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Age of Azmoq: The Valantian Imperium
Azmoq is the rarest and most coveted metal on the planet. It’s the ultimate source and symbol of real power, and the Valantian Imperium controls it all in Valantia.
Or so they thought…
For the first time in generations, the Valantian Imperium, masters of the Valantian continent have glimpsed the first tremors of fear. There are rumors abound. Rumors of legends. Legends of both ancient Azmoqian weapons and men of godly powers, long thought to be myths.
As these rumors grow, a small group of people, from various walks of life, some commoners, some within the mighty Valantian Imperium itself, by pure coincidence, have set in motion a chain of events. The legends, if true, along with these set of events, might reignite the flames of a revolution. A revolution the Imperium had long suppressed. A revolution that might alter the balance of power in the continent, and eventually the entire world…
Or so they thought…
For the first time in generations, the Valantian Imperium, masters of the Valantian continent have glimpsed the first tremors of fear. There are rumors abound. Rumors of legends. Legends of both ancient Azmoqian weapons and men of godly powers, long thought to be myths.
As these rumors grow, a small group of people, from various walks of life, some commoners, some within the mighty Valantian Imperium itself, by pure coincidence, have set in motion a chain of events. The legends, if true, along with these set of events, might reignite the flames of a revolution. A revolution the Imperium had long suppressed. A revolution that might alter the balance of power in the continent, and eventually the entire world…
479 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2018
9 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Rajamayyoor Sharma
1 book15 followersRajamayyoor Sharma is a first-time author, who was far away from the writing world before this book series took hold in his mind.
He is a management consultant, with a degree in engineering from BITS Pilani and an MBA from IIM Bangalore in India. He currently lives in Bangalore with his wife, son and parents. He loves to spend his spare time reading anything with a story, watching movies with his wife and playing with his son.
He is a management consultant, with a degree in engineering from BITS Pilani and an MBA from IIM Bangalore in India. He currently lives in Bangalore with his wife, son and parents. He loves to spend his spare time reading anything with a story, watching movies with his wife and playing with his son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 24, 2018
This book is a highly imaginative tale following, for the most part, the perspective of Devrath who comes from a village where pretty much nothing ever happens. I imagined something like The Shire from The Lord of the Rings where they Hobbits live happy, contented lives, and know little to nothing of life outside their area. Devrath's contentedness ends though, when he begins a friendship with an outsider whose fate motivates Devrath to leave his village and start on an adventure.
I wish that I could give this story more stars as the author clearly put a lot of thought and imagination into its creation. However, there is a lot of telling the reader about things, rather than letting the information the author wants the reader to know, to flow naturally as the story progresses. I feel the story could have started with some action, perhaps right with the village chief coming into the smithy to talk rather than having several pages of explanation before hand. Any information the author felt the reader needed to have, could have been inserted into the story naturally as it progressed, rather than explaining things to the reader before the real action of the story began. I felt that quite a lot of the story could have been edited down, and the whole book trimmed considerably without taking out the real meat of the story. There are vast swaths of text, for example, that stop the story in order for the author to explain something to the audience which halts the action and forward progression of the story, which I felt were not needed. There were also places where punctuation errors threw me off, like misplaced commas, for example, and I had to re-read a sentence to understand what the author was trying to say.
The bones of the story are very fascinating, and if the text were to be passed by a professional editor for both line and content editing, I feel that it could help fashion these very imaginative ideas into an exciting, fast-paced tale which could grip the reader from the first words.
I wish that I could give this story more stars as the author clearly put a lot of thought and imagination into its creation. However, there is a lot of telling the reader about things, rather than letting the information the author wants the reader to know, to flow naturally as the story progresses. I feel the story could have started with some action, perhaps right with the village chief coming into the smithy to talk rather than having several pages of explanation before hand. Any information the author felt the reader needed to have, could have been inserted into the story naturally as it progressed, rather than explaining things to the reader before the real action of the story began. I felt that quite a lot of the story could have been edited down, and the whole book trimmed considerably without taking out the real meat of the story. There are vast swaths of text, for example, that stop the story in order for the author to explain something to the audience which halts the action and forward progression of the story, which I felt were not needed. There were also places where punctuation errors threw me off, like misplaced commas, for example, and I had to re-read a sentence to understand what the author was trying to say.
The bones of the story are very fascinating, and if the text were to be passed by a professional editor for both line and content editing, I feel that it could help fashion these very imaginative ideas into an exciting, fast-paced tale which could grip the reader from the first words.
March 13, 2018
Age of Azmoq (or AoA for short) is a riveting read. It starts slowly, taking the time to set the scene, drawing the reader in. Once the reader settles in though, it begins to move quickly, without a dull moment in between.
The beauty of AoA is the rich complexity of its fictional world. Rajamayyoor has succeeded in both, crafting an intricately etched fantasy world, and transporting a convinced reader right into it. The characters have been fleshed out well. One is neither burdened with too much detail of the characters’ lives, nor do any of the characters seem one dimensional. The protagonists are all believable and relatable.
The attention to detail – the construction of the entire imaginary world, the geography and maps – is delightful to witness. Descriptions of places, weapons, and their mechanisms are relevant, and evoke easy imagery. The battle scenes are a treat to read, with the narrative moving across multiple perspectives deftly, to offer a comprehensive overall picture. I also enjoyed some subtler details - such as the mix of names used in Villasboro - from Sanskrit-origin names to modern-day names of European origin – to indicate the intermingling of multiple lineages of peoples.
Several real world issues have been woven seamlessly into the narrative, lending it an additional layer of depth. The universal theme of large corporations crushing the common folk to boost their bottom-line particularly stood out in my mind. That, and the moral dilemma faced by the protagonists as well as the political elite at several points in the story, are a reminder that this fantasy world is as believable as our own.
On a completely different note, this is the first time I have read any fantasy fiction by an Indian Author. True enough that authors like Amish Tripathi and Ashwin Sanghi have penned some very refreshing books. The setting of most of their stories however, has been largely within the Indian subcontinent. AoA has a broader canvas, since it is not bound by real world places, and seeks to encompass an entire fantasy world within itself.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading AoA, and am looking forward to the remaining books in the series. I will say this though: I’m glad I get a break before the next book is out – because there are a ton of real-world things that I have been stubbornly ignoring for the past few days because I simply couldn’t put down this book! Now is the time for me to get back (grudgingly) to reality and my significant backlog of work.
The beauty of AoA is the rich complexity of its fictional world. Rajamayyoor has succeeded in both, crafting an intricately etched fantasy world, and transporting a convinced reader right into it. The characters have been fleshed out well. One is neither burdened with too much detail of the characters’ lives, nor do any of the characters seem one dimensional. The protagonists are all believable and relatable.
The attention to detail – the construction of the entire imaginary world, the geography and maps – is delightful to witness. Descriptions of places, weapons, and their mechanisms are relevant, and evoke easy imagery. The battle scenes are a treat to read, with the narrative moving across multiple perspectives deftly, to offer a comprehensive overall picture. I also enjoyed some subtler details - such as the mix of names used in Villasboro - from Sanskrit-origin names to modern-day names of European origin – to indicate the intermingling of multiple lineages of peoples.
Several real world issues have been woven seamlessly into the narrative, lending it an additional layer of depth. The universal theme of large corporations crushing the common folk to boost their bottom-line particularly stood out in my mind. That, and the moral dilemma faced by the protagonists as well as the political elite at several points in the story, are a reminder that this fantasy world is as believable as our own.
On a completely different note, this is the first time I have read any fantasy fiction by an Indian Author. True enough that authors like Amish Tripathi and Ashwin Sanghi have penned some very refreshing books. The setting of most of their stories however, has been largely within the Indian subcontinent. AoA has a broader canvas, since it is not bound by real world places, and seeks to encompass an entire fantasy world within itself.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading AoA, and am looking forward to the remaining books in the series. I will say this though: I’m glad I get a break before the next book is out – because there are a ton of real-world things that I have been stubbornly ignoring for the past few days because I simply couldn’t put down this book! Now is the time for me to get back (grudgingly) to reality and my significant backlog of work.
April 25, 2018
I have no doubt this work was a labour of love for this author. The ideas conveyed are an interesting premise yet nothing compelling or dramatic by any means.
My first impression is that there is way too much explaining going on and not really much in the way of storytelling. The first 12 chapters were just one long explanation of the first batch of characters in this oversimplified and repetitively long scenario.
Then we get to part two and an entirely new set of characters are introduced. The explaining starts again...and so on.
I not only got lost, yet also confused as to where the book was even headed, and where some of the characters even emerged from? One minute they were there and the next-gone....?
It is not an easy read.
The book itself is in dire need of a full and comprehensive content edit (way too long and very repetitive), it seems as if this has been translated from another language. This is just my opinion but grammatically this is the way it appears to me.
I do fully understand the gravity of the work involved here, it is massive- but for me this one was tough.
I do believe it does have the making of a great series yet it does need 'a fresh set of eyes.'
My first impression is that there is way too much explaining going on and not really much in the way of storytelling. The first 12 chapters were just one long explanation of the first batch of characters in this oversimplified and repetitively long scenario.
Then we get to part two and an entirely new set of characters are introduced. The explaining starts again...and so on.
I not only got lost, yet also confused as to where the book was even headed, and where some of the characters even emerged from? One minute they were there and the next-gone....?
It is not an easy read.
The book itself is in dire need of a full and comprehensive content edit (way too long and very repetitive), it seems as if this has been translated from another language. This is just my opinion but grammatically this is the way it appears to me.
I do fully understand the gravity of the work involved here, it is massive- but for me this one was tough.
I do believe it does have the making of a great series yet it does need 'a fresh set of eyes.'
June 8, 2018
5/5 ratings. The perfect book. I am always fan of fiction work. Nice writing. Nice storyline. Well written and grabs your attention. Must read !!
March 9, 2018
"The man raised his hands and jumped with such grace, it seemed he was going for a swim and not jumping in to end his life." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
TITLE:
First of all, there is an aura surrounding the title that gives it a rich, vibrant vibe of fantasy. It is deep, thought-provoking and definitely induces curiosity among readers.
When I read the title and saw the words 'Book 1: The Valantian Imperium', I knew for a fact that I was on an amazing journey to a series that would most definitely be some of the greatest that I would read.
COVER:
"I didn't really care if he slept on a mat. Or what he did with the mat." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
Upon first glance, the most striking attribute of the cover is how the colours blend together. The colour choices are bright but not domineering the title, they blend but also stick out wonderfully and all in all, I was quite impressed.
Further, the sync between the title and the cover is complimentary to the entire theme.
Fabulous.
PLOT:
"The hills itself looked like a part of the blue sky, as if sent to our world by the heavens to cover the world with a part of its beauty." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
Without a doubt, this read is one of my most engaging and engrossing. Right from the start it pulls you into another dimension till you start believing that you are with the characters. This is the highlight of the novel.
One of the other standout points is the conversational style that carries through the narration. For a fantasy theme that is so intricately woven, the elements of conversations really do add so much of enchantment to the story. Another really cool feature of the book is the illustrations which help us visualize the story with a more clear sense, almost like virtual reality.
"I feel sadness. I had never been this afraid in my life, but I had experienced grief." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
The author's sense of language is evidence that he is meant to write. That, and the way the author chose to make most of his sentences complex, add a very strong grip to the story. One of the most important elements of writing a novel is the language - the grammar, the punctuation and the sentence construction. Rajamayyoor has nailed this.
"I knew I was still young, but when someone that old implied thing I should have done something by then, it made me feel I hadn't done enough in my life." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
One of my most favourite characters is Grim. The portrayal of this character was done flawlessly and lingers long after you read the book. Further, though the genre is that of Fantasy, the book is packed with values, morals and elements of life that we can all easily relate to.
Overall, it is a highly engaging and an enjoyable read.
I LOVED...
The writing style
The complex sentences
I WANTED...
More one-liners
More Illustrations
Overall Rating: 4.75 / 5
TITLE:
First of all, there is an aura surrounding the title that gives it a rich, vibrant vibe of fantasy. It is deep, thought-provoking and definitely induces curiosity among readers.
When I read the title and saw the words 'Book 1: The Valantian Imperium', I knew for a fact that I was on an amazing journey to a series that would most definitely be some of the greatest that I would read.
COVER:
"I didn't really care if he slept on a mat. Or what he did with the mat." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
Upon first glance, the most striking attribute of the cover is how the colours blend together. The colour choices are bright but not domineering the title, they blend but also stick out wonderfully and all in all, I was quite impressed.
Further, the sync between the title and the cover is complimentary to the entire theme.
Fabulous.
PLOT:
"The hills itself looked like a part of the blue sky, as if sent to our world by the heavens to cover the world with a part of its beauty." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
Without a doubt, this read is one of my most engaging and engrossing. Right from the start it pulls you into another dimension till you start believing that you are with the characters. This is the highlight of the novel.
One of the other standout points is the conversational style that carries through the narration. For a fantasy theme that is so intricately woven, the elements of conversations really do add so much of enchantment to the story. Another really cool feature of the book is the illustrations which help us visualize the story with a more clear sense, almost like virtual reality.
"I feel sadness. I had never been this afraid in my life, but I had experienced grief." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
The author's sense of language is evidence that he is meant to write. That, and the way the author chose to make most of his sentences complex, add a very strong grip to the story. One of the most important elements of writing a novel is the language - the grammar, the punctuation and the sentence construction. Rajamayyoor has nailed this.
"I knew I was still young, but when someone that old implied thing I should have done something by then, it made me feel I hadn't done enough in my life." - Rajamayyoor Sharma
One of my most favourite characters is Grim. The portrayal of this character was done flawlessly and lingers long after you read the book. Further, though the genre is that of Fantasy, the book is packed with values, morals and elements of life that we can all easily relate to.
Overall, it is a highly engaging and an enjoyable read.
I LOVED...
The writing style
The complex sentences
I WANTED...
More one-liners
More Illustrations
Overall Rating: 4.75 / 5
May 16, 2018
What a fascinating and imaginative fantasy! I loved the detail and complex world-building in this story, but was distracted a bit by the excessive explanation that interrupted the journey (both mine as a reader and that of the character). This could be shorter with the details included in the story as it unfolds, and would hold the reader's attention better for it. Still, this is quite a quest, with the promise of a fantastic series within, and hopefully the storytelling will shine through the unnecessary details in future installments.
March 23, 2018
Stunning book - GoT just got an upgrade!! Incredible imagination and story-telling. I want to visit ‘end of the world’ Vilasboro, dive into the ‘White Destroyer’ Grand River. And while at it, I also need an Azmoqian sword!! And the characters, so powerful and mysterious, and yet somehow, so real!
Looking forward to the next book in the series..
Looking forward to the next book in the series..
April 7, 2018
4.5 / 5
So so happy with this book. Finally the last one month of finding time from work schedule to read this totally worthy. I can tell a few faults in this but overall , I am really on a high from this story. MUST read !!
So so happy with this book. Finally the last one month of finding time from work schedule to read this totally worthy. I can tell a few faults in this but overall , I am really on a high from this story. MUST read !!
March 22, 2018
This book easily got me captivated for its style of writing. Great #storytelling. Besides the amazingly gripping story that author @raja maintained throughout, what stunned me was the enforcement of logic while still letting it be fictional. No fiction was overtly done to point of disbelief, if you are a logical thinker. Some theories explained such as the way to build a sustainable society was extremely well done. I can't wait for the next release. Great job, writing.
If you love stories and waiting for a book to take you out on your next fascinating fantasy ride, then may as well check this out. https://www.amazon.in/Age-Azmoq-Valan...
If you love stories and waiting for a book to take you out on your next fascinating fantasy ride, then may as well check this out. https://www.amazon.in/Age-Azmoq-Valan...
April 22, 2018
The Age of Azmoq, by Rajamayyoor Sharma, is an epic fantasy that follows the protagonist through a journey of self-discovery as he realizes there is a much bigger world beyond the one he knows.
The pacing was slow at the beginning, centering around the budding friendship of the protagonist (Dev), and the village stranger Olmot. It was an interesting concept having a hero come from a laid-back and sheltered society, and then venturing out into a world he had no idea existed. Unfortunately, I found his character very flat and one-dimensional mostly because this is the life he led. He had no experiences beyond his village, no adventures, and no stress or worry in his life. Further, I found much of his motivation to leave the village to be unrealistic. The fact that a young man with zero world experience or fighting ability would suddenly leave everything in his life to go after skilled killers who killed someone he has known for only five days, does not fit with the character developed in the opening chapters.
As the story progresses the pace picks up. Dev’s revenge quest leads him through different lands, connects him with new people, and makes him a bit savvier to the world around him. Some of the backstories were unique and would make interesting standalone books, specifically “Chronicles of Dag Heyat.”
The story changes throughout the chapters from multiple first-person views to third-person and back again. The constant shifting always had me wondering, as I went into a new chapter, whose viewpoint the story was in. It made it difficult to follow and was very distracting, pulling me out of the story often. A fantasy story of this magnitude might have been better in the third person with the storyline driven by one character. Multiple and constantly shifting first-person views are difficult to accomplish seamlessly without confusing the reader. While this is a sweeping epic fantasy with a lot of moving parts it could benefit from a good content/copy editor to help with flow, voice, structure etc. to help take this imaginative story to the next level.
Sharma included footnotes throughout the novel; little excerpts to provide the reader with additional information about specifics in the book. It is very stylized and a unique addition to the author's storytelling.
If you enjoy epic fantasy, with a vast amount of characters, backstory, and settings, with content that is diverse and complex then The Age of Azmoq might be for you.
The pacing was slow at the beginning, centering around the budding friendship of the protagonist (Dev), and the village stranger Olmot. It was an interesting concept having a hero come from a laid-back and sheltered society, and then venturing out into a world he had no idea existed. Unfortunately, I found his character very flat and one-dimensional mostly because this is the life he led. He had no experiences beyond his village, no adventures, and no stress or worry in his life. Further, I found much of his motivation to leave the village to be unrealistic. The fact that a young man with zero world experience or fighting ability would suddenly leave everything in his life to go after skilled killers who killed someone he has known for only five days, does not fit with the character developed in the opening chapters.
As the story progresses the pace picks up. Dev’s revenge quest leads him through different lands, connects him with new people, and makes him a bit savvier to the world around him. Some of the backstories were unique and would make interesting standalone books, specifically “Chronicles of Dag Heyat.”
The story changes throughout the chapters from multiple first-person views to third-person and back again. The constant shifting always had me wondering, as I went into a new chapter, whose viewpoint the story was in. It made it difficult to follow and was very distracting, pulling me out of the story often. A fantasy story of this magnitude might have been better in the third person with the storyline driven by one character. Multiple and constantly shifting first-person views are difficult to accomplish seamlessly without confusing the reader. While this is a sweeping epic fantasy with a lot of moving parts it could benefit from a good content/copy editor to help with flow, voice, structure etc. to help take this imaginative story to the next level.
Sharma included footnotes throughout the novel; little excerpts to provide the reader with additional information about specifics in the book. It is very stylized and a unique addition to the author's storytelling.
If you enjoy epic fantasy, with a vast amount of characters, backstory, and settings, with content that is diverse and complex then The Age of Azmoq might be for you.
April 19, 2018
You would never think that this is a debut novel for Rajamayyor. It's stunning details and vibrancy to create life from book to your mind was impeccable.
I was nervous when this book landed on my kindle. Why? Because of its length. My reads don't usually reach that capacity.
I did find the building up to the plot to be on the long-winded side and it took me to about 20% to fully become immersed into the work. I did find some of the introductions of few characters to be a bit much for our lead Devrath. He's young, one the youngest persons in his village. I couldn't figure out what age he would be as people lived well above the average life span. He also was not the easiest of people to follow on this journey.
Devrath takes on this journey un trained and alone, travel far beyond the point that he has ever taken before. He is also extremely naive and has no knowledge what lies beyond the border of his village. I found it a bit strange that a person who is so ill equipped would take this venture, But I went with it. While he develops skills (self-taught) and fight the revolution we are thrown into several battles ranging in different levels of combat.
While I love a good battle, having so many jammed into a book was a dream come true. They kept you on toes and really had me wanting to get to the next. That’s scenes where not flawless but the depiction of the scene easily allowed that aliment to slide under the radar.
Age of Azmoq takes on a lot, political boundaries, philosophies and fantasy adventure where the three that stood out to me. If you took the prospect of him seeking what almost feels like revenge for his parent’s mysterious death you get a Robin hood feel.
There are many scenes that drawn out, while the descriptions of who, what and where are superb it appears every detail was laid out. For me it was a deterrent and I had read a section and then re-read it to recall what was going on because while I was being told of my setting I lost the plot.
The overall storyline though was mind blowing.
I was nervous when this book landed on my kindle. Why? Because of its length. My reads don't usually reach that capacity.
I did find the building up to the plot to be on the long-winded side and it took me to about 20% to fully become immersed into the work. I did find some of the introductions of few characters to be a bit much for our lead Devrath. He's young, one the youngest persons in his village. I couldn't figure out what age he would be as people lived well above the average life span. He also was not the easiest of people to follow on this journey.
Devrath takes on this journey un trained and alone, travel far beyond the point that he has ever taken before. He is also extremely naive and has no knowledge what lies beyond the border of his village. I found it a bit strange that a person who is so ill equipped would take this venture, But I went with it. While he develops skills (self-taught) and fight the revolution we are thrown into several battles ranging in different levels of combat.
While I love a good battle, having so many jammed into a book was a dream come true. They kept you on toes and really had me wanting to get to the next. That’s scenes where not flawless but the depiction of the scene easily allowed that aliment to slide under the radar.
Age of Azmoq takes on a lot, political boundaries, philosophies and fantasy adventure where the three that stood out to me. If you took the prospect of him seeking what almost feels like revenge for his parent’s mysterious death you get a Robin hood feel.
There are many scenes that drawn out, while the descriptions of who, what and where are superb it appears every detail was laid out. For me it was a deterrent and I had read a section and then re-read it to recall what was going on because while I was being told of my setting I lost the plot.
The overall storyline though was mind blowing.
April 30, 2018
This is an ambitious work, but perhaps falls short a little due to needing a few more rounds of beta reading and a content editor. There are no obvious typos, but multiple times, I would be reading something and would wonder why it was even put in the book. An example would be at the beginning. A few people are worried about this mysterious stranger. We know he's hung around a while and that he carries around a mat. Several sentences were dedicated to the narrator talking about the mat, but not caring why he had it. So why mention it if he doesn't care?
The book is long and the entire book reads this way. Some of the things the narrator is thinking or seeing is not vital to the story, but it was put in anyway. I kept waiting for it to somehow become important and it didn't. It was almost as if instead of introducing us to the narrator and letting us get to know him as the story progressed naturally, we are being asked to get to know him by seeing everything he sees and hear everything he thinks.
The story itself was good and I think it would work well if it was perhaps looked at through several sets of different eyes and cut down a bit
The book is long and the entire book reads this way. Some of the things the narrator is thinking or seeing is not vital to the story, but it was put in anyway. I kept waiting for it to somehow become important and it didn't. It was almost as if instead of introducing us to the narrator and letting us get to know him as the story progressed naturally, we are being asked to get to know him by seeing everything he sees and hear everything he thinks.
The story itself was good and I think it would work well if it was perhaps looked at through several sets of different eyes and cut down a bit
January 30, 2018
The Age of Azmoq made for a very delightful read. It is a fantasy epic in its own making. As the story unfolds, the reader is treated with the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the diverse, captivating and sometimes dark universe that the author Rajamayyoor Sharma has created.
The story employs some very intriguing elements like concept of a utopian place, the fascinating art of mind-reading and the mysterious substance that Azmoq is among other things. Also since the Valantian world is so different but still uncannily similar to our own in many ways, one can’t help but be deeply engaged with the narrative and the protagonists.
I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a good dose of fantasy seasoned with some very clever writing. I for myself can barely wait for the second book to see how the story unravels ahead!
The story employs some very intriguing elements like concept of a utopian place, the fascinating art of mind-reading and the mysterious substance that Azmoq is among other things. Also since the Valantian world is so different but still uncannily similar to our own in many ways, one can’t help but be deeply engaged with the narrative and the protagonists.
I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a good dose of fantasy seasoned with some very clever writing. I for myself can barely wait for the second book to see how the story unravels ahead!
April 17, 2018
Age of Azmoq : The Valantian Imperium by Rajamayyoor Sharma is a fantasy utopian novel based in a fictional world. Off late, I’ve started getting books which deal with a utopian/dystopian world, and am glad to have a change from the cliched romance novels which just doesn’t seem to end its run! Anyway, continue reading to know what this book holds.
Azmoq, the most precious metal on the planet is under the control of the country’s governing body, the Valantian Imperium. With numerous known and unknown properties, Azmoq can literally make or break someone or anybody/country who holds it/has access to it. Though almost all the ores have been identified already, and the Imperium has already taken them all under their jurisdiction, there is one place, a small village Villasboro, cut off from the rest of the world, which is sitting on a vast reserve of the metal. Unknown to anybody, even its inhabitants, life is going peacefully until the arrival of an old man into the village, his settling down there and his subsequent assassination by rogues, that a young man named Dev is shaken to his very core to avenge the murder. Here, Dev’s drive is led by the fact that he had become close to the old man, whom he had named Olmot over a period of time and also that he couldn’t save his own parents when a tree accidentally fell over them in the forest surrounding their village, injuring them and ultimately taking their lives.
With the help of his rather mysterious master Grim, who happens to know more than he lets on, Dev leaves his village for the first time ever in his life, pledging to kill those who killed Olmot and his soul the rest he had come looking for in the village in the first place. Armed with an exceptional sword named Dhronari and gloves, Dev sets out on his mission only to encounter trouble as soon as he is out on the plains. Here, he meets Karn, a notorious most wanted of the Vanlantian military, and soon they bond with Karn deciding to help the kid reach his destination.
As they both journey together, they come across hurdles and yes, add another member to their group after saving his life, a man named Elbir, infamous as Eric of the five hammers, who though joins them but has his own motives. As they share their stories with each other, it is revealed that the assassins Dev is looking for are from the same tribe as Elbir. But what he tells them further leaves Dev and his mission in a lurch. Although the door has closed, a window is still open and the three decide to pass through it.
This unusual trio, while traveling towards their now common goal, inadvertently leave their mark wherever they go, which puts the military on their heels. It is only through their wit and sheer luck that they manage to escape each time. Will Dev be able to avenge Olmot? Will Karn be able to escape the military he abandoned in future too? Will Elbir finally fulfill his motives? Will any of them be able to know the danger and awe they are walking towards? Will any of them realize that the wheels of change have been set into motion and they are the drivers?
So when I first started reading the book, I was not at all impressed. The story seemed to be moving too slow to pique my interest and I had a really difficult time progressing. In fact, I left the book after a couple of chapters and started reading some other book. But then, leaving a book mid-way is not my style, until and unless I find it really hopeless or impossible to continue. Having picked this fantasy again a week later, I decided to put my heart into it and re-started. And it was then that I realized that whoever said that a book shouldn’t be judged by its cover, was absolutely right. After the initial hiccups, the more I delved, the more I got interested in the story and appreciated the imagination with which it was written. It felt like mind gone wild, adding more and more layers to everything. And this creativity has led this book to become an amalgamation of sorts. From the names of the characters to their living style, the lines are blurred. I couldn’t comprehend it to start with, names like Grim, Dev, Parshtel, Karn, Eric, Aswatthama, Draconair, Vikraan were thrown together making me think about it in terms of today’s time, caste, creed, religion. Then, I got over it and saw the bigger picture, it was like a small portion of people from all over the world living together in a single country. These characters, however, were well built, especially the leads, given that the book is 400 pages strong, I couldn’t have expected anything less.
There were a few bumps along the way, like too many chapters, too much of back and forth between timelines, some unnecessary concepts (maybe they will be useful in the sequels), multiple protagonists and changing narration, that is, with the changing chapters, the “I” changed, which kept leading to confusion. There doesn’t seem to be any main character, instead, there is a group of people who are equally important and can be seen as shared protagonists. All their paths lead to the central plotline from where they embark together. But this convergence is off, their backstories are not told simultaneously, rather it is brought out in the middle of something else when you least expect it. And then, it is left hanging only to be picked up later, again in the middle of something else. This hotchpotch caused by the seemingly unplanned story route makes the book a little less gripping than what could have been with a smoother flow.
The story ends with open notes, theories and facts need explanations and each character has something or the other to look forward to in the sequel and me, looking out for the book itself. Go on, pick it up for a couple of days of whimsical fantasy in our otherwise monotonous lives.
Azmoq, the most precious metal on the planet is under the control of the country’s governing body, the Valantian Imperium. With numerous known and unknown properties, Azmoq can literally make or break someone or anybody/country who holds it/has access to it. Though almost all the ores have been identified already, and the Imperium has already taken them all under their jurisdiction, there is one place, a small village Villasboro, cut off from the rest of the world, which is sitting on a vast reserve of the metal. Unknown to anybody, even its inhabitants, life is going peacefully until the arrival of an old man into the village, his settling down there and his subsequent assassination by rogues, that a young man named Dev is shaken to his very core to avenge the murder. Here, Dev’s drive is led by the fact that he had become close to the old man, whom he had named Olmot over a period of time and also that he couldn’t save his own parents when a tree accidentally fell over them in the forest surrounding their village, injuring them and ultimately taking their lives.
With the help of his rather mysterious master Grim, who happens to know more than he lets on, Dev leaves his village for the first time ever in his life, pledging to kill those who killed Olmot and his soul the rest he had come looking for in the village in the first place. Armed with an exceptional sword named Dhronari and gloves, Dev sets out on his mission only to encounter trouble as soon as he is out on the plains. Here, he meets Karn, a notorious most wanted of the Vanlantian military, and soon they bond with Karn deciding to help the kid reach his destination.
As they both journey together, they come across hurdles and yes, add another member to their group after saving his life, a man named Elbir, infamous as Eric of the five hammers, who though joins them but has his own motives. As they share their stories with each other, it is revealed that the assassins Dev is looking for are from the same tribe as Elbir. But what he tells them further leaves Dev and his mission in a lurch. Although the door has closed, a window is still open and the three decide to pass through it.
This unusual trio, while traveling towards their now common goal, inadvertently leave their mark wherever they go, which puts the military on their heels. It is only through their wit and sheer luck that they manage to escape each time. Will Dev be able to avenge Olmot? Will Karn be able to escape the military he abandoned in future too? Will Elbir finally fulfill his motives? Will any of them be able to know the danger and awe they are walking towards? Will any of them realize that the wheels of change have been set into motion and they are the drivers?
So when I first started reading the book, I was not at all impressed. The story seemed to be moving too slow to pique my interest and I had a really difficult time progressing. In fact, I left the book after a couple of chapters and started reading some other book. But then, leaving a book mid-way is not my style, until and unless I find it really hopeless or impossible to continue. Having picked this fantasy again a week later, I decided to put my heart into it and re-started. And it was then that I realized that whoever said that a book shouldn’t be judged by its cover, was absolutely right. After the initial hiccups, the more I delved, the more I got interested in the story and appreciated the imagination with which it was written. It felt like mind gone wild, adding more and more layers to everything. And this creativity has led this book to become an amalgamation of sorts. From the names of the characters to their living style, the lines are blurred. I couldn’t comprehend it to start with, names like Grim, Dev, Parshtel, Karn, Eric, Aswatthama, Draconair, Vikraan were thrown together making me think about it in terms of today’s time, caste, creed, religion. Then, I got over it and saw the bigger picture, it was like a small portion of people from all over the world living together in a single country. These characters, however, were well built, especially the leads, given that the book is 400 pages strong, I couldn’t have expected anything less.
There were a few bumps along the way, like too many chapters, too much of back and forth between timelines, some unnecessary concepts (maybe they will be useful in the sequels), multiple protagonists and changing narration, that is, with the changing chapters, the “I” changed, which kept leading to confusion. There doesn’t seem to be any main character, instead, there is a group of people who are equally important and can be seen as shared protagonists. All their paths lead to the central plotline from where they embark together. But this convergence is off, their backstories are not told simultaneously, rather it is brought out in the middle of something else when you least expect it. And then, it is left hanging only to be picked up later, again in the middle of something else. This hotchpotch caused by the seemingly unplanned story route makes the book a little less gripping than what could have been with a smoother flow.
The story ends with open notes, theories and facts need explanations and each character has something or the other to look forward to in the sequel and me, looking out for the book itself. Go on, pick it up for a couple of days of whimsical fantasy in our otherwise monotonous lives.
January 25, 2018
This book is an definitely a must read for anyone who loves a nice mix of fantasy, philosophy,suspense and futuristic ideas. It is easy to raise similarities to other fantasies like lord of the rings or other similar books but that's just like saying apples and oranges are not different because they are both fruits. Description of war scenes and battlefield dilemmas were intriguing.I have mixed opinion about the footnotes. Though written as a fantasy world some of the parts seem like the direction in which the current world we live in could be moving. The book inspires the thinker in the person reading it!
January 23, 2018
Age of azmoq was a very satisfying read, and i cant wait for the rest of the series. Honestly, thats the only reason to not read this book - that it’s so engrossing that you will wish you had more to read.
The characters are solid, and reading the narration in different voices provides an interesting perspective to the story. The storyline itself is compelling, and the world Rajamayyoor has created is well thought out - even to the fine details in the footnotes.
This is as good a fantasy book as I’ve read! If you like Anthony Ryan, Brandon Sanderson, Rothfuss and the like, you’re sure to like this book!
The characters are solid, and reading the narration in different voices provides an interesting perspective to the story. The storyline itself is compelling, and the world Rajamayyoor has created is well thought out - even to the fine details in the footnotes.
This is as good a fantasy book as I’ve read! If you like Anthony Ryan, Brandon Sanderson, Rothfuss and the like, you’re sure to like this book!
March 6, 2018
A great read!
Age of Azmoq is some good writing by Raja Mayyoor Sharma. I recommend the book if you like a gripping story line and are a fantasy fan. Can't wait for the next one in the series!!
Age of Azmoq is some good writing by Raja Mayyoor Sharma. I recommend the book if you like a gripping story line and are a fantasy fan. Can't wait for the next one in the series!!
February 27, 2018
Always good to read something written by someone you know.
March 30, 2018
Rajamayyoor Sharma’s AGE OF AZMOQ,The Valantian Imperium is a fascinating epic fiction of fantasy, magic and sorcery.It is full of mind boggling actions and adventures that can engage us with all the entertainment of mythology and politics.
When I enter into the awe-inspiring realms of people with godly powers, super life-threatening weapons living in the ancient era through this epic fiction, I am flabbergasted by the beautiful tale of fun and wonder. The magnificent happenings with all the war related strategies and unbelievable events hold me to expect more when it ends.
The plot
As the concise blurb talks highly about Azmoq the rarest and most coveted metal on the planet, the book discusses and describes about the same in an elaborate way. The book starts with a Prologue and there are seven sections and 48 chapters ending with Epilogue and Appendix.
The protagonist Devrath, a youth living in the village of Villasboro is working in a shop. From his POV the story is told from the date he is asked by his master Forresgrim to inquire about a stranger who is staying there for one and half year. There begins the quest which leads to myriad revelations of truths buried for a long time,also the unfurling of secrets so shocking and surprising and the resultant battles leaving many dead and some come out with a victory.
The pro
The storyline is the page turner.Subplots are there to give all the twists and turns. Both title and subtitle are fitting ones for the epic history genre.A cast of indelible and unforgettable characters perfectly placed among the ferocious struggles and challenges it delivers a world that leave readers desperate for more.
This historical novel set in various periods, including the sixteenth century at various locations that raises questions about science, language and skepticism.it is an evocative and enthralling novel of the most tumultuous era in history talking about legends combinig social insights , vivid historical atmosphere and melodrama .
Both concept and execution are impeccable.An interesting saga that should appeal to a cross section of fantasy fans. It is gruesome but not dreadful .It is philosophical but not preachy and intricate but not baffling.
Characters are realistic, There are some ruthless guys but there are good people in the majority.The fantastic lyrical language catches my eyes.The map , pictures and appendix are really helpful in grasping the story.Also notes given about the monetary system,horses and prisoner's dilemma are informative.
The cover art by Teodora Chinde and Tiffany Munro and the artwork by Tiffany Munro, Maksim Kuznetsov and Janri are enticing.
What I feel
The small font strains my eyes. Editing is to be groomed as grammar, spelling and typo errors have crept in.There are a plethora of characters and I cannot remember all .
My favorite
Devrath is ignorant and Innocent and his actions make me laugh. His love for fellow beings astonish me.
Flora’s dedication to her job as a phycian is amazing.Kazena’s wisdom is superb.Both the episodes involving entrance to another.s mind , and utilization of coffins to get into the domain of The Valantian Imperium.
My verdict
I love everything about the book. A non stop, unputtowanable thriller by a stunning voice in epic fiction. For me, it is an evocative and enthralling novel of the most tumultuous era in history
Fans of fantasy can await many more from the author which is a nice perk why he is awesome. This is part 1 I eagerly await the next work.
Prepare yourself for an epic journey of awful delight and unsurpassed wonder.Epic wielders would delight you.It is a classic masterpiece acceptable by all generations.
I recommend this book to all epic fans and others also will enjoy it equally.
When I enter into the awe-inspiring realms of people with godly powers, super life-threatening weapons living in the ancient era through this epic fiction, I am flabbergasted by the beautiful tale of fun and wonder. The magnificent happenings with all the war related strategies and unbelievable events hold me to expect more when it ends.
The plot
As the concise blurb talks highly about Azmoq the rarest and most coveted metal on the planet, the book discusses and describes about the same in an elaborate way. The book starts with a Prologue and there are seven sections and 48 chapters ending with Epilogue and Appendix.
The protagonist Devrath, a youth living in the village of Villasboro is working in a shop. From his POV the story is told from the date he is asked by his master Forresgrim to inquire about a stranger who is staying there for one and half year. There begins the quest which leads to myriad revelations of truths buried for a long time,also the unfurling of secrets so shocking and surprising and the resultant battles leaving many dead and some come out with a victory.
The pro
The storyline is the page turner.Subplots are there to give all the twists and turns. Both title and subtitle are fitting ones for the epic history genre.A cast of indelible and unforgettable characters perfectly placed among the ferocious struggles and challenges it delivers a world that leave readers desperate for more.
This historical novel set in various periods, including the sixteenth century at various locations that raises questions about science, language and skepticism.it is an evocative and enthralling novel of the most tumultuous era in history talking about legends combinig social insights , vivid historical atmosphere and melodrama .
Both concept and execution are impeccable.An interesting saga that should appeal to a cross section of fantasy fans. It is gruesome but not dreadful .It is philosophical but not preachy and intricate but not baffling.
Characters are realistic, There are some ruthless guys but there are good people in the majority.The fantastic lyrical language catches my eyes.The map , pictures and appendix are really helpful in grasping the story.Also notes given about the monetary system,horses and prisoner's dilemma are informative.
The cover art by Teodora Chinde and Tiffany Munro and the artwork by Tiffany Munro, Maksim Kuznetsov and Janri are enticing.
What I feel
The small font strains my eyes. Editing is to be groomed as grammar, spelling and typo errors have crept in.There are a plethora of characters and I cannot remember all .
My favorite
Devrath is ignorant and Innocent and his actions make me laugh. His love for fellow beings astonish me.
Flora’s dedication to her job as a phycian is amazing.Kazena’s wisdom is superb.Both the episodes involving entrance to another.s mind , and utilization of coffins to get into the domain of The Valantian Imperium.
My verdict
I love everything about the book. A non stop, unputtowanable thriller by a stunning voice in epic fiction. For me, it is an evocative and enthralling novel of the most tumultuous era in history
Fans of fantasy can await many more from the author which is a nice perk why he is awesome. This is part 1 I eagerly await the next work.
Prepare yourself for an epic journey of awful delight and unsurpassed wonder.Epic wielders would delight you.It is a classic masterpiece acceptable by all generations.
I recommend this book to all epic fans and others also will enjoy it equally.
May 17, 2018
Reviewed on Books Cats Tea
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy to review.
Age of Azmoq is the first of a five book epic fantasy following several characters' stories about how they come to play a part in changing the politics and government of their continent. The story revolves around a rare, powerful, and magical metal called Azmoq that is highly controlled by the Valantian Imperium and used to make weapons and armor for the Imperium's top soldiers who enforce the status quo. But a revolution is underway, even if the people who will lead it do not yet realize it themselves. Can they find the legendary Azmoqian weapons and carve out a new destiny for themselves and their people?
I will admit that the size of Age of Azmoq was a little daunting to start, but I love when a book has a map in it and that drew me right in. The prologue sets up a creepy, scary vibe set within a fantasy while the book itself is arranged in sections and chapters. This felt a little textbook-like to me and made me worry it would break the flow and feel of being absorbed into the story, but after I started reading, this wasn't a problem
The big problem I had with the book was that the writing was WAY too repetitious. It made it hard to want to keep reading during the slow parts. This leads me to the second issue I had which were the footnotes. They broke the flow of the book and interjected the author's actual voice and thoughts on why he was writing things in the footnotes and details about the story. And the smiley faces were just too much. Any information relevant to the story should have been crafted into the novel and not left as a footnote to be told by the author himself. The appendix was a little interesting and more appropriate for the various and sundry in that it added more detail and layer to the story, but if it was relevant to the current book, it should have been crafted in. If it isn't relevant until later books, it should be added there. My third strike comes from the grammatical errors, lack of editing (there were some instances of repeated, wrong, or missing words) and occasional story error (Kicik's final shout was "Habladexteds" on page 198 and "Dabladexteds" on page 206--as far as I'm aware, this wasn't a proof copy).
I really wanted to give Age of Azmoq a higher rating because I could feel Sharma's excitement, enthusiasm, and thoroughness in creating this story. I would like to read what happens to the newly minted revolution leaders, but I wouldn't want to wade through so much repetitiveness again. Especially with it almost topping 500 pages. The length could have been reduced significantly. I could see it being a page-turner once we leave the sleepy village of Villasboro if it was condensed.
All in all, Age of Azmoq feels very green and a rough, but Sharma definitely has the creativeness to make an epic story filled with diverse characters.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy to review.
Age of Azmoq is the first of a five book epic fantasy following several characters' stories about how they come to play a part in changing the politics and government of their continent. The story revolves around a rare, powerful, and magical metal called Azmoq that is highly controlled by the Valantian Imperium and used to make weapons and armor for the Imperium's top soldiers who enforce the status quo. But a revolution is underway, even if the people who will lead it do not yet realize it themselves. Can they find the legendary Azmoqian weapons and carve out a new destiny for themselves and their people?
I will admit that the size of Age of Azmoq was a little daunting to start, but I love when a book has a map in it and that drew me right in. The prologue sets up a creepy, scary vibe set within a fantasy while the book itself is arranged in sections and chapters. This felt a little textbook-like to me and made me worry it would break the flow and feel of being absorbed into the story, but after I started reading, this wasn't a problem
The big problem I had with the book was that the writing was WAY too repetitious. It made it hard to want to keep reading during the slow parts. This leads me to the second issue I had which were the footnotes. They broke the flow of the book and interjected the author's actual voice and thoughts on why he was writing things in the footnotes and details about the story. And the smiley faces were just too much. Any information relevant to the story should have been crafted into the novel and not left as a footnote to be told by the author himself. The appendix was a little interesting and more appropriate for the various and sundry in that it added more detail and layer to the story, but if it was relevant to the current book, it should have been crafted in. If it isn't relevant until later books, it should be added there. My third strike comes from the grammatical errors, lack of editing (there were some instances of repeated, wrong, or missing words) and occasional story error (Kicik's final shout was "Habladexteds" on page 198 and "Dabladexteds" on page 206--as far as I'm aware, this wasn't a proof copy).
I really wanted to give Age of Azmoq a higher rating because I could feel Sharma's excitement, enthusiasm, and thoroughness in creating this story. I would like to read what happens to the newly minted revolution leaders, but I wouldn't want to wade through so much repetitiveness again. Especially with it almost topping 500 pages. The length could have been reduced significantly. I could see it being a page-turner once we leave the sleepy village of Villasboro if it was condensed.
All in all, Age of Azmoq feels very green and a rough, but Sharma definitely has the creativeness to make an epic story filled with diverse characters.
April 2, 2018
This is a book from the debut author, Rajamayyoor Sharma. Thank you Blogadda for dispatching the book to me for review.
This book belongs to the fantasy genre, which is new for me. Beginning from the impressive cover to the concise but engrossing excerpt, the mesmerizing title, the introduction of the book in the first few pages, and the content from the beginning to the end is something that keeps one holding throughout. The title itself makes you curious to know what lies inside the book. It feels like you will be taken into a world from a different age.
The author is an Engineer and an MBA. There are very less Indian authors who choose genres other than chicklit and teenage romance. The author has self published his book. The book published in Jan 2018, spans approximately 500 pages.
I have observed that even big writers use tricks of unnecessary blank pages between the chapters and bigger fonts plus extra margins to make their book look thicker. But this particular book is all about honest content from a fresh mind. Writing fantasy needs a lot of wit and imagination.
The un-put-down-able, enticing fiction is indeed heart winning. On the first glance, it reminds you of GoT.
While you read you dive into the world the author has created, and start living the characters and the locations. This being a refreshing read, is scientific too. You end up entering into the world of Valantia while reading it. The characterization is witty and mysterious. Dialogues are simple yet realistic. To read such books you do not need to be logical, but imaginative. The more you imagine, the more you enjoy. Use of one liners frequently, makes it even more interesting.
Description and story telling is worth reading. The characters are relatable, inspirational and uncomplicated. They tell you about the characters exactly as much as it is needed. The world that is designed in the story is in no manner inspired from the real world. The plot unfolds gracefully, first forming a basis in the readers mind and then weaving the rest of it gradually. The methodology of writing footnotes is one of its kind. The war scenes are well written. Description of weapons is well written. The writer has given maps and illustrations which have been interesting at times. Words are chosen meticulously. However, I feel that some scenes could have been cut short.
I am looking forward to reading the subsequent versions as well. In fact, being a movie buff, I wish if they make a movie inspired by this novel.
I recommend it for all the fantasy lovers who want to refresh their minds and hook themselves to the fantasy world. This book is meant only for those who are far away from the cheesy romance Indian books, and are up for some international standard intelligent plot. I rate it 4 on 5 and wish the author best luck for the success of his hard work.
This book belongs to the fantasy genre, which is new for me. Beginning from the impressive cover to the concise but engrossing excerpt, the mesmerizing title, the introduction of the book in the first few pages, and the content from the beginning to the end is something that keeps one holding throughout. The title itself makes you curious to know what lies inside the book. It feels like you will be taken into a world from a different age.
The author is an Engineer and an MBA. There are very less Indian authors who choose genres other than chicklit and teenage romance. The author has self published his book. The book published in Jan 2018, spans approximately 500 pages.
I have observed that even big writers use tricks of unnecessary blank pages between the chapters and bigger fonts plus extra margins to make their book look thicker. But this particular book is all about honest content from a fresh mind. Writing fantasy needs a lot of wit and imagination.
The un-put-down-able, enticing fiction is indeed heart winning. On the first glance, it reminds you of GoT.
While you read you dive into the world the author has created, and start living the characters and the locations. This being a refreshing read, is scientific too. You end up entering into the world of Valantia while reading it. The characterization is witty and mysterious. Dialogues are simple yet realistic. To read such books you do not need to be logical, but imaginative. The more you imagine, the more you enjoy. Use of one liners frequently, makes it even more interesting.
Description and story telling is worth reading. The characters are relatable, inspirational and uncomplicated. They tell you about the characters exactly as much as it is needed. The world that is designed in the story is in no manner inspired from the real world. The plot unfolds gracefully, first forming a basis in the readers mind and then weaving the rest of it gradually. The methodology of writing footnotes is one of its kind. The war scenes are well written. Description of weapons is well written. The writer has given maps and illustrations which have been interesting at times. Words are chosen meticulously. However, I feel that some scenes could have been cut short.
I am looking forward to reading the subsequent versions as well. In fact, being a movie buff, I wish if they make a movie inspired by this novel.
I recommend it for all the fantasy lovers who want to refresh their minds and hook themselves to the fantasy world. This book is meant only for those who are far away from the cheesy romance Indian books, and are up for some international standard intelligent plot. I rate it 4 on 5 and wish the author best luck for the success of his hard work.
April 12, 2018
This book is ambitious and sprawling, taking on numerous points of views and describing epic battles. My favourite was the battle with the armoured elephants, as Dag attacks Vimridh. I also liked the very beginning, where Devrath meets a stranger who has wandered into his village after hundreds of years of isolation. The beginning made me wonder if it would be an "existential" and dream-like story, where nothing happens much more than observing a large fish in a pond and wondering about its origins. But then it quickly moves to one battle after the other as Devrath vows to hunt down the assassins who attacked this stranger.
I think the biggest drawbacks to this story were the motives of the characters. In particular at the very beginning Devrath seems far too inexperienced, too young, and too insignificant to track down two experienced warriors, particularly if he knows nothing about the outside world. Several battles also seem to depend on questionable motives; several lay soldiers make idiotic decisions; each great warrior seems to have a death wish and would rather die than execute strategy and retreat to live and fight another day. I also didn't buy how several heroes of the story survived a major explosion in close proximity... no way. I also didn't get a sense of the oppressive rule upon the populace by the ruling Imperium; as one hero puts it near the end of the story, "The Valantian Imperium isn't doing anything terrible.... People might be a little unhappy, but they aren't miserable."
In short, this book consists of battles between the elite warriors defending the state, and aggrieved revolutionaries who have come in possession of powerful magical weapons and have self-trained to carry out personal agendas on behalf of loved ones that the state has killed or wronged. Nothing wrong with that at all in a story; I just wondered what the revolution was all about. It was pretty cool to learn of the awesome powers, stamina, and weapons of the elite fighters, putting aside the normal concern for any tragic wound or dismemberment, or death, suffered by the fighter. Gives me a new perspective upon accidentally scratching myself when I handle tools in home renovations! But this is an epic fantasy, after all, with an unique Indian perspective.
Structurally, the story also suffers from lurches; from war to abrupt personal reflection, and back again, and from one character's perspective to another from chapter to chapter. Some chapters stop the story altogether before it resumes in the next chapter.
For brilliant battle scenes and mesmerizing magical artifacts, I recommend several portions of this book.
I think the biggest drawbacks to this story were the motives of the characters. In particular at the very beginning Devrath seems far too inexperienced, too young, and too insignificant to track down two experienced warriors, particularly if he knows nothing about the outside world. Several battles also seem to depend on questionable motives; several lay soldiers make idiotic decisions; each great warrior seems to have a death wish and would rather die than execute strategy and retreat to live and fight another day. I also didn't buy how several heroes of the story survived a major explosion in close proximity... no way. I also didn't get a sense of the oppressive rule upon the populace by the ruling Imperium; as one hero puts it near the end of the story, "The Valantian Imperium isn't doing anything terrible.... People might be a little unhappy, but they aren't miserable."
In short, this book consists of battles between the elite warriors defending the state, and aggrieved revolutionaries who have come in possession of powerful magical weapons and have self-trained to carry out personal agendas on behalf of loved ones that the state has killed or wronged. Nothing wrong with that at all in a story; I just wondered what the revolution was all about. It was pretty cool to learn of the awesome powers, stamina, and weapons of the elite fighters, putting aside the normal concern for any tragic wound or dismemberment, or death, suffered by the fighter. Gives me a new perspective upon accidentally scratching myself when I handle tools in home renovations! But this is an epic fantasy, after all, with an unique Indian perspective.
Structurally, the story also suffers from lurches; from war to abrupt personal reflection, and back again, and from one character's perspective to another from chapter to chapter. Some chapters stop the story altogether before it resumes in the next chapter.
For brilliant battle scenes and mesmerizing magical artifacts, I recommend several portions of this book.
March 30, 2018
Age of Azmoq begins slowly like a turtle but it gains on you, it sparks curiosity and you just can not put it down. In the vast continent of Valantia Valantian Imperium rules and oversees the usage of the most important metal on Earth, Azmoq. Azmoq is all important most powerful and rarest metal in all of Valantia. However, there are consequences to all that power (Aren't there always?).
Where there is power, there is suppression of the innocents. Where there is suppression, there is REVOLUTION.
Valantian Imperium thinks that only they hold the ultimate power but it isn't so. Unknown to them an unlikely team forms in Valantia which fuels a burning legend. A legend and a revolution, one that holds the power to change the world around the people of Valantia. So what is it?
Cover of the book is absolutely beautiful with a hint of an era gone by. Something magical-imaginative. The book is written with vivid imagination, strong sense of the world around us along with little details that give you the full picture of Valantia.
Mostly, Indian authors stick to romance and rarely any fantasy adventure books get published by a publication house which can stand up to a reader's expectations. Rajamayoor had to self publish his book and I am absolutely delighted that he did. Age of Azmoq is absolutely delightful.
Rajamyyoor Shama builds a world of unlikely heroes, villains and common people who rise to occasions you can only imagine. You can checkout the author's website to know more about him. The novel is huge and it is only getting started. Yes, this is a series. Another exceptional thing were the footnotes, loved it. The language used is absolutely fluid and the worlds that Raja builds are awesome. The blurb of the book is racy enough to get someone interested in it.
I saw that his book is very new in the market, published just this January and it has not topped the charts, YET but it has great potential. I hope Rajamayyoor Sharma continues his work in future, I wish him all the success in the world. Proud to see such a novel coming out in Indian markets int the time full of crappy romance stories. Who knows one day this might be walking into the list of worlds one wants to escape to.
If a book can be compared to food, I would love to compare this one to cheese sandwich. The book starts off slowly with the hint of a warm melted cheese and stuffed vegetables with paper and salt. This is a loaded cheese sandwich that you must have.
If I said anymore I would be divulging too much information. Go ahead, read it, you won't regret it.
Where there is power, there is suppression of the innocents. Where there is suppression, there is REVOLUTION.
Valantian Imperium thinks that only they hold the ultimate power but it isn't so. Unknown to them an unlikely team forms in Valantia which fuels a burning legend. A legend and a revolution, one that holds the power to change the world around the people of Valantia. So what is it?
Cover of the book is absolutely beautiful with a hint of an era gone by. Something magical-imaginative. The book is written with vivid imagination, strong sense of the world around us along with little details that give you the full picture of Valantia.
Mostly, Indian authors stick to romance and rarely any fantasy adventure books get published by a publication house which can stand up to a reader's expectations. Rajamayoor had to self publish his book and I am absolutely delighted that he did. Age of Azmoq is absolutely delightful.
Rajamyyoor Shama builds a world of unlikely heroes, villains and common people who rise to occasions you can only imagine. You can checkout the author's website to know more about him. The novel is huge and it is only getting started. Yes, this is a series. Another exceptional thing were the footnotes, loved it. The language used is absolutely fluid and the worlds that Raja builds are awesome. The blurb of the book is racy enough to get someone interested in it.
I saw that his book is very new in the market, published just this January and it has not topped the charts, YET but it has great potential. I hope Rajamayyoor Sharma continues his work in future, I wish him all the success in the world. Proud to see such a novel coming out in Indian markets int the time full of crappy romance stories. Who knows one day this might be walking into the list of worlds one wants to escape to.
If a book can be compared to food, I would love to compare this one to cheese sandwich. The book starts off slowly with the hint of a warm melted cheese and stuffed vegetables with paper and salt. This is a loaded cheese sandwich that you must have.
If I said anymore I would be divulging too much information. Go ahead, read it, you won't regret it.
April 10, 2018
A fantasy novel should have the ability of world-building with strong unforgettable characters and I am in complete awe that and an Indian author has done it with this book.
Age of Azmoq: The Valantian Imperium by Rajamayyoor Sharma has created a fantasy world where power, dominance, trust, betrayal aren’t uncommon.
One will love this book if:
a) You like to read about vast dynasty, powerful weapons, mind reading, war, friendship
b) You want to feel the characters alive in an incredible world as if walking in their footsteps
Be ready to take in lots of information about the vivid characters distributed throughout the book. The author has divided the book in seven sections where each section introduces new story and history.
The story revolves around the metal – Azmoq which has incredulous power which when used improperly can destroy many lives. The military of Valentian Imperium is all set to control and conquer the village which has vast reserve of the metal.
Each character has flaws with its unique abilities and morals. I loved the names which the author has created for the places, persons and language (Villasboro, Forresgrim, Anirved, Kazena, Azrial, Deusorthok)
There are many twists in the storyline, for one moment you might think the person is a bad guy and the next he turns a good-hearted hero. ‘Karn’ is the character I feel in love with. His ferocious attitude, flirty nature, mind reading capability makes it impossible to not love him. The role of ‘Kazena’ is surprisingly brilliant.
I do not want to spoil the story here but read it for how 3 people (Dev (the unknown and unnamed), Karn and Eric) from different areas of same continent, a teenager, one in mid-twenties and other in his mid-thirties find each other in obnoxious situation yet end up having the strongest bond of friendship.
Author has created fascinating imaginative landscapes which make them alive and immersive. The reader will continue to read without skipping any pages because if you do, you might miss an important part.
Age of Azmoq: The Valantian Imperium by Rajamayyoor Sharma has created a fantasy world where power, dominance, trust, betrayal aren’t uncommon.
One will love this book if:
a) You like to read about vast dynasty, powerful weapons, mind reading, war, friendship
b) You want to feel the characters alive in an incredible world as if walking in their footsteps
Be ready to take in lots of information about the vivid characters distributed throughout the book. The author has divided the book in seven sections where each section introduces new story and history.
The story revolves around the metal – Azmoq which has incredulous power which when used improperly can destroy many lives. The military of Valentian Imperium is all set to control and conquer the village which has vast reserve of the metal.
Each character has flaws with its unique abilities and morals. I loved the names which the author has created for the places, persons and language (Villasboro, Forresgrim, Anirved, Kazena, Azrial, Deusorthok)
There are many twists in the storyline, for one moment you might think the person is a bad guy and the next he turns a good-hearted hero. ‘Karn’ is the character I feel in love with. His ferocious attitude, flirty nature, mind reading capability makes it impossible to not love him. The role of ‘Kazena’ is surprisingly brilliant.
I do not want to spoil the story here but read it for how 3 people (Dev (the unknown and unnamed), Karn and Eric) from different areas of same continent, a teenager, one in mid-twenties and other in his mid-thirties find each other in obnoxious situation yet end up having the strongest bond of friendship.
Author has created fascinating imaginative landscapes which make them alive and immersive. The reader will continue to read without skipping any pages because if you do, you might miss an important part.
July 3, 2022
Reading a highly imaginative tale can go either way, the good or the bad. Out of the imagination comes the plot and the characters which form the complete story. The effort of the writer does not diminish itself, but these are the two main factors I look in every fantasy novel.
Age of Azmoq - The Valantian Imperium by Rajamayyoor Sharma is a fantasy novel. Azmoq is a rare metal found on the planet. It’s the ultimate source and symbol of real power, and the Valantian Imperium controls it all in Valantia. It is a tale that consists of magic and sorcery. and adventures that fill all 470 plus pages.
The storyline of the book is divided into forty-eight chapters. The quest begins when a youth living in the village of Villasboro, Devrath, the protagonist of our story is asked by his master to inquire about a stranger who is staying there for almost a year and a half. This quest then leads to further adventures such as the unveiling of the truths and secrets for the first time. I would not say the plot makes this novel exactly a page turner but yes, it is fast-paced.
There are subplots that consist twists and turns which both adds an advantage and a disadvantage to this novel. The advantage is that these subplots are intriguing and important. That is how a fantasy tale is told. The disadvantage is that sometimes it did get out of the track and was baffling.
The characterization is vast and it is hard to keep track of it. Though I guess it can be a challenge for the reader. The writing style is appreciable as the author has put a lot of effort in terms of that. I would not declare this book an absolute epic fantasy since it needs to improve few things I have mentioned. But yes, it is close to one and is a delight for the fans of fantasy.
3 out of 5
May 16, 2018
Reading a highly imaginative tale can go either way, the good or the bad. Out of the imagination comes the plot and the characters which form the complete story. The effort of the writer does not diminish itself, but these are the two main factors I look in every fantasy novel.
Age of Azmoq - The Valantian Imperium by Rajamayyoor Sharma is a fantasy novel. Azmoq is a rare metal found on the planet. It’s the ultimate source and symbol of real power, and the Valantian Imperium controls it all in Valantia. It is a tale that consists of magic and sorcery. and adventures that fill all 470 plus pages.
The storyline of the book is divided into forty-eight chapters. The quest begins when a youth living in the village of Villasboro, Devrath, the protagonist of our story is asked by his master to inquire about a stranger who is staying there for almost a year and a half. This quest then leads to further adventures such as the unveiling of the truths and secrets for the first time. I would not say the plot makes this novel exactly a page turner but yes, it is fast-paced.
There are subplots that consist twists and turns which both adds an advantage and a disadvantage to this novel. The advantage is that these subplots are intriguing and important. That is how a fantasy tale is told. The disadvantage is that sometimes it did get out of the track and was baffling.
The characterization is vast and it is hard to keep track of it. Though I guess it can be a challenge for the reader. The writing style is appreciable as the author has put a lot of effort in terms of that. I would not declare this book an absolute epic fantasy since it needs to improve few things I have mentioned. But yes, it is close to one and is a delight for the fans of fantasy.
3 out of 5
April 22, 2018
Wow, this was an ambitious sprawling fantasy novel which initially did intimidate me, because of the length. And I admire the authors creativity and tenaciousness on embarking on such an epic tale.
The focus of the story is about Azmoq, the rarest, most coveted metal on the planet. It's a source and symbol of power and is controlled by the Valatian Imperium - but like all precious and powerful sources, many others want their hands on it. And so the young Devrath, the protagonist in the story who lives in a small village, sets out on a quest which involves many deaths and victories for some of the vast array of characters he encounters.
I particularly loved the master/student dialogue between the Devrath and his master Forresgrim, which was a wonderful opportunity within the plot for the author to illustrate insights that are scattered through the story. For example, 'Everyone would seem weird to someone else in the world. But they are the way they are. To understand those differences, one must understand their past, their upbringing. Till, then everyone would seem weird.' Simple, but true. It reminded me a little of some of great novels by Carlos Castaneda with his master Don Juan as he embarks on supernatural adventures, and also the blind master Po and his young student, Grasshopper in 'Kung Fu'.
The creature in the prologue very much reminded me of the creature in the film, 'The Shape of Water' so I immediately had a visual picture, and the author certainly creates imagery very well, and I thought the story was beautifully written.
If you like sprawling dystopian fantasies and sagas then this is definitely the book for you.
The focus of the story is about Azmoq, the rarest, most coveted metal on the planet. It's a source and symbol of power and is controlled by the Valatian Imperium - but like all precious and powerful sources, many others want their hands on it. And so the young Devrath, the protagonist in the story who lives in a small village, sets out on a quest which involves many deaths and victories for some of the vast array of characters he encounters.
I particularly loved the master/student dialogue between the Devrath and his master Forresgrim, which was a wonderful opportunity within the plot for the author to illustrate insights that are scattered through the story. For example, 'Everyone would seem weird to someone else in the world. But they are the way they are. To understand those differences, one must understand their past, their upbringing. Till, then everyone would seem weird.' Simple, but true. It reminded me a little of some of great novels by Carlos Castaneda with his master Don Juan as he embarks on supernatural adventures, and also the blind master Po and his young student, Grasshopper in 'Kung Fu'.
The creature in the prologue very much reminded me of the creature in the film, 'The Shape of Water' so I immediately had a visual picture, and the author certainly creates imagery very well, and I thought the story was beautifully written.
If you like sprawling dystopian fantasies and sagas then this is definitely the book for you.
May 6, 2018
When we think about fantasy, the first thing that comes to mind is vampires/werewolves. There are very few people who can think beyond this, and the author is one of them.
Age of Azmoq is one of a kind book. It revolves around a world that is completely different to what we live in. It also has very different geography and botany. I found this pretty interesting.
The story revolves around the journey of three companions and how they cope with various situations, and struggle to reach their ultimate goals.
The characterization in the book is good and we can definitely link to various protagonists - yes, to make it even more exciting, there is more than one. Sometimes it did get confusing, but while reading you adjust with the flow.
Overall it is a good read and it is one of a kind that will take you away from the real world.
What I didn't like about the book was - multiple times there is a timeline shift and it got very confusing. Also, the book needs a bit of proofreading and fonts should be enhanced. It is very difficult to read with such small fonts. And lastly, the pace of the book, especially in the beginning, should be improved.
However, all above cons are nothing when compared to the beautiful and epic story author has woven.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Age of Azmoq is one of a kind book. It revolves around a world that is completely different to what we live in. It also has very different geography and botany. I found this pretty interesting.
The story revolves around the journey of three companions and how they cope with various situations, and struggle to reach their ultimate goals.
The characterization in the book is good and we can definitely link to various protagonists - yes, to make it even more exciting, there is more than one. Sometimes it did get confusing, but while reading you adjust with the flow.
Overall it is a good read and it is one of a kind that will take you away from the real world.
What I didn't like about the book was - multiple times there is a timeline shift and it got very confusing. Also, the book needs a bit of proofreading and fonts should be enhanced. It is very difficult to read with such small fonts. And lastly, the pace of the book, especially in the beginning, should be improved.
However, all above cons are nothing when compared to the beautiful and epic story author has woven.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
March 28, 2018
The Age of Azmoq by Rajamayyoor Sharma is definitely a delightful and captivating read where the author has created an enticing fantasy world. The plot and storyline has a lot of substance as opposed to many fantasy novels available now a days. The story has a lot of depth and the author has used some beautiful one liners that were simply fabulous. The setting and the backdrop of the story has also been chosen very intelligently which creates the perfect atmosphere for the plot.
The characters are well developed and compliment the storyline. The narration style is very good and with the help of a simple yet effective language, the author has created a beautiful world of fantasy that doesn’t fail to intrigue the reader. I liked the vivid imagery used in the description.
The cover of the book is very attractive will definitely catch the attraction of the potential buyers. The title of the book is also very interesting.
Overall, The Age of Azmoq by Rajamayyoor Sharma is an engaging read and is recommended to readers who enjoy reading fantasy books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The characters are well developed and compliment the storyline. The narration style is very good and with the help of a simple yet effective language, the author has created a beautiful world of fantasy that doesn’t fail to intrigue the reader. I liked the vivid imagery used in the description.
The cover of the book is very attractive will definitely catch the attraction of the potential buyers. The title of the book is also very interesting.
Overall, The Age of Azmoq by Rajamayyoor Sharma is an engaging read and is recommended to readers who enjoy reading fantasy books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
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March 31, 2018
I usually don't read fantasy genre but when I read the blurb of this one, I was intrigued and was sure that I wanted to read this one!
It is nice to see an Indian author venture into the Fantasy genre. Kudos to the author for weaving such a beautiful tale.
The story line is very engrossing and is surely a page turner. Though the starting is a bit slow, the pace picks up gradually.There are maps, sketches, foot notes,appendix that adds to the interest of the reader.The narration is good,simple and effective.The characters are well developed.Though imaginary the author brings in front of us all sorts of creatures,sorcery and fantasy that seem so real and he has even explained / justified how they will / will not work!!The title has a air of mystery around it and the cover is just as intriguing!
The only Con that I can think of is the print size which could have been a bit bigger. I had to take breaks in between the reads!
If you are into Fantasy , this one is surely a great read.Pick it up without a second thought.Even if you are not into this genre, do give this a shot. I am sure it will not disappoint you!
Now, I am waiting for the next book in this series...
It is nice to see an Indian author venture into the Fantasy genre. Kudos to the author for weaving such a beautiful tale.
The story line is very engrossing and is surely a page turner. Though the starting is a bit slow, the pace picks up gradually.There are maps, sketches, foot notes,appendix that adds to the interest of the reader.The narration is good,simple and effective.The characters are well developed.Though imaginary the author brings in front of us all sorts of creatures,sorcery and fantasy that seem so real and he has even explained / justified how they will / will not work!!The title has a air of mystery around it and the cover is just as intriguing!
The only Con that I can think of is the print size which could have been a bit bigger. I had to take breaks in between the reads!
If you are into Fantasy , this one is surely a great read.Pick it up without a second thought.Even if you are not into this genre, do give this a shot. I am sure it will not disappoint you!
Now, I am waiting for the next book in this series...
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