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The Fallow Chronicles #1
Just Anaz
PLEASE This will be re-released as a full length novel mid-2022!
What does it take to earn a life worth saving?
Six years ago, Anaz was ripped from his family as a boy and heaved into a violent world of blood sport—seduced with lusts and wealth unheard of in their barren desert nation. With his strange Ascenic magic, he has become an unstoppable killer in the Pit.Now, just when Anaz is offered a chance to win his freedom, his magic is failing him—corrupted and weak. With the help—and love—of a newly enslaved Ascenic girl, can Anaz recapture his people’s ways and save not only himself, but her? Just Anaz, the first of the Fallow Chronicles, is the moving and thought-provoking fantasy tale of a boy struggling to survive in a world without much to live for. With dozens of gorgeous illustrations to bring the world to life, Just Anaz is an entirely new kind of fantasy novel. Get Just Anaz today and follow Anaz as he struggles to survive and become something worthy. Worthy of his people’s name. Worthy of her love.
What does it take to earn a life worth saving?
Six years ago, Anaz was ripped from his family as a boy and heaved into a violent world of blood sport—seduced with lusts and wealth unheard of in their barren desert nation. With his strange Ascenic magic, he has become an unstoppable killer in the Pit.Now, just when Anaz is offered a chance to win his freedom, his magic is failing him—corrupted and weak. With the help—and love—of a newly enslaved Ascenic girl, can Anaz recapture his people’s ways and save not only himself, but her? Just Anaz, the first of the Fallow Chronicles, is the moving and thought-provoking fantasy tale of a boy struggling to survive in a world without much to live for. With dozens of gorgeous illustrations to bring the world to life, Just Anaz is an entirely new kind of fantasy novel. Get Just Anaz today and follow Anaz as he struggles to survive and become something worthy. Worthy of his people’s name. Worthy of her love.
- GenresFantasy
90 pages, ebook
Published March 10, 2017
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 11, 2018
A surprisingly touching short story of a boy who's lost himself, and the girl who helps him remember what redemption really means.
If I'm honest, I thought the beginning of the story felt a little choppy. Events are quick and sparse, the world setting described in bits and pieces gleaned from fantasy words in context and occasionally confusing conversations. It doesn't always seem to gel. But I'm glad I stuck with it. It's a rewarding, slightly grimdark in tone tale with exquisite expressive illustrations that makes the magic come to life.
The fantasy setting is lush and unusual, putting your everyday elves, gnomes and the like into an arid city where decadence rubs up alongside poverty. Magic rules, bodies are as much currency as the local coinage, and the only thing that brings everyone together is the Pit. Anaz is the Hero of the Pit, an Ascenic warrior slave who has never lost a fight. With his winning streak he can buy his freedom to go with the excess of food, water and women he's already amassed. But his hsing-li, the magical power he can tap during the fight, is failing him. Enter the mysterious Reyn, a newly minted fellow slave and a member of his own race who is able to control the hsing-li. Beautiful, deadly, and serene in equal measure, it is her judgement Anaz realises he fears even as he craves her attention. His character arc is slightly off-beat, but not in a bad way. Though I did find that the redemption he seeks is as elusive to me as a reader as it is to Anaz - I wasn't always sure what the Ascenic philosophy meant
While it's quite a sparsely described and tightly focused story, it introduces an epic fantasy world that pairs the familiar Dungeons & Dragons with a more Middle East/Asian feel. It's an enjoyable tale of morality and what it means to truly be free.
-I received a free copy of this ebook in a giveaway-
If I'm honest, I thought the beginning of the story felt a little choppy. Events are quick and sparse, the world setting described in bits and pieces gleaned from fantasy words in context and occasionally confusing conversations. It doesn't always seem to gel. But I'm glad I stuck with it. It's a rewarding, slightly grimdark in tone tale with exquisite expressive illustrations that makes the magic come to life.
The fantasy setting is lush and unusual, putting your everyday elves, gnomes and the like into an arid city where decadence rubs up alongside poverty. Magic rules, bodies are as much currency as the local coinage, and the only thing that brings everyone together is the Pit. Anaz is the Hero of the Pit, an Ascenic warrior slave who has never lost a fight. With his winning streak he can buy his freedom to go with the excess of food, water and women he's already amassed. But his hsing-li, the magical power he can tap during the fight, is failing him. Enter the mysterious Reyn, a newly minted fellow slave and a member of his own race who is able to control the hsing-li. Beautiful, deadly, and serene in equal measure, it is her judgement Anaz realises he fears even as he craves her attention. His character arc is slightly off-beat, but not in a bad way. Though I did find that the redemption he seeks is as elusive to me as a reader as it is to Anaz - I wasn't always sure what the Ascenic philosophy meant
While it's quite a sparsely described and tightly focused story, it introduces an epic fantasy world that pairs the familiar Dungeons & Dragons with a more Middle East/Asian feel. It's an enjoyable tale of morality and what it means to truly be free.
-I received a free copy of this ebook in a giveaway-
February 16, 2019
This was a really cool book that, unlike a lot of adult reads out there, includes artwork for the story BY THE AUTHOR!!! The artwork is amazing, and the story is a touching coming of age/romance/fantasy/drama with some definite action added for good measure! It's really a wonderful book and you would be crazy not to give it a chance. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a totally unique experience.
November 9, 2022
Excellent artwork and intriguing storyline. I have mixed feelings about the writing. On one hand there are beautiful passages; on the other hand there is a mess of much telling rather than showing. I also got annoyed by the mixing of cultures; drawings would look vaguely Asian, but descriptions would be Indian or modern American. The world building was messy, mixing Star Wars, Dune, Gladiator, Firefly, and Avatar. Same with the philosophy the characters espoused; messy.
I have been reading a lot of CS Lewis, Willa Cather, and Anne Brontë lately, so I have been noticing writing style more. Sadly, modern writers don’t measure up.
Overall, I like the idea of this novella but the execution could be better.
I have been reading a lot of CS Lewis, Willa Cather, and Anne Brontë lately, so I have been noticing writing style more. Sadly, modern writers don’t measure up.
Overall, I like the idea of this novella but the execution could be better.
May 8, 2020
I do like the illustrations rather a lot, but I think that's the strongest point of the book. I think there's a lot of potential in this book, but because of its short length, there's not enough time to connect to the characters or the world.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews