What do you think?
Rate this book
The Suffering
Devani is finally heading home after twelve long years away due to the Great War between the Fae and Satyrs. The war was on the doorstep of her father's kingdom when she was sent away, but finally, it was time to come home.
The princess soon finds herself in a position she never expected, especially so close to home - struggling against death itself. Of course, the will to survive is overwhelming, and she finds a way. She may end up regretting this, however, as the gods have other plans for Devani.
The princess soon finds herself in a position she never expected, especially so close to home - struggling against death itself. Of course, the will to survive is overwhelming, and she finds a way. She may end up regretting this, however, as the gods have other plans for Devani.
85 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2018
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 26, 2020
𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆: The Suffering
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Robert Cano
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
I love reading novellas and dark fantasies so I picked "The Suffering" written by Robert Cano. Main character of the story is Devani. When a war between Fae and Satyrs was going on, her father sent her to another kingdom so she could receive respect and great hospitality there. The king there exerted his power on Devani. He punished her servants and guards in her place to make her suffer. Prince Rohir who was supposed to marry her was made to suffer by the king and the queen. The sword was stuck in his neck.
Captain Bene of her kingdom asked the Princess of Preju, Devani to go to home by boat. She was on her way to home when she couldn't control the hunger. She stopped by to look for the food and then shelter. Fate made her to meet Chiron who treated her well and cared for her. Read the story to know what will happen next. Will Devani reach her home or something else will happen?
I enjoyed every bit of this novel. Pace of the story is fine and characters are nicely introduced. Those who enjoy dark fantasy would love this story for sure. Cover photo is well designed and title is apt. Author has explained about Suffering or dukkha in the beginning. It's the first book by Robert that I have read. I am definitely interested to read more of his work.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4.5/5
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Robert Cano
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
I love reading novellas and dark fantasies so I picked "The Suffering" written by Robert Cano. Main character of the story is Devani. When a war between Fae and Satyrs was going on, her father sent her to another kingdom so she could receive respect and great hospitality there. The king there exerted his power on Devani. He punished her servants and guards in her place to make her suffer. Prince Rohir who was supposed to marry her was made to suffer by the king and the queen. The sword was stuck in his neck.
Captain Bene of her kingdom asked the Princess of Preju, Devani to go to home by boat. She was on her way to home when she couldn't control the hunger. She stopped by to look for the food and then shelter. Fate made her to meet Chiron who treated her well and cared for her. Read the story to know what will happen next. Will Devani reach her home or something else will happen?
I enjoyed every bit of this novel. Pace of the story is fine and characters are nicely introduced. Those who enjoy dark fantasy would love this story for sure. Cover photo is well designed and title is apt. Author has explained about Suffering or dukkha in the beginning. It's the first book by Robert that I have read. I am definitely interested to read more of his work.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4.5/5
December 4, 2020
The Suffering by the author Robert Cano is a dark fantasy. It is the first novella in Soul of Sorrows trilogy. The Satyrs and Fae are kin. But they have been in war since years in Devani's kingdom so she was sent to another kingdom where the king and the queen were supposed to treat her kindly but the kingdom was so inhospitable and it had become more terror than caregiver.
Devani is now returning to her home after years. She is hungry, thirsty and energyless. The guard captain Bene placed her in the boat and drawn the attackers away. Devani was supposed to directly go to her home but on the way she needed something to eat. Also, the arrow that attacked her made her blood to flow. When she was looking for a warm shelter, she passed out and she was taken care by Chiron, the horse-body-human-torso people. Hel’ket and his father Ha’kek told Devani that it would take at least months travel for her to reach her home.
Story is interesting and nicely written. Language of the book is simple. Cover photo of the book is nice. Since it's a novella, one could read it in a single sitting. World building is nice with a smooth narration. Index given at the end of the book helped in understanding few terms. After reading this book, I am much curious to read The Dark Archer.
Devani is now returning to her home after years. She is hungry, thirsty and energyless. The guard captain Bene placed her in the boat and drawn the attackers away. Devani was supposed to directly go to her home but on the way she needed something to eat. Also, the arrow that attacked her made her blood to flow. When she was looking for a warm shelter, she passed out and she was taken care by Chiron, the horse-body-human-torso people. Hel’ket and his father Ha’kek told Devani that it would take at least months travel for her to reach her home.
Story is interesting and nicely written. Language of the book is simple. Cover photo of the book is nice. Since it's a novella, one could read it in a single sitting. World building is nice with a smooth narration. Index given at the end of the book helped in understanding few terms. After reading this book, I am much curious to read The Dark Archer.
December 10, 2021
I started with Cano’s ‘The Dark Archer’ and was glad to find that he had a prequel. It was interesting going back and seeing his debut skills as a writer and noticing the change in his style. But only just a bit because he’s a writer that has a strong style that always reminds me of Legacy of Kain or classic scifi/fantasy like Burrough’s John Carter. It was also good seeing the origins of his dark protagonist Bene but from a lens not actually focused on him. I’m still reading his recent scifi release ‘Mother’s Love’ so I haven’t completed the series with another recent release, ‘World Soul’ but I’m very excited to see the ending after going back to where and how it all started.
November 22, 2020
Robert Cano's delicate, poetic prose has whispered its way into my life. While the characters he writes about are tormented, they seek a greater, lighter purpose. His description and use of words is eloquent and thought inducing. As others have said, this is a prequel to his novel "The Dark Archer", and should be treated as such when reading. I highly recommend Cano's work.
January 3, 2023
A heart pounding page turner
A quick and mesmerizing read. Every turn of the page brought new and amazing emotions. Storytelling at it's best.
Looking forward to the next book from this author.
A quick and mesmerizing read. Every turn of the page brought new and amazing emotions. Storytelling at it's best.
Looking forward to the next book from this author.
December 21, 2020
Not merely a book to entertain, but one that shamelessly tugs at your mind, emotions, and whatever concepts of a soul you have remaining
Okay, first of all, mythology, creatures, gods, different concepts/philosophies about life and death, already enough for a storygasm for me.
Right off the bat, I could tell this wasn't simply a "story", but a soul mover (ironically). Not sure if one usually reviews the Foreward, but that just goes to show how moved I was from beginning to end. It was interesting reading your thoughts on the Buddhist concept of suffering going into the work, and it laid the foundation for the consistent themes to be found throughout.
"The simple act of breathing denotes life, yes, but it does not connote life." How many of us can relate to this? Devani/Sha’yanna (shattered soul). Bene as a wraith.
The are so many statements from the book itself that just made me pause and let them linger in my mind. Reconsider so many things I was done being concerned with in my own existence. I did take mental notes but this soon became futile. You have a way with words, that is for sure. As a reader, I was/am brought completely into the mental and emotional worlds of the characters, and the ever moving vision of the story. Description is certainly a strong suite, with everything from choice of diction to sentence structure playing into this.
The role played by the Chiron was another particular I quite loved. Already intrigued by the Greek myth of Chiron and the wounded healer concept. Whether that is experienced as being able to have compassion and healing capabilities because of knowing pain, or being burdened with the ability to heal everyone but oneself.
The characters themselves were delicious to the mind. The bravery and fierceness of Devani and many of the female characters, and the general reverence of strength within the Chiron community, the steady compassion and attention of Hel'ket. I can only think of one character, a god, who was too hateable to be real.
The beliefs and experiences called on responses ranging from distaste to a sense of being understood, bias and clarity, the good the bad and everything in between. These were not merely characters or creatures but mirrors of the human race.
To surmise, not merely a book to entertain, but one that shamelessly tugs at your mind, emotions, and whatever concepts of a soul you have remaining - or the lack thereof. This is a series I am ready to run with to its "end" and beyond, you have painted brilliant worlds with words Cano, yet never set yourself, story and characters far apart from the raw, real and messy everyday human experience.
While The Suffering is beautifully dark, beautiful if only because it is real and painted vividly so, it does not lack total hope, as with the stories to come.
To end with another quote from the Foreward, "This is what separates the broken people amongst the debris. For one seeks the means to stand once more, while the other is content to die while they yet breathe."
Yet sometimes this decision is not a choice, but a hand of cards unfortunately cast like a shadow to always follow.
~ M^h (Mind "to the power of" the Heart)
Okay, first of all, mythology, creatures, gods, different concepts/philosophies about life and death, already enough for a storygasm for me.
Right off the bat, I could tell this wasn't simply a "story", but a soul mover (ironically). Not sure if one usually reviews the Foreward, but that just goes to show how moved I was from beginning to end. It was interesting reading your thoughts on the Buddhist concept of suffering going into the work, and it laid the foundation for the consistent themes to be found throughout.
"The simple act of breathing denotes life, yes, but it does not connote life." How many of us can relate to this? Devani/Sha’yanna (shattered soul). Bene as a wraith.
The are so many statements from the book itself that just made me pause and let them linger in my mind. Reconsider so many things I was done being concerned with in my own existence. I did take mental notes but this soon became futile. You have a way with words, that is for sure. As a reader, I was/am brought completely into the mental and emotional worlds of the characters, and the ever moving vision of the story. Description is certainly a strong suite, with everything from choice of diction to sentence structure playing into this.
The role played by the Chiron was another particular I quite loved. Already intrigued by the Greek myth of Chiron and the wounded healer concept. Whether that is experienced as being able to have compassion and healing capabilities because of knowing pain, or being burdened with the ability to heal everyone but oneself.
The characters themselves were delicious to the mind. The bravery and fierceness of Devani and many of the female characters, and the general reverence of strength within the Chiron community, the steady compassion and attention of Hel'ket. I can only think of one character, a god, who was too hateable to be real.
The beliefs and experiences called on responses ranging from distaste to a sense of being understood, bias and clarity, the good the bad and everything in between. These were not merely characters or creatures but mirrors of the human race.
To surmise, not merely a book to entertain, but one that shamelessly tugs at your mind, emotions, and whatever concepts of a soul you have remaining - or the lack thereof. This is a series I am ready to run with to its "end" and beyond, you have painted brilliant worlds with words Cano, yet never set yourself, story and characters far apart from the raw, real and messy everyday human experience.
While The Suffering is beautifully dark, beautiful if only because it is real and painted vividly so, it does not lack total hope, as with the stories to come.
To end with another quote from the Foreward, "This is what separates the broken people amongst the debris. For one seeks the means to stand once more, while the other is content to die while they yet breathe."
Yet sometimes this decision is not a choice, but a hand of cards unfortunately cast like a shadow to always follow.
~ M^h (Mind "to the power of" the Heart)
July 17, 2020
The Suffering by Robert Cano is a dark fantasy novella that helps set the scene for The Dark Archer. It tells of Devani and the trials she endures on her road to becoming a key player in her former Guard Captain Bene’s life after becoming a wraith.
Likes
First off, let me start by saying this is a dark fantasy, and I mean dark. There is no happy ending; thought there are a few bright spots through the story. Those bright spots become the perfect foil for the pain and anguish in the rest of the story. Now, I know, how is this a wonderful thing? What I love is that Cano creates the darkness beautifully, in a way that is believable and real, which can be a challenging thing to do. Also, those bright spots are the perfect balance.
I also loved about this story are the characters. They are flawed and real and wonderful. Each of them grows through realistic and believable story arcs. Their motivations are simple and relatable. And each step they take throughout the story makes sense for each of them and makes sense in the context of the rest of the events as they play out. There’s so much each of them has in their stories packed into the short space of this novella, yet it all works well together.
Finally, I appreciate Cano’s world-building skills. He takes the time to develop the fine details to the world, adding a level of realism to the novella and the fantasy world within. Each race of characters has their own attitudes, beliefs, and customs that are distinct from the other races. The politics are there in all their dirty, crazy, messy, glory. The details to the geography make it easy to imagine the world the characters live in.
Criticisms
The main point I have for criticisms is more of a heads up than a dislike. The prose can become complex and dense. It is done well, don’t get me wrong. It’s more of a stylistic thing that, if a reader is not prepared for, can be difficult to get through. Like I said, though, the prose is well written, and I enjoyed the intricacy of it. I can, however, see how this could be a turn off for some readers.
The other thing I have for a criticism is that to me the story felt a little rushed. Yes, there’s a lot that happens and Cano packs the action in there. Yet, it happens at a pace that stretches believability at times. The shift from where Devani starts to where she is at the end of the novella seems to me like it’s a little quick for how much of a shift. Now, that being said, I think this is a fairly subtle issue to me. This is especially when the story itself does such an excellent job of drawing the reader in it becomes barely noticeable.
Conclusion
Here’s the deal. If you love dark fantasy in a pure and concentrated form, check this story out. Yes, the prose could be challenging, but trust me, it is worth it. The story explores some very real, very personal human traits and emotions in a fantasy world that will spark a desire to know what happens next. Thankfully, the answer to that is found in The Dark Archer.
Likes
First off, let me start by saying this is a dark fantasy, and I mean dark. There is no happy ending; thought there are a few bright spots through the story. Those bright spots become the perfect foil for the pain and anguish in the rest of the story. Now, I know, how is this a wonderful thing? What I love is that Cano creates the darkness beautifully, in a way that is believable and real, which can be a challenging thing to do. Also, those bright spots are the perfect balance.
I also loved about this story are the characters. They are flawed and real and wonderful. Each of them grows through realistic and believable story arcs. Their motivations are simple and relatable. And each step they take throughout the story makes sense for each of them and makes sense in the context of the rest of the events as they play out. There’s so much each of them has in their stories packed into the short space of this novella, yet it all works well together.
Finally, I appreciate Cano’s world-building skills. He takes the time to develop the fine details to the world, adding a level of realism to the novella and the fantasy world within. Each race of characters has their own attitudes, beliefs, and customs that are distinct from the other races. The politics are there in all their dirty, crazy, messy, glory. The details to the geography make it easy to imagine the world the characters live in.
Criticisms
The main point I have for criticisms is more of a heads up than a dislike. The prose can become complex and dense. It is done well, don’t get me wrong. It’s more of a stylistic thing that, if a reader is not prepared for, can be difficult to get through. Like I said, though, the prose is well written, and I enjoyed the intricacy of it. I can, however, see how this could be a turn off for some readers.
The other thing I have for a criticism is that to me the story felt a little rushed. Yes, there’s a lot that happens and Cano packs the action in there. Yet, it happens at a pace that stretches believability at times. The shift from where Devani starts to where she is at the end of the novella seems to me like it’s a little quick for how much of a shift. Now, that being said, I think this is a fairly subtle issue to me. This is especially when the story itself does such an excellent job of drawing the reader in it becomes barely noticeable.
Conclusion
Here’s the deal. If you love dark fantasy in a pure and concentrated form, check this story out. Yes, the prose could be challenging, but trust me, it is worth it. The story explores some very real, very personal human traits and emotions in a fantasy world that will spark a desire to know what happens next. Thankfully, the answer to that is found in The Dark Archer.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews