What do you think?
Rate this book
Roads of the Righteous #1
Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten
For too long phantoms have haunted Zar's past, and for too long he's tried to escape them. For years he's wandered through the land of Krii, fleeing from the deeds of darker days and old memories that burden him. When his latest adventure mixes him up in the plots of the Condor, a dangerous group planning to overthrow the king, he finally has the chance to redeem himself by preventing a war that would leave the land in ruin. But the only way to avert the coming war and banish the ghosts of his past, is to stand against the Condor and King Tiomot—a choice that could cost his life.
- GenresFantasy
410 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2016
3 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 1, 2018
The main character, Zar, is a wandering swordsman/adventure-seeker with a dusty, hidden heart of gold. As the story unfolds, you don’t really know what to expect and how this wanderer fits into things, especially along the first third of the book. The medieval setting was well-described and filled with fitting fantasy elements. There’s the corrupt, lecherous king and a prince that’s handy with the sword. Then there’s the Condor, which seemed like they would be winners in the Winter X Games every year, but are led by a queen with a mischievous agenda. There’s a dragon and a treasure hunt. So there are plenty of villains to keep Zar occupied as he pushes forward. The witty taunts Zar deploys against his adversaries were awesome. The scene in the cave in Serradiia was comical and so appropriate for the character. I do think the book would have benefited from having a map, though. Overall, it was a fun, fun read and I really enjoyed it!
June 12, 2018
Parts of this book were fully 5 stars. As the plot widened and a multi-angled power struggled was described, I was all in, lost in the story. Interesting characters, great world building with an on-track plot. There's plenty of action and some touching scenes in the last third or so that had me cheering the MC on. All in all, this was a fun book and I think I'll be picking up the next one.
A couple things kept this from 5 stars for me. For one, some of the dialogue felt expositional. Not all the time, but sometimes it was like the characters were speaking in the narrator's voice, a sort of TMI "show don't tell" fashion. A little too flowery at times. It made me skim occasionally. Secondly, the climax in the last few chapters felt rushed and kind of drops off a cliff. No epilogues here. But it is a series, maybe that's the point. ;)
A couple things kept this from 5 stars for me. For one, some of the dialogue felt expositional. Not all the time, but sometimes it was like the characters were speaking in the narrator's voice, a sort of TMI "show don't tell" fashion. A little too flowery at times. It made me skim occasionally. Secondly, the climax in the last few chapters felt rushed and kind of drops off a cliff. No epilogues here. But it is a series, maybe that's the point. ;)
July 9, 2018
What a great adventure book!
I’ve not read a story like this in quite some time. The author somehow managed to make the speech and thoughts very honest and real, which I don't think I see that often.
I found the main character particularly likable, despite his dark past. There is a relationship with “Asha” that is very ... unexpected ... I’ll let you read for yourself!
It really was the roads of the righteous and the rotten.
I’ve not read a story like this in quite some time. The author somehow managed to make the speech and thoughts very honest and real, which I don't think I see that often.
I found the main character particularly likable, despite his dark past. There is a relationship with “Asha” that is very ... unexpected ... I’ll let you read for yourself!
It really was the roads of the righteous and the rotten.
May 10, 2018
Man, where to begin with this novel. It really has me torn.
First, I want to say that I did enjoy the novel and that it kept my interest enough to keep turning the pages. Williams really does have a way with words. His prose, although apparently mediocre at first evolved into something truly entertaining and enjoyable. His characters had delightful dialogue, his descriptions were witty and often times artful, and his imagination was something to behold in the creation of Krii (the continent the story is set) and the various cities within it.
Plot:
- The plot of RotRatR is rather all over the place. To keep things spoiler free, it can be summed up as a man, Zar, seeking to undue the unjust rule of a lecherous king, Tiomot. The plot was both very simple and yet overtly complex, this was both good and bad. I could tell that Williams truly loves the world he has crafted, he spent many pages describing cities or cultures and went into detail about the many side characters or histories of the places visited by the main character. Overall this was enjoyable and captivating. However a major distraction was how unconnected and often jarring transitions were between characters and locales. The plot has A LOT of character perspective switching, which is fine - I personally love that kind of style - but it became borderline distracting. The first 100 pages has like 9 perspectives switches between brand new characters who, by the stories end, many either have anticlimactic endings or really had next to no screen time at all. Some weren't even interesting or major characters finds out. The annoyance had little pay off and I wonder if the story would have been served better if it stuck with 3 or 4 major perspectives.
Characters:
- The main character is Zar who is both obnoxiously familiar as he is charming. He's the main character of basically every fantasy story. A rogue-ish white knight who is trying to find atonement for a troubled past, finds the eye of every attractive woman in the story, is skillful in a variety of weapons, and triumphs over every obstacle. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but he was just kind of ordinary. He was likable, just ordinary.
- Asha is Zar's camel and honestly was one of the most original and charming elements of the story. I felt Asha single-handedly made Zar a very unique and memorable character. She was this loyal, clever camel and functioned as a sort of convenient plot device but who cares because its a freaking camel and I just love that. I will say though her existence allowed for some painful exposition pieces. There were entire scenes of Zar just exposition dumping or spoonfeeding the reader what is currently happening in the plot, all under the guise of talking to his camel. The story honestly would have been better served with all of those sections either rewritten or removed.
- Other characters, I'll go through rapid fire. Shahla is a young girl Zar knew growing up and is now an archer hottie, her arc in the story felt cheap and rather inconsistent. Ramla is a young witch hottie who was a charming character but again under utilized. Stroan was a cliff ninja of the Candor tribe who had large character inconsistencies and, alongside his lover Yuna, had a rather weak character arc in my opinion. Most of the bad guys had really good introductions but had terribly anticlimactic ends.
Final thoughts:
- I'll say that Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten was an enjoyable and worthwhile read. I know some of my criticism sounds harsh, but that is just because i'm a nitpicky guy. Honestly, I enjoyed the read, the cover is great, and the writing was solid. Three major things held this book from being 5 stars: the action scenes were all rather boring, the author has issues with being skillful in setting up a scene or plot device but having the end result be anticlimactic, and the exposition dumps with the camel. Otherwise the story was great, the characters fun, the world interesting, and I recommend this novel to anyone in the fantasy genre.
First, I want to say that I did enjoy the novel and that it kept my interest enough to keep turning the pages. Williams really does have a way with words. His prose, although apparently mediocre at first evolved into something truly entertaining and enjoyable. His characters had delightful dialogue, his descriptions were witty and often times artful, and his imagination was something to behold in the creation of Krii (the continent the story is set) and the various cities within it.
Plot:
- The plot of RotRatR is rather all over the place. To keep things spoiler free, it can be summed up as a man, Zar, seeking to undue the unjust rule of a lecherous king, Tiomot. The plot was both very simple and yet overtly complex, this was both good and bad. I could tell that Williams truly loves the world he has crafted, he spent many pages describing cities or cultures and went into detail about the many side characters or histories of the places visited by the main character. Overall this was enjoyable and captivating. However a major distraction was how unconnected and often jarring transitions were between characters and locales. The plot has A LOT of character perspective switching, which is fine - I personally love that kind of style - but it became borderline distracting. The first 100 pages has like 9 perspectives switches between brand new characters who, by the stories end, many either have anticlimactic endings or really had next to no screen time at all. Some weren't even interesting or major characters finds out. The annoyance had little pay off and I wonder if the story would have been served better if it stuck with 3 or 4 major perspectives.
Characters:
- The main character is Zar who is both obnoxiously familiar as he is charming. He's the main character of basically every fantasy story. A rogue-ish white knight who is trying to find atonement for a troubled past, finds the eye of every attractive woman in the story, is skillful in a variety of weapons, and triumphs over every obstacle. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but he was just kind of ordinary. He was likable, just ordinary.
- Asha is Zar's camel and honestly was one of the most original and charming elements of the story. I felt Asha single-handedly made Zar a very unique and memorable character. She was this loyal, clever camel and functioned as a sort of convenient plot device but who cares because its a freaking camel and I just love that. I will say though her existence allowed for some painful exposition pieces. There were entire scenes of Zar just exposition dumping or spoonfeeding the reader what is currently happening in the plot, all under the guise of talking to his camel. The story honestly would have been better served with all of those sections either rewritten or removed.
- Other characters, I'll go through rapid fire. Shahla is a young girl Zar knew growing up and is now an archer hottie, her arc in the story felt cheap and rather inconsistent. Ramla is a young witch hottie who was a charming character but again under utilized. Stroan was a cliff ninja of the Candor tribe who had large character inconsistencies and, alongside his lover Yuna, had a rather weak character arc in my opinion. Most of the bad guys had really good introductions but had terribly anticlimactic ends.
Final thoughts:
- I'll say that Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten was an enjoyable and worthwhile read. I know some of my criticism sounds harsh, but that is just because i'm a nitpicky guy. Honestly, I enjoyed the read, the cover is great, and the writing was solid. Three major things held this book from being 5 stars: the action scenes were all rather boring, the author has issues with being skillful in setting up a scene or plot device but having the end result be anticlimactic, and the exposition dumps with the camel. Otherwise the story was great, the characters fun, the world interesting, and I recommend this novel to anyone in the fantasy genre.
October 8, 2017
I fell for Zar right away. I particularly got a kick out of his relationship with Asha. His philosophical discussions with her are priceless. The political dynamics in this fantasy are intriguing, the villains are hateful, and the action is fast and furious. Zar goes looking for trouble sometimes, but the battles he picks always struck me as the right thing to do under the circumstances. Some of the creatures he encounters are what we look for in a story like this, and others struck me as especially creative and unique. Kameron Williams writes with a special flare that kept me turning the pages of this fantastic book.
May 30, 2018
First of all, can I take a second here to just point out what gorgeous cover artwork this book has? I would be temped to pick the book up just on that alone!
Moving on...
Methinks it's safe to assume Righteous and Rotten is a book aimed toward pleasing a male-centric audience of traditional "classic" 20th century epic fantasy. Probably the ones who loved all things D&D, along with those long, epic, ongoing series. Nothing wrong with that, except I feel obliged to add a disclaimer, that I'm not in said audience, so take my views accordingly.
Righteous and Rotten follows the meandering adventures of philosophical warrior Zar, and his longsuffering camel, Asha. The villains he kills, the women he woos (i.e., who throw themselves at him), and the miles of fantasy landscape he travels, trusting Asha and his blade to keep him alive.
The things I liked:
-Asha. She's a great character in her own right, and a brilliant comic relief
-Leviathan. I thought Williams had a really interesting take with his dragon mythology, borrowing ideas from the Biblical description in Job of a water-dwelling, fire-breathing creature, and then making them his own.
-Zar is kind of a great character sometimes. In one way he struck me as kind of a "Marty Stu," in other words, a wish-fulfillment character that's All That, the best at everything and still a little 2 dimensional. On the other hand though, I liked his philosophical bent, and his habit of talking his thoughts out to Asha. He's someone trying to be honorable, though he's more of a mess than anything. Depending on how the story develops further into the series, this could be brilliant, or it could be disappointing. I'll withhold judgement.
-The politics were complex, crafty, and promise some intrigues in the next books. I love a good scheme, with characters manipulating other characters to their own ends, and then being played in return, and there's a few glimpses of that here on a large scale, enough that there could have been a good, solid, cohesive plot there. Which leads me to....
The things I didn't like:
-Lack of cohesive plot. There was lots of good content here, that could have made for a tight, interesting plot. Instead it meanders from one adventure to the next, with only the thinnest tie-ins, almost reminiscent of The Hobbit, though The Hobbit did have an ultimate goal that they were traveling toward, while Righteous and Rotten seemed to lack a main focus. Zar didn't really seem to want anything. He wasn't passionate about much, other than revenge in a few instances. For me, this lack of cohesion was what kept me from loving the book. I put it down several times and took a long time coming back to it, simply because one adventure would be over with and there wasn't anything drawing me to read about the next escapade. Toward the end it did come together a little bit, but even then it seemed disjointed.
-LONG descriptions. So much effort and care went into building this fantasy world, and I can appreciate that, but long paragraphs of description of towns and rooms and landscapes and whatnot stacked on top of one another when nothing is happening-- that's when I tend to start skipping ahead or skimming. Not that they were bad descriptions, just long. I have reader ADD or something.
-The female characters. This is a pet peeve of mine, and there will never be a review when I don't call authors out on this when it's an issue. Women have brains, not just bodies. Also, we do more than giggle. Added to that, if you think the definition of "strong female character" means a fictional gal that does nothing but sling weapons and act like a dude with boobs, then Hollywood and the feminist movement have led you seriously astray. I don't ask for a book to be overpopulated with women, or to always have a female lead- just to respect the ones that do cross its pages. They don't have to be warriors, nor do they need to swoon. Just treat them with the same care and attention you treat your male characters, and you'll do just fine. Make them human. Most of the women we meet in this book are of the giggling variety, and exist primarily to throw themselves at Zar. A couple exceptions lean the opposite way, being ruthless and conniving. The queen of the Condor was probably the most interesting, but even she didn't really rise to the level of human. Shahla went from damsel in distress to vigilante, which was a little weird. Again, she didn't have enough character development for the switch to be convincing. Finally, that moment when you want to smack the character- Zar takes great pains to sort out his feelings on a particular girl, going on, through the book's narrative, about how she was different. How he was more than just attracted to her physically. Basically, he thinks he's in love with her. But it doesn't stop him loving up on someone else a chapter or two later, and being pretty smitten with this new person, without a single thought for his other love. *facepalm* I'll give Williams the benefit of the doubt and assume he's making Zar that big an imbecile on purpose for now so he can figure things out later.
Overall, this had the elements of a good read. I actually really enjoyed the sometimes flamboyant style and sometimes silly dialogue once I got into it. The characters were a little over the top sometimes, in a way I can't really describe, and even that was kind of endearing after I got used to it. It's way different than the normal type of fantasy book I'd pick up, so was kind of refreshing. I just wish the plot had hung together a little tighter, so it could have kept my attention a little better. Still, fans of world-building based books like Lord of the Rings with swashbuckling heroes and faithful steeds will probably find something here to delight in.
Moving on...
Methinks it's safe to assume Righteous and Rotten is a book aimed toward pleasing a male-centric audience of traditional "classic" 20th century epic fantasy. Probably the ones who loved all things D&D, along with those long, epic, ongoing series. Nothing wrong with that, except I feel obliged to add a disclaimer, that I'm not in said audience, so take my views accordingly.
Righteous and Rotten follows the meandering adventures of philosophical warrior Zar, and his longsuffering camel, Asha. The villains he kills, the women he woos (i.e., who throw themselves at him), and the miles of fantasy landscape he travels, trusting Asha and his blade to keep him alive.
The things I liked:
-Asha. She's a great character in her own right, and a brilliant comic relief
-Leviathan. I thought Williams had a really interesting take with his dragon mythology, borrowing ideas from the Biblical description in Job of a water-dwelling, fire-breathing creature, and then making them his own.
-Zar is kind of a great character sometimes. In one way he struck me as kind of a "Marty Stu," in other words, a wish-fulfillment character that's All That, the best at everything and still a little 2 dimensional. On the other hand though, I liked his philosophical bent, and his habit of talking his thoughts out to Asha. He's someone trying to be honorable, though he's more of a mess than anything. Depending on how the story develops further into the series, this could be brilliant, or it could be disappointing. I'll withhold judgement.
-The politics were complex, crafty, and promise some intrigues in the next books. I love a good scheme, with characters manipulating other characters to their own ends, and then being played in return, and there's a few glimpses of that here on a large scale, enough that there could have been a good, solid, cohesive plot there. Which leads me to....
The things I didn't like:
-Lack of cohesive plot. There was lots of good content here, that could have made for a tight, interesting plot. Instead it meanders from one adventure to the next, with only the thinnest tie-ins, almost reminiscent of The Hobbit, though The Hobbit did have an ultimate goal that they were traveling toward, while Righteous and Rotten seemed to lack a main focus. Zar didn't really seem to want anything. He wasn't passionate about much, other than revenge in a few instances. For me, this lack of cohesion was what kept me from loving the book. I put it down several times and took a long time coming back to it, simply because one adventure would be over with and there wasn't anything drawing me to read about the next escapade. Toward the end it did come together a little bit, but even then it seemed disjointed.
-LONG descriptions. So much effort and care went into building this fantasy world, and I can appreciate that, but long paragraphs of description of towns and rooms and landscapes and whatnot stacked on top of one another when nothing is happening-- that's when I tend to start skipping ahead or skimming. Not that they were bad descriptions, just long. I have reader ADD or something.
-The female characters. This is a pet peeve of mine, and there will never be a review when I don't call authors out on this when it's an issue. Women have brains, not just bodies. Also, we do more than giggle. Added to that, if you think the definition of "strong female character" means a fictional gal that does nothing but sling weapons and act like a dude with boobs, then Hollywood and the feminist movement have led you seriously astray. I don't ask for a book to be overpopulated with women, or to always have a female lead- just to respect the ones that do cross its pages. They don't have to be warriors, nor do they need to swoon. Just treat them with the same care and attention you treat your male characters, and you'll do just fine. Make them human. Most of the women we meet in this book are of the giggling variety, and exist primarily to throw themselves at Zar. A couple exceptions lean the opposite way, being ruthless and conniving. The queen of the Condor was probably the most interesting, but even she didn't really rise to the level of human. Shahla went from damsel in distress to vigilante, which was a little weird. Again, she didn't have enough character development for the switch to be convincing. Finally, that moment when you want to smack the character- Zar takes great pains to sort out his feelings on a particular girl, going on, through the book's narrative, about how she was different. How he was more than just attracted to her physically. Basically, he thinks he's in love with her. But it doesn't stop him loving up on someone else a chapter or two later, and being pretty smitten with this new person, without a single thought for his other love. *facepalm* I'll give Williams the benefit of the doubt and assume he's making Zar that big an imbecile on purpose for now so he can figure things out later.
Overall, this had the elements of a good read. I actually really enjoyed the sometimes flamboyant style and sometimes silly dialogue once I got into it. The characters were a little over the top sometimes, in a way I can't really describe, and even that was kind of endearing after I got used to it. It's way different than the normal type of fantasy book I'd pick up, so was kind of refreshing. I just wish the plot had hung together a little tighter, so it could have kept my attention a little better. Still, fans of world-building based books like Lord of the Rings with swashbuckling heroes and faithful steeds will probably find something here to delight in.
September 28, 2017
“We’ve hidden the bodies in the towers. Only the gatehouse remains. It’s quiet. Half of them are probably asleep.”
California author Kameron A. Williams, according to his own thoughts, ‘was born with a glass of whiskey in one hand and a writing pen in the other. He was fortunate enough to have grown up in more than a few different states, including California, Tennessee, Michigan, and New York. He now lives in Oakland, California where he can be found musing or adventuring—or musing about adventuring.’ His genre is fantasy, science fiction and thriller.
Kameron’s new epic ROADS OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE ROTTEN is a hefty volume that introduces many characters (all well defined and developed) and quests that challenge the reader to keep abreast of the story.
The author’s synopsis is terse and solid: ‘For too long phantoms have haunted Zar's past, and for too long he's tried to escape them. For years he's wandered through the land of Krii, fleeing from the deeds of darker days and old memories that burden him. When his latest adventure mixes him up in the plots of the Condor, a dangerous group planning to overthrow the king, he finally has the chance to redeem himself by preventing a war that would leave the land in ruin. But the only way to avert the coming war and banish the ghosts of his past, is to stand against the Condor and King Tiomot - a choice that could cost his life.’
Other times and other kingdoms and other aspects of fantasy create a tapestry in this book that captures the imagination and the heart. The writing is strong. The flow of humor keeps the epic relatable – ‘“Me?” Zar questioned. “I’m but a humble adventurer, but Asha—she’s quite fearless, I daresay. Yesterday she spit in the face of a noble.” “Truly?” asked Shahla, laughing. “What happened?” “We were in Sirith,” said Zar with a sigh, reaching for the water skin that hung from the wall beside him. “I got in a minor argument with some lord or other—” “So it was your doing,” said Shahla as if she already knew. “We were talking it out like sophisticated men,” Zar defended. “Then Asha starts groaning and kicking. Before I know it she’s coughed a fat one right in the lad’s face. It’s not the first time, either.” Shahla laughed wildly. “She’s the wisest camel in all the land,” she said, pulling her eyes from the stove to Zar. “I can trust her to bring you back to us in one piece.” “Trust her?” Zar laughed out the words. “You can trust her to get me in trouble.” “She didn’t like the man is all,” said Shahla, still giggling. “Aye, she didn’t like him and she showed it. I can’t say her opinion of the man was wrong, though. He certainly deserved it.” “See. She is wise.” “She’s got a good nose,” said Zar with a shrug. “She can sniff out water when I need it, sniff out anyone tracking us—and apparently she can smell spoiled, pompous young lords.” “And what does that smell like, I wonder?” “Not as good as this,” said Zar, hopping up and pulling out his dagger as he shuffled to the stove. He poked his blade into a thin piece of meat and brought it to his mouth, biting at the flesh while oil rolled down to the dagger’s guard. Shahla also snagged a piece. “Would you tell my father there’s food ready,” she said, between bites.
It seems as though Kameron A. Williams has found his muse for adventure and is on the right track for readers addicted to ageless adventures.
California author Kameron A. Williams, according to his own thoughts, ‘was born with a glass of whiskey in one hand and a writing pen in the other. He was fortunate enough to have grown up in more than a few different states, including California, Tennessee, Michigan, and New York. He now lives in Oakland, California where he can be found musing or adventuring—or musing about adventuring.’ His genre is fantasy, science fiction and thriller.
Kameron’s new epic ROADS OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE ROTTEN is a hefty volume that introduces many characters (all well defined and developed) and quests that challenge the reader to keep abreast of the story.
The author’s synopsis is terse and solid: ‘For too long phantoms have haunted Zar's past, and for too long he's tried to escape them. For years he's wandered through the land of Krii, fleeing from the deeds of darker days and old memories that burden him. When his latest adventure mixes him up in the plots of the Condor, a dangerous group planning to overthrow the king, he finally has the chance to redeem himself by preventing a war that would leave the land in ruin. But the only way to avert the coming war and banish the ghosts of his past, is to stand against the Condor and King Tiomot - a choice that could cost his life.’
Other times and other kingdoms and other aspects of fantasy create a tapestry in this book that captures the imagination and the heart. The writing is strong. The flow of humor keeps the epic relatable – ‘“Me?” Zar questioned. “I’m but a humble adventurer, but Asha—she’s quite fearless, I daresay. Yesterday she spit in the face of a noble.” “Truly?” asked Shahla, laughing. “What happened?” “We were in Sirith,” said Zar with a sigh, reaching for the water skin that hung from the wall beside him. “I got in a minor argument with some lord or other—” “So it was your doing,” said Shahla as if she already knew. “We were talking it out like sophisticated men,” Zar defended. “Then Asha starts groaning and kicking. Before I know it she’s coughed a fat one right in the lad’s face. It’s not the first time, either.” Shahla laughed wildly. “She’s the wisest camel in all the land,” she said, pulling her eyes from the stove to Zar. “I can trust her to bring you back to us in one piece.” “Trust her?” Zar laughed out the words. “You can trust her to get me in trouble.” “She didn’t like the man is all,” said Shahla, still giggling. “Aye, she didn’t like him and she showed it. I can’t say her opinion of the man was wrong, though. He certainly deserved it.” “See. She is wise.” “She’s got a good nose,” said Zar with a shrug. “She can sniff out water when I need it, sniff out anyone tracking us—and apparently she can smell spoiled, pompous young lords.” “And what does that smell like, I wonder?” “Not as good as this,” said Zar, hopping up and pulling out his dagger as he shuffled to the stove. He poked his blade into a thin piece of meat and brought it to his mouth, biting at the flesh while oil rolled down to the dagger’s guard. Shahla also snagged a piece. “Would you tell my father there’s food ready,” she said, between bites.
It seems as though Kameron A. Williams has found his muse for adventure and is on the right track for readers addicted to ageless adventures.
September 30, 2017
Zar, the tormented hero of the story, is a wandering warrior monk with a taste for gold. Fortunately Zar is also the finest swordsman in all of Kriia. Instead of a valiant charger Zar’s usual mount is an intelligent camel who understands everything he says. Most of the time, except when Asha wants to do something else.
When Zar risks his life to save a hapless traveler from robbers, he asks no payment, only a favor to be called in when needed. This is reminiscent of a time when people were so honorable that debts were were repaid not with money but by equal risk and possible sacrifice. And people did not forget those debts.
Author Kameron Williams excels in creating interesting dialogue that speaks of a different world, a different time. Also in developing political intrigue among a vivid cast of characters. A few examples among a great many -
One of the main characters, Stroan suddenly finds himself trapped in an increasingly personal relationship with Anza, Queen of the Condors -
“Was this what they had been moving toward on those late nights when they shared their thoughts regarding the siege of Snowstone and their conversations had drifted from strategy to matters far more personal? Was this what was in progress as the bounds of a master - servant relationship had been knocked down and the two shared laughs in the midst of their meetings?
Was this where they were going as she revealed to him the beautifully flawed, magnificently vulnerable person she really was?”
The Oracle Ramla to Zar - “It is the 3 Apostates who will end your life if you stay here.”
Zar - “Am I so easy to kill now?”
Ramla - “Your sword is the best I’ve seen but those men are demons.”
“They are men,” Zar retorted, “That shit and weep and bleed like any other.”
From my Avid Reader’s Wish List: (keep in mind that I am a woman)
Less indiscriminate gory mass killing.
More feeling. The romance is awkward - `Her hands were busy’. `They worked each other…’
What does Zar look like? I really wanted a visual image of the hero.
Overall I found `Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten’ to be an excellent Epic Fantasy read.
When Zar risks his life to save a hapless traveler from robbers, he asks no payment, only a favor to be called in when needed. This is reminiscent of a time when people were so honorable that debts were were repaid not with money but by equal risk and possible sacrifice. And people did not forget those debts.
Author Kameron Williams excels in creating interesting dialogue that speaks of a different world, a different time. Also in developing political intrigue among a vivid cast of characters. A few examples among a great many -
One of the main characters, Stroan suddenly finds himself trapped in an increasingly personal relationship with Anza, Queen of the Condors -
“Was this what they had been moving toward on those late nights when they shared their thoughts regarding the siege of Snowstone and their conversations had drifted from strategy to matters far more personal? Was this what was in progress as the bounds of a master - servant relationship had been knocked down and the two shared laughs in the midst of their meetings?
Was this where they were going as she revealed to him the beautifully flawed, magnificently vulnerable person she really was?”
The Oracle Ramla to Zar - “It is the 3 Apostates who will end your life if you stay here.”
Zar - “Am I so easy to kill now?”
Ramla - “Your sword is the best I’ve seen but those men are demons.”
“They are men,” Zar retorted, “That shit and weep and bleed like any other.”
From my Avid Reader’s Wish List: (keep in mind that I am a woman)
Less indiscriminate gory mass killing.
More feeling. The romance is awkward - `Her hands were busy’. `They worked each other…’
What does Zar look like? I really wanted a visual image of the hero.
Overall I found `Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten’ to be an excellent Epic Fantasy read.
May 17, 2018
This book kept surprising me in a good way.
It’s kind of Game-of-Thrones lite. Roads has lots of intrigue, swordplay, travel, but less violence, less cynicism, and is not as graphic or as depressing. The characters in Games are drawn with brutal realism and are largely unlikable, while the main characters in Roads are a little too beautiful or have too much prowess to be realistic but are sympathetic.
The plot mainly concerns Zar, a warrior-type with a bad conscience, and his camel, as they roam through various landscapes, cultures and political units, trying to do good. I thought, for the first chapter, that I knew where the plot would go, but I was wrong. I don’t want to say anything more due to not wanting to ruin the entertainment values for other readers.
What I liked:
Animals are treated with respect and empathy.
While there are lots and lots of fights to the death, there is an awareness of moral issues around the taking of life.
The author was able to create a number of different cultures and value systems.
The characters, while often larger than life, are not cartoons.
The plot kept doing unexpected things, which were surprising but also made sense.
Proofreading for punctuation was not perfect, but very good.
The dialog flowed naturally and seemed authentic.
The story is entertaining.
What troubled me:
The writing varied from functional to descriptive to clumsy. I had trouble with the first couple of chapters due to being distracted by sentences that needed to be rewritten; however, once I got into the story, either the writing improved, or I got too interested in the plot to notice the kind of awkward phrasing that had bothered me earlier.
The right reader for this book is someone looking for a fast-paced entertaining adventure story with an intriguing plot.
It’s kind of Game-of-Thrones lite. Roads has lots of intrigue, swordplay, travel, but less violence, less cynicism, and is not as graphic or as depressing. The characters in Games are drawn with brutal realism and are largely unlikable, while the main characters in Roads are a little too beautiful or have too much prowess to be realistic but are sympathetic.
The plot mainly concerns Zar, a warrior-type with a bad conscience, and his camel, as they roam through various landscapes, cultures and political units, trying to do good. I thought, for the first chapter, that I knew where the plot would go, but I was wrong. I don’t want to say anything more due to not wanting to ruin the entertainment values for other readers.
What I liked:
Animals are treated with respect and empathy.
While there are lots and lots of fights to the death, there is an awareness of moral issues around the taking of life.
The author was able to create a number of different cultures and value systems.
The characters, while often larger than life, are not cartoons.
The plot kept doing unexpected things, which were surprising but also made sense.
Proofreading for punctuation was not perfect, but very good.
The dialog flowed naturally and seemed authentic.
The story is entertaining.
What troubled me:
The writing varied from functional to descriptive to clumsy. I had trouble with the first couple of chapters due to being distracted by sentences that needed to be rewritten; however, once I got into the story, either the writing improved, or I got too interested in the plot to notice the kind of awkward phrasing that had bothered me earlier.
The right reader for this book is someone looking for a fast-paced entertaining adventure story with an intriguing plot.
May 7, 2018
“Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten” by Kameron Williams
This is an excellent adventure book that I greatly enjoyed reading.
It's traditional high fantasy but there’s also something quite classic to the feel about it. It's got a feel of The 1001 Arabian Nights or any of those great ‘storyteller’ tales. Partly, I think, due to the episodic nature of how the tales in this are told in this, but also, just something about the atmosphere.
There's one main protagonist in this book ‘Zar’, a mercenary/freelance/warrior type, standard for this fare and as a reader we need to make our own minds up which side of the books title he belongs on, but his unusual companion Asha, alone makes this book worth the read!
The world, again is fairly standard fantasy fare, medieval-ish, hidden treasures and secret maps, but the cast of bit part actors and antagonists are well sketched out and Zar and Asha are charming companions to explore with. There is the brief potential of romance with a friends daughter, but the book has a more existentialist than romantic bent and Zar needs to keep moving. And I liked that about it.
This book takes a few chapters to get into it’s stride, it feels like at the beginning Williams is trying too hard to impress, but forgive it that because when he gains his feet, his story telling is beautiful and well crafted. He relaxes, sits back and says ‘let me tell you a story’. And very well he tells it too!
Great 4*.
This is an excellent adventure book that I greatly enjoyed reading.
It's traditional high fantasy but there’s also something quite classic to the feel about it. It's got a feel of The 1001 Arabian Nights or any of those great ‘storyteller’ tales. Partly, I think, due to the episodic nature of how the tales in this are told in this, but also, just something about the atmosphere.
There's one main protagonist in this book ‘Zar’, a mercenary/freelance/warrior type, standard for this fare and as a reader we need to make our own minds up which side of the books title he belongs on, but his unusual companion Asha, alone makes this book worth the read!
The world, again is fairly standard fantasy fare, medieval-ish, hidden treasures and secret maps, but the cast of bit part actors and antagonists are well sketched out and Zar and Asha are charming companions to explore with. There is the brief potential of romance with a friends daughter, but the book has a more existentialist than romantic bent and Zar needs to keep moving. And I liked that about it.
This book takes a few chapters to get into it’s stride, it feels like at the beginning Williams is trying too hard to impress, but forgive it that because when he gains his feet, his story telling is beautiful and well crafted. He relaxes, sits back and says ‘let me tell you a story’. And very well he tells it too!
Great 4*.
October 10, 2017
I’m always up for a book in the fantasy genre and Kameron A. Williams didn’t disappoint with his book Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten. The book opens with a humorous tirade between Zar and Asha whom we discover is a camel. Zar’s humorous dialogues brought many a smile to my face. I enjoyed Kameron’s complex characters and original story, they aren’t as simple or straightforward as you see in some other fantasy books. As the tale develops, Zar has to make difficult choices. From the start, we know he isn’t scared to pick a fight, is a master swordsman and has a taste for gold, but just how far is he willing to pick if fight when the cost could be his life?
The tale has darker elements including of war, rape, kidnapping and political intrigue that lend the tale a darker note. It has men, like the three apostates that that are selfish and who fear no law. A lustful king, a power-hungry queen, love, and battles make this a fascinating tale to read.
The tale has darker elements including of war, rape, kidnapping and political intrigue that lend the tale a darker note. It has men, like the three apostates that that are selfish and who fear no law. A lustful king, a power-hungry queen, love, and battles make this a fascinating tale to read.
October 1, 2017
Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten by Kameron Williams is a substantial book. Zar is one great character and one which most readers will relate to and root for. This book is all about historic fantasy that is set in medieval times, making for a similar feel to many popular television shows, most notably, Game of Thrones. Definitely a story that will appeal to young adults as well as those who are older, there is a certain cadence and verve to the writing that keeps you coming back for more. The story's pace and plot move along nicely; this along with solid characters and interesting battles, revelations and challenges, keeps the story from being a rote copy of other similar endeavors. A touch of humor in this adventure makes the most of a solid genre and a timeless tale. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys fantasy adventure in an easy format.
September 27, 2017
A fun adventure. Great story.
The fantasy genre is one of my favorite and Kameron Williams hit this one out of the park. Great story with well thought out and developed characters. I enjoy books when I can find a character that I can relate to and understand. Zar is one of those characters that you can relate to and find yourself hoping that Zar makes it. The author has a great ability to describe the set and scene with a clarity that makes you feel like you are right there in the story. Great read and i would recommend this one to all the fantasy fans out there.
The fantasy genre is one of my favorite and Kameron Williams hit this one out of the park. Great story with well thought out and developed characters. I enjoy books when I can find a character that I can relate to and understand. Zar is one of those characters that you can relate to and find yourself hoping that Zar makes it. The author has a great ability to describe the set and scene with a clarity that makes you feel like you are right there in the story. Great read and i would recommend this one to all the fantasy fans out there.
August 10, 2017
This book had me hooked immediately and I honestly can't wait to read the next one in the series. The characters are well written and intriguing. There were many spots in the book that gave me surprises which, of course, only made me want to continue reading. I would highly suggest this book and I can't wait to read more from this author!
October 15, 2016
A great book. I loved how the author seemed to intentionally mislead the reader on who and what people are and situations. I knew that bit was going to come back, I just wasn't expecting how it did. Due to how the book was written, it had a wealth of slow revelations and "aha" moments. Great characters all around. The ending came a little quick, which made me worried for a cliffhanger, and the ending felt a touch abrupt, but I'm assuming book two will pick up immediately thereafter.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews