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The Chronicles of Stratus #1
Infernal
Stratus wakes in an unfamiliar place, with nothing but the knowledge that he is not human, with no memories of his past but possessing great strength, a powerful sorcery and the burning instinct to survive at any cost.
Embarking on a journey of self-discovery, he sets out across a landscape torn apart by the ten year war between the Kingdoms of Krandin and Penullin, now reaching new levels of savagery as a dark magic drives the world to the brink of destruction.
As his personality grows with each step he slowly uncovers the truth of what he has become and the unquenchable thirst for vengeance that has led him there.
A bold new voice in fantasy and a revolutionary new character.
Embarking on a journey of self-discovery, he sets out across a landscape torn apart by the ten year war between the Kingdoms of Krandin and Penullin, now reaching new levels of savagery as a dark magic drives the world to the brink of destruction.
As his personality grows with each step he slowly uncovers the truth of what he has become and the unquenchable thirst for vengeance that has led him there.
A bold new voice in fantasy and a revolutionary new character.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2016
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December 6, 2020
*Thank you to Netgalley and Solarisbooks for a digital copy of this book.
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
July 10, 2016
Infernal is a BOOM book. Yes. In that you finish it and go BOOM thats what real fantasy looks like.
So I’m reviewing it a month ahead of its publication – there is method in my madness (ok we’ll pretend there is) because fans of really banging fantasy books might like to clear the reading decks a little (I’m not silly enough to imagine you could all read your entire pile in waiting but just a bit) because when Infernal hits the shelves you definitely want to be diving right in there…
Sometimes these things can fall a little flat. You either have a highly imaginative world and characters that don’t quite hit the mark or vice versa. Not so with Infernal where the world building is imaginative, immersive and has a sharp authentic edge – then you get Stratus. Who really just keeps you reading even if its 3am and you have matchsticks keeping your eyes open. With his dry tone, ironic humour and truly engaging journey of discovery not only is Infernal utterly brilliant fantasy but also an honest to god page turner. And its a very shouty book. Mark de Jager has a habit of dropping in moments that make you go DAMN. Or similar. My mother might read this review…
Now of course thats not necessarily enough to make it go BOOM. The underneath of it all has to be gripping and Infernal is utterly gripping. You also need all the supporting cast to have a voice not just be the back up and Infernal is chock full of brilliantly drawn characters full of heart. I adored Lucien just as a thing – but its not just the group dynamic of the main portions of the narrative that works so well but even those you meet in passing are vibrant and engaging.
As for the story well, SO originally vivid, the author managing to give you all the standards you need and expect from great fantasy but throwing in a few extras just for good measure – at turns surprising and delightful and OOH magic. Did I say there was magic? Lots of wicked magic, sorcery and evil shenanigans. And things. Just beautiful.
When I got to the end I swore out loud on the bus. Which would be ok except it was a local bus full of people who know me. (Sorry Mum) – because well, I can’t tell you why obviously. Just don’t read the last few chapters on a bus. Or a train. This is one of those times I just wanted to read more dammit. Thats how it gets you.
Big big YAY and stuff. When August arrive put down your spell books and pick this one up. Highly Recommended
So I’m reviewing it a month ahead of its publication – there is method in my madness (ok we’ll pretend there is) because fans of really banging fantasy books might like to clear the reading decks a little (I’m not silly enough to imagine you could all read your entire pile in waiting but just a bit) because when Infernal hits the shelves you definitely want to be diving right in there…
Sometimes these things can fall a little flat. You either have a highly imaginative world and characters that don’t quite hit the mark or vice versa. Not so with Infernal where the world building is imaginative, immersive and has a sharp authentic edge – then you get Stratus. Who really just keeps you reading even if its 3am and you have matchsticks keeping your eyes open. With his dry tone, ironic humour and truly engaging journey of discovery not only is Infernal utterly brilliant fantasy but also an honest to god page turner. And its a very shouty book. Mark de Jager has a habit of dropping in moments that make you go DAMN. Or similar. My mother might read this review…
Now of course thats not necessarily enough to make it go BOOM. The underneath of it all has to be gripping and Infernal is utterly gripping. You also need all the supporting cast to have a voice not just be the back up and Infernal is chock full of brilliantly drawn characters full of heart. I adored Lucien just as a thing – but its not just the group dynamic of the main portions of the narrative that works so well but even those you meet in passing are vibrant and engaging.
As for the story well, SO originally vivid, the author managing to give you all the standards you need and expect from great fantasy but throwing in a few extras just for good measure – at turns surprising and delightful and OOH magic. Did I say there was magic? Lots of wicked magic, sorcery and evil shenanigans. And things. Just beautiful.
When I got to the end I swore out loud on the bus. Which would be ok except it was a local bus full of people who know me. (Sorry Mum) – because well, I can’t tell you why obviously. Just don’t read the last few chapters on a bus. Or a train. This is one of those times I just wanted to read more dammit. Thats how it gets you.
Big big YAY and stuff. When August arrive put down your spell books and pick this one up. Highly Recommended
June 16, 2016
Don't want to give any spoilers as the book isn't out yet but I read the ARC and I think Mark de Jager will soon be a favourite for fans of dark heroic fantasy.
November 19, 2020
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
Waking in a field, in an unfamiliar body and unable to move, Stratus is paralysed, vultures cawing, pecking at him, carrion for the crows. He has no recollection of where he is, who he is, what he’s doing there, where he’s from or even his own name, it is all a mystery to him, his mind is wiped clean, a blank slate. He is found by a group of people and slowly, feeling returns to his body and he remembers his name, but apart from his name and brief glimpses, flashes of memory that make no sense to him his memories as a whole remain lost to him, clouded and cloaked, hidden behind a veil and shrouded in mist. After being involved in an incident he runs from the group, gets captured, subsequently escapes and sets off, journeying in search of answers, hoping to uncover the truth, or, at least part of the truth as to who he really is.
There is a devastating war raging between the kingdom of Krandin and the Penullin empire. Led by The Worm Lord, the Penullin empire are gaining ground in Krandin, they have the numbers, they are razing Krandin cities to the ground, they have infiltrated the kingdom hoping to destroy it from within and they have a contingent of sorcerers and wizards aiding them in wreaking death and destruction across the land.
We follow along with Stratus as he walks a deadly path, journeying through the dangerous, war-torn and ravaged world with his destination the Krandin city of Falkenburg. He doesn’t know the name of the city, only the knowledge that a city with its large population and scholars seems like the likeliest place to find answers to the questions that are haunting him. Inside the city walls, he hopes that he will find the help that will allow him to piece together his fragmented memories, to unearth the secrets of his past that will allow him to remember who he is and why he awoke naked, immobile and suffering from amnesia in the middle of a field.
Stratus, a sorcerer is inhuman, he is something more, he is bigger and taller than others, darker-skinned, midnight black with shadow black nails, he is stronger than a normal human and far more resilient. He has a presence inside his mind, often rage-filled and craving visceral violence and vengeance that can turn him, from someone already adept at fighting due to his enhanced strength into a brutal killing machine. This presence, the beast within finds him waging an internal war with himself as he struggles to stay in control. He doesn’t justify his actions or his responses to others, he doesn’t see either the need or the point and he does some highly questionable and immoral things in the name of discovering who he is. He isn’t accustomed to a human body or human ways and he misunderstands human concepts, emotions and goes against social norms. He knows no better, he isn’t skilled at reading the situation and he doesn’t know the right or the wrong responses, how to act or the correct etiquette. Often, he is like a bull in a china shop, blundering in and opening his mouth. If you think along the lines of Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy then you would be on the right track. He can be quite flippant, blunt and brusque and, at times he is unintentionally hilarious. Some of his retorts can be very literal and it is highly amusing to see how he reacts and responds to certain things.
Infernal is the story of Stratus, a journey of self-discovery, a journey to solve the mystery of his past and to discover who he really is and what he really is. There is also more at play, a bigger picture that Stratus’s own story is entwined with including the war between the kingdom of Krandin and the Penullin empire, religion, magic, necromancy and politics that all have a role to play in the wider story that unfolds across the pages. Written in the first-person, we see the world through Stratus’s eyes. We learn at the same time as him, through each of his returning snippets of memory, through each location and through each of his conversations with other characters. As he travels, Stratus learns more about the world, its inhabitants and as the world opens up for Stratus so to does it open up for the reader. Likewise, as his memories come back to him, as he discovers more about himself, his past and his true identity the reader does too.
The magic in Infernal is carried by, connected through the Songlines, part of the energy of life, the same energy that gives life to all, they are part of nature, they help nourish, they help nurture. Magic isn’t bad or evil it is only turned, twisted to dark uses by those who wield it, those who themselves are evil, corrupted and the intent of the user shapes the intent of the magic, it is clay and the user the potter who moulds it.
De Jager has created a world that is drenched in darkness, gritty, well-depicted and Falkenburg, the location where most of the story takes place comes to grim-encrusted life. As a character Stratus is fantastic, a bit good, a bit bad, morally grey and an anti-hero to root for. I really liked Tatyana Henkman too, Tatyana is the kingdom of Krandin’s champion and the bodyguard to Prince Lucien. She is determined, fierce and strong. She is the perfect foil for Stratus and when she enters the fray and accompanies him on his search for answers she is a welcome addition to the story.
Infernal is fast-paced, speckled with intense action, magic, mayhem, a whole lot of bloody fun and entertaining as hell. Simply, if you like your fantasy, brutal, grim and dark with a vein of mystery running through the pages then you will love this book.
Waking in a field, in an unfamiliar body and unable to move, Stratus is paralysed, vultures cawing, pecking at him, carrion for the crows. He has no recollection of where he is, who he is, what he’s doing there, where he’s from or even his own name, it is all a mystery to him, his mind is wiped clean, a blank slate. He is found by a group of people and slowly, feeling returns to his body and he remembers his name, but apart from his name and brief glimpses, flashes of memory that make no sense to him his memories as a whole remain lost to him, clouded and cloaked, hidden behind a veil and shrouded in mist. After being involved in an incident he runs from the group, gets captured, subsequently escapes and sets off, journeying in search of answers, hoping to uncover the truth, or, at least part of the truth as to who he really is.
There is a devastating war raging between the kingdom of Krandin and the Penullin empire. Led by The Worm Lord, the Penullin empire are gaining ground in Krandin, they have the numbers, they are razing Krandin cities to the ground, they have infiltrated the kingdom hoping to destroy it from within and they have a contingent of sorcerers and wizards aiding them in wreaking death and destruction across the land.
We follow along with Stratus as he walks a deadly path, journeying through the dangerous, war-torn and ravaged world with his destination the Krandin city of Falkenburg. He doesn’t know the name of the city, only the knowledge that a city with its large population and scholars seems like the likeliest place to find answers to the questions that are haunting him. Inside the city walls, he hopes that he will find the help that will allow him to piece together his fragmented memories, to unearth the secrets of his past that will allow him to remember who he is and why he awoke naked, immobile and suffering from amnesia in the middle of a field.
Stratus, a sorcerer is inhuman, he is something more, he is bigger and taller than others, darker-skinned, midnight black with shadow black nails, he is stronger than a normal human and far more resilient. He has a presence inside his mind, often rage-filled and craving visceral violence and vengeance that can turn him, from someone already adept at fighting due to his enhanced strength into a brutal killing machine. This presence, the beast within finds him waging an internal war with himself as he struggles to stay in control. He doesn’t justify his actions or his responses to others, he doesn’t see either the need or the point and he does some highly questionable and immoral things in the name of discovering who he is. He isn’t accustomed to a human body or human ways and he misunderstands human concepts, emotions and goes against social norms. He knows no better, he isn’t skilled at reading the situation and he doesn’t know the right or the wrong responses, how to act or the correct etiquette. Often, he is like a bull in a china shop, blundering in and opening his mouth. If you think along the lines of Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy then you would be on the right track. He can be quite flippant, blunt and brusque and, at times he is unintentionally hilarious. Some of his retorts can be very literal and it is highly amusing to see how he reacts and responds to certain things.
Infernal is the story of Stratus, a journey of self-discovery, a journey to solve the mystery of his past and to discover who he really is and what he really is. There is also more at play, a bigger picture that Stratus’s own story is entwined with including the war between the kingdom of Krandin and the Penullin empire, religion, magic, necromancy and politics that all have a role to play in the wider story that unfolds across the pages. Written in the first-person, we see the world through Stratus’s eyes. We learn at the same time as him, through each of his returning snippets of memory, through each location and through each of his conversations with other characters. As he travels, Stratus learns more about the world, its inhabitants and as the world opens up for Stratus so to does it open up for the reader. Likewise, as his memories come back to him, as he discovers more about himself, his past and his true identity the reader does too.
The magic in Infernal is carried by, connected through the Songlines, part of the energy of life, the same energy that gives life to all, they are part of nature, they help nourish, they help nurture. Magic isn’t bad or evil it is only turned, twisted to dark uses by those who wield it, those who themselves are evil, corrupted and the intent of the user shapes the intent of the magic, it is clay and the user the potter who moulds it.
De Jager has created a world that is drenched in darkness, gritty, well-depicted and Falkenburg, the location where most of the story takes place comes to grim-encrusted life. As a character Stratus is fantastic, a bit good, a bit bad, morally grey and an anti-hero to root for. I really liked Tatyana Henkman too, Tatyana is the kingdom of Krandin’s champion and the bodyguard to Prince Lucien. She is determined, fierce and strong. She is the perfect foil for Stratus and when she enters the fray and accompanies him on his search for answers she is a welcome addition to the story.
Infernal is fast-paced, speckled with intense action, magic, mayhem, a whole lot of bloody fun and entertaining as hell. Simply, if you like your fantasy, brutal, grim and dark with a vein of mystery running through the pages then you will love this book.
July 26, 2020
Infernal is fun. It’s also over-the-top and pulpy, but I loved it. Stratus wakes in an unfamiliar place, with no memories of his past. And just in time before local vultures rip him into pieces to enjoy the meal.
Things escalate quickly, and Stratus finds himself engaged in an approaching war with evil forces. He has no interest in people and their conflicts, but the fickle hand of fate cares little for his plans and goals. Especially that he has peculiar, inhuman, skills. Preternatural strength and a knack for sorcery allow him to decimate his opponents. Those who try to trap and hurt him disappear in a shower of blood. Interestingly, tasting brains allows Stratus to gain insights into the past of his fallen opponents.
I need to emphasize that despite gritty and violent moments, Infernal remains darkly humorous. Sure, not everyone will enjoy the grim humor, but I found it hilarious. Like this exchange between Stratus and Tatyana, the second key character:
Tatyana stared at me without saying anything for long enough that I began to wonder whether I had said it aloud, or simply thought it. As I was about to repeat myself, she turned her gaze to the dead man, then back to me. ‘You’re going to eat him,’ she said. She made it sound like a statement.‘Just his brain,’ I corrected her.‘His brain.’‘Are you repeating everything for a reason?’
In a way, Stratus resembles Drax the Destroyer - he has no sense of humor, he doesn’t understand sarcasm or metaphors. Subtle jokes skip right past him. Something about his earnest tone and deadpan delivery is comic, especially in his back and forth with Tatyana. The smell is his strongest sense - Stratus sniffs people without realizing it’s creepy as hell for them, and it results in solid situational humor.
Because the story is told only through Stratus’ POV, we don’t get any unnecessary exposition. It also means secondary characters remain underdeveloped, but I didn’t mind. We discover the world through his eyes and nose, and because Stratus isn’t human, he sees things from an alien perspective. Frankly, the big reveal of his identity is hardly surprising, but I won’t spoil the fun for you. I’ll just say the foreshadowing, while not subtle and rather in-your-face, entertained me a lot and helped me to picture him.
Infernal gives an old school fantasy vibe but plays with tropes. It blends non-stop violent action with horror and grim humor. I couldn’t put it down, but I need to point out its weaker parts. Jager’s writing is uneven. I found his similes awkward and sentence structure surprising in places. The beginning, while entertaining, is repetitious, and the story doesn’t pack a lot of really surprising twists. It’s simple and unpretentious, and I guess that’s the reason why I enjoyed it so much. Readers looking for depth and complexity may find it disappointing.
Personally, I'll read the sequel as soon as it's available. I love amnesiac hero trope, and Jager nailed it. Join me if you fancy following an inhuman with a fractured mind.
Things escalate quickly, and Stratus finds himself engaged in an approaching war with evil forces. He has no interest in people and their conflicts, but the fickle hand of fate cares little for his plans and goals. Especially that he has peculiar, inhuman, skills. Preternatural strength and a knack for sorcery allow him to decimate his opponents. Those who try to trap and hurt him disappear in a shower of blood. Interestingly, tasting brains allows Stratus to gain insights into the past of his fallen opponents.
I need to emphasize that despite gritty and violent moments, Infernal remains darkly humorous. Sure, not everyone will enjoy the grim humor, but I found it hilarious. Like this exchange between Stratus and Tatyana, the second key character:
Tatyana stared at me without saying anything for long enough that I began to wonder whether I had said it aloud, or simply thought it. As I was about to repeat myself, she turned her gaze to the dead man, then back to me. ‘You’re going to eat him,’ she said. She made it sound like a statement.‘Just his brain,’ I corrected her.‘His brain.’‘Are you repeating everything for a reason?’
In a way, Stratus resembles Drax the Destroyer - he has no sense of humor, he doesn’t understand sarcasm or metaphors. Subtle jokes skip right past him. Something about his earnest tone and deadpan delivery is comic, especially in his back and forth with Tatyana. The smell is his strongest sense - Stratus sniffs people without realizing it’s creepy as hell for them, and it results in solid situational humor.
Because the story is told only through Stratus’ POV, we don’t get any unnecessary exposition. It also means secondary characters remain underdeveloped, but I didn’t mind. We discover the world through his eyes and nose, and because Stratus isn’t human, he sees things from an alien perspective. Frankly, the big reveal of his identity is hardly surprising, but I won’t spoil the fun for you. I’ll just say the foreshadowing, while not subtle and rather in-your-face, entertained me a lot and helped me to picture him.
Infernal gives an old school fantasy vibe but plays with tropes. It blends non-stop violent action with horror and grim humor. I couldn’t put it down, but I need to point out its weaker parts. Jager’s writing is uneven. I found his similes awkward and sentence structure surprising in places. The beginning, while entertaining, is repetitious, and the story doesn’t pack a lot of really surprising twists. It’s simple and unpretentious, and I guess that’s the reason why I enjoyed it so much. Readers looking for depth and complexity may find it disappointing.
Personally, I'll read the sequel as soon as it's available. I love amnesiac hero trope, and Jager nailed it. Join me if you fancy following an inhuman with a fractured mind.
August 16, 2016
Originally reviewed at: http://thequeenofblades.blogspot.co.u...
This is another one from one of my insane requesting sprees. Most normal people go on eBay and 'drunk-buy', I go on NetGally and request (too much) reading material in a caffeine induced state. Thrilling stuff. Weekends at my house are crazy.
First of all, you should probably not read this if you don't like the darker stuff. Stratus is not, by any means, a hero. So if you are offended by blood, guts, occasional religion bashing, violence, and a general disregard for human life, perhaps this is not the one for you.
Secondly, I always try to have zero expectations, I know it sounds terrible, but I've found that I will enjoy a book more if I don't know much about it. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this is a first person PoV, I really love them. Especially the grimdarks. The darker, the better, because I'm fucked up like that.
Third, and most important, this was awesome. I was hooked from the very first lines and I could not get enough. I'm devastated I can't afford to buy a HB this month. I need one, plus I want to support the author. Especially if his debut is this good.
This was action packed, brilliantly paced, and quite funny in some parts. Stratus trying to make sense of humanisms is very entertaining!It was everything I expect from a exceptional grimdark and so much more.
I sincerely hope there will be a book 2, it ends very suddenly on a cliffhanger, and I'm terribly excited to see what happens!
I received an e-copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is another one from one of my insane requesting sprees. Most normal people go on eBay and 'drunk-buy', I go on NetGally and request (too much) reading material in a caffeine induced state. Thrilling stuff. Weekends at my house are crazy.
First of all, you should probably not read this if you don't like the darker stuff. Stratus is not, by any means, a hero. So if you are offended by blood, guts, occasional religion bashing, violence, and a general disregard for human life, perhaps this is not the one for you.
Secondly, I always try to have zero expectations, I know it sounds terrible, but I've found that I will enjoy a book more if I don't know much about it. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this is a first person PoV, I really love them. Especially the grimdarks. The darker, the better, because I'm fucked up like that.
Third, and most important, this was awesome. I was hooked from the very first lines and I could not get enough. I'm devastated I can't afford to buy a HB this month. I need one, plus I want to support the author. Especially if his debut is this good.
This was action packed, brilliantly paced, and quite funny in some parts. Stratus trying to make sense of humanisms is very entertaining!It was everything I expect from a exceptional grimdark and so much more.
I sincerely hope there will be a book 2, it ends very suddenly on a cliffhanger, and I'm terribly excited to see what happens!
I received an e-copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2020
“I set him on fire before his brain melted, then burned his corpse.” I’m afraid that this book just wasn’t for me. I made it to the 20% point and by that time Stratus had been in countless fights, he was injured but healed rapidly, he ate a lot and he was gradually remembering who he was and what his magical powers were. I also read the last chapter and discovered that he (and the reader) don’t find out the answers to those questions until the end of the book. And then they have to read a second book. He is also naked a lot of the time. There is some male fantasy thing going on here to which I do not relate.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
August 14, 2016
Infernal features an extraordinary anti-hero. It is a first person narrative. I haven't read many high fantasy stories told this way.
Stratus wakes up paralyzed on a field somewhere and he hasn't got a clue about pretty much anything at first. Not even his name. Thanks to this memory loss he is on a mission to find out who he is and how he ended up where we first meet him.
A lot happens to him in this story.
Soon he finds out that there is a war between the kingdom of Krandin and the Penullin empire and he often runs into armed parties. He is gigantic and has a grayish-black skin so everyone is on guard right away. He fights through most of his journey.
To his surprise, he gets a friend too and that particular tidbit would be a spoiler if I say anything more.
The friend is awesome and their relationship is special in a refreshing way. If you are sick of characters having to justify everything they do because it might offend someone, you'll love Stratus. It's not that he refuses to justify his actions to anyone. He doesn't see the point of so much talking which brings me to another thing I love about Stratus.
His memory loss causes him to make mistakes and he is often literal ('You armed? 'Obviously,' was my immediate reply as I raised my hands.') but not for the sake of being rude. He observes people around him and his thoughts and later comments are sometimes hilariously insensitive. That is one of the things I liked the most in this book.
So a bit of a warning is in order because Stratus does a couple of things in the book that might freak some people out. It's a dark fantasy for a couple of reasons.
The take on magic is also interesting. Everything is connected through the Songlines.
One of the things I didn't like is what happens every time Stratus runs into a group of people. I do understand it pushes the plot forward. I just don't have to like it.
Another is the cliffhanger. I won't tell you whether Stratus discovers the truth about himself, though.
The book leaves you with 'I love what happens in the end' combined with 'to be continued' feeling. It's frustrating. Don't get me wrong, although I hate cliffhangers, Infernal is a great book and I would even recommend it to dark and high fantasy lovers.
Now I can't wait for the sequel.
ARC received from Random House UK, Ebury Publishing/Del Rey via NetGalley
May 11, 2021
I got hooked within the first chapter my curiosity had me try to guess Stratus's origin from the beginning. Then more plots got into play and my anticipation kept me from putting the book down even when my eyes beg to rest. Infernal has interesting story telling not that it's unique or anything but the way the story was told through Stratus from his learning, suffering and experiencing to find his identity. I really like how his character progress I couldn't help myself but rooted for him even when there was a chance he's the bad guy. And even when I was able to guess his origin I still want to know more not only about him but other plots surrounding the mystery of Stratus. I'd give 4 plus stars if the ending wasn't that abrupt and such a cliff hanger.
Beware: Infernal contains gory details
Beware: Infernal contains gory details
November 12, 2020
“I need to do something you provably won’t like very much. I know I won’t.” “You’re not stabbing me again.” “No,” I said, pointing to the body. “I just need to eat his brain.”
For all the brain-eating and decapitation that goes on in Infernal, this should be a dark, rather horrifying book. It is not. It’s actually quite funny (and not always in a gallows humour kind of way), with some beautiful world building and a couple of intriguing characters to lend weight to the story.
Stratus is…Stratus doesn’t know what he is. His blue-black skin, enormous build and second set of teeth would suggest not human though. So too would his ability to punch down trees and pluck arrows from his skin like flowers from a vase. And then there’s his ability to see in the dark.
Waking in a field, Stratus determines to find a city and ask its wise men to help identify him. But reaching the city isn’t easy when war rages between Penullin and Krandin and soldiers see him as either a threat to eradicate or a prize to capture. And even when he reaches the city, who’s to know who to trust, and who has time to help with an enemy army darkening the doorstep? Stratus can only react to the immediate threats and hope that, with time, all will become clear.
Stratus is not human and does not hold the same moral beliefs, expectations or values as (most) humans do. They do not differ wildly, and he has his moments of tenderness and gentility, but, on the whole, his blatant lack of concern for human life and civil behaviour (think brain eating) gives him away. That said, neither is he bloody-thirsty or sadistic like many a human antagonist. He simply does what he needs to do and moves on. Oddly, I found myself respecting him for that, and loving him for his dry humour.
“We are beneath St Tomas.” “What? How can you be sure? “The magic singing rainbow told me.”
One review I read before reading Infernal myself compared Stratus to Jack Reacher. I can definitely see the similarities. However, one thing I particularly liked about Infernal was that Stratus was not, in fact, invincible. He’s good in a fight, sure, but also fails (annoyingly frequently) to consider that the opposition may have a mind and talents of their own, and that leads to his own fair share of failures. Fortunately, his confidence and capability are not accompanied by the usual swaggering bravado, and Stratus is quite capable of conceding the fight to fight another day, or of admitting admiration or even fear when he feels it. I liked him, but better, I was intrigued by him.
I also liked Tayana Henkman, his sidekick of sorts. She’s capable without needing to shove that capability down your throat, and even-tempered, but not bland. Her interactions with Stratus form the basis for much of the humour in the book and did make me smile.
“I have yet to read of a demon who would save someone’s life or who likes eggs for breakfast and fine sculpture.”
I’m looking forward to seeing more of her and finding out if their relationship develops beyond friendship and admiration. It would also be nice to see more of Lucien, who can an initial look-in but then somewhat faded into the background.
In terms of world-building, I was reminded a little of games like Age of Empires, where the world you can see expands with time and as your scouts explore. Stratus’ world begins with a single field and grows to include a forest, and then a road and then more. It’s a clever technique because it allows you to digest the world in manageable chunks whilst maintaining that a wider world does exist and life there is carrying on.
In general, I liked Jager’s writing style. In particular, I liked his exploration of the world through smell – a perspective I found unusual but compelling – and his emphasis on how it felt to wield magic, rather than simply the mechanics of how it was done (incidentally this is barely touched upon). I was disappointed that he included so many racial slurs (Stratus is the only black character in the book and is seen as unusual for his colouring) and wish Jager could have found some other, less fraught, way to isolate Stratus. The end was also somewhat of a disappointment. I LOVED the twist but felt that that it was used as an excuse for an otherwise rather abrupt ending. That said, it does leave me wanting to read more so I guess that’s a win.
All in all, an enjoyable read which delicately balances gory action with good humour and a solid story. I’ll be looking out for Firesky next year.
For recommendations on what to read next (or whether you might like this based on books you've read), check out my blog, Off-Planet Books here.
I received this book free in return for an honest review.
November 13, 2022
2.5*
Das Buch war an einigen Stellen wirklich amüsant und unterhaltsam, es hatte aber auch echt einige Längen und ziemlich zähe Wiederholungen.
Da es sich aber wohl nur um zwei Bände handelt und ich dennoch ein bisschen neugierig bin wie es weitergeht, werde ich den zweiten, letzten Teil auch noch lesen.
Das Buch war an einigen Stellen wirklich amüsant und unterhaltsam, es hatte aber auch echt einige Längen und ziemlich zähe Wiederholungen.
Da es sich aber wohl nur um zwei Bände handelt und ich dennoch ein bisschen neugierig bin wie es weitergeht, werde ich den zweiten, letzten Teil auch noch lesen.
November 26, 2018
Actual Rating : 4.5 Stars
I would definitely recommend this book and Im grateful I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The intrigue in this book hooked me right away. Its an entertaining story with complexe characters. The way the author approached the main characters memory loss and new body added some great insight and diversity.
The main character Stratus wakes up in the desert with no memories but soon realizes he isnt quite human. He doesnt remember ever having a hairless dark skinned body. All he knows is that most people dont react well to foreigners. They either ignore him or try to kill him. The author takes us on a incredible journey of self discovery with a great mix of dark fantasy. In a war torn land Stratus will stop at nothing to discover who he is.
I really enjoyed how cluless he seemed to the common protocols for human interaction. He had me laughing so hard and when he got better at a certain aspect of social interaction I would find myself smiling proudly. However about half way my connection to the main character seemed to diminish a bit. Even thought I couldnt relate to him as much I still thought he was a fascinating character.
He was very resourceful but his lack of memory and curiosity got him into trouble more times than I can count. He also had a strange way of making a new friends. I particularly liked Prince Lucien and his personal bodyguard: a kick ass woman by the name Tatyana. I loved how much action we got and that the focus on the action didnt affect the characters developpement. We get to see Stratus personality emerge as well as his thirst for vengance.
There's a couple holes in some of the reasoning but this was very minor. For example, he ate something that messed with his sense of smell but was still able to follow a scent for a few blocks but then wasnt able to use it. There's also the reasoning for going in the left tunnel instead of the right to make sure no one would come behind them when someone could just as easily come from the right. Maybe Im the only one who noticed, but the unexpected zombies more than made up for it.
I was invested in discovering the truth and I was never bored but my mind started to wander off a bit after the halfway point. I was still captivated for most of the book so overall I thought it was a pretty great book and Im really looking forward to the sequel. The ending was quite satisfying but still left me needing to read the next book and see how the big battle plays out.
I tried to add this review to Amazon but I dont think its available in Canada. It should be though because its an awesome book.
I would definitely recommend this book and Im grateful I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The intrigue in this book hooked me right away. Its an entertaining story with complexe characters. The way the author approached the main characters memory loss and new body added some great insight and diversity.
The main character Stratus wakes up in the desert with no memories but soon realizes he isnt quite human. He doesnt remember ever having a hairless dark skinned body. All he knows is that most people dont react well to foreigners. They either ignore him or try to kill him. The author takes us on a incredible journey of self discovery with a great mix of dark fantasy. In a war torn land Stratus will stop at nothing to discover who he is.
I really enjoyed how cluless he seemed to the common protocols for human interaction. He had me laughing so hard and when he got better at a certain aspect of social interaction I would find myself smiling proudly. However about half way my connection to the main character seemed to diminish a bit. Even thought I couldnt relate to him as much I still thought he was a fascinating character.
He was very resourceful but his lack of memory and curiosity got him into trouble more times than I can count. He also had a strange way of making a new friends. I particularly liked Prince Lucien and his personal bodyguard: a kick ass woman by the name Tatyana. I loved how much action we got and that the focus on the action didnt affect the characters developpement. We get to see Stratus personality emerge as well as his thirst for vengance.
There's a couple holes in some of the reasoning but this was very minor. For example, he ate something that messed with his sense of smell but was still able to follow a scent for a few blocks but then wasnt able to use it. There's also the reasoning for going in the left tunnel instead of the right to make sure no one would come behind them when someone could just as easily come from the right. Maybe Im the only one who noticed, but the unexpected zombies more than made up for it.
I was invested in discovering the truth and I was never bored but my mind started to wander off a bit after the halfway point. I was still captivated for most of the book so overall I thought it was a pretty great book and Im really looking forward to the sequel. The ending was quite satisfying but still left me needing to read the next book and see how the big battle plays out.
I tried to add this review to Amazon but I dont think its available in Canada. It should be though because its an awesome book.
September 13, 2016
A slick and very satisfying debut novel, I thoroughly enjoyed Infernal from start to oh my god I didn't that ending coming. I don't read a lot first person narration so it took a while to get into, but I adored Stratus' commentary as he learned about the world he was in and who he was. The ultimate unreliable narrator, his view on the world was both baffling and hilarious and I rooted for him throughout. tatyana was a great sidekick for him too and I envisage many more adventures for them. A hugely entertaining read
Read
November 3, 2018My favourite thing about this book was the character voice. Stratus' disconnect from human emotions was entertaining throughout.
Infernal has a very high body count, a bit of gore-horror, and lots of using magic to resolve things. It's action packed from the first page, and it's fair to say that Stratus' general strategy is to kill everything in his path.
Infernal has a very high body count, a bit of gore-horror, and lots of using magic to resolve things. It's action packed from the first page, and it's fair to say that Stratus' general strategy is to kill everything in his path.
December 16, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
I have mixed feelings about this book. At times I liked it, and at others I was annoyed at it. It's a dark fantasy told in the first person about a man that wakes up with no memory and unable to move. From there, he takes us a on a violent road trip to an unknown destination to find answers to burning questions like, "what (not who) am I", "why am I so angry" and "why do I have a thirst for revenge"?
Stratus wakes up in the middle of a field, unable to move, with no memory of who, or what he is, or how he got there. He's got enormous strength, killer (literally) fighting skills, and powerful sorcery that gives him an edge at survival. He sets out to figure out what he is and what happened to him, stumbling through a land torn apart by a ten year war that is escalating to new heights of savagery and dark magic.
Stratus has no interest in these kingdoms' war, but he gets sucked into the struggles nonetheless. It's only at the very end of the book do we discover what Stratus is and why he has a deep need for vengeance, although frankly, I had it figured out less than half-way through the book. It wasn't difficult with the clunky foreshadowing sprinkled throughout the book.
I generally don't like books told in the first person, and at first it really annoyed me. I got used to it a bit as the book progressed, but it still bugged me. The book is uneven and there is little to no world building and character development. Stratus is ruthless in his quest of discovery, carelessly using people until they've served their purpose, and then killing them. He even eats a brain or two. The book is pretty bloody and gory, but that's to be expected in a dark fantasy book. It took me a long time to get into the story, but once I did, it flowed pretty quickly from there and I enjoyed it. I did like Stratus' interactions with some of the characters in the book, and he even developed a friendship, of a sort.
It will take the reader a while to get into the book, but once they do, it's an enjoyable read. I even liked it enough to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Del Rey books in exchange for an honest review.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
I have mixed feelings about this book. At times I liked it, and at others I was annoyed at it. It's a dark fantasy told in the first person about a man that wakes up with no memory and unable to move. From there, he takes us a on a violent road trip to an unknown destination to find answers to burning questions like, "what (not who) am I", "why am I so angry" and "why do I have a thirst for revenge"?
Stratus wakes up in the middle of a field, unable to move, with no memory of who, or what he is, or how he got there. He's got enormous strength, killer (literally) fighting skills, and powerful sorcery that gives him an edge at survival. He sets out to figure out what he is and what happened to him, stumbling through a land torn apart by a ten year war that is escalating to new heights of savagery and dark magic.
Stratus has no interest in these kingdoms' war, but he gets sucked into the struggles nonetheless. It's only at the very end of the book do we discover what Stratus is and why he has a deep need for vengeance, although frankly, I had it figured out less than half-way through the book. It wasn't difficult with the clunky foreshadowing sprinkled throughout the book.
I generally don't like books told in the first person, and at first it really annoyed me. I got used to it a bit as the book progressed, but it still bugged me. The book is uneven and there is little to no world building and character development. Stratus is ruthless in his quest of discovery, carelessly using people until they've served their purpose, and then killing them. He even eats a brain or two. The book is pretty bloody and gory, but that's to be expected in a dark fantasy book. It took me a long time to get into the story, but once I did, it flowed pretty quickly from there and I enjoyed it. I did like Stratus' interactions with some of the characters in the book, and he even developed a friendship, of a sort.
It will take the reader a while to get into the book, but once they do, it's an enjoyable read. I even liked it enough to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Del Rey books in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2020
It's been a long time since a book has made me angry and upset for the wrong reasons. Before I even opened the book I was so excited having read the blurb. But that quickly disintegrated into dust as the more I read on. It wasn't because of the story or world building, it was because of the problematic way in which the dark skinned main character was portrayed in the book.
The main character in this book is called Stratus. He wakes up in a field without any memory of who he is, just his name. Soon he discovers that he is within a body that isn't is and has the strength of 100 ox's and the ability to conjure magic. Sounds great right? Very intriguing. But this for me was all overshadowed by the way in which the author describes Statuses skin colour. The underhanded racism was crazy!
Constantly and I mean constantly the author uses the characters skin colour in a negative and uncomfortable manner. At one point dark skin people are reffered to as "the blacks". To make things worse, there is even a lynching moment where a minor character questions whether Stratus will turn white if hanged. Oh you think that's bad? It gets worse because during the night another central character tells Stratus that he should smile in the dark because he can't be scene because he's black??? It's also insinuated that all demons are black people??? Are you maaad faam????
From there it just ruined my reading experience. Although I finished the book, how the author had written a POC character made my blood boil. The constant need to remind me that the main character was black was just maaad to me because it was as if they've never seen a black person before? What makes me even more sad is that the world building was great and the premise so intriguing. But the language in depicting a POC was just fricking awful and I'm sad because those words hurt m. I'm still bemused that the publisher didn't think "damn mate you think you should keep these things in? POC people exist in the real world you know."
You know what the worst thing is? This is a reissue??? Which obviously means nobody even thought that some of things said in this novel were wrong??? Like it's maddening to me so maddening that no one thought to perhaps sit make changes?
I'm honestly so disappointed by this book and it's making me so angry to even think about. I will most definitely not be reading anything by this author again.
The main character in this book is called Stratus. He wakes up in a field without any memory of who he is, just his name. Soon he discovers that he is within a body that isn't is and has the strength of 100 ox's and the ability to conjure magic. Sounds great right? Very intriguing. But this for me was all overshadowed by the way in which the author describes Statuses skin colour. The underhanded racism was crazy!
Constantly and I mean constantly the author uses the characters skin colour in a negative and uncomfortable manner. At one point dark skin people are reffered to as "the blacks". To make things worse, there is even a lynching moment where a minor character questions whether Stratus will turn white if hanged. Oh you think that's bad? It gets worse because during the night another central character tells Stratus that he should smile in the dark because he can't be scene because he's black??? It's also insinuated that all demons are black people??? Are you maaad faam????
From there it just ruined my reading experience. Although I finished the book, how the author had written a POC character made my blood boil. The constant need to remind me that the main character was black was just maaad to me because it was as if they've never seen a black person before? What makes me even more sad is that the world building was great and the premise so intriguing. But the language in depicting a POC was just fricking awful and I'm sad because those words hurt m. I'm still bemused that the publisher didn't think "damn mate you think you should keep these things in? POC people exist in the real world you know."
You know what the worst thing is? This is a reissue??? Which obviously means nobody even thought that some of things said in this novel were wrong??? Like it's maddening to me so maddening that no one thought to perhaps sit make changes?
I'm honestly so disappointed by this book and it's making me so angry to even think about. I will most definitely not be reading anything by this author again.
December 1, 2020
How many times can Stratus punch a paladin in the chest, exploding his ribcage and bursting his heart, before it gets old? I don't know, but for me it didn't happen through the course of Infernal, Mark de Jager's delightfully violent debut.
The novel opens with Stratus waking with no memories in a field where he's being eaten alive by vultures. The first half of the book chronicles his self-rediscovery as he pieces together who or what he might be and why he feels the need to seek out nearest city's wise men. His blatant disregard for human life inevitably leads to him being waylaid, and his tale of self-discovery becomes one of self-preservation, and revenge.
Stratus's amnesia carries over to a basic understanding of human interaction. His brief conversations with other characters are punctuated with his complete ignorance of irony, sarcasm, and colloquial idioms. Even his internal monologue is full of childlike misunderstandings of societal constructs. The only other character introduced who has any sort of depth to her is Tatyana, a cynical and serious bodyguard of Prince Lucien. She is a strong female supporting character who manages to make it through the entire novel without being bogged down by romance or sentimentality, or any of the other common problems that often plague debut fantasy authors' female characters.
Fans of meticulous world building in the vein of George RR Martin or Steven Erickson won't find familiar depth here. There isn't a huge cast of characters with complex political relationships to keep track of. No one will need to consult a family tree, or dramatis persona, or even a map to add any enjoyment to reading Infernal. No appendices required.
Infernal is not for the squeamish. The violence is graphic and constant. De Jager manages to keep a 400 page bloodbath fresh and fun throughout, but if graphic violence isn't your thing there just isn't much else happening in this novel. Fortunately it is my thing and I very much look forward to the second volume of The Chronicles of Stratus coming out in May of 2021.
The novel opens with Stratus waking with no memories in a field where he's being eaten alive by vultures. The first half of the book chronicles his self-rediscovery as he pieces together who or what he might be and why he feels the need to seek out nearest city's wise men. His blatant disregard for human life inevitably leads to him being waylaid, and his tale of self-discovery becomes one of self-preservation, and revenge.
Stratus's amnesia carries over to a basic understanding of human interaction. His brief conversations with other characters are punctuated with his complete ignorance of irony, sarcasm, and colloquial idioms. Even his internal monologue is full of childlike misunderstandings of societal constructs. The only other character introduced who has any sort of depth to her is Tatyana, a cynical and serious bodyguard of Prince Lucien. She is a strong female supporting character who manages to make it through the entire novel without being bogged down by romance or sentimentality, or any of the other common problems that often plague debut fantasy authors' female characters.
Fans of meticulous world building in the vein of George RR Martin or Steven Erickson won't find familiar depth here. There isn't a huge cast of characters with complex political relationships to keep track of. No one will need to consult a family tree, or dramatis persona, or even a map to add any enjoyment to reading Infernal. No appendices required.
Infernal is not for the squeamish. The violence is graphic and constant. De Jager manages to keep a 400 page bloodbath fresh and fun throughout, but if graphic violence isn't your thing there just isn't much else happening in this novel. Fortunately it is my thing and I very much look forward to the second volume of The Chronicles of Stratus coming out in May of 2021.
October 16, 2021
This was a well-paced book. Stratus wakes up in the middle of a field, bereft of memory. A man comes and tries to enslave him; he runs. There's a series of events where he meets people and misunderstands the niceties of human interactions.
Eventually (after lots of bloodshed), he reaches the city where he makes friends with a prince. The city is actually at war against the Worm Lord. There's also a political conflict between Church and the wizards. Stratus identifies as a sorcerer, which he takes pains to explain that is better than a wizard. Along the way, Stratus discovers a plot There's lots of violence (both by Stratus and against Stratus).
I liked the pace of this book: it's fast paced. Stratus doesn't really understand what is going on in respect of human (social) interaction () and his lost memories. In the end, he
Eventually (after lots of bloodshed), he reaches the city where he makes friends with a prince. The city is actually at war against the Worm Lord. There's also a political conflict between Church and the wizards. Stratus identifies as a sorcerer, which he takes pains to explain that is better than a wizard. Along the way, Stratus discovers a plot There's lots of violence (both by Stratus and against Stratus).
I liked the pace of this book: it's fast paced. Stratus doesn't really understand what is going on in respect of human (social) interaction () and his lost memories. In the end, he
November 14, 2020
Advanced Reading copy kindly received from Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing. The enjoyment was all my own!
Marc de Jager’s ‘Infernal’ is a strange beast. The book is built around our hero (well anti - hero really) Stratus, who finds himself paralysed in a field with no memory of who or what he is. As vultures circle, and subsequently try to eat him because they think he is dead, he is saved by a roving band of travelers. From there we learn that Stratus is a hulk of a man who is very different from the land that he has found himself in.
Initially, De Jager’s story is confusing as the reader is plunged into the world of Infernal through Stratus’s eyes and we share the confusion and disorientation that our protagonist feels as he attempts to make sense of the world around him and the people who inhabit it.
What we learn in the first act of the story as Stratus stumbles around the country, is that Stratus is not necessarily a good guy. He will happily kill anyone that gets in his way (and he frequently does! The body count in the first few chapters is phenomenal!), and he will eat anything. And I mean anything! Including one of his victims' arms at one point.
This is a constant theme in the first part of the book. As Stratus wakes from his paralysis, not only does he navigate the world, but he also navigates the body that he inhabits, sometimes quite hilariously, sometimes pretty nastily at times. Subsequently discovering that he has strengths and powers that normal men do not possess. As we follow him on his initial journey, he learns that not only does he possess unnatural strength, but he also has unnatural abilities and an insatiable hunger.
In this first section of the book, we are as disconnected from Stratus’s character as he is from himself and the world around him. We flounder as directionless as our protagonist, until he gets his bearings, stumbling from one violent and bloody encounter to the next. However, when Stratus journeys to the city and meets Lucien and Tatyana the plot of the book starts to kick in.
Now it is hard to write a review without mentioning the plot as it is a reviewer’s mainstay to discuss how this affects him/her etc. But I am staying well away from the plot as part of the allure of this book is to read it blind, and discover the plot at the same time as our protagonist. If I discussed story mechanics, I think it would spoil it. But what I do advise as you are reading the first part, wondering where is this going? What is happening? Stick with it, as this shared experience is what makes this book so good.
As the book is written in a first person narrative, the story and the world unfolds as Stratus experiences them. We learn what Stratus learns, and are with him throughout all of the book. Experiencing what he experiences, sharing his thoughts as he discovers different parts of the world he lives in, meeting the people that he meets and getting the impression of them through his eyes.
Because we are solely following Stratus throughout the book, it would be pertinent at this point to discuss his character. Initially, it is very difficult to know what Stratus is, what his motivations are, but what we do get is that Stratus is going to maintain his own motivations, no matter what.
I’ve got to say, I did find Stratus kind of beguiling in his own way. He doesn’t lie, not even when he is telling Tatyana about his journey from the forest to the city, and at times the other characters find his honesty as brutal as his methods. At some points, he appears to have the simplicity of a newborn, and at others he is as cunning as a fox. He is a character of extremes and there are no in betweens.
Eventually, other characters are introduced and I liked most of these, Tatyana in particular and the reactions that she gives to some of Stratus’s actions and methods. At first Tatyana is as much of a mystery as Stratus, but as she becomes a more prominent figure in the action we learn that her and Stratus do share some connection. And again, it is best that I do not mention that connection here but let you discover it at the same time Stratus discovers it. Some of the other characters are a little two dimensional, but they are to Stratus too, and as we are sat on Stratus’s shoulder, this does not impact on the book at all.
Now, as I have mentioned, I came to this book completely blind and I think that this is the best way to come at it to be honest. Tonally, Infernal kind of puts me in mind of Joe Abercrombie, in that De Jager is not shy of describing the main character's ability to kill and the flaws he possesses. .But also similarly to Abercrombie, there is a dark humorous vein running through the story and I found myself chuckling at inopportune moments in this book.
Obviously, when I start to read a book I want to know about the author, and I was surprised to find that this is not really a new book, but is in fact a republish. It seems that the book was originally released in 2016 by Del Rey publishing. However, recently the rights for the book and its subsequent sequel (coming in May 2021) have been obtained by Rebellion Publishing. Hopefully, this book will get the exposure that it deserves as I truly found this to be a wickedly enjoyable read.
Marc de Jager’s ‘Infernal’ is a strange beast. The book is built around our hero (well anti - hero really) Stratus, who finds himself paralysed in a field with no memory of who or what he is. As vultures circle, and subsequently try to eat him because they think he is dead, he is saved by a roving band of travelers. From there we learn that Stratus is a hulk of a man who is very different from the land that he has found himself in.
Initially, De Jager’s story is confusing as the reader is plunged into the world of Infernal through Stratus’s eyes and we share the confusion and disorientation that our protagonist feels as he attempts to make sense of the world around him and the people who inhabit it.
What we learn in the first act of the story as Stratus stumbles around the country, is that Stratus is not necessarily a good guy. He will happily kill anyone that gets in his way (and he frequently does! The body count in the first few chapters is phenomenal!), and he will eat anything. And I mean anything! Including one of his victims' arms at one point.
This is a constant theme in the first part of the book. As Stratus wakes from his paralysis, not only does he navigate the world, but he also navigates the body that he inhabits, sometimes quite hilariously, sometimes pretty nastily at times. Subsequently discovering that he has strengths and powers that normal men do not possess. As we follow him on his initial journey, he learns that not only does he possess unnatural strength, but he also has unnatural abilities and an insatiable hunger.
In this first section of the book, we are as disconnected from Stratus’s character as he is from himself and the world around him. We flounder as directionless as our protagonist, until he gets his bearings, stumbling from one violent and bloody encounter to the next. However, when Stratus journeys to the city and meets Lucien and Tatyana the plot of the book starts to kick in.
Now it is hard to write a review without mentioning the plot as it is a reviewer’s mainstay to discuss how this affects him/her etc. But I am staying well away from the plot as part of the allure of this book is to read it blind, and discover the plot at the same time as our protagonist. If I discussed story mechanics, I think it would spoil it. But what I do advise as you are reading the first part, wondering where is this going? What is happening? Stick with it, as this shared experience is what makes this book so good.
As the book is written in a first person narrative, the story and the world unfolds as Stratus experiences them. We learn what Stratus learns, and are with him throughout all of the book. Experiencing what he experiences, sharing his thoughts as he discovers different parts of the world he lives in, meeting the people that he meets and getting the impression of them through his eyes.
Because we are solely following Stratus throughout the book, it would be pertinent at this point to discuss his character. Initially, it is very difficult to know what Stratus is, what his motivations are, but what we do get is that Stratus is going to maintain his own motivations, no matter what.
I’ve got to say, I did find Stratus kind of beguiling in his own way. He doesn’t lie, not even when he is telling Tatyana about his journey from the forest to the city, and at times the other characters find his honesty as brutal as his methods. At some points, he appears to have the simplicity of a newborn, and at others he is as cunning as a fox. He is a character of extremes and there are no in betweens.
Eventually, other characters are introduced and I liked most of these, Tatyana in particular and the reactions that she gives to some of Stratus’s actions and methods. At first Tatyana is as much of a mystery as Stratus, but as she becomes a more prominent figure in the action we learn that her and Stratus do share some connection. And again, it is best that I do not mention that connection here but let you discover it at the same time Stratus discovers it. Some of the other characters are a little two dimensional, but they are to Stratus too, and as we are sat on Stratus’s shoulder, this does not impact on the book at all.
Now, as I have mentioned, I came to this book completely blind and I think that this is the best way to come at it to be honest. Tonally, Infernal kind of puts me in mind of Joe Abercrombie, in that De Jager is not shy of describing the main character's ability to kill and the flaws he possesses. .But also similarly to Abercrombie, there is a dark humorous vein running through the story and I found myself chuckling at inopportune moments in this book.
Obviously, when I start to read a book I want to know about the author, and I was surprised to find that this is not really a new book, but is in fact a republish. It seems that the book was originally released in 2016 by Del Rey publishing. However, recently the rights for the book and its subsequent sequel (coming in May 2021) have been obtained by Rebellion Publishing. Hopefully, this book will get the exposure that it deserves as I truly found this to be a wickedly enjoyable read.
December 5, 2016
Disclaimer: Mark is a dear friend and I went into this book knowing I liked Mark’s writing style and fully hoping I’d love the story, because having to negatively review a friend’s book is never fun. That being said let’s crack on with this review.
Infernal is Mark de Jager’s debut novel and it is one that should make both epic and grim dark fantasy readers sit up and take note. What I really liked about the narration, but what also made it somewhat harder to get into the story, was the fact that it is told in the first person and we’re given no context beyond what the main character Stratus knows and experiences. And since Stratus wakes up not knowing who, what, or where he is, the start of the novel is somewhat disorienting. However, while it takes Stratus the rest of the book to figure out the answers to those questions, the narration soon found its feet and it was easy to want to follow the story of its (anti-)hero.
Stratus isn’t exactly nice. He’s violent, has a somewhat confused moral compass, and did I mention he’s violent? Yet, despite all of this, he is fascinating and his reasoning usually makes a weird sort of sense, even if it is not exactly human. He meets up with a wayward prince and his bodyguard, Lucien and Tatyana. I fell in love with Tatyana in under a chapter. I loved her kicking ass and taking names, but I also loved that she was willing to listen and figure things out. Dealing with the exasperating Lucien gave Tatyana some practice for dealing with Stratus and the interactions between Stratus and Tatyana also allowed for the infusion of some levity in this book, which can be extremely dark at times.
While very character-driven, Infernal also had a lot of political scheming going on. And while what the reader learned about the world was very focused due to Stratus’ first person narration, there seemed to be an underlying depth to the world-building that makes me look forward to the next book to discover more about it.
Infernal has the kind of ending that you either love or hate; it is the cliffiest of cliffhangers. For me it was a perfect ending, but one that left me yelling at Mark on Twitter that I wanted the next part now. I highly recommend Infernal to anyone who likes their fantasy dark and epic. Stratus’s tale not only reminded me how much I love Mark’s writing style, but also what a wonderful storyteller he is.
Infernal is Mark de Jager’s debut novel and it is one that should make both epic and grim dark fantasy readers sit up and take note. What I really liked about the narration, but what also made it somewhat harder to get into the story, was the fact that it is told in the first person and we’re given no context beyond what the main character Stratus knows and experiences. And since Stratus wakes up not knowing who, what, or where he is, the start of the novel is somewhat disorienting. However, while it takes Stratus the rest of the book to figure out the answers to those questions, the narration soon found its feet and it was easy to want to follow the story of its (anti-)hero.
Stratus isn’t exactly nice. He’s violent, has a somewhat confused moral compass, and did I mention he’s violent? Yet, despite all of this, he is fascinating and his reasoning usually makes a weird sort of sense, even if it is not exactly human. He meets up with a wayward prince and his bodyguard, Lucien and Tatyana. I fell in love with Tatyana in under a chapter. I loved her kicking ass and taking names, but I also loved that she was willing to listen and figure things out. Dealing with the exasperating Lucien gave Tatyana some practice for dealing with Stratus and the interactions between Stratus and Tatyana also allowed for the infusion of some levity in this book, which can be extremely dark at times.
While very character-driven, Infernal also had a lot of political scheming going on. And while what the reader learned about the world was very focused due to Stratus’ first person narration, there seemed to be an underlying depth to the world-building that makes me look forward to the next book to discover more about it.
Infernal has the kind of ending that you either love or hate; it is the cliffiest of cliffhangers. For me it was a perfect ending, but one that left me yelling at Mark on Twitter that I wanted the next part now. I highly recommend Infernal to anyone who likes their fantasy dark and epic. Stratus’s tale not only reminded me how much I love Mark’s writing style, but also what a wonderful storyteller he is.
July 30, 2017
Argh! How long do I have to wait for the next book!?!?
December 10, 2021
Infernal is an intriguing mystery of a novel. It is written in first person from the perspective of Stratus, a character who wakes up in a field with birds pecking at him, remembering nothing of who or what he is or why he is there apart from the name Stratus. So begins his voyage of discovery. He gradually pieces together snippets of information about himself from experiences and other people’s reactions to him. As the reader we experience his confusion and discoveries first hand and it is an engaging and, at times, hilarious experience. As time goes on dreams and memories start to come to him until finally right at the end of the book he remembers everything.
Stratus blunders around killing many people and occasionally eating them - but only if he is hungry - which means that the tone of this novel is dark, but also quite charming due to his innocence and naivety. He doesn’t know it is wrong to eat a human until this is pointed out to him.
He himself is clearly not a human and considers for a while that he might be a demon. He is enormous with thick black skin, more than one heart, an extremely keen sense of smell, no hair whatsoever, powers of sorcery and oh yes an extra set of bestial teeth and black talons which occassionally extend themselves from within his humanlike body, when threatened. He does have a moral compass of sorts and feels a desire to protect and empathy for the few people he befriends. He also has a surprising appreciation for art.
He is driven by the urge to find some wise people who might enlighten him on what he is and so makes his way to the city, looking for wise men, or wizards:
“It seemed that for every clue I uncovered I also found a dozen new questions.”
Tatyana is the other main character within this story. She is the bodyguard of Prince Lucien and a fearsome, badass warrior. She is a very likeable character and her friendship with Stratus is endearing as she reacts to his weirdness. She is really not OK with him killing so many innocent people just because they were in the way and certainly not happy to think of him eating them or indeed tasting the brains of those he has killed in order to experience their memories. Stratus heals her at one point, by using his blood, which means she now has some sorcerous power to heal herself.
“She was fierce. I liked it.”
War is being waged in the background of Stratus’s story and there are a group of necromancers who have been placing mind-controlling worms inside people’s brains which kill them and turn them into zombies. At this point the story becomes a detective novel, with Stratus and Tatyana the detectives seeking out and finding clues to the identity of the people behind such horror - and encountering many zombies and Paladins in the process.
I really enjoyed this book despite its dark tone, which is not my favourite fantasy subgenre, due to the humorous aspects of Stratus experiencing everyday items for what feels to him like the first time, and his descriptions of them. There is also the intrigue of gradually discovering more clues to his nature as you read on. Altogether an enjoyable read!
Stratus blunders around killing many people and occasionally eating them - but only if he is hungry - which means that the tone of this novel is dark, but also quite charming due to his innocence and naivety. He doesn’t know it is wrong to eat a human until this is pointed out to him.
He himself is clearly not a human and considers for a while that he might be a demon. He is enormous with thick black skin, more than one heart, an extremely keen sense of smell, no hair whatsoever, powers of sorcery and oh yes an extra set of bestial teeth and black talons which occassionally extend themselves from within his humanlike body, when threatened. He does have a moral compass of sorts and feels a desire to protect and empathy for the few people he befriends. He also has a surprising appreciation for art.
He is driven by the urge to find some wise people who might enlighten him on what he is and so makes his way to the city, looking for wise men, or wizards:
“It seemed that for every clue I uncovered I also found a dozen new questions.”
Tatyana is the other main character within this story. She is the bodyguard of Prince Lucien and a fearsome, badass warrior. She is a very likeable character and her friendship with Stratus is endearing as she reacts to his weirdness. She is really not OK with him killing so many innocent people just because they were in the way and certainly not happy to think of him eating them or indeed tasting the brains of those he has killed in order to experience their memories. Stratus heals her at one point, by using his blood, which means she now has some sorcerous power to heal herself.
“She was fierce. I liked it.”
War is being waged in the background of Stratus’s story and there are a group of necromancers who have been placing mind-controlling worms inside people’s brains which kill them and turn them into zombies. At this point the story becomes a detective novel, with Stratus and Tatyana the detectives seeking out and finding clues to the identity of the people behind such horror - and encountering many zombies and Paladins in the process.
I really enjoyed this book despite its dark tone, which is not my favourite fantasy subgenre, due to the humorous aspects of Stratus experiencing everyday items for what feels to him like the first time, and his descriptions of them. There is also the intrigue of gradually discovering more clues to his nature as you read on. Altogether an enjoyable read!
November 5, 2017
I must say, I'm somewhat surprised about the overwhelmingly good reviews of this book. It's not that it's bad (and it gets some slack for being a debut novel), but there was nothing really outstanding in it. The plot is, taking away the shrouded amnesia mystery, very simple and dare I say somewhat cliché boiling down to a "allying with a former enemy" type of thing. It's even clear not too much after what the mystery is, though the main character doesn't find out till the end. I will warn that it has some gruesome bits and pieces that might make you shy away from it - chief among them cannibalism and similarly disgusting things like leaking brains and sniffing/tasting substances that should be better left alone. So if gore is not your thing, you probably don't want to read this one or skip those parts. They do happen semi-frequently so you'd be skipping quite a bit.
But let's look at the meat of the story. So we have a guy wake up naked and without memories of anything. So much so that even speech is not really something he remembers much of until he gets rescued by a priest, at which time he also learns that magic is a thing and a thing that he can actually interact with to boot. Everything turns visibly more violent as he doesn't look like the people that found him - black, bald and huge and like nothing people from the area have really seen - which marks him as an outcast pretty much from the beginning. He quickly learns that humans are a weird bunch, quickly afraid and quick to judge, too, and usually not in his favor. He does have the conundrum that whatever magic he possesses, he doesn't know how to control beyond simple tasks and doesn't quite understand the works of it. All the while a "beast" within him seems to urge him on to rage and kill and open up his mind to what the beast is. Plagued with nightmares and weird visions, he only knows that Stratus is his name and that if he is ever to find out more, he has got to get to a bigger city with sages or some kind of wise elders that can either point him to the right direction if not even tell him who, or more likely, what he is.
The journey unsurprisingly turns out to be harder than imagined and while he adjusts his non-existent people skills to something remotely human he finds out some of the missing pieces. One such missing piece seems to be in the embodiment of one Tatyana Henkman, last of a line of a famous fighter who vanquished The Destroyer quite a few generations ago. Neither Stratus nor Tatyana really understand what connects them, which doesn't mean they can't investigate a threat to the city that seems to tie to his search for knowledge. The "wise elders" he finds are in charge within a war that includes a Worm Lord, necromancy and all kinds of other nasty stuff and together with Tatyana he finds that getting to those wise elders to find out who he is (and why the Worm Lord presumably wants him) is a bit harder than it seems.
After some slime and gore, a lot of corpses and a lot of magic after we find out who Stratus really is and what his connection to Tatyana is .
The book as a whole has some strengths and some weaknesses. Some of the strengths include the humor and some of the fight scenes and the world build as a whole with the concept of "Songlines" (kinda like ley lines) that feed magic that can be used by wizards and sorcerers alike (Stratus makes a point of informing everyone he happens to be a sorcerer and therefore cooler than wizards but in the end he about fucks up as much as any wizard would).
That said there are quite some inconsistencies in the story and the plot gets jumbled up here and there where you try to remember why who was against whom and why we as a reader should care about it when Stratus basically just wants to remember who he is. His amnesia is also very weird in that he will not remember easy words like fountain, statue or dormitory but will know words like zenith and other, obviously harder, words. Another annoying point that was very recurring is his desu ex machina-ing his way out of problems. Something doesn't go right, he suddenly develops magical bodily features that save his ass - and he manages them quickly, too. As much as I appreciate him being a sorcerer with some extra features up his sleeve, it got ridiculous at some point. While I don't mind it happening once, I mind if it does repeatedly. At least de Jager was smart enough to make Stratus cocky and overconfident in his powers every now and then, so he does get caught (quite a lot, actually).
The characters were most of the time forgettable, though I did like the main characters Stratus and Tatyana and especially their interactions with each other. I actually wish we'd seen more of Lucien and especially Fronsac, whose wizardy prowess seems not only impressive but also interesting. As a character he also seems to be quite a fascinating guy to know.
The flow of the pace is somewhat like the tide, a lot of ups and downs. I felt the start was strong but ebbed to a weird boring stream of uninteresting monologue on Stratus's part. This happens a lot as this is a first PoV narrative and more often than not Stratus is left to his own devices - whether incarcerated or not - and those unfortunately turn out to be a bit boring. The second half is also a bit long in my eyes and maybe one or two plot devices could've been cut for the sake of streamlining the reading experience or could've at least used some editing.
All in all it was pleasant enough to read and leaves you with enough tidbits to want to read a continuation if there will be one, but other than that it was nothing super novel nor all that gripping. All in all I give it a solid 3 star rating.
But let's look at the meat of the story. So we have a guy wake up naked and without memories of anything. So much so that even speech is not really something he remembers much of until he gets rescued by a priest, at which time he also learns that magic is a thing and a thing that he can actually interact with to boot. Everything turns visibly more violent as he doesn't look like the people that found him - black, bald and huge and like nothing people from the area have really seen - which marks him as an outcast pretty much from the beginning. He quickly learns that humans are a weird bunch, quickly afraid and quick to judge, too, and usually not in his favor. He does have the conundrum that whatever magic he possesses, he doesn't know how to control beyond simple tasks and doesn't quite understand the works of it. All the while a "beast" within him seems to urge him on to rage and kill and open up his mind to what the beast is. Plagued with nightmares and weird visions, he only knows that Stratus is his name and that if he is ever to find out more, he has got to get to a bigger city with sages or some kind of wise elders that can either point him to the right direction if not even tell him who, or more likely, what he is.
The journey unsurprisingly turns out to be harder than imagined and while he adjusts his non-existent people skills to something remotely human he finds out some of the missing pieces. One such missing piece seems to be in the embodiment of one Tatyana Henkman, last of a line of a famous fighter who vanquished The Destroyer quite a few generations ago. Neither Stratus nor Tatyana really understand what connects them, which doesn't mean they can't investigate a threat to the city that seems to tie to his search for knowledge. The "wise elders" he finds are in charge within a war that includes a Worm Lord, necromancy and all kinds of other nasty stuff and together with Tatyana he finds that getting to those wise elders to find out who he is (and why the Worm Lord presumably wants him) is a bit harder than it seems.
After some slime and gore, a lot of corpses and a lot of magic after we find out who Stratus really is and what his connection to Tatyana is .
The book as a whole has some strengths and some weaknesses. Some of the strengths include the humor and some of the fight scenes and the world build as a whole with the concept of "Songlines" (kinda like ley lines) that feed magic that can be used by wizards and sorcerers alike (Stratus makes a point of informing everyone he happens to be a sorcerer and therefore cooler than wizards but in the end he about fucks up as much as any wizard would).
That said there are quite some inconsistencies in the story and the plot gets jumbled up here and there where you try to remember why who was against whom and why we as a reader should care about it when Stratus basically just wants to remember who he is. His amnesia is also very weird in that he will not remember easy words like fountain, statue or dormitory but will know words like zenith and other, obviously harder, words. Another annoying point that was very recurring is his desu ex machina-ing his way out of problems. Something doesn't go right, he suddenly develops magical bodily features that save his ass - and he manages them quickly, too. As much as I appreciate him being a sorcerer with some extra features up his sleeve, it got ridiculous at some point. While I don't mind it happening once, I mind if it does repeatedly. At least de Jager was smart enough to make Stratus cocky and overconfident in his powers every now and then, so he does get caught (quite a lot, actually).
The characters were most of the time forgettable, though I did like the main characters Stratus and Tatyana and especially their interactions with each other. I actually wish we'd seen more of Lucien and especially Fronsac, whose wizardy prowess seems not only impressive but also interesting. As a character he also seems to be quite a fascinating guy to know.
The flow of the pace is somewhat like the tide, a lot of ups and downs. I felt the start was strong but ebbed to a weird boring stream of uninteresting monologue on Stratus's part. This happens a lot as this is a first PoV narrative and more often than not Stratus is left to his own devices - whether incarcerated or not - and those unfortunately turn out to be a bit boring. The second half is also a bit long in my eyes and maybe one or two plot devices could've been cut for the sake of streamlining the reading experience or could've at least used some editing.
All in all it was pleasant enough to read and leaves you with enough tidbits to want to read a continuation if there will be one, but other than that it was nothing super novel nor all that gripping. All in all I give it a solid 3 star rating.
December 20, 2020
Nachdem ich ausversehen mit dem 2. Band der Reihe angefangen hatte (Ups) habe ich mir ganz schnell diesen ersten Band geholt. Und ich muss sagen, ich bin absolut begeistert!
Das Lesen hat einfach so viel Spaß gemacht, obwohl die Story teilweise wirklich düster und blutig ist. Was ich einfach unglaublich spannend fand, ist eine Geschichte aus der Sicht einer Figur, die einfach mal so gar nicht nach menschlichen Maßstäben handelt. Da der Hauptcharakter sein Gedächtnis komplett verloren hat, hat er am Anfang überhaupt keine Ahnung von menschlichen Verhaltensweisen und wirkt auch nicht sonderlich motiviert, diese - außer vielleicht zu Anpassungszwecken- zu verinnerlichen. Außerdem werden ungewöhnliche oder bizarre Momente immer wieder nebenbei eingestreut, sodass man sie erst überliest und dann nach einem "Warte....was?!" den Satz noch einmal liest.
Da ich mich durch den Klappentext und die ersten Seiten von Band 2 schon massiv gespoilert hatte, wusste ich leider schon, was es mit der "dunklen Macht und dem Verlangen nach Feuer" auf sich hat, trotzdem war es gut zu lesen und wenn ich die Auflösung nicht schon gekannt hätte, wäre ich im Leben nicht drauf gekommen.
So, und jetzt kann ich endlich Band 2 lesen :D
Das Lesen hat einfach so viel Spaß gemacht, obwohl die Story teilweise wirklich düster und blutig ist. Was ich einfach unglaublich spannend fand, ist eine Geschichte aus der Sicht einer Figur, die einfach mal so gar nicht nach menschlichen Maßstäben handelt. Da der Hauptcharakter sein Gedächtnis komplett verloren hat, hat er am Anfang überhaupt keine Ahnung von menschlichen Verhaltensweisen und wirkt auch nicht sonderlich motiviert, diese - außer vielleicht zu Anpassungszwecken- zu verinnerlichen. Außerdem werden ungewöhnliche oder bizarre Momente immer wieder nebenbei eingestreut, sodass man sie erst überliest und dann nach einem "Warte....was?!" den Satz noch einmal liest.
Da ich mich durch den Klappentext und die ersten Seiten von Band 2 schon massiv gespoilert hatte, wusste ich leider schon, was es mit der "dunklen Macht und dem Verlangen nach Feuer" auf sich hat, trotzdem war es gut zu lesen und wenn ich die Auflösung nicht schon gekannt hätte, wäre ich im Leben nicht drauf gekommen.
So, und jetzt kann ich endlich Band 2 lesen :D
September 15, 2022
1.50
Great start and intriguing premise but completely lost me by the middle. The last sentence (when you find out what’s up with Stratus) couldn’t save it either.
Great start and intriguing premise but completely lost me by the middle. The last sentence (when you find out what’s up with Stratus) couldn’t save it either.
November 9, 2020
Gripping from the first scene, with the protagonist lying on the ground, not being able to move. In danger of vultures trying to eat him, he only remembers his name, Stratus. Feeling that there's a monster within him, he tries to solve the mystery of his existence and why he knows about magic.
Stratus's POV feels like a natural internal monologue of undeniable wit, an exploration of being and is utterly engaging. The author has done such a great job with the protagonist's amnesia, the emotional turmoil. Having him puzzle about things you don't expect, while you enjoy solving the mystery with him. Cleverly the author lets the mystery linger.
Not knowing if he is a villain or not, you can't help but like him immediately. Especially the fact that he is brazen to the point of being funny and doesn't take shit from anyone. Also his stranger thoughts and many of his remarks are so chuckle-worthy. He blurts out whatever he's thinking, no filter.
As he discovers more about himself he slowly gets in touch with his power and deliciously dark traits. I love the way the magic is explained like it is a part and an extension of him. The internal musings and some explanations are sometimes a little long-winded but still interesting. There are quite a few "Aha!" moments but not enough to satiate your curiosity completely. And his 'interactions' with the beast within him are so captivating.
If you like fighting in your fiction you're gonna love this, since Stratus keeps beating others up or gets beaten (not that often) and it's fun to see what new way he will use to incapacitate his opponents next. You will also be taken by the smart-mouthed, wonderfully aggressive, badass character of Tatyana.
I imagined our 'hero" to be a Hulk like Idris Elba sorcerer. Caught in political machinations and the edges of war, he has to figure out who or what is the great evil and what it has done to him. Entertaining, exciting with a bit of gore, a bit of necromancy, and quite a bodycount. Presenting one of the coolest unconventional characters I've read all year, this a medieval of sorts, adventure fantasy like no other.
Stratus's POV feels like a natural internal monologue of undeniable wit, an exploration of being and is utterly engaging. The author has done such a great job with the protagonist's amnesia, the emotional turmoil. Having him puzzle about things you don't expect, while you enjoy solving the mystery with him. Cleverly the author lets the mystery linger.
Not knowing if he is a villain or not, you can't help but like him immediately. Especially the fact that he is brazen to the point of being funny and doesn't take shit from anyone. Also his stranger thoughts and many of his remarks are so chuckle-worthy. He blurts out whatever he's thinking, no filter.
As he discovers more about himself he slowly gets in touch with his power and deliciously dark traits. I love the way the magic is explained like it is a part and an extension of him. The internal musings and some explanations are sometimes a little long-winded but still interesting. There are quite a few "Aha!" moments but not enough to satiate your curiosity completely. And his 'interactions' with the beast within him are so captivating.
If you like fighting in your fiction you're gonna love this, since Stratus keeps beating others up or gets beaten (not that often) and it's fun to see what new way he will use to incapacitate his opponents next. You will also be taken by the smart-mouthed, wonderfully aggressive, badass character of Tatyana.
I imagined our 'hero" to be a Hulk like Idris Elba sorcerer. Caught in political machinations and the edges of war, he has to figure out who or what is the great evil and what it has done to him. Entertaining, exciting with a bit of gore, a bit of necromancy, and quite a bodycount. Presenting one of the coolest unconventional characters I've read all year, this a medieval of sorts, adventure fantasy like no other.
November 7, 2021
Fabulous
Five star fabulous. Although I guessed the protagonists secret early on it in no way diminished the story. This is one of the best fantasy tales I have read in many years. Great writing, great imagery and imagining. I have devoured this book and move on to part two with high hopes. I brilliant tour de force.
Five star fabulous. Although I guessed the protagonists secret early on it in no way diminished the story. This is one of the best fantasy tales I have read in many years. Great writing, great imagery and imagining. I have devoured this book and move on to part two with high hopes. I brilliant tour de force.
January 8, 2018
Inhalt:
Stratus erwacht splitterfasernackt, allein, desorientiert und von Geier umkreist auf einem Feld mitten in der Wüste. Sein einziger Anhaltspunkt ist sein Name der sich in sein Gedächtnis eingeprägt hat, sonst fehlt im jegliche Erinnerung zu sich selbst und zu dem Ort an dem er sich gerade befindet.
Etliche Frage keimen in ihm auf, die nach Antworten lechzen und keine finden…
Doch tief in im Schlummern die Antworten, sie warten nur darauf entdeckt zu werden, was sich jedoch als Schwieriger herauszustellen scheint, als Stratus gedacht hat.
Auf der Suche nach jenen diesen hinterlässt er einen Pfad der Verwüstung und ein Kampf in ihm entfacht. Schnell muss er feststellen, dass er die Antworten schneller finden muss als gedacht, denn in ihm keimt eine Macht auf, dessen Feuer, wenn erst einmal entfacht, niemand einzudämmen vermag…!
Meine Meinung:
Auch wenn bei der Leseprobe gewisse Erwartungen in mir aufkeimten, so rechnete ich nicht wirklich mit dem was mich anschließend erwartete.
Es war nicht wirklich schlecht, es war einfach nur anders!
In gewisser Weise lässt die Leseprobe schon erahnen, dass es ein blutiger Weg wird, den Stratus zur Wahrheitsfindung einschlagen wird, doch erhoffte ich mir schon eine klare Logik und eine verständliche Vorgehensweise, die dem Leser schildert, wieso - weshalb und vor allem warum Stratus unbekleidet und ohne jegliche Erinnerung mitten in der Wüste erwacht und nicht weis was, wer und wo er ist.
Leider suchte ich nach diesem Sinneswandel im Laufe der Handlung vergebens. Eher gestaltete sie sich als sinnloses Niedergemetzel etlicher Personen bzw. Wesen ohne jegliches Sinn den man erkennen könnte, um am Ende endlich die Antworten in Händen zu halten.
Zwar muss ich gestehen, dass der Unterhaltungsfaktor schon vorhanden ist, aber leider nicht zu 100% mich und meinen Geschmack erreichte.
Stratus ist wahrlich kein Held den man auf Anhieb mag. Eher ist er jemand, denn man wahrlich nie versteht, stets den Kopf über seine Taten schüttelt und ihm wirklich gerne einfach helfen möchte seinem Elend ein Ende zu setzten. Empathie gegenüber Mitmenschen ist nicht gerade seine Stärke und bevor es zu irgendwelchen Freundschaften kommen kann, schaltet er dem Gegenüber lieber die Lampen aus.
So wunderte es mich eigentlich total, dass er gerade in Tatyana eine Weggefährtin und irgendwie auch Freundin findet, die ihn auch mal auf den Boden der Tatsachen zurückzuholen vermag.
Sie war so der Hoffnungsschimmer in den Geschehnissen und mir daher sehr sympathisch.
Leider waren auch die anderen Charaktere, denen man so im Laufe der Handlung begegnet, eher blass und unscheinbar. Man liest von ihnen und genauso schnell sind sie auch wieder vergessen.
Für einen ersten Band einer Reihe muss ich gestehen, war der Einstieg eher abschrecken und absolut nicht mein Fall, so dass ich auch nicht in Erwägung ziehe diese Reihe weiter zu verfolgen. Wirklich sehr schade, denn es ist einiges an ungenutzten Potential vorhanden.
Ansonsten empfand ich die Dialoge und die Reise an Stratus Seite eher nervtötend und sie zog sich zudem noch unnötig in die Länge.
Da ich nicht der Typ bin, der Bücher abbricht, so quälte ich mich phasenweise leider durch die Seiten.
Viele positive Eigenschaften konnte ich leider nicht erkennen, auch wenn wie bereits erwähnt, der Unterhaltungsfaktor vorhanden war, doch leider kam er bei mir eher begrenzt an.
Fazit:
„Ein Satz mit X das war wohl Nix!“ - Schade schade, denn ich habe mich sehr auf das Buch gefreut, dessen Klapptext und die dazugehörige Leseprobe klangen nämlich sehr vielversprechend. Am Ende reichte es leider nicht mich voll und ganz mit dem Feuer der Leidenschaft zu entfachen und ich legte das Buch nach Beendigung enttäuscht und unzufrieden ins Regal.
Wer auf ordentlich Blutvergießen, sinnloses Gemetzel und einen leicht verstrahlten Hauptprotagonisten steht ist hier richtig, ansonsten rate ich eher von diesem Buch ab.
Stratus erwacht splitterfasernackt, allein, desorientiert und von Geier umkreist auf einem Feld mitten in der Wüste. Sein einziger Anhaltspunkt ist sein Name der sich in sein Gedächtnis eingeprägt hat, sonst fehlt im jegliche Erinnerung zu sich selbst und zu dem Ort an dem er sich gerade befindet.
Etliche Frage keimen in ihm auf, die nach Antworten lechzen und keine finden…
Doch tief in im Schlummern die Antworten, sie warten nur darauf entdeckt zu werden, was sich jedoch als Schwieriger herauszustellen scheint, als Stratus gedacht hat.
Auf der Suche nach jenen diesen hinterlässt er einen Pfad der Verwüstung und ein Kampf in ihm entfacht. Schnell muss er feststellen, dass er die Antworten schneller finden muss als gedacht, denn in ihm keimt eine Macht auf, dessen Feuer, wenn erst einmal entfacht, niemand einzudämmen vermag…!
Meine Meinung:
Auch wenn bei der Leseprobe gewisse Erwartungen in mir aufkeimten, so rechnete ich nicht wirklich mit dem was mich anschließend erwartete.
Es war nicht wirklich schlecht, es war einfach nur anders!
In gewisser Weise lässt die Leseprobe schon erahnen, dass es ein blutiger Weg wird, den Stratus zur Wahrheitsfindung einschlagen wird, doch erhoffte ich mir schon eine klare Logik und eine verständliche Vorgehensweise, die dem Leser schildert, wieso - weshalb und vor allem warum Stratus unbekleidet und ohne jegliche Erinnerung mitten in der Wüste erwacht und nicht weis was, wer und wo er ist.
Leider suchte ich nach diesem Sinneswandel im Laufe der Handlung vergebens. Eher gestaltete sie sich als sinnloses Niedergemetzel etlicher Personen bzw. Wesen ohne jegliches Sinn den man erkennen könnte, um am Ende endlich die Antworten in Händen zu halten.
Zwar muss ich gestehen, dass der Unterhaltungsfaktor schon vorhanden ist, aber leider nicht zu 100% mich und meinen Geschmack erreichte.
Stratus ist wahrlich kein Held den man auf Anhieb mag. Eher ist er jemand, denn man wahrlich nie versteht, stets den Kopf über seine Taten schüttelt und ihm wirklich gerne einfach helfen möchte seinem Elend ein Ende zu setzten. Empathie gegenüber Mitmenschen ist nicht gerade seine Stärke und bevor es zu irgendwelchen Freundschaften kommen kann, schaltet er dem Gegenüber lieber die Lampen aus.
So wunderte es mich eigentlich total, dass er gerade in Tatyana eine Weggefährtin und irgendwie auch Freundin findet, die ihn auch mal auf den Boden der Tatsachen zurückzuholen vermag.
Sie war so der Hoffnungsschimmer in den Geschehnissen und mir daher sehr sympathisch.
Leider waren auch die anderen Charaktere, denen man so im Laufe der Handlung begegnet, eher blass und unscheinbar. Man liest von ihnen und genauso schnell sind sie auch wieder vergessen.
Für einen ersten Band einer Reihe muss ich gestehen, war der Einstieg eher abschrecken und absolut nicht mein Fall, so dass ich auch nicht in Erwägung ziehe diese Reihe weiter zu verfolgen. Wirklich sehr schade, denn es ist einiges an ungenutzten Potential vorhanden.
Ansonsten empfand ich die Dialoge und die Reise an Stratus Seite eher nervtötend und sie zog sich zudem noch unnötig in die Länge.
Da ich nicht der Typ bin, der Bücher abbricht, so quälte ich mich phasenweise leider durch die Seiten.
Viele positive Eigenschaften konnte ich leider nicht erkennen, auch wenn wie bereits erwähnt, der Unterhaltungsfaktor vorhanden war, doch leider kam er bei mir eher begrenzt an.
Fazit:
„Ein Satz mit X das war wohl Nix!“ - Schade schade, denn ich habe mich sehr auf das Buch gefreut, dessen Klapptext und die dazugehörige Leseprobe klangen nämlich sehr vielversprechend. Am Ende reichte es leider nicht mich voll und ganz mit dem Feuer der Leidenschaft zu entfachen und ich legte das Buch nach Beendigung enttäuscht und unzufrieden ins Regal.
Wer auf ordentlich Blutvergießen, sinnloses Gemetzel und einen leicht verstrahlten Hauptprotagonisten steht ist hier richtig, ansonsten rate ich eher von diesem Buch ab.
August 6, 2023
Confession time… I requested this book through Netgalley because I thought Mark de Jager might be Dutch. But then the Husband told me it is also an African name (yes, he knows both Dutch and African de Jagers). And guess what, he won.
That didn’t make me enjoy this book any less though. It is an epic fantasy… but different. We follow Stratus, a man with unusually dark skin who is possessed by some ‘demon’, on his journey to find out who and what he is. He isn’t a good guy. He isn’t a bad guy either though. He is his own man, and doesn’t hesitate to kill whoever gets in his way, no matter whose side they are on. And his incredible strenght does lead him to kill them quite brutally at times.
I also loved Stratus’ voice. He is very matter of fact. He doesn’t know/care about etiquette, social norms and emotions. When someone in front of him complains about how much it hurts to die, he tells them that this is obvious and just answer his question. He is blunt, and opens his mouth without thinking… and in a way this makes him hilarious (even though he doesn’t mean to be). It is what made this book a great reading experience. Stratus starts the book of not knowing anything, and the reader learns together with him. Though this can turn out a bit tropy, I feel this was handled very well in this case. Stratus didn’t conveniently not remember the parts that were important to the story. He also didn’t know what oats are and how to make a fire.
I didn’t care all that much about the other characters. Though I hugely appreciate Stratus didn’t get romantically invovled with the female major character, and the fact that she kicked ass, I didn’t really care for her as a person. Nor did I give a shit about any of the other characters and their war. I just wanted to know what happened to Stratus, and everything else was background noise.
I did however really enjoy the sourcery and especially the necromancy elements in this book. The zombies and the disgusting scenes that came with them were something I haven’t come across ofthen in (epic) fantasy, and I really enjoyed this fresh take on the genre.
It is weird to complain about the fact that the main character was too good that I didn’t care for the rest of the book. But that really is an issue I had with the book, my only issue. I LOVE the reveal in the end, and the cover of the second book already has me fascinated. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for an epic fantasy that is bloody and brutal, but also hugely entertaining and a tad different.
That didn’t make me enjoy this book any less though. It is an epic fantasy… but different. We follow Stratus, a man with unusually dark skin who is possessed by some ‘demon’, on his journey to find out who and what he is. He isn’t a good guy. He isn’t a bad guy either though. He is his own man, and doesn’t hesitate to kill whoever gets in his way, no matter whose side they are on. And his incredible strenght does lead him to kill them quite brutally at times.
I also loved Stratus’ voice. He is very matter of fact. He doesn’t know/care about etiquette, social norms and emotions. When someone in front of him complains about how much it hurts to die, he tells them that this is obvious and just answer his question. He is blunt, and opens his mouth without thinking… and in a way this makes him hilarious (even though he doesn’t mean to be). It is what made this book a great reading experience. Stratus starts the book of not knowing anything, and the reader learns together with him. Though this can turn out a bit tropy, I feel this was handled very well in this case. Stratus didn’t conveniently not remember the parts that were important to the story. He also didn’t know what oats are and how to make a fire.
I didn’t care all that much about the other characters. Though I hugely appreciate Stratus didn’t get romantically invovled with the female major character, and the fact that she kicked ass, I didn’t really care for her as a person. Nor did I give a shit about any of the other characters and their war. I just wanted to know what happened to Stratus, and everything else was background noise.
I did however really enjoy the sourcery and especially the necromancy elements in this book. The zombies and the disgusting scenes that came with them were something I haven’t come across ofthen in (epic) fantasy, and I really enjoyed this fresh take on the genre.
It is weird to complain about the fact that the main character was too good that I didn’t care for the rest of the book. But that really is an issue I had with the book, my only issue. I LOVE the reveal in the end, and the cover of the second book already has me fascinated. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for an epic fantasy that is bloody and brutal, but also hugely entertaining and a tad different.
July 12, 2020
The premise to this was certainly interesting - a creature of unknown origin wakes up in a strange place with amnesia. I liked the strangeness of Stratus' character; he is violent, even eating people, but he navigated the world with a strange sort of logic that I understood. He was also unexpectedly funny, and I enjoyed reading about his journey to discover exactly who he is and what he had been trying to do. I also liked Tatyana and Lucien, side characters that he ends up befriending. However, I sometimes found the writing difficult to get through; at times, there was too much description and not enough dialogue, resulting in many long paragraphs which I ended up skimming. The big reveal of who/what exactly Stratus is was also left to the very last page, which felt a bit abrupt. In general, I felt that the second half of the book dragged on at times, and this made me lose interest.
Overall, this is a decent book with an intriguing protagonist and premise. However, the writing left more to be desired.
Overall, this is a decent book with an intriguing protagonist and premise. However, the writing left more to be desired.
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