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Bloodrage Trilogy #1
Servant of Rage
To kill an heir is to claim their power. But at what cost?
As the khan's fiercest headhunters, brothers Subei and Bataar are feared across the steppe. When they're struck by lightning from a freak storm, however, they awake to find unnatural powers growing within them. And what's more, they're not alone.
All across the land other "heirs of the ancestors" have been imbued with these powers. Some call it a gift. Others, a curse. The khan calls it opportunity.
Under the tutelage of two infamous women - one a conqueror, the other a monk - the brothers are sent to the lands of the mighty Zhong empire to hunt heirs and consume their power for the good of the khanate.
With each kill, their powers grow. But so too does something else, boiling beneath the surface until it breaks free in uncontrollable fits of violence. As these so called bloodrages grow stronger and last longer, Subei and Bataar must weigh their duty, and their honor, against the unnatural madness growing within.
As the khan's fiercest headhunters, brothers Subei and Bataar are feared across the steppe. When they're struck by lightning from a freak storm, however, they awake to find unnatural powers growing within them. And what's more, they're not alone.
All across the land other "heirs of the ancestors" have been imbued with these powers. Some call it a gift. Others, a curse. The khan calls it opportunity.
Under the tutelage of two infamous women - one a conqueror, the other a monk - the brothers are sent to the lands of the mighty Zhong empire to hunt heirs and consume their power for the good of the khanate.
With each kill, their powers grow. But so too does something else, boiling beneath the surface until it breaks free in uncontrollable fits of violence. As these so called bloodrages grow stronger and last longer, Subei and Bataar must weigh their duty, and their honor, against the unnatural madness growing within.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2018
13 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
A.Z. Anthony
10 books45 followersI now write full-time under my pen name Alex Knight, so this account has been retired. But I wanted to come back to let everyone know if you enjoyed Servant of Rage, it is now officially being republished--and I've signed a contract for the sequels as well!
You can find the re-launched and improved version of SoR here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK4ZFRSX
Inside the relaunched version you'll find 15 all new chapters, considerable edits (after taking into account reader feedback), new POVs, and a general tightening and improving of the story.
As well, I'm happy to announce we're getting an audio edition produced by Podium Books and narrated by the one and only Tim Gerard Reynolds--of Red Rising fame, among so, so many others.
Launch is March 11, 2025, but for all of y'all who read the original all those years ago, I'm happy to offer an advanced review copy so you can personally see the improvements. If you'd like an ARC, sign up here:
https://authoralexknight.com/arc
Lastly, if you'd like to follow my active Goodreads profile, you can find it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Thanks, everyone! I hope you enjoy the new and improved Servant of Rage--and can't wait to get you books two and three, coming soon!
- Alex
You can find the re-launched and improved version of SoR here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK4ZFRSX
Inside the relaunched version you'll find 15 all new chapters, considerable edits (after taking into account reader feedback), new POVs, and a general tightening and improving of the story.
As well, I'm happy to announce we're getting an audio edition produced by Podium Books and narrated by the one and only Tim Gerard Reynolds--of Red Rising fame, among so, so many others.
Launch is March 11, 2025, but for all of y'all who read the original all those years ago, I'm happy to offer an advanced review copy so you can personally see the improvements. If you'd like an ARC, sign up here:
https://authoralexknight.com/arc
Lastly, if you'd like to follow my active Goodreads profile, you can find it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Thanks, everyone! I hope you enjoy the new and improved Servant of Rage--and can't wait to get you books two and three, coming soon!
- Alex
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 21, 2018
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is a well-established adage that has proven itself time and again throughout history and literature, politics and war. Although one’s intention may be noble to begin with, the journey to power can easily misshape a man’s soul, twisting it beyond redemption, leaving behind an unrecognizable husk that in no way resembles his former self. Though the result is often dire, the journey itself can be a compelling one. In A.Z. Anthony’s exciting and violent Servant of Rage, we follow the story of two brothers who are gifted with tools of incredible power, and the constant struggle they face to not succumb to its deadly attraction.
The entire book is told third-person from Subei’s point of view. He is a young hunter, living as a nomad with his large tribe of horse-riding warriors ruled under a khan. Their people, known as the Ghangerai, believe that their place in the world is to conquer. They see themselves as the predators and the rest of the world as prey. No one is lesser or greater for it, it is just the way of the world. Subei has two brothers; they are not blood-related, but the bond they share is just as strong. Bataar is the son of the khan, a skilled brute and a huntsman, who has dreams of becoming the new khan, though succession is not guaranteed. Kashi is a tracker; a less skilled warrior but an expert at picking up trails in the high-grass steppes where the warriors roam.
At the beginning of the story, we learn that an immortal, powerful being decides that he no longer wishes to live with the curse of his omnipotence, so he ends his own life. This results in his power being broken into countless pieces and granted to some of the strongest warriors across the world, Subei and Bataar included. These powers grant the “heirs” the ability to use lightning as a basis for magical combat. Flying orbs of power, wind strikes, and summoned walls of debris are just a few of the abilities on display that makes the numerous combat scenes thrilling and unique. But there is a catch: these heirs are drawn towards killing off all competition: each other. The more heirs a person slays, the more powerful he becomes… and with each new killing, the heir becomes one step closer to succumbing to an uncontrollable bloodlust of rage, aka bloodrage, from which there may be no return.
There’s a lot to like in this book. Anthony is a competent and confident writer; the prose propels the story forward at a riveting pace and there is little time wasted between scenes of action and tension. There is a prevalent theme of how power is both a curse and a responsibility, and some characters learn this lesson harder than others. The collateral damage isn’t pretty: Anthony goes hard into full-gore territory, depicting scenes of graphic violence with almost a childlike glee. In one scene, the bloodrage becomes so strong that one character loses control and makes a contest of how far he can splatter a victim’s remains. “A new record!” he exclaims. Indeed, it is.
I appreciated how the story jumped right into an overarching plot in the opening chapters. There’s hardly any time wasted on training before our characters are hitting above their weight, trying out new powers on the fly, and finding themselves outnumbered in multi-chapter scenes of hand-to-hand combat. The lightning-infused abilities come fast and furious, and it made me wonder just how big these epic battles will get in future volumes. Shades of Will Wight’s "Cradle” series and other light LitRPG elements come to mind as the characters learn new abilities and level up their powers after defeating other heirs. It’s a rewarding and exciting series of events to watch our heroes become stronger after each battle, yet also fall victim under the thrall of the bloodrage.
Yet for all its strengths, there were a couple of minor gripes I had with the book. While the book is singularly focused on Subei, there was a lack of strong characterization from its supporting cast. There are two major supporting characters that help the brothers train: one helps to train the body, and the other trains the mind. Both characters spent many pages with Subei and his brothers, yet we barely discovered anything about their pasts. They seemed to exist solely for the advancement of the brothers’ fighting abilities. I felt that there was great opportunity to learn more about these characters while adding some much-needed world-building to the story, but these opportunities were glossed over quickly. Instead, we spend most of the non-battle scenes inside Subei’s head, where he repeats to himself the same mantras of “responsibility and duty” to the point where it started to feel redundant by book’s end. There was a noticeable lack of subplots, and coupled with the lack of any deep characterization, I felt that parts of the book were underwritten.
But the book ends in yet another excellent battle scene, and it appears that there’s plenty of story left to tell. In a sense, this entire book could serve as a prologue for what’s to come; it could be quite a while before the final heir stands alone, and it will be interesting to see if the cost will be worth the gore-soaked price that got them there.
Should you read this book? If the idea of a Highlander movie that takes place in the world of the Dothraki sounds appealing, then you should absolutely read this story. It’s a fast-moving, ultra-violent fight fest that’s not too deep, but doesn’t have to be when it’s this much fun: a world of khans, horse lords, and lightning magic, and the tireless struggle to control your rage before it controls you.
You can read more of A.Z. Anthony’s work as he posts his original four-part story “The Dead Man’s Crusade” on the Fantasy Hive blog this month. It takes place in the same world as Servant of Rage.
SPFBO4 score: 7.3 / 10
The entire book is told third-person from Subei’s point of view. He is a young hunter, living as a nomad with his large tribe of horse-riding warriors ruled under a khan. Their people, known as the Ghangerai, believe that their place in the world is to conquer. They see themselves as the predators and the rest of the world as prey. No one is lesser or greater for it, it is just the way of the world. Subei has two brothers; they are not blood-related, but the bond they share is just as strong. Bataar is the son of the khan, a skilled brute and a huntsman, who has dreams of becoming the new khan, though succession is not guaranteed. Kashi is a tracker; a less skilled warrior but an expert at picking up trails in the high-grass steppes where the warriors roam.
At the beginning of the story, we learn that an immortal, powerful being decides that he no longer wishes to live with the curse of his omnipotence, so he ends his own life. This results in his power being broken into countless pieces and granted to some of the strongest warriors across the world, Subei and Bataar included. These powers grant the “heirs” the ability to use lightning as a basis for magical combat. Flying orbs of power, wind strikes, and summoned walls of debris are just a few of the abilities on display that makes the numerous combat scenes thrilling and unique. But there is a catch: these heirs are drawn towards killing off all competition: each other. The more heirs a person slays, the more powerful he becomes… and with each new killing, the heir becomes one step closer to succumbing to an uncontrollable bloodlust of rage, aka bloodrage, from which there may be no return.
There’s a lot to like in this book. Anthony is a competent and confident writer; the prose propels the story forward at a riveting pace and there is little time wasted between scenes of action and tension. There is a prevalent theme of how power is both a curse and a responsibility, and some characters learn this lesson harder than others. The collateral damage isn’t pretty: Anthony goes hard into full-gore territory, depicting scenes of graphic violence with almost a childlike glee. In one scene, the bloodrage becomes so strong that one character loses control and makes a contest of how far he can splatter a victim’s remains. “A new record!” he exclaims. Indeed, it is.
I appreciated how the story jumped right into an overarching plot in the opening chapters. There’s hardly any time wasted on training before our characters are hitting above their weight, trying out new powers on the fly, and finding themselves outnumbered in multi-chapter scenes of hand-to-hand combat. The lightning-infused abilities come fast and furious, and it made me wonder just how big these epic battles will get in future volumes. Shades of Will Wight’s "Cradle” series and other light LitRPG elements come to mind as the characters learn new abilities and level up their powers after defeating other heirs. It’s a rewarding and exciting series of events to watch our heroes become stronger after each battle, yet also fall victim under the thrall of the bloodrage.
Yet for all its strengths, there were a couple of minor gripes I had with the book. While the book is singularly focused on Subei, there was a lack of strong characterization from its supporting cast. There are two major supporting characters that help the brothers train: one helps to train the body, and the other trains the mind. Both characters spent many pages with Subei and his brothers, yet we barely discovered anything about their pasts. They seemed to exist solely for the advancement of the brothers’ fighting abilities. I felt that there was great opportunity to learn more about these characters while adding some much-needed world-building to the story, but these opportunities were glossed over quickly. Instead, we spend most of the non-battle scenes inside Subei’s head, where he repeats to himself the same mantras of “responsibility and duty” to the point where it started to feel redundant by book’s end. There was a noticeable lack of subplots, and coupled with the lack of any deep characterization, I felt that parts of the book were underwritten.
But the book ends in yet another excellent battle scene, and it appears that there’s plenty of story left to tell. In a sense, this entire book could serve as a prologue for what’s to come; it could be quite a while before the final heir stands alone, and it will be interesting to see if the cost will be worth the gore-soaked price that got them there.
Should you read this book? If the idea of a Highlander movie that takes place in the world of the Dothraki sounds appealing, then you should absolutely read this story. It’s a fast-moving, ultra-violent fight fest that’s not too deep, but doesn’t have to be when it’s this much fun: a world of khans, horse lords, and lightning magic, and the tireless struggle to control your rage before it controls you.
You can read more of A.Z. Anthony’s work as he posts his original four-part story “The Dead Man’s Crusade” on the Fantasy Hive blog this month. It takes place in the same world as Servant of Rage.
SPFBO4 score: 7.3 / 10
February 26, 2018
Servant of Rage is a dark yet hopeful tale of magic and morality in a violent world. An engaging and accomplished debut, Servant of Rage is packed with action, conflict, and enough fighting to satisfy any fantasy reader's cravings for magical battles.
For all its paciness and (occasionally) brutality, Anthony's debut features commendable depth of character. If Khal Drogo had magic, a conscience and a sense of humour, he'd still be nowhere near as interesting or as sympathetic as Subei. A horse warrior who, along with his brothers, finds himself in possession of almost god-like powers, Subei struggles to retain his human nature against the call of the dreaded bloodrage. It's this struggle that lies at the heart of the novel, and makes for an original and darkly compelling take on the 'coming of age' and 'chosen one' fantasy archetypes.
For all its paciness and (occasionally) brutality, Anthony's debut features commendable depth of character. If Khal Drogo had magic, a conscience and a sense of humour, he'd still be nowhere near as interesting or as sympathetic as Subei. A horse warrior who, along with his brothers, finds himself in possession of almost god-like powers, Subei struggles to retain his human nature against the call of the dreaded bloodrage. It's this struggle that lies at the heart of the novel, and makes for an original and darkly compelling take on the 'coming of age' and 'chosen one' fantasy archetypes.
February 27, 2018
Epic fantasy with a contemporary flair, a real joy to read. Think hordes of Ghengis Khan epic fantasy with magic of the urban fantasy glowy-hand variety, with relatable characters who speak in an entirely contemporary manner. Big action, big battles, big characters with delightful interaction. Young hunter Seubi with no family name and his best buddy, son of the khan, get struck (literally) by magic of the ancestors, bestowing upon them powers they must learn to use and control--without succumbing to the bloodrage and losing themselves in the bargain.
July 30, 2018
Full disclosure: I read the author's short story collection (Nine Parts Bluster) a year ago, and in that review I challenged him to write something longer, as I loved the taster, but wanted to get my teeth into something fuller.
Boy oh boy, did I bite off more than I could chew with that challenge!
Have you ever read a book that felt like it was 'written just for you'? Well, this was mine.
It took me back to the yesteryear of pre-teens, tucked up under the bed sheets, reading by the stuttering light of a torch with failing AA batteries, banging the damn thing so that I could read 'just one more page' of whatever David Gemmell I was nose-deep into.
And, as with those yesteryear stories, 'one more page' turns into one more chapter...
Heavily influenced by Genghis Khan and Mongolia, Servant of Rage takes us on a journey to a new world rarely explored by fantasy, with familiar faces in its characters, and an age old story of seeking glory for good or bad.
I have one problem with this book.
'One more chapter' has turned into 'one more book' - so, AZ, I challenge you to write a sequel! And if you come out fighting like you did with this, then we are in for a treat indeed!
Boy oh boy, did I bite off more than I could chew with that challenge!
Have you ever read a book that felt like it was 'written just for you'? Well, this was mine.
It took me back to the yesteryear of pre-teens, tucked up under the bed sheets, reading by the stuttering light of a torch with failing AA batteries, banging the damn thing so that I could read 'just one more page' of whatever David Gemmell I was nose-deep into.
And, as with those yesteryear stories, 'one more page' turns into one more chapter...
Heavily influenced by Genghis Khan and Mongolia, Servant of Rage takes us on a journey to a new world rarely explored by fantasy, with familiar faces in its characters, and an age old story of seeking glory for good or bad.
I have one problem with this book.
'One more chapter' has turned into 'one more book' - so, AZ, I challenge you to write a sequel! And if you come out fighting like you did with this, then we are in for a treat indeed!
September 28, 2018
I blew through the first half of this in no time at all. It’s addicting, fun, and total popcorn- especially if you like fast-paced action and those shockingly bloody/brutal battles, where heads explode and guts spill out in steamy piles, which of course, I love! This book is kind of what I am hoping the Highlander remake is being like, now the John Wick director has attached to it.
This originally attracted my attention on a few levels- the similarities to Highlander (one of my all-time favorite movies), the good reviews were getting hard to ignore, and it’s a story about brothers- which I guess because I didn’t have any close brothers growing up, I like reading about them. Especially brothers who get along, and are brotherly.
And that was true of Subei and Bataar. They acted like brothers. They fought, they teased, they could be competitive a-holes but they always supported one another. Outside of the action and the bad-ass magic battles, the brother relationship part was one of my favorite aspects of this story.
Subei (the story is in his pov) and Bataar, among others, are given the gift of powerful magic by the ancestors, giving them the power to use lightning, wind, and even put up magical walls (it’s very visual and very cool). The brothers must learn how to control the powers before they themselves are controlled by them, because using these powers means that as they get stronger the Blood Rage (anger and rage surge through them as the power builds) is harder to keep in check.
A death close to them, spurs the brothers to seek vengeance. And Subei’s eventual realisation of the price and how much he has lost through the use of his gift, sets him on a separate path from his brother Bataar, who is slowly losing himself to the Blood Rage and can’t see past his own desires and pride. It becomes Subei’s goal to get both he and Bataar through this unchanged.
The story is told from Subei’s pov. He’s a bit arrogant at times, especially in his belief that his people (the Gherandi) are superior to everyone else, but he shows real love and caring towards his people and especially his “non-blood family” He has that humorous tone that keeps him from being too overbearing and makes him a fun pov.
There are other characters- Mahtma and Ghula (hired by the Khan to train the boys) Kashi (brother and tracker), Roa (another heir), to name a few, but because the story is from Subei’s pov they aren’t as fleshed-out feeling. I did tend to like Mahtma and Kashi the most out of the rest of the characters. I think it was more to do with the fact that Subei spends more time with them, so they become part of the “good guys” (so to speak).
The pacing falters a bit a little over half-way, and we get a big dose of retrospect as Subei comes to a few realisations about his life, and goals… mostly while drunk (which tends to make people whiny).
Despite that I was enjoying the hell out of the fast-paced action and highlander-type battles, I was afraid that was all this story was going to be so I did believe this dose of retrospection was needed. But maybe just a bit more smoothly inserted as to not grind everything to a halt. Luckily the pace picks back up quickly, making this one of my very few rough spots in an otherwise really entertaining book.
The story may be nothing new- at its core, it’s about trying to hold onto what’s left of your humanity and helping someone you love do the same, but I was never one to care about reinventing the wheel, when the wheel is already so much fun. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
3.5
Other notes-
Like in Highlander, the killing/death of another heir who has inherited the ancestor’s powers, means the power is then dispersed through the remaining heirs. (not sure if they have to be present to receive it though)
Kashi was my favorite.
-Thank you to the author A.Z. Anthony- I grabbed this during one of his promos BUT this book is also available through Esme’s tbrinder matchmaking reviewer/author service, which you can find here at The Weatherwax Report-
https://weatherwaxreport.blog/2018/04...
This originally attracted my attention on a few levels- the similarities to Highlander (one of my all-time favorite movies), the good reviews were getting hard to ignore, and it’s a story about brothers- which I guess because I didn’t have any close brothers growing up, I like reading about them. Especially brothers who get along, and are brotherly.
And that was true of Subei and Bataar. They acted like brothers. They fought, they teased, they could be competitive a-holes but they always supported one another. Outside of the action and the bad-ass magic battles, the brother relationship part was one of my favorite aspects of this story.
Subei (the story is in his pov) and Bataar, among others, are given the gift of powerful magic by the ancestors, giving them the power to use lightning, wind, and even put up magical walls (it’s very visual and very cool). The brothers must learn how to control the powers before they themselves are controlled by them, because using these powers means that as they get stronger the Blood Rage (anger and rage surge through them as the power builds) is harder to keep in check.
A death close to them, spurs the brothers to seek vengeance. And Subei’s eventual realisation of the price and how much he has lost through the use of his gift, sets him on a separate path from his brother Bataar, who is slowly losing himself to the Blood Rage and can’t see past his own desires and pride. It becomes Subei’s goal to get both he and Bataar through this unchanged.
The story is told from Subei’s pov. He’s a bit arrogant at times, especially in his belief that his people (the Gherandi) are superior to everyone else, but he shows real love and caring towards his people and especially his “non-blood family” He has that humorous tone that keeps him from being too overbearing and makes him a fun pov.
There are other characters- Mahtma and Ghula (hired by the Khan to train the boys) Kashi (brother and tracker), Roa (another heir), to name a few, but because the story is from Subei’s pov they aren’t as fleshed-out feeling. I did tend to like Mahtma and Kashi the most out of the rest of the characters. I think it was more to do with the fact that Subei spends more time with them, so they become part of the “good guys” (so to speak).
The pacing falters a bit a little over half-way, and we get a big dose of retrospect as Subei comes to a few realisations about his life, and goals… mostly while drunk (which tends to make people whiny).
Despite that I was enjoying the hell out of the fast-paced action and highlander-type battles, I was afraid that was all this story was going to be so I did believe this dose of retrospection was needed. But maybe just a bit more smoothly inserted as to not grind everything to a halt. Luckily the pace picks back up quickly, making this one of my very few rough spots in an otherwise really entertaining book.
The story may be nothing new- at its core, it’s about trying to hold onto what’s left of your humanity and helping someone you love do the same, but I was never one to care about reinventing the wheel, when the wheel is already so much fun. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
3.5
Other notes-
Like in Highlander, the killing/death of another heir who has inherited the ancestor’s powers, means the power is then dispersed through the remaining heirs. (not sure if they have to be present to receive it though)
Kashi was my favorite.
-Thank you to the author A.Z. Anthony- I grabbed this during one of his promos BUT this book is also available through Esme’s tbrinder matchmaking reviewer/author service, which you can find here at The Weatherwax Report-
https://weatherwaxreport.blog/2018/04...
February 25, 2018
Full review is here, on my blog!
This story takes place in what feels like an alternate Mongol Empire. It’s told from the point of view of Subei, who is one of two men who are struck by lightning, and subsequently gain berserker powers from it at the beginning of this story. Well, actually, it’s a little more complicated than that. The Khan’s unknowably old advisor, the current holder of the bloodrage powers has died, and when he did, his unknowable bloodrage advisor powers are dispersed among several people, and they each have to master their powers, and themselves really, because the powers come along with a pretty significant side effect – the uh, the whole bloodrage thing. It gets pretty intense, actually. It would make a good manga or anime.
Subei has two brothers, Kashi and Bataar. Only Bataar and Subei were struck by lightning, but Kashi comes along with them on their quest to hunt down all the other heirs of this bloodrage power so they can gain trancendence themselves and be all that they can be, for the Khan. So, Subei and his brothers (who are actually brothers from other mothers, but very close regardless), along with the monk, Mahtma and renowned warrior, Ghula training them both martially and mentally, go on an adventure into the kingdom of Zhong, the khanate’s biggest enemy nation.
There are all kinds of cool action sequences in this book. Subei and co. get up to a lot of fighting on their journey, as they meet heirs along the way. I wasn’t kidding when I said this book would make a good anime. There would be all kinds of glowy bloodrage orb throwing, and it would translate well to the medium.
Subei grows a lot throughout this book, and I really liked how that was handled. He realizes some things about himself, and about the bloodrage, and he does a lot of soul searching to figure out who he ultimately wants to be. I thought that it was very well written, as a whole. Bataar and Subei both have shit choices, and they make them as they see fit as the people they are. They’re also influenced somewhat by their advisors, who also seem to have vastly different ideas about what the bloodrage is and what it is good for. So, the brothers end up going down different paths.
The ending left me wanting more, but without being a cliffhanger. I’m excited to find out where this story leads in the next book!
I got a free copy of this novel, and in exchange, here is my honest review of it.
This story takes place in what feels like an alternate Mongol Empire. It’s told from the point of view of Subei, who is one of two men who are struck by lightning, and subsequently gain berserker powers from it at the beginning of this story. Well, actually, it’s a little more complicated than that. The Khan’s unknowably old advisor, the current holder of the bloodrage powers has died, and when he did, his unknowable bloodrage advisor powers are dispersed among several people, and they each have to master their powers, and themselves really, because the powers come along with a pretty significant side effect – the uh, the whole bloodrage thing. It gets pretty intense, actually. It would make a good manga or anime.
Subei has two brothers, Kashi and Bataar. Only Bataar and Subei were struck by lightning, but Kashi comes along with them on their quest to hunt down all the other heirs of this bloodrage power so they can gain trancendence themselves and be all that they can be, for the Khan. So, Subei and his brothers (who are actually brothers from other mothers, but very close regardless), along with the monk, Mahtma and renowned warrior, Ghula training them both martially and mentally, go on an adventure into the kingdom of Zhong, the khanate’s biggest enemy nation.
There are all kinds of cool action sequences in this book. Subei and co. get up to a lot of fighting on their journey, as they meet heirs along the way. I wasn’t kidding when I said this book would make a good anime. There would be all kinds of glowy bloodrage orb throwing, and it would translate well to the medium.
Subei grows a lot throughout this book, and I really liked how that was handled. He realizes some things about himself, and about the bloodrage, and he does a lot of soul searching to figure out who he ultimately wants to be. I thought that it was very well written, as a whole. Bataar and Subei both have shit choices, and they make them as they see fit as the people they are. They’re also influenced somewhat by their advisors, who also seem to have vastly different ideas about what the bloodrage is and what it is good for. So, the brothers end up going down different paths.
The ending left me wanting more, but without being a cliffhanger. I’m excited to find out where this story leads in the next book!
I got a free copy of this novel, and in exchange, here is my honest review of it.
September 6, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Review can be found on my blog with my pick of song: https://starlitbook.com/2018/09/06/se...
Servant of Rage is one of the 30 books in Fantasy Book Review's SPFBO group.
Servant of Rage sent me on a strange time travel thingy. It pulled the right cords in me and gave me a glimpse into my nation’s past. Let me explain. Although we Hungarians are inhabiting this small place of earth in Europe for more than a 1000 years now, our ancestry lays elsewhere. We were a nomad tribe once upon a time, living on the steppe, sleeping in yurts, travelling, riding and we were famous archers (many kings hired us to help them with their petty fights when we arrived to the Carpathian Basin). Once we went on a school trip somewhere to the countryside where we got to sleep in yurts (it was fun) and got to experience some of the nomad life. I vaguely remember there were horses too. Those animals are still part of our culture. Anyway, where I wanted to go with this is that Anthony’s description of the life of the Ghangerai tribe got me kind of nostalgic.
Servant of Rage tells the story of Subei, Hunter of the Gangherai tribe, whose goal in life is to become transcended and earn a name for himself to make his ancestors proud. He is supported by his brothers Baatar and Kashi. I liked how the chemistry worked between these three, the banters, that their personalities fit together. We see and learn everything through Subei’s eyes. He is the reckless smart-ass of the trio who leads his brothers into danger and takes every suicidal mission just to prove himself. Bataar follows him because his goal is to secure his place as the next khan-to-be. He brings the muscle to the party. Kashi is the little brother, with some common sense and a sarcastic sense of humor. He is the one who keeps his brothers’ feet on the ground, the one who keeps them together. Bataar and Subei needs him now more than ever.
“They were brothers, after all. When they’d nowhere else to turn, they had each other. It’d always been that way and always would. Without that, they had nothing.”
The Old Father is dead, and people all over the world – at least lets assume so, since we only read about the Ghangerai tribe and the Zhong empire – find themselves receiving power. Bataar and Subei amongst them. Kemu khan sees his chance and sends them off with a few warriors and two teachers to find and eliminate the other heirs throughout the Zhong empire. Subei and Bataar soon learn that power has a price and they have to choose their own way to deal with it. While Subei seeks the advice of Mahtma, a Theskai monk, and the khan’s advisor, Bataar turns to Ghula, military commander and tactician. Both of them sent by the khan to train the two Hunters with varying success.
It was really refreshing to read a novel set in a world dominated by nomad tribes, to take a look into their lives. The Ghangerai tribe is proud and a bit narrow-minded, thinking they have a right to conquer the world, because this is their nature and other nations’ teachings are bullshit. And everyone fears them.
“He’s scared, Subei realized, looking closer and seeing the man was trembling. That wasn’t unusual. In their line of work, their appearance wasn’t commonly greeted with hugs and smiles.”
They only believe in what they are taught, they are stubborn and sure of themselves. Both Bataar and Subei struggle to accept Mathma’s teachings, because it goes against anything they believe in.
Personally, Mathma and Kashi were my favorite characters, even though we don’t learn much about them. And that’s such a missed opportunity. Since the plot itself is not too complicated – the goal is to find the heirs and ensure the victory of the khanate – it leaves enough space to build the characters up a bit more. Subei’s character has its arc, but the others fell a bit flat. We don’t learn about them, we don’t know what their motives are, we don’t know how they feel. Mostly because we see everything through Subei’s eyes and he doesn’t really give a damn about others outside of himself and his brothers. But then, we don’t learn much about Kashi either, so my logic might doesn’t work here. Anyway, with less focusing on Subei’s self-pity and a bit more on the other characters, this book would have been so much better.
The writing was well done, the prose good, but the pacing have a bit of problems, especially somewhere at the 60% mark. There was a section I found a bit boring and repetitive – actually, I found Subei’s complaining in the second half of the book pretty annoying. To be fair, his distress was understandable, struggling with the ever-present rage waiting to take over one’s body is no joyride. Still, no need to tell me in every chapter how it sucks to be an heir and have individual thoughts for a change instead of following orders. Shit choices and all that aside.
The magic system was interesting enough, how the heirs figured out what they can do and learned tricks from the others. They don’t get it ready, they have to experiment, to feel out what works for them and what not, how they can control it, especially after it grows with every heir killed. Which brings all of it own problems to the mix.
Anthony doesn’t shy away from writing some brutal scenes when it comes to fighting and the ancestors’ power. Subei is not a character I would call likeable, but he has some charm with his way of words. And the way he tries to come to terms with his situation and learns the importance of change.
“He was loath to take her advice because it was the hard thing to do. Because change sounded good and right in conversation but was a damned hard thing to actually achieve.”
Servant of Rage is a blood soaked, intriguing first book of a trilogy. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but Anthony clearly is a talented writer, who can pull out writing terror filled scenes as well as emotional ones. Servant of Rages manages to give some punches and leaves enough questions open to make people come back and read what happens next. Overall, I would recommend to check it out if you didn’t do so yet.
Review can be found on my blog with my pick of song: https://starlitbook.com/2018/09/06/se...
Servant of Rage is one of the 30 books in Fantasy Book Review's SPFBO group.
Servant of Rage sent me on a strange time travel thingy. It pulled the right cords in me and gave me a glimpse into my nation’s past. Let me explain. Although we Hungarians are inhabiting this small place of earth in Europe for more than a 1000 years now, our ancestry lays elsewhere. We were a nomad tribe once upon a time, living on the steppe, sleeping in yurts, travelling, riding and we were famous archers (many kings hired us to help them with their petty fights when we arrived to the Carpathian Basin). Once we went on a school trip somewhere to the countryside where we got to sleep in yurts (it was fun) and got to experience some of the nomad life. I vaguely remember there were horses too. Those animals are still part of our culture. Anyway, where I wanted to go with this is that Anthony’s description of the life of the Ghangerai tribe got me kind of nostalgic.
Servant of Rage tells the story of Subei, Hunter of the Gangherai tribe, whose goal in life is to become transcended and earn a name for himself to make his ancestors proud. He is supported by his brothers Baatar and Kashi. I liked how the chemistry worked between these three, the banters, that their personalities fit together. We see and learn everything through Subei’s eyes. He is the reckless smart-ass of the trio who leads his brothers into danger and takes every suicidal mission just to prove himself. Bataar follows him because his goal is to secure his place as the next khan-to-be. He brings the muscle to the party. Kashi is the little brother, with some common sense and a sarcastic sense of humor. He is the one who keeps his brothers’ feet on the ground, the one who keeps them together. Bataar and Subei needs him now more than ever.
“They were brothers, after all. When they’d nowhere else to turn, they had each other. It’d always been that way and always would. Without that, they had nothing.”
The Old Father is dead, and people all over the world – at least lets assume so, since we only read about the Ghangerai tribe and the Zhong empire – find themselves receiving power. Bataar and Subei amongst them. Kemu khan sees his chance and sends them off with a few warriors and two teachers to find and eliminate the other heirs throughout the Zhong empire. Subei and Bataar soon learn that power has a price and they have to choose their own way to deal with it. While Subei seeks the advice of Mahtma, a Theskai monk, and the khan’s advisor, Bataar turns to Ghula, military commander and tactician. Both of them sent by the khan to train the two Hunters with varying success.
It was really refreshing to read a novel set in a world dominated by nomad tribes, to take a look into their lives. The Ghangerai tribe is proud and a bit narrow-minded, thinking they have a right to conquer the world, because this is their nature and other nations’ teachings are bullshit. And everyone fears them.
“He’s scared, Subei realized, looking closer and seeing the man was trembling. That wasn’t unusual. In their line of work, their appearance wasn’t commonly greeted with hugs and smiles.”
They only believe in what they are taught, they are stubborn and sure of themselves. Both Bataar and Subei struggle to accept Mathma’s teachings, because it goes against anything they believe in.
Personally, Mathma and Kashi were my favorite characters, even though we don’t learn much about them. And that’s such a missed opportunity. Since the plot itself is not too complicated – the goal is to find the heirs and ensure the victory of the khanate – it leaves enough space to build the characters up a bit more. Subei’s character has its arc, but the others fell a bit flat. We don’t learn about them, we don’t know what their motives are, we don’t know how they feel. Mostly because we see everything through Subei’s eyes and he doesn’t really give a damn about others outside of himself and his brothers. But then, we don’t learn much about Kashi either, so my logic might doesn’t work here. Anyway, with less focusing on Subei’s self-pity and a bit more on the other characters, this book would have been so much better.
The writing was well done, the prose good, but the pacing have a bit of problems, especially somewhere at the 60% mark. There was a section I found a bit boring and repetitive – actually, I found Subei’s complaining in the second half of the book pretty annoying. To be fair, his distress was understandable, struggling with the ever-present rage waiting to take over one’s body is no joyride. Still, no need to tell me in every chapter how it sucks to be an heir and have individual thoughts for a change instead of following orders. Shit choices and all that aside.
The magic system was interesting enough, how the heirs figured out what they can do and learned tricks from the others. They don’t get it ready, they have to experiment, to feel out what works for them and what not, how they can control it, especially after it grows with every heir killed. Which brings all of it own problems to the mix.
Anthony doesn’t shy away from writing some brutal scenes when it comes to fighting and the ancestors’ power. Subei is not a character I would call likeable, but he has some charm with his way of words. And the way he tries to come to terms with his situation and learns the importance of change.
“He was loath to take her advice because it was the hard thing to do. Because change sounded good and right in conversation but was a damned hard thing to actually achieve.”
Servant of Rage is a blood soaked, intriguing first book of a trilogy. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but Anthony clearly is a talented writer, who can pull out writing terror filled scenes as well as emotional ones. Servant of Rages manages to give some punches and leaves enough questions open to make people come back and read what happens next. Overall, I would recommend to check it out if you didn’t do so yet.
September 13, 2018
A bit too much "woe is me", just a bit. But, very entertaining. I'll read the next one.
January 7, 2019
Review to come
April 3, 2018
Servant of Rage by A Z Anthony is the first book in the Bloodrage trilogy, a dark fantasy story following the journey of a young bounty hunter of the called Subei in the aftermath of a supernatural event that granted people around the world magical powers that are inextricably tied to a berserk urge for violent use of those powers.
In my previous review of Anthony’s work, I referred to him as a Second Generation dark fantasy author. While other fantasy authors draw on the rich history and tropes of their genre, stretching back for centuries, he has chosen to focus on the modern grimdark movement and is one of the first that I have seen to play with the unique elements that make that kind of book different from others.
Normally you don’t see authors attempting deconstructions of genres until they are long established, so I have been following Anthony’s career with great interest and in this book he continues along that same trajectory while beginning to inject fresh elements of originality, primarily in the form of a divergent setting and tone. Of course, if you are a fan of grimdark fantasy he has included some blatant references to other series that he has enjoyed, as well as providing a fairly solid example of the genre himself, as all deconstructions must be.
The Ghangerai are drawn from many steppes-horse nomad cultures, with the most obvious being the Mongols. As a gestalt of these different cultures their philosophy is not purely Mongolian, and I would argue that as a post-melting-bowl culture that is now mired in some serious imperialist crises it is easy to draw parallels to American culture.
The inciting event for the whole book is that in the past, a single master of this “Power of the Ancestors” managed to kill all of the others blessed with it, allowing him to amass the full portion for himself. His death releases that gathered power back out into the world to wreak havoc once more. To begin with I found the decision to make this Old Master white when all of the other characters throughout the book are coded as various Asian ethnicities, a little bit strange, but it was ultimately necessary for the book to examine the ideology of the Ghangerai steppes nomads, and specifically their sense of superiority over the other races.
There is an assumption among the Ghangerai that the reason this arcane power has not yet been used to conquer the entire world is simply because none of the previous masters who have “Higlandered” themselves to dominance have been Ghangerai. Carefully reflecting the ideology of American Exceptionalism through the lens of what many living there would consider to be a “primitive” and violent society provides a subtle undercurrent to a book that is otherwise aggressively straightforward in a way that is clearly meant to highlight that aspect of the characters.
There is very little coyness to the Ghangerai characters, neither Subei or his brothers in arms are particularly inclined towards subterfuge and almost every thought that crosses their minds are expressed, loudly, at the earliest opportunity. In combination with their internal struggle with the titular blood-rage this makes for very engaging reading.
One final point that I need to highlight is the language that is being used in this book. In this too, Anthony has made no attempt at deflecting from the intensity of the story. Modern language is used throughout, to give the reader an emotional understanding of the conversations that are being had, but even that modern language is shaped by the Ghangerai mindset. The prose goes beyond tight, almost to the verge of sentences being clipped short. Brief exclamations and even briefer descriptions rule this book, giving you the bare minimum that you need to understand the situations that the protagonist is being flung into in the brief moments that he has to comprehend them.
If you are looking for purple prose and languid descriptions of idyllic landscapes then you will want to look elsewhere, but if you want an incredibly fast paced thriller of a grimdark fantasy novel with a sly sense of humour woven through it, then Servant of Rage is a good fit for your tastes.
In my previous review of Anthony’s work, I referred to him as a Second Generation dark fantasy author. While other fantasy authors draw on the rich history and tropes of their genre, stretching back for centuries, he has chosen to focus on the modern grimdark movement and is one of the first that I have seen to play with the unique elements that make that kind of book different from others.
Normally you don’t see authors attempting deconstructions of genres until they are long established, so I have been following Anthony’s career with great interest and in this book he continues along that same trajectory while beginning to inject fresh elements of originality, primarily in the form of a divergent setting and tone. Of course, if you are a fan of grimdark fantasy he has included some blatant references to other series that he has enjoyed, as well as providing a fairly solid example of the genre himself, as all deconstructions must be.
The Ghangerai are drawn from many steppes-horse nomad cultures, with the most obvious being the Mongols. As a gestalt of these different cultures their philosophy is not purely Mongolian, and I would argue that as a post-melting-bowl culture that is now mired in some serious imperialist crises it is easy to draw parallels to American culture.
The inciting event for the whole book is that in the past, a single master of this “Power of the Ancestors” managed to kill all of the others blessed with it, allowing him to amass the full portion for himself. His death releases that gathered power back out into the world to wreak havoc once more. To begin with I found the decision to make this Old Master white when all of the other characters throughout the book are coded as various Asian ethnicities, a little bit strange, but it was ultimately necessary for the book to examine the ideology of the Ghangerai steppes nomads, and specifically their sense of superiority over the other races.
There is an assumption among the Ghangerai that the reason this arcane power has not yet been used to conquer the entire world is simply because none of the previous masters who have “Higlandered” themselves to dominance have been Ghangerai. Carefully reflecting the ideology of American Exceptionalism through the lens of what many living there would consider to be a “primitive” and violent society provides a subtle undercurrent to a book that is otherwise aggressively straightforward in a way that is clearly meant to highlight that aspect of the characters.
There is very little coyness to the Ghangerai characters, neither Subei or his brothers in arms are particularly inclined towards subterfuge and almost every thought that crosses their minds are expressed, loudly, at the earliest opportunity. In combination with their internal struggle with the titular blood-rage this makes for very engaging reading.
One final point that I need to highlight is the language that is being used in this book. In this too, Anthony has made no attempt at deflecting from the intensity of the story. Modern language is used throughout, to give the reader an emotional understanding of the conversations that are being had, but even that modern language is shaped by the Ghangerai mindset. The prose goes beyond tight, almost to the verge of sentences being clipped short. Brief exclamations and even briefer descriptions rule this book, giving you the bare minimum that you need to understand the situations that the protagonist is being flung into in the brief moments that he has to comprehend them.
If you are looking for purple prose and languid descriptions of idyllic landscapes then you will want to look elsewhere, but if you want an incredibly fast paced thriller of a grimdark fantasy novel with a sly sense of humour woven through it, then Servant of Rage is a good fit for your tastes.
April 2, 2018
Servant of Rage is the debut novel of A. Z. Anthony and what a cracking debut it is. Although it is his debut released under his own name, Anthony is in fact an experienced writer and this shines through; Servant of Rage does not feel like a debut, it reads like something written by someone who has had ample opportunity to hone his craft.
Although the opening is quite dialogue heavy, the story immediately hooked me; there was very little description and instead we are thrust into the plot. The chapters are usually short and snappy, encouraging the fast pace. Anthony's writing style is unique; the narrative voice is clipped, ruthlessly slicing and disregarding any irrelevant words like a true Ghangerai hunter. Much like his protagonists and their wonderfully crafted culture, Anthony's writing style seems to shun any unnecessary frills. If you enjoy just the right amount of snark and sarcasm in your storytelling then Anthony's writing will be perfect for you.
For the most part this book has plenty of action, and a wonderfully driving plot. However the were moments where I felt the pace slackened; our protagonist has some life changing decisions to make and there was the odd occasion where I felt his inner torment was beginning to get a little repetitive possibly. Anthony does an incredible job creating his world; Subei's culture is wonderfully deep and intricate, I found it a fascinating culture to read about. Even his mindset and his regard of other peoples and cultures in Anthony's world reflects his culture and heritage, making it a totally believable and compelling read. I would have therefore liked his struggle to come a little further along in the story.
It's a minor blip in what is otherwise wonderful storytelling; Anthony has a real talent for creating distinct characters you truly care about. He is a master of foreshadowing and building your expectations, then whipping the story right round again; there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. It has a wonderful depth of emotion and morality; balanced with the most epic of fight scenes and a downright awesome magic system. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next, and what new powers are awoken.
In short, this book is snarky, it's punchy and it delves deep into what makes us and what drives us; are we our own motivators or are we just servants to untangible masters?
"Any anger he'd felt previously was drowned now, a drop of rain falling through the sky to find only the ocean below and learn ti was but the smallest piece of a vast immensity. Such was the rage he felt as it grew and swelled and resolved itself into something greater. Something primal."
Although the opening is quite dialogue heavy, the story immediately hooked me; there was very little description and instead we are thrust into the plot. The chapters are usually short and snappy, encouraging the fast pace. Anthony's writing style is unique; the narrative voice is clipped, ruthlessly slicing and disregarding any irrelevant words like a true Ghangerai hunter. Much like his protagonists and their wonderfully crafted culture, Anthony's writing style seems to shun any unnecessary frills. If you enjoy just the right amount of snark and sarcasm in your storytelling then Anthony's writing will be perfect for you.
For the most part this book has plenty of action, and a wonderfully driving plot. However the were moments where I felt the pace slackened; our protagonist has some life changing decisions to make and there was the odd occasion where I felt his inner torment was beginning to get a little repetitive possibly. Anthony does an incredible job creating his world; Subei's culture is wonderfully deep and intricate, I found it a fascinating culture to read about. Even his mindset and his regard of other peoples and cultures in Anthony's world reflects his culture and heritage, making it a totally believable and compelling read. I would have therefore liked his struggle to come a little further along in the story.
It's a minor blip in what is otherwise wonderful storytelling; Anthony has a real talent for creating distinct characters you truly care about. He is a master of foreshadowing and building your expectations, then whipping the story right round again; there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. It has a wonderful depth of emotion and morality; balanced with the most epic of fight scenes and a downright awesome magic system. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next, and what new powers are awoken.
In short, this book is snarky, it's punchy and it delves deep into what makes us and what drives us; are we our own motivators or are we just servants to untangible masters?
"Any anger he'd felt previously was drowned now, a drop of rain falling through the sky to find only the ocean below and learn ti was but the smallest piece of a vast immensity. Such was the rage he felt as it grew and swelled and resolved itself into something greater. Something primal."
August 13, 2018
The Mongol Horde. Warriors armed with rage-powered magic. It’s time for war.
Set in a fantasy world inspired by Mongol Empire, Servant of Rage follows Subei, hunter for the khan. The heavens open and lightning strikes and Subei hits the cosmic jackpot. The power of the ancestors, magic to make him near-unstoppable - powered by a rage that threatens to consume him utterly.
I came to this after reading Conn Iggulden’s mostly non-fictional history of the Mongol Empire. This is a more personal tale of Subei’s struggle with a power that now defines his life, but its set against a familiar backdrop of the conflict between the Mongol-like Ghangerai and the China-like Zhong. Similar to Guy Gavriel Kay, Anthony uses a period from our history to bring a fictional world to life. He does an excellent job capturing the feel of their society and the details of their nomadic existence.
I liked Subei. He has a distinct voice. He’s loyal to his hunter brothers, he does his best, messes up and puts things back together as best he can. I’m curious to see what happens to him next.
Set in a fantasy world inspired by Mongol Empire, Servant of Rage follows Subei, hunter for the khan. The heavens open and lightning strikes and Subei hits the cosmic jackpot. The power of the ancestors, magic to make him near-unstoppable - powered by a rage that threatens to consume him utterly.
I came to this after reading Conn Iggulden’s mostly non-fictional history of the Mongol Empire. This is a more personal tale of Subei’s struggle with a power that now defines his life, but its set against a familiar backdrop of the conflict between the Mongol-like Ghangerai and the China-like Zhong. Similar to Guy Gavriel Kay, Anthony uses a period from our history to bring a fictional world to life. He does an excellent job capturing the feel of their society and the details of their nomadic existence.
I liked Subei. He has a distinct voice. He’s loyal to his hunter brothers, he does his best, messes up and puts things back together as best he can. I’m curious to see what happens to him next.
April 21, 2018
few words will paint the action packed read ... Highlander meets Genghis Khan ...
April 10, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. I am not one to normally gravitate to grim dark, but this book had a lot to offer even just general fans of fantasy. The magic system is unique, the characters are funny, and there are some super badass women to fall in love with.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
April 10, 2018
Great brutal Mongol Empire themed fantasy
Really enjoyed this debut. I loved the similarities to the Mongol Empire, which is something I've been interested in seeing in fantasy for a while. Very brutal combat throughout, and a cool magic system and motivation behind the protagonist's actions.
Really enjoyed this debut. I loved the similarities to the Mongol Empire, which is something I've been interested in seeing in fantasy for a while. Very brutal combat throughout, and a cool magic system and motivation behind the protagonist's actions.
October 29, 2018
This was a review request from a while ago, but I’m making headway! This was also in this year’s SPFBO competition, and although cut, was given a very positive review pointing out that it almost made it as a semi-finalist (Swiffer had a strong batch this year). Swiffer’s Review
This story starts out with three “hunters” who are tracking someone down for their khan, a rogue commander that’s trying to flee the Steppes, and their khan wants him killed or brought back. Some would deem this mission a suicide mission since this commander isn’t a normal “mark’, he’s not just a petty thief or criminal, he’s highly trained and very lethal. Of the three, the oldest brought has “volunteered” them for this job and the others take it with varying reluctance. During their trek, they get caught in a supernatural storm, and lightning strikes two of the three hunters. Bataar, the Khan’s biological son, and Subei, one of the two brothers. It wasn’t a normal lightning strike either, as if in slow motion, the scars from the strike slowly crawled over their bodies leaving them in agonizing pain. The wounds were glowing blue and they were in so much pain they passed out. Upon waking, they find themselves with a new power, one that can be overwhelming and cause them to do things they wouldn’t have done otherwise. A raging need to kill when provoked, and a new power that allows them to throw balls of electricity at the enemy.
It turns out the lightning strike was caused by the death of the Old Father, a man who has been advising the Khan’s for six generations. Up until this point, the Old Father had been containing the bloodrage, a kind of curse, all to himself to try and spare the land from its woes. He can’t continue anymore though, he’s too weak, he’s too tired, and the bloodrage has eaten him from the inside out. He commits suicide, and when he does, his power is dispersed throughout the land. These people who have new powers are known as “the heirs to the ancestors”, the power within them considered to be the power of the ancestors.
Instead of tracking down the errant commander, the Khan has switched his mission for the three young men. Their new mission is to track down all of the other heir’s to the ancestors and kill them, absorbing their power. The Khan wants them to “transcend”, becoming as powerful as the Old Father himself. The first place they are sent to is the empire of Zhong, their longtime rival, and to take out all of their soldiers recently imbued with new powers. A woman named Ghula joins them, a woman that all three deeply respect, she’s known as “The Conquerer of Sandar, The Breaker of Jitan”, she’s joining them to help train them for their journey ahead, and she’s not to be messed with.
This book had a lot of really neat world building, the society they live in considers death to be a better fate than fleeing and submersing themselves in the “weaker” cultures. They consider honor to be paramount and living in one place in a soft bed with luxuries all around them is considered the death of the soul. Better to be tracked down and killed while they are still “Ghengari” in their hearts.
The writing style was a bit more modern than I had expected given the setting, but I don’t mind that kind of thing, it amuses me to hear a character say “well, shit” rather than more dated dialogue. It was pretty fast-paced throughout, not a lot of filler going on which is nice if you’re looking for a quicker read. It was also pretty clean, I didn’t catch many errors so it got a solid 12.5/15 for the writing section. Cursing aplenty in this as well, with 58 fucks given it’s not for those that want to avoid cursing.
These aren’t exactly classic hero-like protagonists, from the start they are sent out to kill enemies just to gain power. It was interesting to watch Subei fight his conscience when it came to tracking these people down and killing them. Fighting someone in a war is one thing, tracking down a known criminal yet another. Killing a man lying in bed whose only ‘crime’ was being endowed with the same powers they had rubbed him the wrong way. But, all three want to prove themselves, make a name for themselves and for their children. And once the bloodrage takes hold, they lose all control of themselves, enjoying the heartbreak and terror they cause along the way. Those cultures outside of their own are universally looked at as inferior, especially if that culture values peace, so if you’re looking for more of a grey character this could be a book for you.
Audience:
non western setting
greyer characters
lots of magic
horse culture
violence
quick paced
training of powers/skills
Ratings:
Plot: 11.5/15
Characters: 10.5/15
World Building: 11/15
Writing: 12.5/15
Pacing: 12.5/15
Originality: 11/15
Personal Enjoyment: 8/10
Final Score: 77/100
This story starts out with three “hunters” who are tracking someone down for their khan, a rogue commander that’s trying to flee the Steppes, and their khan wants him killed or brought back. Some would deem this mission a suicide mission since this commander isn’t a normal “mark’, he’s not just a petty thief or criminal, he’s highly trained and very lethal. Of the three, the oldest brought has “volunteered” them for this job and the others take it with varying reluctance. During their trek, they get caught in a supernatural storm, and lightning strikes two of the three hunters. Bataar, the Khan’s biological son, and Subei, one of the two brothers. It wasn’t a normal lightning strike either, as if in slow motion, the scars from the strike slowly crawled over their bodies leaving them in agonizing pain. The wounds were glowing blue and they were in so much pain they passed out. Upon waking, they find themselves with a new power, one that can be overwhelming and cause them to do things they wouldn’t have done otherwise. A raging need to kill when provoked, and a new power that allows them to throw balls of electricity at the enemy.
It turns out the lightning strike was caused by the death of the Old Father, a man who has been advising the Khan’s for six generations. Up until this point, the Old Father had been containing the bloodrage, a kind of curse, all to himself to try and spare the land from its woes. He can’t continue anymore though, he’s too weak, he’s too tired, and the bloodrage has eaten him from the inside out. He commits suicide, and when he does, his power is dispersed throughout the land. These people who have new powers are known as “the heirs to the ancestors”, the power within them considered to be the power of the ancestors.
Instead of tracking down the errant commander, the Khan has switched his mission for the three young men. Their new mission is to track down all of the other heir’s to the ancestors and kill them, absorbing their power. The Khan wants them to “transcend”, becoming as powerful as the Old Father himself. The first place they are sent to is the empire of Zhong, their longtime rival, and to take out all of their soldiers recently imbued with new powers. A woman named Ghula joins them, a woman that all three deeply respect, she’s known as “The Conquerer of Sandar, The Breaker of Jitan”, she’s joining them to help train them for their journey ahead, and she’s not to be messed with.
This book had a lot of really neat world building, the society they live in considers death to be a better fate than fleeing and submersing themselves in the “weaker” cultures. They consider honor to be paramount and living in one place in a soft bed with luxuries all around them is considered the death of the soul. Better to be tracked down and killed while they are still “Ghengari” in their hearts.
The writing style was a bit more modern than I had expected given the setting, but I don’t mind that kind of thing, it amuses me to hear a character say “well, shit” rather than more dated dialogue. It was pretty fast-paced throughout, not a lot of filler going on which is nice if you’re looking for a quicker read. It was also pretty clean, I didn’t catch many errors so it got a solid 12.5/15 for the writing section. Cursing aplenty in this as well, with 58 fucks given it’s not for those that want to avoid cursing.
These aren’t exactly classic hero-like protagonists, from the start they are sent out to kill enemies just to gain power. It was interesting to watch Subei fight his conscience when it came to tracking these people down and killing them. Fighting someone in a war is one thing, tracking down a known criminal yet another. Killing a man lying in bed whose only ‘crime’ was being endowed with the same powers they had rubbed him the wrong way. But, all three want to prove themselves, make a name for themselves and for their children. And once the bloodrage takes hold, they lose all control of themselves, enjoying the heartbreak and terror they cause along the way. Those cultures outside of their own are universally looked at as inferior, especially if that culture values peace, so if you’re looking for more of a grey character this could be a book for you.
Audience:
non western setting
greyer characters
lots of magic
horse culture
violence
quick paced
training of powers/skills
Ratings:
Plot: 11.5/15
Characters: 10.5/15
World Building: 11/15
Writing: 12.5/15
Pacing: 12.5/15
Originality: 11/15
Personal Enjoyment: 8/10
Final Score: 77/100
June 14, 2019
Got about halfway through before quitting, couldn’t hold my interest. Kinda like highlander meets avatar.
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