Gwen isn’t that likeabke, and Ian is ok, realistic at least.
The world is so dark, is honestly terrifying.
World full of brings called gods though they take the form of either nature spirits or demiurges who act like demons.
Malcolm has this odd loyalty to a church, it makes sense because he thinks the church can unite the people but the church has too much power and the church is Suhdrin. How he treats Fianna is gross.
Gwen isn’t that likeabke, and Ian is ok, realistic at least.
The world is so dark, is honestly terrifying.
June 6, 2022
Way way too long and boring! The characters were unlikeable, but not in that fascinating, love to hate way that GRRM captures in Jamey Lannister. No, they were just boring, dumb kids. The world building was fine, but the plot meandered and plotted through miles of uncertain bogs and woods never staying long on anything intriguing.
This book should have been under 8 hours not over 20. The world building was good. In the hands of a better author or harsher editor, this could have been compelling but it just wasn't.
This book should have been under 8 hours not over 20. The world building was good. In the hands of a better author or harsher editor, this could have been compelling but it just wasn't.
November 29, 2023
This book was everything I was hoping it would be and more! It has officially been added as one of my favorites of all time and I’m so excited to see where the rest of this series goes! I loved the fact that it had multiple POVs and actually enjoyed all of them. Tim Akers really has a way of storytelling that keeps you interested all the way through! If you haven’t read this book yet do yourself a favor and just go ahead and buy the whole series while you’re at it you’ll want to binge this series all the way though
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews