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The Godsblood Trilogy #1
The Empire of the Dead
Acharsis has always loved long shots. But even with a perfect scheme and a handpicked squad of godsblooded grifters and fighters, breaking into the undead lord's Akkodaisis' ziggurat is suicidally impossible. Good thing Archarsis is a fallen demigod with more than one trick up his sleeve...
Unpredictable, fast paced, and packed with memorable characters, The Empire of the Dead is a gripping tale of revenge replete with demons, ancient magic and a high stakes heist.
Unpredictable, fast paced, and packed with memorable characters, The Empire of the Dead is a gripping tale of revenge replete with demons, ancient magic and a high stakes heist.
166 pages, ebook
Published January 22, 2017
283 people are currently reading
702 people want to read
About the author
Phil Tucker
49 books1,284 followersThanks for visiting my page! I'm Phil Tucker, a Brazilian/Brit who currently resides in Asheville, NC, where I resist the siren call of the forests and mountains to sit inside and hammer away on my laptop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 7, 2018
The Empire of the Dead
By: Phil Tucker
Narrated by: Paul Guyet
This book surprised me! It started strong and stayed there. The constant rush of new material, excitement, adventure, fantasy was just awesome! The author would let you barely catch your breath and then the craziness would begin again! The book was about traveling demigods on a mission, I guess their life is never dull! The town they entered was filled with undead, and an occasional demon!
The narrator was super awesome, part demigod himself, lol. Terrific job!!!
By: Phil Tucker
Narrated by: Paul Guyet
This book surprised me! It started strong and stayed there. The constant rush of new material, excitement, adventure, fantasy was just awesome! The author would let you barely catch your breath and then the craziness would begin again! The book was about traveling demigods on a mission, I guess their life is never dull! The town they entered was filled with undead, and an occasional demon!
The narrator was super awesome, part demigod himself, lol. Terrific job!!!
October 31, 2017
The Short Pitch:
Demigods, sons and daughters of the old gods are being hunted down and sacrificed, anyone with a touch of ‘godsblood’ is in danger and needs to stay hidden. A son of one of the characters is taken hostage during a raid, and two demigods who have been deprived of their powers since the deaths of their gods go on a suicidal rescue mission.
-------------------------------------
Plot:
Archarsis is a demigod, a son of the god Ekillos who is the god of male fertility and knowledge, he’s a ladies man but has a special place in his heart for a woman named Anarra, who he hasn’t seen in 17 years.
He goes to see her after almost two decades to find she has a husband and family, and is quite settled in a smaller town living a “boring” life.
Almost the same time as he arrives, Death Wagons arrive at the small town to collect the dead and purge out evil spirits. But, there is a suspiciously timed raid leaving many of the townsfolk dead, including Anarras husband, and her son Elu has been kidnapped.
It comes out later that Elu is Archarsis’s son, and therefore has a touch of godsblood – he’s been taken to the empress’s to be sacrificed as the other godsbloods have been.
Archarsis wants to help Anarra, so they set out to form a band of people who may be powerful enough to break into the prison, and steal Elu back before he’s sacrificed.
Jerek is another demigod, and he and Archarsis don’t get along at all, they used to be friends but since Archarsis was tricked into betraying his friends, they’ve had a falling out and when Archarsis goes to get his help, Jerek would prefer to kill him rather than help him.
But, they enlist Jereks help, mostly because he’s tired of rotting at the top of a mountain not doing anything with his life, not so much to help his excommunicated friend.
The plot after that picks up some more characters, some more demigods, and there’s lots of obstacles and things getting in the way of their rescue mission.
------------------------------
Characters:
* Anarchis – he’s made mistakes in his past that haunt him and others, believing that a woman was in love with him, he played right into a trap to get all of the godsblood together in one place and most of them were slaughtered. He’s kind of worn down over the years, but still has a bit of a sense of humor. He’s definitely the more light hearted of the two demigods on this mission
* Jerek – he’s lost a lot in his life, his love, his friends, and he’s been living on the top of a mountain for 20 years while most people think he’s dead. He’s pretty surly, kind of gruff, and an excellent fighter. He is also a demigod, the son of Alok. He’s lost most of his powers since his father was killed, but some of it still remains – which begs the question if the gods are truly dead.
* Anarra – tough as nails ex priestess to a dead god, she’s lost her husband and now her son is kidnapped but she’s utterly undeterred. She’s on a mission that she’ll die for and is the driving force behind this band of rebels.
There are some side characters introduced later, some more godsblood, an elderly woman named Ishi who I really liked, but those are the main characters.
-------------------------------
World Building:
There are dead everywhere in this book, necromancy is common place and seeing hoards of dead people walk by isn’t unusual. They aren’t intelligent and generally follow simple orders.
There are 9 dead gods who were defeated by treachery, and now their sons and daughters are being hunted.
Deathless are these creepy bounty hunter/assassin type creatures that wear bone masks. It’s not clear if they are human or magically created at first, they sense the presence of godsblood in the cities across the realm and are hunting anyone with a drop of the divine for sacrifice.
Moon candles created by Ishi can protect the godsbloods aura from the Deathless, created using her hair as wick, and being blessed by her goddess, it’s one of the few defenses the group has against their enemy.
People can have personal demons that show up right as something is about to go wrong, Acharsis sees a demon who dances and mocks him right before the raid at the beginning of the book, and again right before they set out on their rescue mission – it’s always a precursor to something going disastrously wrong.
Pacing/Prose/Tone:
This was a short book and it was well paced, nothing felt like it should get cut, there weren’t any big info dumps, and there weren’t any “slogs”.
The tone was pretty creepy, but also adventurous.
10 fucks were given during this book, so I’d call it moderate cursing. There were a couple editing errors, but nothing that detracted much from the book.
----------------------------------------
Audience
undead hordes
rescue mission
multi pov
gods and demigods are real, interact with society, and can be killed
creepy demons
moderate magic
shorter/quick reads
Demigods, sons and daughters of the old gods are being hunted down and sacrificed, anyone with a touch of ‘godsblood’ is in danger and needs to stay hidden. A son of one of the characters is taken hostage during a raid, and two demigods who have been deprived of their powers since the deaths of their gods go on a suicidal rescue mission.
-------------------------------------
Plot:
Archarsis is a demigod, a son of the god Ekillos who is the god of male fertility and knowledge, he’s a ladies man but has a special place in his heart for a woman named Anarra, who he hasn’t seen in 17 years.
He goes to see her after almost two decades to find she has a husband and family, and is quite settled in a smaller town living a “boring” life.
Almost the same time as he arrives, Death Wagons arrive at the small town to collect the dead and purge out evil spirits. But, there is a suspiciously timed raid leaving many of the townsfolk dead, including Anarras husband, and her son Elu has been kidnapped.
It comes out later that Elu is Archarsis’s son, and therefore has a touch of godsblood – he’s been taken to the empress’s to be sacrificed as the other godsbloods have been.
Archarsis wants to help Anarra, so they set out to form a band of people who may be powerful enough to break into the prison, and steal Elu back before he’s sacrificed.
Jerek is another demigod, and he and Archarsis don’t get along at all, they used to be friends but since Archarsis was tricked into betraying his friends, they’ve had a falling out and when Archarsis goes to get his help, Jerek would prefer to kill him rather than help him.
But, they enlist Jereks help, mostly because he’s tired of rotting at the top of a mountain not doing anything with his life, not so much to help his excommunicated friend.
The plot after that picks up some more characters, some more demigods, and there’s lots of obstacles and things getting in the way of their rescue mission.
------------------------------
Characters:
* Anarchis – he’s made mistakes in his past that haunt him and others, believing that a woman was in love with him, he played right into a trap to get all of the godsblood together in one place and most of them were slaughtered. He’s kind of worn down over the years, but still has a bit of a sense of humor. He’s definitely the more light hearted of the two demigods on this mission
* Jerek – he’s lost a lot in his life, his love, his friends, and he’s been living on the top of a mountain for 20 years while most people think he’s dead. He’s pretty surly, kind of gruff, and an excellent fighter. He is also a demigod, the son of Alok. He’s lost most of his powers since his father was killed, but some of it still remains – which begs the question if the gods are truly dead.
* Anarra – tough as nails ex priestess to a dead god, she’s lost her husband and now her son is kidnapped but she’s utterly undeterred. She’s on a mission that she’ll die for and is the driving force behind this band of rebels.
There are some side characters introduced later, some more godsblood, an elderly woman named Ishi who I really liked, but those are the main characters.
-------------------------------
World Building:
There are dead everywhere in this book, necromancy is common place and seeing hoards of dead people walk by isn’t unusual. They aren’t intelligent and generally follow simple orders.
There are 9 dead gods who were defeated by treachery, and now their sons and daughters are being hunted.
Deathless are these creepy bounty hunter/assassin type creatures that wear bone masks. It’s not clear if they are human or magically created at first, they sense the presence of godsblood in the cities across the realm and are hunting anyone with a drop of the divine for sacrifice.
Moon candles created by Ishi can protect the godsbloods aura from the Deathless, created using her hair as wick, and being blessed by her goddess, it’s one of the few defenses the group has against their enemy.
People can have personal demons that show up right as something is about to go wrong, Acharsis sees a demon who dances and mocks him right before the raid at the beginning of the book, and again right before they set out on their rescue mission – it’s always a precursor to something going disastrously wrong.
Pacing/Prose/Tone:
This was a short book and it was well paced, nothing felt like it should get cut, there weren’t any big info dumps, and there weren’t any “slogs”.
The tone was pretty creepy, but also adventurous.
10 fucks were given during this book, so I’d call it moderate cursing. There were a couple editing errors, but nothing that detracted much from the book.
----------------------------------------
Audience
undead hordes
rescue mission
multi pov
gods and demigods are real, interact with society, and can be killed
creepy demons
moderate magic
shorter/quick reads
June 9, 2017
(Listened to this on Audible)
The coming together of previously powerful heroes in an empire where walking corpses are the norm.
Necromancers, demi-gods, zombies, skeletal warriors and more. The main characters come together and build a camaraderie that sees them through seemingly impossible trials and tribulations reminiscent of all those fun D&D campaigns fans love.
The coming together of previously powerful heroes in an empire where walking corpses are the norm.
Necromancers, demi-gods, zombies, skeletal warriors and more. The main characters come together and build a camaraderie that sees them through seemingly impossible trials and tribulations reminiscent of all those fun D&D campaigns fans love.
October 17, 2017
As a (very big) fan of Phil's excellent & recently completed "Chronicles of the Black Gate" saga, I was looking forward to exploring a new series of his in a different setting. After finishing the first entry of the Godsblood trilogy late last night, it's safe to say that Phil has impressed me once again. His considerable talents in storytelling, creating compelling characters, building worlds under heavy religious influence, and skillful pacing are all on display in this exciting new trilogy.
"'Oceans Eleven' in ancient Sumeria" is an adept summary of the plot of Empire of the Dead. Acharsis, demigod son of fallen god Ekillos, has spent the past two decades as a bored, depressed merchant with no real aim or drive in his life. Twenty years ago was the Purging, and he's been avoiding reality ever since. After the Empress Irella teamed up with her mother Nekkul, goddess of death, to betray and kill the other gods in the realm, she has turned her empire into a starving, enslaved world where the dead serve as her workforce, and the people are too scared to rebel. This Purging has scattered the Godsblood -- relatives and offspring of the gods -- across the kingdom.
The story begins when Acharsis feels a pull to return to his homeland to apologize to his wife Annara for leaving her so many years ago. But soon after he arrives, tragedy strikes. Something sacred that Acharsis and Annara both share has been taken from them, and stolen away to a city rife with horrible death warriors, hunger, poverty, and ritual sacrifice. Fun! Acharsis is compelled to try and retrieve what was stolen, but first he must make amends with those who want him dead, and carry out an impossible plan to break into a ziggurat teeming with undead warriors, necromancers, chilling deathless soldiers, and perhaps even the gods themselves.
By the end of the story, which has a great cliffhanger that will land nicely into the sequel, the world building just starts to scratch beyond the city and adjoining badlands where the entire novel takes place. Even though the setting of the story rarely changed in book 1, the lore and history of the world shines through: the glory of the gods of the past, the demigod children and their exploits, the cities and shrines that grant the gods their power, as well as the neighboring empires that surrounds this kingdom. Quite a lot to pack in to a relatively short novel.
Fans of "Chronicles of the Black Gate" will certainly enjoy more of Phil's work, but I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good thrilling caper adventure. There's a bit of strong language and some PG-13 adult situations, but nothing too offensive (unless you're a zealot on the losing side of this religious war.)
Thank you to Phil Tucker for sending me an audio copy of the book, narrated by the excellent Paul Guyet. Paul does a wonderful job expressing a wide range of characters, demons, and monsters with his skillful voice talents. I was too impatient to only listen to this book in the car, so I bought a Kindle version to read between my work commutes.
"'Oceans Eleven' in ancient Sumeria" is an adept summary of the plot of Empire of the Dead. Acharsis, demigod son of fallen god Ekillos, has spent the past two decades as a bored, depressed merchant with no real aim or drive in his life. Twenty years ago was the Purging, and he's been avoiding reality ever since. After the Empress Irella teamed up with her mother Nekkul, goddess of death, to betray and kill the other gods in the realm, she has turned her empire into a starving, enslaved world where the dead serve as her workforce, and the people are too scared to rebel. This Purging has scattered the Godsblood -- relatives and offspring of the gods -- across the kingdom.
The story begins when Acharsis feels a pull to return to his homeland to apologize to his wife Annara for leaving her so many years ago. But soon after he arrives, tragedy strikes. Something sacred that Acharsis and Annara both share has been taken from them, and stolen away to a city rife with horrible death warriors, hunger, poverty, and ritual sacrifice. Fun! Acharsis is compelled to try and retrieve what was stolen, but first he must make amends with those who want him dead, and carry out an impossible plan to break into a ziggurat teeming with undead warriors, necromancers, chilling deathless soldiers, and perhaps even the gods themselves.
By the end of the story, which has a great cliffhanger that will land nicely into the sequel, the world building just starts to scratch beyond the city and adjoining badlands where the entire novel takes place. Even though the setting of the story rarely changed in book 1, the lore and history of the world shines through: the glory of the gods of the past, the demigod children and their exploits, the cities and shrines that grant the gods their power, as well as the neighboring empires that surrounds this kingdom. Quite a lot to pack in to a relatively short novel.
Fans of "Chronicles of the Black Gate" will certainly enjoy more of Phil's work, but I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good thrilling caper adventure. There's a bit of strong language and some PG-13 adult situations, but nothing too offensive (unless you're a zealot on the losing side of this religious war.)
Thank you to Phil Tucker for sending me an audio copy of the book, narrated by the excellent Paul Guyet. Paul does a wonderful job expressing a wide range of characters, demons, and monsters with his skillful voice talents. I was too impatient to only listen to this book in the car, so I bought a Kindle version to read between my work commutes.
August 5, 2018
(You can see a bigger, prettier version of this review here, on my blog)
I picked this one up on its release day, being a pretty big fan of Tucker’s Chronicles of the Black Gate series. This one intrigued me because it was described to me as “necro-Sumerian Ocean’s Eleven fantasy” which, let’s all just be honest here, sounds badass AF. Who could resist? Certainly not me.
Our story starts out with Acharsis returning after a sixteen-year-long leave to apologize to Annara, the woman he left behind all those years ago, and Jarek, the friend that he betrayed on the day that all the gods but one died. On that same day, Annara’s son Elu is kidnapped and taken away to be sacrificed in the imperial city. So, naturally, Jarek and Acharsis, our two remaining demigods, along with Annara, follow the kidnappers to the imperial city of Rekkidu, where Jarek once ruled, and put together a crew of shannanigators (which is a word I just made up) to save him and thwart evil!
I really enjoyed this story! It was action-packed and well put together. The heist was well planned out and not too predictable. I loved the characters, and how some of them were quite witty and made me laugh. It should be said that the phrase “Damn it all up Nekuul’s netherhole” wins at curses for being both crass AF and culturally appropriate. I chortled at more than one of Acharsis’ and/or Kish’s curses. It also helped that these curses didn’t straight up replace the good ol’ F-bomb, but instead were used as comic relief.
The idea that demigods lose their powers when their divine parent dies is an interesting one and it makes a lot of sense. Acharsis and Jarek are much less powerful than they were before the day of betrayal, but as Annara points out, they’re still more powerful than the average human being. So, perhaps the gods aren’t dead, exactly. Perhaps they’re just asleep. They both seem to have changed from the men they once were. Twenty years of hiding out from the empress seems to have done that. Jarek even seems to suffer some legit panic attacks, which was kind of interesting, for the son of the god of earth and stone. He’s supposed to be strong by his very nature, so it was interesting to have that trope somewhat subverted in a way that I can actually sort of relate to.
While I did love Acharsis and his quick thinking, Kish was my favorite character of the bunch. I couldn’t help but love her right from the get-go. I love a good strong female character that doesn’t take any shit from anyone and that’s why I also love Kethe from the Chronicles of the Black Gate series. Tucker knows how to write a kick-ass lady, which is awesome. All the female characters in this book are strong willed and kick-ass. They know what they want and they take it.
I’m excited to see where the story goes. Excited for more zany Sumerian Ocean’s Eleven action!
I picked this one up on its release day, being a pretty big fan of Tucker’s Chronicles of the Black Gate series. This one intrigued me because it was described to me as “necro-Sumerian Ocean’s Eleven fantasy” which, let’s all just be honest here, sounds badass AF. Who could resist? Certainly not me.
Our story starts out with Acharsis returning after a sixteen-year-long leave to apologize to Annara, the woman he left behind all those years ago, and Jarek, the friend that he betrayed on the day that all the gods but one died. On that same day, Annara’s son Elu is kidnapped and taken away to be sacrificed in the imperial city. So, naturally, Jarek and Acharsis, our two remaining demigods, along with Annara, follow the kidnappers to the imperial city of Rekkidu, where Jarek once ruled, and put together a crew of shannanigators (which is a word I just made up) to save him and thwart evil!
I really enjoyed this story! It was action-packed and well put together. The heist was well planned out and not too predictable. I loved the characters, and how some of them were quite witty and made me laugh. It should be said that the phrase “Damn it all up Nekuul’s netherhole” wins at curses for being both crass AF and culturally appropriate. I chortled at more than one of Acharsis’ and/or Kish’s curses. It also helped that these curses didn’t straight up replace the good ol’ F-bomb, but instead were used as comic relief.
The idea that demigods lose their powers when their divine parent dies is an interesting one and it makes a lot of sense. Acharsis and Jarek are much less powerful than they were before the day of betrayal, but as Annara points out, they’re still more powerful than the average human being. So, perhaps the gods aren’t dead, exactly. Perhaps they’re just asleep. They both seem to have changed from the men they once were. Twenty years of hiding out from the empress seems to have done that. Jarek even seems to suffer some legit panic attacks, which was kind of interesting, for the son of the god of earth and stone. He’s supposed to be strong by his very nature, so it was interesting to have that trope somewhat subverted in a way that I can actually sort of relate to.
While I did love Acharsis and his quick thinking, Kish was my favorite character of the bunch. I couldn’t help but love her right from the get-go. I love a good strong female character that doesn’t take any shit from anyone and that’s why I also love Kethe from the Chronicles of the Black Gate series. Tucker knows how to write a kick-ass lady, which is awesome. All the female characters in this book are strong willed and kick-ass. They know what they want and they take it.
I’m excited to see where the story goes. Excited for more zany Sumerian Ocean’s Eleven action!
February 5, 2017
There's only one word I can think of to describe this book: fun.
This is a different kind of story from Phil Tucker, who has written the excellent Chronicles of the Black Gate series (three books out, with two more to go, I believe). That series is epic fantasy with a capital E. This one is less epic, more tightly focused. It's basically a heist story, though the object being stolen is a person rather than some treasure. But it also becomes much more than that.
It's a story of a world where most of the gods have died and only the goddess of death remains. As such, necromancy is all over the place. That might seem like a tired trope of fantasy, but I think Tucker did it very well, putting some new twists on old ideas.
The biggest positive out of this book was the action. I already knew that Tucker could write great action scenes, and he delivered again in this one. I found myself frantically flipping virtual pages for much of the book. The beginning was a bit slow, and it took me a while to warm to the characters, but once I did, I was along for the ride. And it was a great one.
The only real issue I noticed with this one were a few more typos and editing issues than I've come to expect from Tucker. They weren't egregious by any means, and I don't think they should detract from anyone's enjoyment of the book. I do think it could have used one more proofreading pass, though.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I didn't like it quite as much as The Path of Flames, but that's a high standard to live up to.
Rating: 9/10
This is a different kind of story from Phil Tucker, who has written the excellent Chronicles of the Black Gate series (three books out, with two more to go, I believe). That series is epic fantasy with a capital E. This one is less epic, more tightly focused. It's basically a heist story, though the object being stolen is a person rather than some treasure. But it also becomes much more than that.
It's a story of a world where most of the gods have died and only the goddess of death remains. As such, necromancy is all over the place. That might seem like a tired trope of fantasy, but I think Tucker did it very well, putting some new twists on old ideas.
The biggest positive out of this book was the action. I already knew that Tucker could write great action scenes, and he delivered again in this one. I found myself frantically flipping virtual pages for much of the book. The beginning was a bit slow, and it took me a while to warm to the characters, but once I did, I was along for the ride. And it was a great one.
The only real issue I noticed with this one were a few more typos and editing issues than I've come to expect from Tucker. They weren't egregious by any means, and I don't think they should detract from anyone's enjoyment of the book. I do think it could have used one more proofreading pass, though.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I didn't like it quite as much as The Path of Flames, but that's a high standard to live up to.
Rating: 9/10
March 7, 2017
Review to come
March 23, 2018
This is a wonderful start to a new fantasy series – gods, demi-gods, demons, resurrected dead, priest and priestesses, heroes, heroines and villains, a damsel in distress – this book has it all. And apart from the non-stop adventure and great story-telling, there is also a lot of humour – not the laugh-out-loud type, but the type that puts a grin on your face as you read. I was reminded a lot of David Eddings “Belgariad” books, though the humour here is subtler.
Most of the gods in this world are dead. The fitting exception being Nekuul, the Queen of the Dead. Her priests are necromancers, who collect and then raise the recently dead to work as slaves and/or soldiers. As seems to always be the case in worlds with the walking dead, there is little joy here, and a lot of poverty and fear. The world is ripe for some kind of rebellion, and injection of hope. Enter Acharsis, a demi-god, who has lost most of his power with the death of his divine father, but little of his irrepressible character and positive outlook on life. He decides to visit an old flame and former priestess of Scythia – Annara – and is just in time to see her only son, Elu, abducted by bandits. Of course, he swears to rescue the young boy, and ropes in another old ex-friend, Jarek, to help. The trail leads them to the city of Rekkidu, where they meet up with Ishkirella, a former priestess, who continues to worship her dead goddess, Ninsaba, trying to preserve as much of the old regime as possible. She sees the arrival of Acharsis and Jarek as a source of hope: “But now, here you are. Jarek himself, the divine son of Alok. Acharsis, the debauched prince of Ekillos. Two demigods in one place. This must mean something, must it not? This can be no coincidence.”
Ishi introduces them the only two other offspring of gods remaining in the city: Kish, daughter of Scythia; and Sisu, grandson of Nekuul. The former is eager to get involved: “I’ve heard all I need to know. Adventure, excitement, violence, a chance to fight alongside very, very old legends - I’m in.”. Sisu, however, takes more persuasion. Eventually, a plan is hatched to rescue Elu, and to disrupt the upcoming ritual to honour Nekuul and her evil daughter, the Empress, Irella. With so many powerful godsbloods, hope and righteousness on their side, what could possibly go wrong?
The tale is fast-paced and the excitement never lets up. Nothing is predictable, and the ending is spectacular. Sci-fi has its teleportation, Arabian mythology has its flying carpets, but I have never read of an exit like this. I loved this book, and am really looking forward to the rest of the series.
Most of the gods in this world are dead. The fitting exception being Nekuul, the Queen of the Dead. Her priests are necromancers, who collect and then raise the recently dead to work as slaves and/or soldiers. As seems to always be the case in worlds with the walking dead, there is little joy here, and a lot of poverty and fear. The world is ripe for some kind of rebellion, and injection of hope. Enter Acharsis, a demi-god, who has lost most of his power with the death of his divine father, but little of his irrepressible character and positive outlook on life. He decides to visit an old flame and former priestess of Scythia – Annara – and is just in time to see her only son, Elu, abducted by bandits. Of course, he swears to rescue the young boy, and ropes in another old ex-friend, Jarek, to help. The trail leads them to the city of Rekkidu, where they meet up with Ishkirella, a former priestess, who continues to worship her dead goddess, Ninsaba, trying to preserve as much of the old regime as possible. She sees the arrival of Acharsis and Jarek as a source of hope: “But now, here you are. Jarek himself, the divine son of Alok. Acharsis, the debauched prince of Ekillos. Two demigods in one place. This must mean something, must it not? This can be no coincidence.”
Ishi introduces them the only two other offspring of gods remaining in the city: Kish, daughter of Scythia; and Sisu, grandson of Nekuul. The former is eager to get involved: “I’ve heard all I need to know. Adventure, excitement, violence, a chance to fight alongside very, very old legends - I’m in.”. Sisu, however, takes more persuasion. Eventually, a plan is hatched to rescue Elu, and to disrupt the upcoming ritual to honour Nekuul and her evil daughter, the Empress, Irella. With so many powerful godsbloods, hope and righteousness on their side, what could possibly go wrong?
The tale is fast-paced and the excitement never lets up. Nothing is predictable, and the ending is spectacular. Sci-fi has its teleportation, Arabian mythology has its flying carpets, but I have never read of an exit like this. I loved this book, and am really looking forward to the rest of the series.
May 5, 2017
This was fun!
I picked up The Empire of the Dead completely on a whim. I had just finished a book and was anxiously waiting another's release a few days later and had no idea what to squeeze into that short time-frame. Phil Tucker's other series, the Chronicles of the Black Gate, had been on my TBR pile for a while but I wasn't quite ready to jump into a 600+ page fantasy at the moment. So, after seeing Phil talk about The Empire of the Dead on r/fantasy and realizing it is a relatively short read, I picked it up without really knowing anything about it.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The setting is not quite what I usually like (very necro...Phil actually describes the book as "necro-Sumerian Ocean's 11's heist-style fantasy" and I'd say that is definitely accurate) and it took me a little while to really get into it, but it finally clicked around the halfway point. The characters are great and once the "heist" Phil refers to kicks into gear I found myself reading away until the end. There were a few minor issues I had with the story...mostly around how the pacing, but overall, I enjoyed the book and plan to read the sequel whenever it is released.
I kind of used this book as a way to see if I liked Phil's writing before diving into his Black Gate series, and I'm happy to say that I definitely did and will be reading those books shortly as well. I split my time on this between the kindle and audio-book versions and thought the narrator, Paul Guyet, did a great job. He lists this as his first work with Audible, so I'm not sure if he's done previous audiobook work before outside of Audible, but major props to him if this was his first one. Indie narrators can be hit or miss, but Paul was excellent.
I picked up The Empire of the Dead completely on a whim. I had just finished a book and was anxiously waiting another's release a few days later and had no idea what to squeeze into that short time-frame. Phil Tucker's other series, the Chronicles of the Black Gate, had been on my TBR pile for a while but I wasn't quite ready to jump into a 600+ page fantasy at the moment. So, after seeing Phil talk about The Empire of the Dead on r/fantasy and realizing it is a relatively short read, I picked it up without really knowing anything about it.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The setting is not quite what I usually like (very necro...Phil actually describes the book as "necro-Sumerian Ocean's 11's heist-style fantasy" and I'd say that is definitely accurate) and it took me a little while to really get into it, but it finally clicked around the halfway point. The characters are great and once the "heist" Phil refers to kicks into gear I found myself reading away until the end. There were a few minor issues I had with the story...mostly around how the pacing, but overall, I enjoyed the book and plan to read the sequel whenever it is released.
I kind of used this book as a way to see if I liked Phil's writing before diving into his Black Gate series, and I'm happy to say that I definitely did and will be reading those books shortly as well. I split my time on this between the kindle and audio-book versions and thought the narrator, Paul Guyet, did a great job. He lists this as his first work with Audible, so I'm not sure if he's done previous audiobook work before outside of Audible, but major props to him if this was his first one. Indie narrators can be hit or miss, but Paul was excellent.
April 26, 2025
Actual rating: 3.50
A gratifying spectacle that wasn't without its flaws. I'll definitely pick up book two to see where this story goes, however, this book did commit a major storytelling sin that I just couldn't look past; villains who needlessly explain their plans and motives aren't something I can swallow down easily. I truly thought that this book will land in the 4-star quarter, yet that aforementioned scene was orchestrated poorly and let me down with a sigh.
I would still recommend this book because the concepts here are refreshing, and the story is action-packed, while the characters are thoroughly amusing to follow.
A gratifying spectacle that wasn't without its flaws. I'll definitely pick up book two to see where this story goes, however, this book did commit a major storytelling sin that I just couldn't look past; villains who needlessly explain their plans and motives aren't something I can swallow down easily. I truly thought that this book will land in the 4-star quarter, yet that aforementioned scene was orchestrated poorly and let me down with a sigh.
I would still recommend this book because the concepts here are refreshing, and the story is action-packed, while the characters are thoroughly amusing to follow.
April 8, 2018
Quite a fast read, and not just because it is under 300 pages. 3 stars for the first half, 4 stars for the second half, particularly liked the last third. Overall score rounded up to 4 stars. Reads almost like a video game, constantly leveling up.
April 23, 2018
Acharsis has many regrets in his long life. On his way to apologize for some of his actions, he's swept up in a chain of events that could bring about the end of the world as he knows it.
A fast paced, fun adventure. Acharsis and brother Jarek make quite the team, with Annara, Ishi, Sisu and Kish being solid side characters. I really enjoyed the plotting and execution of the heist like aspects of the story, as well as the few battles that took place.
A nice start to a new series.
A fast paced, fun adventure. Acharsis and brother Jarek make quite the team, with Annara, Ishi, Sisu and Kish being solid side characters. I really enjoyed the plotting and execution of the heist like aspects of the story, as well as the few battles that took place.
A nice start to a new series.
November 26, 2019
Yeah... I genuinely cannot tell you what happened in this.
Some Thor like character fought zombies with someone who sounded like she was in Firefly.
The narration was not very good. That might have been the problem, everyone sounded a bit the same, and everything sounded.... a bit the same.
Not sure if I'm going to listen to the next one or not.
Some Thor like character fought zombies with someone who sounded like she was in Firefly.
The narration was not very good. That might have been the problem, everyone sounded a bit the same, and everything sounded.... a bit the same.
Not sure if I'm going to listen to the next one or not.
May 10, 2018
Excelente aventura e heist que mistura necromancia e mitologia e mundo sumérios. O lore de deuses mortos e seus filhos semideuses ainda existirem meio que sem rumo na vida foi um dos pontos fortes pra mim.
January 17, 2018
Bloody good start to this series. At this point I can safely say I’ll read anything Phil Tucker writes. Book Two Please!!! 🙌🏾
March 10, 2018
I grabbed this book because of how much I enjoyed Chronicles of the Black Gate. The books were great and above what I expected from a new author.
This book did not let me down. From start to finish Mr. Tucker maintains a good pace and keeps the characters distinct in their personality.
In a world where your god has been killed how can you move on? This is a question the characters struggle with as with the loss of their physical connection they also lost a spiritual connection that is hard to deal with.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun fast read or listen.
This book did not let me down. From start to finish Mr. Tucker maintains a good pace and keeps the characters distinct in their personality.
In a world where your god has been killed how can you move on? This is a question the characters struggle with as with the loss of their physical connection they also lost a spiritual connection that is hard to deal with.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun fast read or listen.
February 8, 2017
Great first book in a series with a lot of potential
This review is based on an advanced copy.
This book is a great start to a series with a lot of potential. I am eagerly looking forward to how this series evolves. Having read the author's other series' "The Path of Flames (Chronicles of the Black Gate) (Volume 1)" and "The Human Revolt Complete Boxed Set", I am confident that this will happen.
What I liked
• World Building - The setting is sumeria-like with gods, demigods, undead, monsters etc. This is quite unique. Since I am a sucker for mythology, this appeals to me, especially given that the protagonists are demigods. The world is also rich and we have seen only a portion of it so far.
• Character Development - The characters are also well constructed and their stories and motivations draw the reader in.
• Writing - The writing, like his other books, tends to be fast and engrossing. There is the right amount of humour and the action is also riveting.
What Could Have Been Better
• Story Length - I felt that the book was little bit too short. I would have been happier if the "climax" (in the book) occurred somewhere in between and there was more to follow. As it is, the book felt a little too close to "Small Gods" by Terry Pratchett given where it ended.
This review is based on an advanced copy.
This book is a great start to a series with a lot of potential. I am eagerly looking forward to how this series evolves. Having read the author's other series' "The Path of Flames (Chronicles of the Black Gate) (Volume 1)" and "The Human Revolt Complete Boxed Set", I am confident that this will happen.
What I liked
• World Building - The setting is sumeria-like with gods, demigods, undead, monsters etc. This is quite unique. Since I am a sucker for mythology, this appeals to me, especially given that the protagonists are demigods. The world is also rich and we have seen only a portion of it so far.
• Character Development - The characters are also well constructed and their stories and motivations draw the reader in.
• Writing - The writing, like his other books, tends to be fast and engrossing. There is the right amount of humour and the action is also riveting.
What Could Have Been Better
• Story Length - I felt that the book was little bit too short. I would have been happier if the "climax" (in the book) occurred somewhere in between and there was more to follow. As it is, the book felt a little too close to "Small Gods" by Terry Pratchett given where it ended.
February 5, 2017
Great read
This guy can write
If you want a rollicking fast adventure read this
Pure escapism
The characters in all of his books are so alive but suspend your logical mind and become a child again reading a great marvel comic
Just superb will soon be recognized for his writing skill as good as early gemmill
This guy can write
If you want a rollicking fast adventure read this
Pure escapism
The characters in all of his books are so alive but suspend your logical mind and become a child again reading a great marvel comic
Just superb will soon be recognized for his writing skill as good as early gemmill
July 3, 2019
Solid start to the series. I like how while it is still fantasy, it is very different to Chronicles of the Black Gate with Ancient Egyptian/Sumerian flavours to it.
Will definitely read Book 2 this year and going by Tucker's track record as a writing machine, I am hoping Book 3 will be out in 2018 too.
Will definitely read Book 2 this year and going by Tucker's track record as a writing machine, I am hoping Book 3 will be out in 2018 too.
February 5, 2017
Wow
Seriously, wow. I couldn't put it down. Highly entertaining. Two demi gods who've lost their powers when their god father's died. Really great story, can't wait for book two.
Seriously, wow. I couldn't put it down. Highly entertaining. Two demi gods who've lost their powers when their god father's died. Really great story, can't wait for book two.
April 23, 2018
Intro
OK - lets get this out of the way. GET A COPY OF THIS AND READ IT!
Ahem... Anyway. I had never heard of Phil Tucker when I was thinking about the "Reading Resident Author's" square on the r/Fantasy bingo... but just on the day I was looking for a book a random post appears where the author himself is giving away copies of the first book in his new series because it is going to be the RRAWR book of the month.... So I snapped it up thinking "eh, why not..."
That Phil guy - sneaky bugger! Remember kids, when someone says "first one is free" they are selling something dangerously addictive! This book caught me totally by surprise.
Plot/Setting
I have never seen anything like this. Another guy on reddit called it "Necro-sumerian Ocean's Eleven". Which covers it pretty damn well. The world feels completely different from just about any other fantasy i've read. This whole book is infused with the feel of ancient mesopotamia - the warring city states, the gods who lead their own cities, the feel that the skills of civilisation (farming, brewing, candlemaking, blacksmithing) are all god-given magics... It is fantastic! Even better - the whole plot has strong overtones of Mesopotamian mythology - particularly the story of Inanna (the goddess who seduced the God Enki - and stole the mes (magical inscriptions which allow civilisation)..
So on to the plot: The first chapters felt very slow and meh to be honest... but its all a trick (like the first hill on a roller coaster). We meet out first PoV character Archarsis who is some old guy travelling to meet some people to "make thigns right". It all feels very humdrum (except the armies of undead laborers working the fields...) but he meets an ex Annara (who happens to have been a priestess of a now dead god, and tough as nails herself!), and the story kicks into gear when the ex's child Elu (who happens to be Acharsis' son as well) gets taken by a wandering priest to be a sacrifice at the next big ceremony - because it turns out that Archarsis is the son of a god (the now dead god of fertility and knowledge)
A pair of past their prime parents are not equipped to storm the gates of a city rules by an undead lich-lord and his army of priests and undead soldiers.... so they want to get some backup in the form of another old "friend" Jerek who just happens to be another god-scion, but he's the son of the god of the earth - so he is much stronger and tougher than your average guy...
Once we meet our main trio, the plot really starts to hum along. We learn about the God-Wars where the daughter of the Goddess of Death managed to trick (and kill) the other god-children and turn them into powerful undead - and "conquer" the other cities. They come across new problems (which add to our knowledge of the world) and find interesting ways of tricking their way around obstacles.. but often into even more sticky situations!
Along the way we meet a few other interesting folk - a pair of younger godblooded who are recruited into the attempt to save Elu, a priestess nurturing a rebel cell, and a few nasty death-worshippers... Although one of my favorite minor characters is an utterly pragmatic chief-guard who knows which way the wind blows (and how to keep his great house with its own water-well!)
Writing Style/Pacing/Tone
So I've you've seen or read any other heist stories, you know the drill - assemble the team, explain the plan, fun and games in setting up the plan, and then the heist - where things will go wrong and people need to improvise. Well, each bit is there, but Mr Tucker manages to play around with things so they are surprising. I especially loved that the "Mastermind" with all the ideas (Archarsis) is actually just improvising the whole time - and often complains when others look to him for "the plan".
The story really just accelerates the whole time. Yes it starts really slow, but once it gets moving it never lets up. The obstacles get bigger, the potential threat gets more dangerous, and Archarsis' plans just seem to stick their collective necks deeper into trouble each time.
You'd like this if : you want something different from your bog-standard fantasy. You like a mix of creepy horror and wisecracking humour, and grimdark pallete mixed with hopeful do-gooders. And you dont want a doorstopper, but a fast action-packed ride full of trickery and narrow escapes.
Other Thoughts
When I was reading this, at about the half way mark I actually went and looked for what else is in this series... there is 1 more written of a planned trilogy (all I can say is: write faster Mr Tucker!) and a whole other fantasy series Chronicles of the Black Gate which is now on my to read list :)
Well played Mr Tucker, well played.
OK - lets get this out of the way. GET A COPY OF THIS AND READ IT!
Ahem... Anyway. I had never heard of Phil Tucker when I was thinking about the "Reading Resident Author's" square on the r/Fantasy bingo... but just on the day I was looking for a book a random post appears where the author himself is giving away copies of the first book in his new series because it is going to be the RRAWR book of the month.... So I snapped it up thinking "eh, why not..."
That Phil guy - sneaky bugger! Remember kids, when someone says "first one is free" they are selling something dangerously addictive! This book caught me totally by surprise.
Plot/Setting
I have never seen anything like this. Another guy on reddit called it "Necro-sumerian Ocean's Eleven". Which covers it pretty damn well. The world feels completely different from just about any other fantasy i've read. This whole book is infused with the feel of ancient mesopotamia - the warring city states, the gods who lead their own cities, the feel that the skills of civilisation (farming, brewing, candlemaking, blacksmithing) are all god-given magics... It is fantastic! Even better - the whole plot has strong overtones of Mesopotamian mythology - particularly the story of Inanna (the goddess who seduced the God Enki - and stole the mes (magical inscriptions which allow civilisation)..
So on to the plot: The first chapters felt very slow and meh to be honest... but its all a trick (like the first hill on a roller coaster). We meet out first PoV character Archarsis who is some old guy travelling to meet some people to "make thigns right". It all feels very humdrum (except the armies of undead laborers working the fields...) but he meets an ex Annara (who happens to have been a priestess of a now dead god, and tough as nails herself!), and the story kicks into gear when the ex's child Elu (who happens to be Acharsis' son as well) gets taken by a wandering priest to be a sacrifice at the next big ceremony - because it turns out that Archarsis is the son of a god (the now dead god of fertility and knowledge)
A pair of past their prime parents are not equipped to storm the gates of a city rules by an undead lich-lord and his army of priests and undead soldiers.... so they want to get some backup in the form of another old "friend" Jerek who just happens to be another god-scion, but he's the son of the god of the earth - so he is much stronger and tougher than your average guy...
Once we meet our main trio, the plot really starts to hum along. We learn about the God-Wars where the daughter of the Goddess of Death managed to trick (and kill) the other god-children and turn them into powerful undead - and "conquer" the other cities. They come across new problems (which add to our knowledge of the world) and find interesting ways of tricking their way around obstacles.. but often into even more sticky situations!
Along the way we meet a few other interesting folk - a pair of younger godblooded who are recruited into the attempt to save Elu, a priestess nurturing a rebel cell, and a few nasty death-worshippers... Although one of my favorite minor characters is an utterly pragmatic chief-guard who knows which way the wind blows (and how to keep his great house with its own water-well!)
Writing Style/Pacing/Tone
So I've you've seen or read any other heist stories, you know the drill - assemble the team, explain the plan, fun and games in setting up the plan, and then the heist - where things will go wrong and people need to improvise. Well, each bit is there, but Mr Tucker manages to play around with things so they are surprising. I especially loved that the "Mastermind" with all the ideas (Archarsis) is actually just improvising the whole time - and often complains when others look to him for "the plan".
The story really just accelerates the whole time. Yes it starts really slow, but once it gets moving it never lets up. The obstacles get bigger, the potential threat gets more dangerous, and Archarsis' plans just seem to stick their collective necks deeper into trouble each time.
You'd like this if : you want something different from your bog-standard fantasy. You like a mix of creepy horror and wisecracking humour, and grimdark pallete mixed with hopeful do-gooders. And you dont want a doorstopper, but a fast action-packed ride full of trickery and narrow escapes.
Other Thoughts
When I was reading this, at about the half way mark I actually went and looked for what else is in this series... there is 1 more written of a planned trilogy (all I can say is: write faster Mr Tucker!) and a whole other fantasy series Chronicles of the Black Gate which is now on my to read list :)
Well played Mr Tucker, well played.
January 15, 2018
A fast paced entertaining story, and my second indie fantasy read which I gobbled up in two days. It has a simple plot, and a lot of traditional elements which is done with a daring simplicity. In the hands of less experienced writers, it might have been a mediocre attempt, but Tucker manages to pull the rabbit out of the socks.
The characters are likeable, and mature ones. The mythology almost seems familiar, as I have read the same in many of the other fantasy novels. Gods, Demigods, undead minions, old betrayals, all these elements are infused with a good cheer by Tucker. There isn't much worldbuilding, but, the city of Rekkidu in where most of the actions takes place is very-well done. I hope that Tucker would elaborate more upon the times of 'the Purging' in his later books. The magic, deathless, the undead are skillfully portrayed along with the part sombre and part funny atmosphere of the story.
The story is pretty simple. A disheartened demigod arrives to apologize to his former comrades, and, the son of one is kidnapped by miscreants of a rival goddess of the netherworld. And, in the process they battle various odds and outwit their enemies. In this brief outline, Tucker also gives attention in elaborating the personalities of his characters. Acharsis, the silver-tongued son of Ekillos (god of fertility), Jarek, the powerful son of Alok (god of earth), Kish, Sishu (godsbloods), Annara, all are characters with their own fears, doubts, anger, and confidence. The theme of faith and belief is a theme that shines bright through the story.
I liked Tucker's writing, which is good and plain with a elegant style. His descriptions are well done. The fight scenes are particularly good. I would like to know more about the world that Tucker has crafted, the mythology along with the gods, goddesses and demigods. I hope the author publishes the second book soon, as I would like to see the land of the Flying Lions.
The characters are likeable, and mature ones. The mythology almost seems familiar, as I have read the same in many of the other fantasy novels. Gods, Demigods, undead minions, old betrayals, all these elements are infused with a good cheer by Tucker. There isn't much worldbuilding, but, the city of Rekkidu in where most of the actions takes place is very-well done. I hope that Tucker would elaborate more upon the times of 'the Purging' in his later books. The magic, deathless, the undead are skillfully portrayed along with the part sombre and part funny atmosphere of the story.
The story is pretty simple. A disheartened demigod arrives to apologize to his former comrades, and, the son of one is kidnapped by miscreants of a rival goddess of the netherworld. And, in the process they battle various odds and outwit their enemies. In this brief outline, Tucker also gives attention in elaborating the personalities of his characters. Acharsis, the silver-tongued son of Ekillos (god of fertility), Jarek, the powerful son of Alok (god of earth), Kish, Sishu (godsbloods), Annara, all are characters with their own fears, doubts, anger, and confidence. The theme of faith and belief is a theme that shines bright through the story.
I liked Tucker's writing, which is good and plain with a elegant style. His descriptions are well done. The fight scenes are particularly good. I would like to know more about the world that Tucker has crafted, the mythology along with the gods, goddesses and demigods. I hope the author publishes the second book soon, as I would like to see the land of the Flying Lions.
April 24, 2018
This book works on a few levels.
At its most basic, it's a heist novel with a classic pulp twist. Instead of stealing, they're off to rescue an innocent from sacrifice by blood-soaked priests. It has all the best bits - reluctant calls to action, acquiring the specialized team, conflicting egos and motivations, plans and unexpected twists. In fact, I heard that the early title for the book was Archarsis' Six (not really.)
The main characters are a study in contrasts. Both are carrying a heavy burden of guilt, anger and depression stemming from an event in their shared past. The differences in how they deal with it (or avoid dealing with it) are interesting. The progression of their relationships with each other and with others is very well done.
Finally, the world building is pretty interesting. It's a world steeped in magic and mystery. Where the dead are put to work in the fields, and demigods rule cities in the name of gods that manifest to all. The setting isn't terribly specific, but there are parts of it that evoke Mesoamerica and Mesopotamia - both unusual in Western fantasy.
At its most basic, it's a heist novel with a classic pulp twist. Instead of stealing, they're off to rescue an innocent from sacrifice by blood-soaked priests. It has all the best bits - reluctant calls to action, acquiring the specialized team, conflicting egos and motivations, plans and unexpected twists. In fact, I heard that the early title for the book was Archarsis' Six (not really.)
The main characters are a study in contrasts. Both are carrying a heavy burden of guilt, anger and depression stemming from an event in their shared past. The differences in how they deal with it (or avoid dealing with it) are interesting. The progression of their relationships with each other and with others is very well done.
Finally, the world building is pretty interesting. It's a world steeped in magic and mystery. Where the dead are put to work in the fields, and demigods rule cities in the name of gods that manifest to all. The setting isn't terribly specific, but there are parts of it that evoke Mesoamerica and Mesopotamia - both unusual in Western fantasy.
January 23, 2022
Wow! Just wow! This book... In truth, i'm a little lost for words at the moment having only just finished it. I simply couldn't wait until I wrote this review. So here goes: This book is excellent. The characters are very well explored and developed, but it is the overall premise of this book that really shines. It is a story of adversity and faith, of cunning and deception. And it is brilliantly written. The story only gets better and better the more you read. The story starts out small and then slowly but surely expands until it morphs into an amazing High Fantasy. My only true criticism, and it's a small one at that, is that the first couple of chapters are a little rough around the edges. In truth I was actually going to stop reading because I didn't think this book was for me. I can't tell you how glad I am that I stuck with it. Other than the slightly rocky beginning, this book is truly amazing! How the author has managed to cram such a great story into such as a small book is simply incredible.
In conclusion all I can say is, if you are a fantasy lover like me, then read this book. I highly doubt you will be disappointed.
In conclusion all I can say is, if you are a fantasy lover like me, then read this book. I highly doubt you will be disappointed.
March 10, 2018
kindle unlimited, used to his chronicles of the black gate ones but got the second of this series free somewhere and wanted to read first one first so here I am, liked it, just not as much as the chronicle ones
A sword & sorcery Ocean's 11... Acharsis has always loved long shots. But even with a perfect scheme and a handpicked squad of godsblooded grifters and fighters, breaking into the undead lord's Akkodaisis' ziggurat is suicidally impossible. Good thing Archarsis is a fallen demigod with more than one trick up his sleeve...Unpredictable, fast paced, and packed with memorable characters, The Empire of the Dead is a gripping tale of revenge replete with demons, ancient magic and a high stakes heist. Grab your copy today!
A sword & sorcery Ocean's 11... Acharsis has always loved long shots. But even with a perfect scheme and a handpicked squad of godsblooded grifters and fighters, breaking into the undead lord's Akkodaisis' ziggurat is suicidally impossible. Good thing Archarsis is a fallen demigod with more than one trick up his sleeve...Unpredictable, fast paced, and packed with memorable characters, The Empire of the Dead is a gripping tale of revenge replete with demons, ancient magic and a high stakes heist. Grab your copy today!
May 13, 2018
The setting deserves better.
Telling a story in a bronze age civilization is a good idea, I just wish it was handled better.
The writing is distinctly TV, the world never became more than a background to me. At no point did I come to a point where it felt like a living world. Add to that characters that are too flat – the strong guy – or too vague – what does the protagonist do exactly? – and you get the distinct impression that this might have required a bit more development.
The setting itself seems interesting enough with huge gaps in the lore to deliver room for development, but I am not convinced I want to read more.
What interesting aspects there are is overpowered by the weaknesses.
Telling a story in a bronze age civilization is a good idea, I just wish it was handled better.
The writing is distinctly TV, the world never became more than a background to me. At no point did I come to a point where it felt like a living world. Add to that characters that are too flat – the strong guy – or too vague – what does the protagonist do exactly? – and you get the distinct impression that this might have required a bit more development.
The setting itself seems interesting enough with huge gaps in the lore to deliver room for development, but I am not convinced I want to read more.
What interesting aspects there are is overpowered by the weaknesses.
February 2, 2023
excellent book
This was not predictable which was refreshing. I appreciate how the characters where given depth, purpose and we’re memorable. This is a nice fantasy novel with a unique story line. Looking forward to the next books.
Thank You Phil Tucker for the wonderful work you put in this book. A shoutout to audible narrator too! Though I read more than listen, it was nice putting the iPad down, bookmarking and using the audible companion on a sleep timer to drift to sleep within the story. Of course when I woke up I started reading again from bookmark but it was nice.
Support and follow the author, definitely worth the read.
This was not predictable which was refreshing. I appreciate how the characters where given depth, purpose and we’re memorable. This is a nice fantasy novel with a unique story line. Looking forward to the next books.
Thank You Phil Tucker for the wonderful work you put in this book. A shoutout to audible narrator too! Though I read more than listen, it was nice putting the iPad down, bookmarking and using the audible companion on a sleep timer to drift to sleep within the story. Of course when I woke up I started reading again from bookmark but it was nice.
Support and follow the author, definitely worth the read.
September 12, 2019
I thought the book was okay. It wasn't as good as the Black Gate series but it was good writing. It was hard for me to get into the story. I haven't looked to see if this is truly the first in the series (there may be a prequel) and I probably should've checked that. I felt lost because I was dropped into this world in what appears to be at the final boss (if I may use gamer analogies). It will be unlikely I continue the series for that reason. I was craving some background on the world, the characters, the Gods, history, etc. The book just didn't click for me.
December 19, 2017
A solid tale with an interesting bronze age setting. Enjoyed having Demi God protagonists. This was actually more of a 3.5 - I feel my enjoyment suffered slightly from my expectations. I thought it was going to be a heist story but was a but disappointed when it turned out to be (a well written) quest style storyline. I'm looking forward to starting another of Phil Tucker's series with The Path of Flames
May 3, 2018
Such a damn interesting book. There was just so much happening, I wish I could have just binge read it in a sitting.
The fact it was set in Ancient times was fun and I really enjoyed how it was focused on godsbloods. I need more mythology and ancient things in my fiction.
Acharsis was a great character, as was Jarek. I feel like the others were a bit lacking in depth, which I'm hoping can be increased over time.
And I've already bought book 2, so off I go!
The fact it was set in Ancient times was fun and I really enjoyed how it was focused on godsbloods. I need more mythology and ancient things in my fiction.
Acharsis was a great character, as was Jarek. I feel like the others were a bit lacking in depth, which I'm hoping can be increased over time.
And I've already bought book 2, so off I go!
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