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For Love of Their Children
A god fell from the sky, carving a line of blue fire across the night for weeks. Many followed it.
Flax brought his family as pilgrims, following the god north to the site where it landed. Among other pilgrims, it was easy to hide the fact that he was really no pilgrim at all but a fugitive. He thought to start a new life, a peaceful life with his wife, his children, his newest son. But his conscience weighed on him day by day. Every day of peace came at the cost of escaping justice.
Across the desert, in the kingdom of Hitai, another father worried about his own children. Ynn the king, knew his immortality hinged on being murdered and succeeded by one of his offspring. Yet none were ready for the task of ruling, and some were very much up to the task of murder. How to survive long enough to teach them wisdom?
But the god had plans for them all. It would throw them together, stretch them apart, remake them into warriors, heroes, and monsters. They would all do good things and bad. And how far will each of them go... ...for love of their children?
Flax brought his family as pilgrims, following the god north to the site where it landed. Among other pilgrims, it was easy to hide the fact that he was really no pilgrim at all but a fugitive. He thought to start a new life, a peaceful life with his wife, his children, his newest son. But his conscience weighed on him day by day. Every day of peace came at the cost of escaping justice.
Across the desert, in the kingdom of Hitai, another father worried about his own children. Ynn the king, knew his immortality hinged on being murdered and succeeded by one of his offspring. Yet none were ready for the task of ruling, and some were very much up to the task of murder. How to survive long enough to teach them wisdom?
But the god had plans for them all. It would throw them together, stretch them apart, remake them into warriors, heroes, and monsters. They would all do good things and bad. And how far will each of them go... ...for love of their children?
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
474 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 26, 2015
4 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Jason Dias
29 books44 followersJason Dias is a neurodivergent existential psychologist - that is, an autistic man whose fascination with the human condition led him to an advanced degree in said condition.
His work in speculative fiction is united by literary, existential themes. Rather than publish scholarly works to be read only by scholars who already agree with the author, Jason's early obsession with Asimov, Heinlein, and later Stephen King showed him another way to express philosophical thoughts. Novels and short stories are more accessible than academic journals.
Besides, he's been known to say, "If I have a choice between writing in APA style and being punched in the face, I ask, 'How hard?'"
Central to his existentialist philosophy is the notion that hope is only possible through despair. If we are unwilling to engage with truth and our harder emotions, our hope is merely wishful thinking.
"It doesn't really get better," he says. "But we do."
His work in speculative fiction is united by literary, existential themes. Rather than publish scholarly works to be read only by scholars who already agree with the author, Jason's early obsession with Asimov, Heinlein, and later Stephen King showed him another way to express philosophical thoughts. Novels and short stories are more accessible than academic journals.
Besides, he's been known to say, "If I have a choice between writing in APA style and being punched in the face, I ask, 'How hard?'"
Central to his existentialist philosophy is the notion that hope is only possible through despair. If we are unwilling to engage with truth and our harder emotions, our hope is merely wishful thinking.
"It doesn't really get better," he says. "But we do."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 9, 2023
Dark fantasy.
For Love of their Children lies somewhere between Conan the Barbarian and the Thomas Covenant series by author Stephen R. Donaldson, but structured like one of George RR Martin's interwoven-plot Rube Goldberg machines.
Or--heh--a Brandon Sanderson novel written by Albert Camus.
A lot of plots and point of view characters to keep track of; the greater part of the book feels like it's not progressing the larger plot forward but that's okay because you're reading a bunch of interconnected short stories in the style of Conan the Barbarian and who doesn't like those?; you stop and go, "wait...what..."; then a series of events unpacks itself and you're going, "WAIT WHAT NOW?" and finally you start laughing maniacally because it should have been obvious that THIS was where we were going all along.
A sort-of retelling of the history of ancient Egypt--or another world that was almost like ancient Egypt--or the gods of ancient Egypt--or none of those things; a sort-of tragedy in the ancient Greek sort, where you're not yelling "Don't go down into the basement!" at the characters, but "Don't be...you! Be someone else for five minutes! That's all it would take!...Oh, great, here we go..."
I particularly liked the fight scenes as being elegant character descriptions. Recommended if you like Robert E. Howard.
For Love of their Children lies somewhere between Conan the Barbarian and the Thomas Covenant series by author Stephen R. Donaldson, but structured like one of George RR Martin's interwoven-plot Rube Goldberg machines.
Or--heh--a Brandon Sanderson novel written by Albert Camus.
A lot of plots and point of view characters to keep track of; the greater part of the book feels like it's not progressing the larger plot forward but that's okay because you're reading a bunch of interconnected short stories in the style of Conan the Barbarian and who doesn't like those?; you stop and go, "wait...what..."; then a series of events unpacks itself and you're going, "WAIT WHAT NOW?" and finally you start laughing maniacally because it should have been obvious that THIS was where we were going all along.
A sort-of retelling of the history of ancient Egypt--or another world that was almost like ancient Egypt--or the gods of ancient Egypt--or none of those things; a sort-of tragedy in the ancient Greek sort, where you're not yelling "Don't go down into the basement!" at the characters, but "Don't be...you! Be someone else for five minutes! That's all it would take!...Oh, great, here we go..."
I particularly liked the fight scenes as being elegant character descriptions. Recommended if you like Robert E. Howard.
January 23, 2017
Egyptian mythology is one of my favorite subjects of study, so I was excited to read a work of fiction that takes place in an Egyptian mythology setting. In addition, I was really impressed with the uniqueness and complexity of the characters, as well as elements that appear to have a deeper underlying meaning. While there seems to be a deep philosophical meaning behind the story it's also a delightful and enjoyable read!
October 16, 2015
Great story with a unique story line. I can't wait for more!
March 30, 2016
Middle Earth meets Westeros in this rich fantasy epic!
In this fantasy novel where J.R.R. Tolkien meets George R.R. Martin, Dias has created a rich world teeming with love and violence, magic and realism, and various socio-political constructs. The characters--and there is an extensive lineup--were well-developed. I was on the fence about giving this book 4 or 5 stars. Though the prose could be tighter (I've read other of his works, and his writing is tighter there), and it takes a bit to wrap your head around the vast world Dias presents to us, I went with 5 stars because once you've got a foothold in this world, you don't want to leave. Just when I think I know where he's taking me, he veers off the path in another direction, leaving me pleasantly surprised at each turn. This is the first in a series; I'm hooked and waiting for the next one.
In this fantasy novel where J.R.R. Tolkien meets George R.R. Martin, Dias has created a rich world teeming with love and violence, magic and realism, and various socio-political constructs. The characters--and there is an extensive lineup--were well-developed. I was on the fence about giving this book 4 or 5 stars. Though the prose could be tighter (I've read other of his works, and his writing is tighter there), and it takes a bit to wrap your head around the vast world Dias presents to us, I went with 5 stars because once you've got a foothold in this world, you don't want to leave. Just when I think I know where he's taking me, he veers off the path in another direction, leaving me pleasantly surprised at each turn. This is the first in a series; I'm hooked and waiting for the next one.
March 19, 2016
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and it's totally different than the normal genera I read. That being said, I'm about halfway through the book and it is so good. It sucks me in and I always want to know what happens next, which to me is a mark of a good book! I love it so far and I can't wait to finish it! I'll update this when I finish but it's great so far! UPDATE: I just finished this book and it's great! I can't wait to read the next one and see where the story goes!
December 8, 2015
I won a copy of this book in the Goodreads giveaway. I just received it in the mail and cant wait to start it.
December 30, 2017
Complicated, Engrossing, Even Funny Sometimes
It has a large, fully devoped cast, a well-woven story with many strands, and enough of them hanging lose to keep weaving the saga. If you like fantasy myth on a large scale, this is a book for you.
It has a large, fully devoped cast, a well-woven story with many strands, and enough of them hanging lose to keep weaving the saga. If you like fantasy myth on a large scale, this is a book for you.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews