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Gods and Kings Chronicles #.5
The Order
For centuries the magic wielders of Laveria have striven to surpass the power of the gods. All have failed, until now.
Marcus serves the Order, a secret brotherhood tasked by the gods to weed out worshipers of the occult. But after the gods are annihilated in a cataclysmic event known as the Sundering, Marcus discovers his brotherhood is infiltrated by the very Shadow worshipers he was supposed to destroy. Now Marcus is the one being hunted, and his only chance at survival is to break into the king's palace and steal the Orb of Azure, an ancient tool created by the gods to reshape the world.
Calycia bears the blood of the Old Gods, making her the first woman in a hundred generations capable of sorcery. Unfortunately, Calycia’s magic manifests itself in deadly outbursts that places everyone around her at risk. She has spent her entire life trying to suppress her powers, but when the Order instigates a violent uprising, Calycia realizes sorcery might be the only thing that will keep her alive.
With the world falling into chaos, Marcus and Calycia each find themselves thrust upon a desperate race to secure the Orb of Azure. Godhood awaits the first mortal to seize the artifact. Will such divine powers lead Marcus and Calycia to immortality or an early grave?
Epic Fantasy Books in the Series
The Order: A stand-alone prequel
A Wizard's Dark Dominion: The Gods and Kings Chronicles Book 1
The Guardian: The Gods and Kings Chronicles Book 2
The Guardian Stone: The Gods and Kings Chronicles Book 3
Marcus serves the Order, a secret brotherhood tasked by the gods to weed out worshipers of the occult. But after the gods are annihilated in a cataclysmic event known as the Sundering, Marcus discovers his brotherhood is infiltrated by the very Shadow worshipers he was supposed to destroy. Now Marcus is the one being hunted, and his only chance at survival is to break into the king's palace and steal the Orb of Azure, an ancient tool created by the gods to reshape the world.
Calycia bears the blood of the Old Gods, making her the first woman in a hundred generations capable of sorcery. Unfortunately, Calycia’s magic manifests itself in deadly outbursts that places everyone around her at risk. She has spent her entire life trying to suppress her powers, but when the Order instigates a violent uprising, Calycia realizes sorcery might be the only thing that will keep her alive.
With the world falling into chaos, Marcus and Calycia each find themselves thrust upon a desperate race to secure the Orb of Azure. Godhood awaits the first mortal to seize the artifact. Will such divine powers lead Marcus and Calycia to immortality or an early grave?
Epic Fantasy Books in the Series
The Order: A stand-alone prequel
A Wizard's Dark Dominion: The Gods and Kings Chronicles Book 1
The Guardian: The Gods and Kings Chronicles Book 2
The Guardian Stone: The Gods and Kings Chronicles Book 3
- GenresFantasy
390 pages, Paperback
Published November 3, 2016
75 people are currently reading
833 people want to read
About the author
Lee H. Haywood
10 books142 followersI am the author of The Gods and Kings Chronicles and Fractured Throne. I currently live in Arizona with my family. When I am not writing (which seems to take up more of my time these days) I enjoy playing soccer, tinkering with Photoshop, and exploring the world.
If you interested in following my exploits, please visit my website, follow me on facebook, or check me out on twitter . If you would like to receive promotional offers for my future publications, please sign up for my newsletter.
Thank you for your support!
If you interested in following my exploits, please visit my website, follow me on facebook, or check me out on twitter . If you would like to receive promotional offers for my future publications, please sign up for my newsletter.
Thank you for your support!
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 23, 2017
This was hard to understand at first and get used to the author's writing, but about 30% in - it started to all come together.
Overall...I came away feeling depressed and sad.
Overall...I came away feeling depressed and sad.
June 11, 2022
4/5 stars.
**This review does not reflect the opinions of Before We Go Blog's SPFBO 8 team, these thoughts are my own opinion only**
Overall I enjoyed this book, it's a standalone prequel novella to a main trilogy (which I only found out at the end of the book), so I'm now intrigued to continue onto the other books. I'd classify this one as grimdark epic fantasy. There are some brutalities that the author does not shy away from for sure.
I really loved where we left off our main POV characters at the end and I'm interested to see if there is a large time jump between the end of this one and the start of the main series or if we do get to see some of these characters reoccurring.
**This review does not reflect the opinions of Before We Go Blog's SPFBO 8 team, these thoughts are my own opinion only**
Overall I enjoyed this book, it's a standalone prequel novella to a main trilogy (which I only found out at the end of the book), so I'm now intrigued to continue onto the other books. I'd classify this one as grimdark epic fantasy. There are some brutalities that the author does not shy away from for sure.
I really loved where we left off our main POV characters at the end and I'm interested to see if there is a large time jump between the end of this one and the start of the main series or if we do get to see some of these characters reoccurring.
November 14, 2018
While at first I was a little confused with all the names being thrown out there, slowly the story began to piece itself together, until it proceeded to crumble back apart in the most fantastical way. Haywood is an excellent writer, with his words streaming together to make an epic tale. I'm excited to read the first book in the series, and am hoping that things will make more sense now that I have a decent familiarity with the names, history, and terms of the world Haywood has created. Overall enjoyable, albeit a little slow and confusing at first.
September 1, 2018
Finally, a well written and edited adventure!!!
This book grabbed my attention and didn't let go!!! Read it!!! Can't say more, I must start this trilogy now!!!
This book grabbed my attention and didn't let go!!! Read it!!! Can't say more, I must start this trilogy now!!!
December 23, 2018
Solid book
This was a good solid book well worth reading.
But I did feel a level of overkill about pregnancy.
Sorry.
This was a good solid book well worth reading.
But I did feel a level of overkill about pregnancy.
Sorry.
February 9, 2019
Great book!
Great prequel! It was an easy read and developed all of the characters really well. If you read the Gods and Kings Chronicles first, this fills in many of the blanks.
Great prequel! It was an easy read and developed all of the characters really well. If you read the Gods and Kings Chronicles first, this fills in many of the blanks.
February 11, 2018
kindle unlimited, got this book on freebie day though, BUT although interesting story, for me too many names and places keep my confused, and in a more epic style story that's a lot, so take the 4 as a 5 if you do/like better these type stories
For centuries the magic wielders of Laveria have striven to surpass the power of the gods. All have failed, until now.
Marcus serves the Order, a secret brotherhood tasked by the gods to weed out worshipers of the occult. But after the gods are annihilated in a cataclysmic event known as the Sundering, Marcus discovers his brotherhood is infiltrated by the very Shadow worshipers he was supposed to destroy. Now Marcus is the one being hunted, and his only chance at survival is to break into the king's palace and steal the Orb of Azure, an ancient tool created by the gods to reshape the world.
Calycia bears the blood of the Old Gods, making her the first woman in a hundred generations capable of sorcery. Unfortunately, Calycia’s magic manifests itself in deadly outbursts that places everyone around her at risk. She has spent her entire life trying to suppress her powers, but when the Order instigates a violent uprising, Calycia realizes sorcery might be the only thing that will keep her alive.
With the world falling into chaos, Marcus and Calycia each find themselves thrust upon a desperate race to secure the Orb of Azure. Godhood awaits the first mortal to seize the artifact. Will such divine powers lead Marcus and Calycia to immortality or an early grave?
The Order: A stand-alone prequel to The Gods and Kings Chronicles
A Wizard's Dark Dominion
The Guardian
The Guardian Stone
For centuries the magic wielders of Laveria have striven to surpass the power of the gods. All have failed, until now.
Marcus serves the Order, a secret brotherhood tasked by the gods to weed out worshipers of the occult. But after the gods are annihilated in a cataclysmic event known as the Sundering, Marcus discovers his brotherhood is infiltrated by the very Shadow worshipers he was supposed to destroy. Now Marcus is the one being hunted, and his only chance at survival is to break into the king's palace and steal the Orb of Azure, an ancient tool created by the gods to reshape the world.
Calycia bears the blood of the Old Gods, making her the first woman in a hundred generations capable of sorcery. Unfortunately, Calycia’s magic manifests itself in deadly outbursts that places everyone around her at risk. She has spent her entire life trying to suppress her powers, but when the Order instigates a violent uprising, Calycia realizes sorcery might be the only thing that will keep her alive.
With the world falling into chaos, Marcus and Calycia each find themselves thrust upon a desperate race to secure the Orb of Azure. Godhood awaits the first mortal to seize the artifact. Will such divine powers lead Marcus and Calycia to immortality or an early grave?
The Order: A stand-alone prequel to The Gods and Kings Chronicles
A Wizard's Dark Dominion
The Guardian
The Guardian Stone
August 7, 2018
I was very impressed with this book on many different levels. First off, the writing style is impeccable. Haywood was a way with words, and describes the characters, locations, and events in such a way that the reader doesn't just read them, but seems to experience them as well. The plot twists and how characters behave are all completely unexpected, which is a hard thing to achieve in writing.
As for the fictitious deities, religions, histories and societies, again Haywood fleshes them all out with precision. There's even a glossary of names, events, kingdoms and other essential elements at the end of the book.
I don't want to give anything away about the plot, so all I can say is that if you are a fan of high fantasy, or just fiction in general, you should definitely check this author art. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series. 5 out of 5 for sure.
As for the fictitious deities, religions, histories and societies, again Haywood fleshes them all out with precision. There's even a glossary of names, events, kingdoms and other essential elements at the end of the book.
I don't want to give anything away about the plot, so all I can say is that if you are a fan of high fantasy, or just fiction in general, you should definitely check this author art. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series. 5 out of 5 for sure.
November 6, 2016
What a story! And man, this guy can write! Haywood's use of language, sentence structure, vibrant descriptions and keen character development make the story flow so beautifully. I've read all 3 books in this series and loved them all. But The Order is my favorite....his best yet! His characters come alive in this prequel and the plot is completely enthralling. Mr. Haywood, keep this series going....I want MORE!
December 23, 2016
Paperback version.
Excellent prequel, and seriously impressed with the tie-in to the first book. Helps clear up the bit of confusion from the first book, where you were dropped right in and then everything cleared up. The author is more solid on the writing and everything flows together more concisely. Really enjoying his books! Can't wait for the next one!
Excellent prequel, and seriously impressed with the tie-in to the first book. Helps clear up the bit of confusion from the first book, where you were dropped right in and then everything cleared up. The author is more solid on the writing and everything flows together more concisely. Really enjoying his books! Can't wait for the next one!
June 20, 2017
After a few pages of this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. And I was slow to warm to the Calycia storyline. But either the author warmed up or I did. When this story gets going it's a thrilling ride. The world-building is first-class too. If you like an early info-dump to get the world picture clear, this work probably isn't for you. Otherwise, I really do recommend this novel.
April 2, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!!
November 20, 2016
Loved this prequel to Haywood's two previous releases. Great writing style and a captivating story. A must read!
February 11, 2017
By far Haywood's best read! I couldn't put it down.
August 3, 2018
Good. solid fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews