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The Fatemarked Epic #2
Truthmarked
Alternate Cover Edition of ASIN B01MUR5CM4
The Hundred Years War rages on, with tensions between kingdoms growing ever more strained.
While Annise Gäric and her forces march on Castle Hill to retake the northern throne, her cousin, Rhea Loren, wages a naval war against Blackstone. Meanwhile, Roan Loren and Gwendolyn Storm struggle to breach the gnarled, vine-choked undergrowth of the Tangle in their quest to reach Knight's End and learn more of the true purpose of the fatemarked.
In the south, a Calypsian empress is murdered, and her daughters fight to claim the empire and wage a civil war against their estranged father's armies. In Phanes, slavery runs rampant while a rebel group fights to free the oppressed people. A master named Jai Jiroux looks to help the rebel cause, an act of treason punishable by death.
Surrounding the Four Kingdoms is the pall cast by the Kings' Bane, who continues his quest to kill eight rulers and thus fulfill the Western Oracle's ancient prophecy, which he believes will pave to way to peace across the realms.
The Hundred Years War rages on, with tensions between kingdoms growing ever more strained.
While Annise Gäric and her forces march on Castle Hill to retake the northern throne, her cousin, Rhea Loren, wages a naval war against Blackstone. Meanwhile, Roan Loren and Gwendolyn Storm struggle to breach the gnarled, vine-choked undergrowth of the Tangle in their quest to reach Knight's End and learn more of the true purpose of the fatemarked.
In the south, a Calypsian empress is murdered, and her daughters fight to claim the empire and wage a civil war against their estranged father's armies. In Phanes, slavery runs rampant while a rebel group fights to free the oppressed people. A master named Jai Jiroux looks to help the rebel cause, an act of treason punishable by death.
Surrounding the Four Kingdoms is the pall cast by the Kings' Bane, who continues his quest to kill eight rulers and thus fulfill the Western Oracle's ancient prophecy, which he believes will pave to way to peace across the realms.
612 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2017
4312 people are currently reading
1126 people want to read
About the author
David Estes
80 books2,673 followersGet a FREE short story from David Estes' #1 Amazon bestselling epic fantasy series, Fatemarked, when you sign up for his mailing list: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2v6v3
David Estes has written more than 40 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his beautiful Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey and Luna, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
David Estes has written more than 40 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his beautiful Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey and Luna, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
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March 18, 201714 days after the release of Fatemarked, the sequel, Truthmarked, is available! When I finished this book, it was the longest book I'd ever written. I can promise the third book, Soulmarked, is even longer! I hope you continue to enjoy this epic adventure :) Here is the link to grab it on Amazon:
Download Truthmarked:
http://amzn.to/2lmSO0M
Download Truthmarked:
http://amzn.to/2lmSO0M
June 20, 2017
Definitely Good Reading!
So far I am really enjoying this author. I appreciate that his books are more than twice as long as most of the other fantasy books available on Kindle unlimited. He has a style of writing that reflects both fine editing and quality writing. I especially enjoy the characters dialogue which unlike some fantasies seek to sound "medieval," he has his characters using contemporary styles of speaking including slang. I find this a refreshing change. My only complaint is the gratuitous characterization of one of the second level protagonists as a bisexual. I am not at all offended it just seems very fake and does not contribute to the plot or story. It just seems silly. Another thing I like about this author is that he has a lengthy prologue so that the reader can be reminded of where the last book leaves off. There are many characters and subplots so this prologue is very helpful. Another helpful addition to his books, at least the ones I've read, is that he includes a post-log in which he expands on a number of secondary characters to fill out the background story. I highly recommend these books and look forward to exploring more of this authors work.
So far I am really enjoying this author. I appreciate that his books are more than twice as long as most of the other fantasy books available on Kindle unlimited. He has a style of writing that reflects both fine editing and quality writing. I especially enjoy the characters dialogue which unlike some fantasies seek to sound "medieval," he has his characters using contemporary styles of speaking including slang. I find this a refreshing change. My only complaint is the gratuitous characterization of one of the second level protagonists as a bisexual. I am not at all offended it just seems very fake and does not contribute to the plot or story. It just seems silly. Another thing I like about this author is that he has a lengthy prologue so that the reader can be reminded of where the last book leaves off. There are many characters and subplots so this prologue is very helpful. Another helpful addition to his books, at least the ones I've read, is that he includes a post-log in which he expands on a number of secondary characters to fill out the background story. I highly recommend these books and look forward to exploring more of this authors work.
June 16, 2020
Such a incredible follow-up to Fatemarked.I cannot stress enough how well thought out this epic is.The collection of villains and heroes is on par with the best fantasy series i have ever read.Namely Lord Of The Rings and A Song Of Ice And Fire.Just through these first two books i have come to love and despise many of these characters.If you want to read a fantasy series that has absolutely not one ounce of filler this is the one for you.The world building and the various storylines taking place are as interesting and well written as anything you will find in the genre.The story is told in such a way from so many pov characters that you get a vast array of descriptions and viewpoints of both good,bad,and gray characters.I could go on and on but the next book is screaming my name so i must adhere and venture on.
March 19, 2017
I read this as a beta read and it was epic! I'll do a full review once I read the final copy.
October 13, 2024
4.5 rounded up because I think authors are cool
Reread.
Ok, this book served as a much better reminder of why I loved this series the first time through. The character work is top class. The setting is more fleshed out. The fatemarked show more of their abilities. Everything within just feels bigger and better.
Estes is much more of a character-driven than plot-driven author. I tend to see this style mostly in comic books; though the 'next big crossover' and 'need to be as big as the movies' drivers have wiped out a lot of character-driven stories/writing in mainstream comics. JOE, stop talking about comics and get back on topic. Ok, ok.
At just under 600pgs, more plot movement could have been achieved, yes. But I love how much time the author spends on interactions, conversations, and building relationships. These characters are the life-blood of this series and I am here for it. Characters grow from book one to book two, and not always in a good way. One character's slow-descent to tyranny is written in a very believable and oddly captivating way. Others find solid purpose that makes them more fleshed out and endearing. We have 3 new POV characters, and one of them swiftly became my favorite in the series thusfar; while another has me most intrigued about what they'll do next. Because, like, I don't remember. Enough time has gone by since my first-read.
So excited and happy to be going through this journey again.
Reread.
Ok, this book served as a much better reminder of why I loved this series the first time through. The character work is top class. The setting is more fleshed out. The fatemarked show more of their abilities. Everything within just feels bigger and better.
Estes is much more of a character-driven than plot-driven author. I tend to see this style mostly in comic books; though the 'next big crossover' and 'need to be as big as the movies' drivers have wiped out a lot of character-driven stories/writing in mainstream comics. JOE, stop talking about comics and get back on topic. Ok, ok.
At just under 600pgs, more plot movement could have been achieved, yes. But I love how much time the author spends on interactions, conversations, and building relationships. These characters are the life-blood of this series and I am here for it. Characters grow from book one to book two, and not always in a good way. One character's slow-descent to tyranny is written in a very believable and oddly captivating way. Others find solid purpose that makes them more fleshed out and endearing. We have 3 new POV characters, and one of them swiftly became my favorite in the series thusfar; while another has me most intrigued about what they'll do next. Because, like, I don't remember. Enough time has gone by since my first-read.
So excited and happy to be going through this journey again.
August 10, 2022
4.75/5
“Fire breeds fire and even a single spark can birth an inferno.”
One of the best ways to uncover a new favorite series is to discover it by accident. The Fatemarked Epic has totally taken me by surprise, and I have been loving how it’s taken over my current reading schedule. Out of all my current reads, I still managed to finish this one first.
Truthmarked doesn’t hold back, thrusting the reader back into the story from where we were left in Fatemarked. Annise Garic is marching on Castle Hill, determined to take back the throne from her usurping uncle. Roan Loren and Gwendolyn Storm lose themselves in the dense, seemingly haunted forest of the Tangle, unable to reach Knight’s End to discover the purpose of their fatemarks. Grey Arris, leaves the name Grease Jolly behind, boarding a ship to recover his kidnapped sister, Shae. Far in the south, sisters Raven, Fire, and Whisper fight in a civil war against their estranged father, Vin Hoza. In Hoza’s kingdom slavery is a way of life, and Jai Jiroux, a slave master, looks to the rebel cause to change that. In the midst of all the war, Rhea Loren revels in the chaos, knowing that she is underestimated. Surrounding it all, Bane, at the risk of his sanity, continues his quest to kill eight rulers and fulfill the Western Oracles prophecy.
It truly blows my mind that this series is self-published. I am awed by how deeply Estes has immersed me into the world of the Fatemarked Epic. Truthmarked builds on everything that was set up in its predecessor. In the previous book our characters were mostly traveling and discovering where it was, they stood in the world. Now they are established, each with their own trials and quests. Some have come together and others haven’t met yet, but they’re all working towards the same goal in different ways. There is so much growth happening here! These characters are shifting and shaping to be the complete opposite of who they were when they were first introduced to us. I have a hard time choosing which character I enjoyed following the most. They’re all so engaging and interesting to read! However, in terms of personal growth, I’ve got to give the literary trophy for character development to Grey Arris! This man had a great storyline that kept me glued to the page and bursting with pride as he took responsibility for the consequences of his choices, creating an evolution that made him one of my top favorite characters in the series.
Three new perspectives were introduced with Raven, The Beggar, and Jai Jiroux. For spoiler reasons I won’t get too far into their characters details, but each had something to offer to the story and I never felt the need to rush through their chapters. Estes does a great job making it feel like we’ve got a well-rounded perspective on each of the point-of-views, even if there is certainly more page time for some characters than others. I was especially surprised by Jai’s perspective, thinking that it was interesting but not entirely invested. That is until a major twist happens towards the last half of the book, leaving my jaw on the floor and utterly incoherent with anxiety. I had no idea how much I cared for this character and all those he interacted with until that point. I give the highest of fives to Estes for suddenly investing me in Jai’s story within a few sentences.
Truthmarked has a lot more action than Fatemarked; major battles are waged with serious consequences and some heartbreaking outcomes. The first half of the book is fun and sarcastic, with that familiar character chemistry I’ve come to love in Estes writing, but slowly we begin shifting towards the darker side of what this world is capable of inflicting upon the characters I’ve grown to care about. After every chapter I told myself this would be the last one for the day, and then continued on for hours. It is so hard to put these books down! Much is revealed with some great twists and shocking reveals. There were a few times I had to put the book down just to gather my thoughts on some of the implications I learned. This book left me on some of the highest highs, laughing through entire chapters with some golden moments of comedy. It also brought me down, mourning the loss of some beloved characters and crying during the trials of those I’d only known for a few chapters.
One of the reasons this series stands out to me is the amount of representation there is in this world. Estes has created a great cast of diverse characters that include POC, queer, neurodiversity, and plus-size characters. Most of the people representing these undervalued perspectives are our main characters. It is never forced or out of place; these reps are an interictal part of the story and centric to who the characters are. The story flows naturally with themes of slavery, class systems, culture clashes, and religion. Set in a fantasy world, Estes does an incredible job balancing real world problems with fantastical elements through the eyes of characters not often seen in fantasy.
Despite how much I praise the easing flow of chapter to chapter, I still find the prose to be simplistic at times. It is very hard for me to gauge where I stand on the prose because I could read a paragraph I feel is a bit cheesy or juvenile, and then immediately afterwards be blown away by an impactful line or internal monologue that the character is working through. The further I get into the series, the more I realize that this level of cheese fits within the bound of certain characters and it doesn’t bother me as much. In my opinion, the series is just missing that little extra polish of editorial work to make it a bit smoother. However, this does not impact my overall love for the book. The story is so good, and I’m so invested that these are just nick picks. It certainly doesn’t make me want to read the sequel any less!
Truthmarked is everything I want out of a sequel, daring challenges, bloody battles, witty commentary, lasting friendships, heartfelt romances, lovable new characters, tearful reunions, and heartbreaking separations. I enjoyed it more than Fatemarked and I hope that each book will be better than the last. I’m ready to devour Soulmarked!
“Fire breeds fire and even a single spark can birth an inferno.”
One of the best ways to uncover a new favorite series is to discover it by accident. The Fatemarked Epic has totally taken me by surprise, and I have been loving how it’s taken over my current reading schedule. Out of all my current reads, I still managed to finish this one first.
Truthmarked doesn’t hold back, thrusting the reader back into the story from where we were left in Fatemarked. Annise Garic is marching on Castle Hill, determined to take back the throne from her usurping uncle. Roan Loren and Gwendolyn Storm lose themselves in the dense, seemingly haunted forest of the Tangle, unable to reach Knight’s End to discover the purpose of their fatemarks. Grey Arris, leaves the name Grease Jolly behind, boarding a ship to recover his kidnapped sister, Shae. Far in the south, sisters Raven, Fire, and Whisper fight in a civil war against their estranged father, Vin Hoza. In Hoza’s kingdom slavery is a way of life, and Jai Jiroux, a slave master, looks to the rebel cause to change that. In the midst of all the war, Rhea Loren revels in the chaos, knowing that she is underestimated. Surrounding it all, Bane, at the risk of his sanity, continues his quest to kill eight rulers and fulfill the Western Oracles prophecy.
It truly blows my mind that this series is self-published. I am awed by how deeply Estes has immersed me into the world of the Fatemarked Epic. Truthmarked builds on everything that was set up in its predecessor. In the previous book our characters were mostly traveling and discovering where it was, they stood in the world. Now they are established, each with their own trials and quests. Some have come together and others haven’t met yet, but they’re all working towards the same goal in different ways. There is so much growth happening here! These characters are shifting and shaping to be the complete opposite of who they were when they were first introduced to us. I have a hard time choosing which character I enjoyed following the most. They’re all so engaging and interesting to read! However, in terms of personal growth, I’ve got to give the literary trophy for character development to Grey Arris! This man had a great storyline that kept me glued to the page and bursting with pride as he took responsibility for the consequences of his choices, creating an evolution that made him one of my top favorite characters in the series.
Three new perspectives were introduced with Raven, The Beggar, and Jai Jiroux. For spoiler reasons I won’t get too far into their characters details, but each had something to offer to the story and I never felt the need to rush through their chapters. Estes does a great job making it feel like we’ve got a well-rounded perspective on each of the point-of-views, even if there is certainly more page time for some characters than others. I was especially surprised by Jai’s perspective, thinking that it was interesting but not entirely invested. That is until a major twist happens towards the last half of the book, leaving my jaw on the floor and utterly incoherent with anxiety. I had no idea how much I cared for this character and all those he interacted with until that point. I give the highest of fives to Estes for suddenly investing me in Jai’s story within a few sentences.
Truthmarked has a lot more action than Fatemarked; major battles are waged with serious consequences and some heartbreaking outcomes. The first half of the book is fun and sarcastic, with that familiar character chemistry I’ve come to love in Estes writing, but slowly we begin shifting towards the darker side of what this world is capable of inflicting upon the characters I’ve grown to care about. After every chapter I told myself this would be the last one for the day, and then continued on for hours. It is so hard to put these books down! Much is revealed with some great twists and shocking reveals. There were a few times I had to put the book down just to gather my thoughts on some of the implications I learned. This book left me on some of the highest highs, laughing through entire chapters with some golden moments of comedy. It also brought me down, mourning the loss of some beloved characters and crying during the trials of those I’d only known for a few chapters.
One of the reasons this series stands out to me is the amount of representation there is in this world. Estes has created a great cast of diverse characters that include POC, queer, neurodiversity, and plus-size characters. Most of the people representing these undervalued perspectives are our main characters. It is never forced or out of place; these reps are an interictal part of the story and centric to who the characters are. The story flows naturally with themes of slavery, class systems, culture clashes, and religion. Set in a fantasy world, Estes does an incredible job balancing real world problems with fantastical elements through the eyes of characters not often seen in fantasy.
Despite how much I praise the easing flow of chapter to chapter, I still find the prose to be simplistic at times. It is very hard for me to gauge where I stand on the prose because I could read a paragraph I feel is a bit cheesy or juvenile, and then immediately afterwards be blown away by an impactful line or internal monologue that the character is working through. The further I get into the series, the more I realize that this level of cheese fits within the bound of certain characters and it doesn’t bother me as much. In my opinion, the series is just missing that little extra polish of editorial work to make it a bit smoother. However, this does not impact my overall love for the book. The story is so good, and I’m so invested that these are just nick picks. It certainly doesn’t make me want to read the sequel any less!
Truthmarked is everything I want out of a sequel, daring challenges, bloody battles, witty commentary, lasting friendships, heartfelt romances, lovable new characters, tearful reunions, and heartbreaking separations. I enjoyed it more than Fatemarked and I hope that each book will be better than the last. I’m ready to devour Soulmarked!
March 9, 2025
The Fatemarked Epic pasaule ir uz vēl lielāku pārmaiņu un to izraisītu notikumu virpuļa sliekšņa nekā līdz šim tā pieredzējusi. Jau vairāk nekā simts gadus četras karalistes (ar izdomu nosauktas debesvirzienu nosaukumus kā Ziemeļu vai Dienvidu karaliste) savā starpā aktīvi karo, kaut gan rodas iespaids, ka arī pirms tam lielāki vai mazāki militāri konflikti nav bijuši retums, un dažs labs tēls, kā Beins, ir gatavs uzņemties to smago pienākumu, lai censtos realizēt jau par mītu un leģendu kļuvušu Rietumu orākules pareģojumu, ka, nogalinot astoņus valdniekus, būtu iespējams panākt mieru pasaulē.
https://poseidons99.com/2025/03/09/da...
https://poseidons99.com/2025/03/09/da...
April 5, 2021
This work was a fantastic continuation of the series - some new characters were added to the lineup which allowed a view into other parts of the world. And both the new and old characters got some excellent character development - they are all well written and most are quite relatable, making the book immersive. There was a little more romance than the previous book, but it wasn't graphic and forwarded the plot; and yes, one of the characters is bi. I appreciated how naturally it was written in, the author did a really good job. Also, the short stories at the end of the story are PERFECT - they add to the lore and depth of the world/characters without slowing the story down for massive lore drops. I highly recommend this book to Young Adults and Adults alike!
April 20, 2021
I like the first book in the series for striking a good balance between a YA and adult tone. The second is a miss for me. A lot of the romance seems to be slapped on top to add length, but doesn't really drive the plot. It adds a neurotic, distracted, almost whiny element to all of the characters that causes this book to feel much more YA than the first book. Not everybody needs to be conflicted between their love and their duty. Not everybody needs to be brooding and closed off. The intertwined primary plots were great, but moved very slowly due all the characters pining for one another.
April 16, 2017
An amazing continuation of this epic adventure, with excellent worldbuilding, a fantastic cast of characters, and a plot that will keep you on your toes.
June 18, 2017
How can a series just reach out and grab you???
This series is unbelievably good! I recommend that everyone who enjoys fantasy try it!
This series is unbelievably good! I recommend that everyone who enjoys fantasy try it!
March 9, 2020
Another good installment. Do be prepared for lots of destruction and loss.
November 15, 2024
I can't stop this series. All the twists and turns are addictive.
April 25, 2017
Definitely better than the first book of the series. And while some of the kinks from the first book were worked out some still remain. There was some interesting character and story development in this novel and the plot is getting intriguing.
Will pick up the next one soon and I hope the upward trend continues and it's better than it's predecessor just like this one.
Will pick up the next one soon and I hope the upward trend continues and it's better than it's predecessor just like this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2018
A really great follow-up to book one. You get the backgrounds on important characters and delve deep into the lives of the fatemarked and the (mostly) queens. Interesting and exciting read.
January 23, 2023
Truly a fantastic sequel. I loved every word and found myself hooked.. unable to put the book down.
Onto book 3, Soulmarked!
Onto book 3, Soulmarked!
September 14, 2022
This was a hard one to rate. There were many 5 star elements but also many 1 star elements mixed in there. I enjoyed it but also found myself fast forwarding the audible narration at many points.
Positive
1) World building was fantastic. The kingdoms are outlined in detail and create distinctions with cultural and geographical characteristics that give great flavor. The history of each kingdom and noble families was rich and provided cool context to the current struggle. Just epic in scope.
2) Estes writes beautifully and with eloquence.
3) Even though I don't particularly like many of the characters, they all have depth and are fully fleshed out. I don't take points away whether I like a character or not. In fact that is a plus in my book as not everyone is likable.
4) The plot moved forward at a nice pace and had a good mix of action and prose. I dislike prophecy in books, but even so it was an enjoyable plot.
5) Creative fantasy elements. The Fatemarked angle is really cool and has many possibilities.
Negatives
1) The simplicity of war and peace. War has been defined by Carl von Clausewitz as diplomacy by other means. There is usually a set political goal that war is supposed to achieve and some rational for why it is important. And usually there some limited goals set out to achieve victory not to conquer everyone around you. Yet in this book, the war mongers just seem to want to go war with all four kingdoms at every turn. No explanation as to why except for some vague reasoning. The peace makers seem to spurn war for every reason as well. Yet in some cases, war must be made to achieve peace. The simplicity of this theme just ran counter to how well the author thought out his other world building aspects. That kind of naivety and lack of geo-political understanding is great for college age students but when writing a book from the POV of rulers you just have to do better. This really bugged me throughout the first two books.
2) At times I couldn't figure out if I was reading a fantasy novel or a romance. The aforementioned fast forwarding usually happened at these moments. There was just too much with too many characters. The sappiness of the dialogue was too much with many of them as well. And with all the crazy events taking place it's a little hard to swallow that they would have so much time to just wallow in romantic angst for such long stretches. Did not care at all for Roan's romance angle.
3) The book was just way too long. There were stretches that just didn't need to be in there with the amount of plot movement. You could have taken about a quarter to one third out and it would have been much better.
4) The prophesy angle just seemed too convenient at times. Like their fatemarks would "pulse" at times letting them know what to do. How does this work exactly? Seems too much of a convenient plot devise. I think good fantasy world's have the "magical" elements conform to some form of understandable system and the fatemarks at times worked like plot devices rather than a part of the world's magic elements.
So some good, some bad. I enjoyed it just enough to buy the next one in the series and see Bane's next target.
Positive
1) World building was fantastic. The kingdoms are outlined in detail and create distinctions with cultural and geographical characteristics that give great flavor. The history of each kingdom and noble families was rich and provided cool context to the current struggle. Just epic in scope.
2) Estes writes beautifully and with eloquence.
3) Even though I don't particularly like many of the characters, they all have depth and are fully fleshed out. I don't take points away whether I like a character or not. In fact that is a plus in my book as not everyone is likable.
4) The plot moved forward at a nice pace and had a good mix of action and prose. I dislike prophecy in books, but even so it was an enjoyable plot.
5) Creative fantasy elements. The Fatemarked angle is really cool and has many possibilities.
Negatives
1) The simplicity of war and peace. War has been defined by Carl von Clausewitz as diplomacy by other means. There is usually a set political goal that war is supposed to achieve and some rational for why it is important. And usually there some limited goals set out to achieve victory not to conquer everyone around you. Yet in this book, the war mongers just seem to want to go war with all four kingdoms at every turn. No explanation as to why except for some vague reasoning. The peace makers seem to spurn war for every reason as well. Yet in some cases, war must be made to achieve peace. The simplicity of this theme just ran counter to how well the author thought out his other world building aspects. That kind of naivety and lack of geo-political understanding is great for college age students but when writing a book from the POV of rulers you just have to do better. This really bugged me throughout the first two books.
2) At times I couldn't figure out if I was reading a fantasy novel or a romance. The aforementioned fast forwarding usually happened at these moments. There was just too much with too many characters. The sappiness of the dialogue was too much with many of them as well. And with all the crazy events taking place it's a little hard to swallow that they would have so much time to just wallow in romantic angst for such long stretches. Did not care at all for Roan's romance angle.
3) The book was just way too long. There were stretches that just didn't need to be in there with the amount of plot movement. You could have taken about a quarter to one third out and it would have been much better.
4) The prophesy angle just seemed too convenient at times. Like their fatemarks would "pulse" at times letting them know what to do. How does this work exactly? Seems too much of a convenient plot devise. I think good fantasy world's have the "magical" elements conform to some form of understandable system and the fatemarks at times worked like plot devices rather than a part of the world's magic elements.
So some good, some bad. I enjoyed it just enough to buy the next one in the series and see Bane's next target.
May 30, 2018
It is a testament to David Estes' skill as a storyteller that I am able to finish a 600+ page book in a couple of days. Like Fatemarked, this was a fast-paced, thrilling adventure ride. There are lots of characters (which can be a turn-off for me), but they are so well-developed that I found myself invested in all of their stories (even the ones I didn't particularly care for--yes, that means you, Rhea!)
The world-building is excellent, the plot is intricate, and the writing is quite beautiful at times. I found myself wanting to read "just one more chapter" before setting the book down each night. I admit I sacrificed some sleep, but sometimes, you just to have know what happens next.
A great story, well told. I look forward to the rest of the journey through the Four Kingdoms.
The world-building is excellent, the plot is intricate, and the writing is quite beautiful at times. I found myself wanting to read "just one more chapter" before setting the book down each night. I admit I sacrificed some sleep, but sometimes, you just to have know what happens next.
A great story, well told. I look forward to the rest of the journey through the Four Kingdoms.
December 14, 2020
THE WAY I LITERALLY KNEW RHEA WOULD BE PREGGERS - as soon as someone has unprotected sex in the beginning of a story, you know. You KNOW.
I am a proud mother of Grey Arris. In just one book, his character development has come SO FAR. I love him and Kyla together, even though they got basically no page time, and I love the dynamic between him and Shae, even though they also got basically no page time. Grey deserves more page time. That is all.
I KNOW in my bones Kyla is probably going to die, most likely at the hands of our vengeful queen Rhea. And yet I find myself hoping, against all odds, that Rhea dies a horrible death and Grey and Kyla get married and raise Rhea and Grey’s child together and have more children together and have a happy little family. Is that too much to ask?
Jai isn’t one of my favorite characters, but I didn’t find myself hating him, which is nice. He was just so righteous and good, but not in the way I like, if that makes sense? It kind of felt like he had no flaws, a hero ripped out of a storybook, which was a bit annoying. But then the end hit you, and MAN did it hit. I can’t wait to see what happens with Jai’s development from here - hopefully he’ll become a more interesting, nuanced character.
I’m quite sure the author’s intent was that I’m supposed to relate to Rhea, or at the very least sympathize with her, but I can’t. She’s a rich, privileged girl who was constantly disobeying her father and being a brat. Did she deserve what she got in Fatemarked? Absolutely not. But neither was that an excuse for her to become some holy war-monger. I can’t find myself liking her one bit, or even tolerating her. This did not really affect my enjoyment of the book at all - if anything, it just makes her a better villainess in my eyes. Still, I figured I’d mention it, even though no one but me will see this review.
I finished this in one day. ONE DAY. Wow. Sometimes I impress even myself.
I am a proud mother of Grey Arris. In just one book, his character development has come SO FAR. I love him and Kyla together, even though they got basically no page time, and I love the dynamic between him and Shae, even though they also got basically no page time. Grey deserves more page time. That is all.
I KNOW in my bones Kyla is probably going to die, most likely at the hands of our vengeful queen Rhea. And yet I find myself hoping, against all odds, that Rhea dies a horrible death and Grey and Kyla get married and raise Rhea and Grey’s child together and have more children together and have a happy little family. Is that too much to ask?
Jai isn’t one of my favorite characters, but I didn’t find myself hating him, which is nice. He was just so righteous and good, but not in the way I like, if that makes sense? It kind of felt like he had no flaws, a hero ripped out of a storybook, which was a bit annoying. But then the end hit you, and MAN did it hit. I can’t wait to see what happens with Jai’s development from here - hopefully he’ll become a more interesting, nuanced character.
I’m quite sure the author’s intent was that I’m supposed to relate to Rhea, or at the very least sympathize with her, but I can’t. She’s a rich, privileged girl who was constantly disobeying her father and being a brat. Did she deserve what she got in Fatemarked? Absolutely not. But neither was that an excuse for her to become some holy war-monger. I can’t find myself liking her one bit, or even tolerating her. This did not really affect my enjoyment of the book at all - if anything, it just makes her a better villainess in my eyes. Still, I figured I’d mention it, even though no one but me will see this review.
I finished this in one day. ONE DAY. Wow. Sometimes I impress even myself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2017
EPIC. AWESOME. WORTH-IT.
Fantasy is my favorite genre, so obviously I have read too many books that fall into this category. I did not pay a cent for this book and had access to it for free using my Kindle Unlimited account. Hands down this series was better than all the fantasy I have purchased in the last year.
Why I absolutely adore this series:
1.The worldbuilding is intricate and thorough.
2. The plot is fast-paced and action packed.
3. I usually hate too many POVs and quick POV switches and this book was the perfect example of what I absolutely hate in a book. But wait. The fantastic cast of characters made me care for each and every one of them.
4. Nobody was back or white. Plenty of grey, immoral characters.
I recommend this series to anyone who loves epic-fantasy or has the time to read a good book!
Fantasy is my favorite genre, so obviously I have read too many books that fall into this category. I did not pay a cent for this book and had access to it for free using my Kindle Unlimited account. Hands down this series was better than all the fantasy I have purchased in the last year.
Why I absolutely adore this series:
1.The worldbuilding is intricate and thorough.
2. The plot is fast-paced and action packed.
3. I usually hate too many POVs and quick POV switches and this book was the perfect example of what I absolutely hate in a book. But wait. The fantastic cast of characters made me care for each and every one of them.
4. Nobody was back or white. Plenty of grey, immoral characters.
I recommend this series to anyone who loves epic-fantasy or has the time to read a good book!
May 21, 2017
David Estes has done it again. Fatemarked is a great series so far. "Truthmarked" is book two and I loved it. I was skeptical, as I like Estes' YA dystopian, but this epic fantasy doesn't disappoint. Will be moving on the next book. I give it five stars and can recommend for teens and up.
December 30, 2017
I am in love. . .
. . .with these books, these characters, these kingdoms, and these stories.
Hints of Tolkien, R.R. Martin, and Stephen King's Dark Tower make these books a brand new experience with a familiar feel.
Highly enjoyable!!
. . .with these books, these characters, these kingdoms, and these stories.
Hints of Tolkien, R.R. Martin, and Stephen King's Dark Tower make these books a brand new experience with a familiar feel.
Highly enjoyable!!
January 16, 2018
Great Book
Fast paced and it was a great read. I want to read more to find out what happens to these kingdoms.
I find somethings were amiss on the tack with the horses and such, but oh well it’s still a good book.
Fast paced and it was a great read. I want to read more to find out what happens to these kingdoms.
I find somethings were amiss on the tack with the horses and such, but oh well it’s still a good book.
March 24, 2018
Loved it, of course.
April 13, 2018
Really enjoying this series. Have started the third one.
May 24, 2020
Truthmarked by David Estes is book two of five in his Fatemarked epic series. I had a pretty good time with Fatemarked but wanted to quickly see how the followup would be. I’m happy to say that it is better than the first and exceeded my expectation. For one, the story picks up the pace much quicker than the first. There’s a lot more action this time around. Secondly, a couple of new characters were introduced which I didn’t mind one bit. Although the original cast were slightly above average, adding a new character or two did keep the story from getting too stale by introducing new elements and perspectives.
The overall story got some good progression level. Each character seems to be moving toward their own goals and building up momentum for things to come. The Four Kingdoms is still in a stage of turmoil and the author does a good job at making each character feel important in the overall scheme of things. I did not particularly cared for Grease Jolly’s character and struggle in the first book but his part got better in Truthmarked. I have a good feeling that his sister Shae would finally play a bigger part in book three. Her part in deciding the destiny of the Four Kingdoms seems to be underrated for now but hopefully that will change soon. I also said that the author wasn’t able to create a villain or character that the reader is supposed to really hate on in book one. Here in Truthmarked and presumably going forward, I’m assuming Rhea will be the chosen one to fulfill that role. We all get her plight and why she turned out the way she did but I would have hoped the author not spend every chance he gets to remind us of it during the telling of her part in the story. It gets irritating real fast. I also thought that her character should have been through more dramatic experiences before her transformation.
Things definitely picked up in Truthmarked as I mentioned earlier. We have a lot more battles at massive scale. The introduction of Jai and Raven was also a welcome. If anything, it seems that the southern kingdom has the most interesting history out of the Four Kingdoms. Some might find themselves put-off or uncomfortable with Roan’s bisexuality but I honestly never get offended at these things. For one, it’s only a story and secondly, it’s a reality. What I did discovered however is that the author’s writing is once again on par and flows from chapter to chapter. I never found myself skipping any parts through my reading and he does enough to describe things to give us a good vivid picture in our mind without babbling on and on. The first two of the books is around the 500 page mark, which I feel is just about right. The final three looks to be in the 800 pages mark so it will be interesting to see how it will hold up.
I find myself quite thrilled with this series overall. For some odd reason it’s not entirely captivating as other series I’ve read in the past but I discovered I had an urge to keep pushing on to see how things will turn out in the end. Everything the author does seems to be above average and yet I seem to be completely drawn in. Oddly, I’m not really rooting for any characters nor is there one more memorable than the other yet I feel compelled to see how things will turn out for them. Here’s to hoping book three will be another treat!
The overall story got some good progression level. Each character seems to be moving toward their own goals and building up momentum for things to come. The Four Kingdoms is still in a stage of turmoil and the author does a good job at making each character feel important in the overall scheme of things. I did not particularly cared for Grease Jolly’s character and struggle in the first book but his part got better in Truthmarked. I have a good feeling that his sister Shae would finally play a bigger part in book three. Her part in deciding the destiny of the Four Kingdoms seems to be underrated for now but hopefully that will change soon. I also said that the author wasn’t able to create a villain or character that the reader is supposed to really hate on in book one. Here in Truthmarked and presumably going forward, I’m assuming Rhea will be the chosen one to fulfill that role. We all get her plight and why she turned out the way she did but I would have hoped the author not spend every chance he gets to remind us of it during the telling of her part in the story. It gets irritating real fast. I also thought that her character should have been through more dramatic experiences before her transformation.
Things definitely picked up in Truthmarked as I mentioned earlier. We have a lot more battles at massive scale. The introduction of Jai and Raven was also a welcome. If anything, it seems that the southern kingdom has the most interesting history out of the Four Kingdoms. Some might find themselves put-off or uncomfortable with Roan’s bisexuality but I honestly never get offended at these things. For one, it’s only a story and secondly, it’s a reality. What I did discovered however is that the author’s writing is once again on par and flows from chapter to chapter. I never found myself skipping any parts through my reading and he does enough to describe things to give us a good vivid picture in our mind without babbling on and on. The first two of the books is around the 500 page mark, which I feel is just about right. The final three looks to be in the 800 pages mark so it will be interesting to see how it will hold up.
I find myself quite thrilled with this series overall. For some odd reason it’s not entirely captivating as other series I’ve read in the past but I discovered I had an urge to keep pushing on to see how things will turn out in the end. Everything the author does seems to be above average and yet I seem to be completely drawn in. Oddly, I’m not really rooting for any characters nor is there one more memorable than the other yet I feel compelled to see how things will turn out for them. Here’s to hoping book three will be another treat!
January 18, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐
I'm in two minds about this book - the sequel to a book that both engrossed and infuriated me with great action sequences and unimpressive character development. I made a pledge that, if I didn't enjoy this book, then I wouldn't persevere with the rest of the series.
And, as I finish the book, that is sadly the case.
It improves on a number of areas that I struggled with in the first book: the characterisation is excellent for the established characters; the overarching storyline and themes are really really investing; the different regions and clearly defined, and I loved the scenes with the Dead Isles. Grey Arris, Rhea and Annise were standout characters, the Sandes' storyline was great too.
But that's where the praise stops for me, and I start to encounter some issues.
We are introduced to two new main characters - Raven Sandes and Jai Jiroux - one of whom is an heiress, and the other is a benevolent slavemaster. Raven is a complex, dutiful character and worries for her sisters and has reservations about the warmongering they have planned. And Jai, is... a benevolent slavemaster, and you should like him and relate to him because he wants to free his slaves, but that is where the character development completely stops with him - the exact same issue that I had with characters in book 1. I didn't care for his character - but saying that, I struggled to care for the majority of the characters as I read, and I think that's largely down to my frustration with the writing style.
And then there was Sir Metz, introduced in a single chapter about halfway in, and had Estes just made him say "I'M AUTISTIC BY THE WAY" it would have been less cringe than the interactions in that chapter. It was a trait-bomb of stereotypical autistic characteristics in a person, that felt completely shoehorned in, and as with Jai Jiroux that was the defining quality of his character and nothing else.
I was frustrated with the book: both for loving sections of it and acknowledging how much of an improvement it was on the first book for me, while also wanting to claw my eyes out for how the book disengaged me so frequently.
I would of course tell people to try the series for themselves, as I know these books do have a lot of love in the community, but I find myself unable to continue with it and so won't be reading on.
I'm in two minds about this book - the sequel to a book that both engrossed and infuriated me with great action sequences and unimpressive character development. I made a pledge that, if I didn't enjoy this book, then I wouldn't persevere with the rest of the series.
And, as I finish the book, that is sadly the case.
It improves on a number of areas that I struggled with in the first book: the characterisation is excellent for the established characters; the overarching storyline and themes are really really investing; the different regions and clearly defined, and I loved the scenes with the Dead Isles. Grey Arris, Rhea and Annise were standout characters, the Sandes' storyline was great too.
But that's where the praise stops for me, and I start to encounter some issues.
We are introduced to two new main characters - Raven Sandes and Jai Jiroux - one of whom is an heiress, and the other is a benevolent slavemaster. Raven is a complex, dutiful character and worries for her sisters and has reservations about the warmongering they have planned. And Jai, is... a benevolent slavemaster, and you should like him and relate to him because he wants to free his slaves, but that is where the character development completely stops with him - the exact same issue that I had with characters in book 1. I didn't care for his character - but saying that, I struggled to care for the majority of the characters as I read, and I think that's largely down to my frustration with the writing style.
And then there was Sir Metz, introduced in a single chapter about halfway in, and had Estes just made him say "I'M AUTISTIC BY THE WAY" it would have been less cringe than the interactions in that chapter. It was a trait-bomb of stereotypical autistic characteristics in a person, that felt completely shoehorned in, and as with Jai Jiroux that was the defining quality of his character and nothing else.
I was frustrated with the book: both for loving sections of it and acknowledging how much of an improvement it was on the first book for me, while also wanting to claw my eyes out for how the book disengaged me so frequently.
I would of course tell people to try the series for themselves, as I know these books do have a lot of love in the community, but I find myself unable to continue with it and so won't be reading on.
July 7, 2020
This is a great series and I've only read two of the books so far.
I can't stress enough how entertaining it is to see the whole picture from different perspectives. Much as in real life, good people die and others are abandoned. You've got to feel sorry for Chavos/Beggar as he's sucked into Bane's vortex. And poor, poor Jai. He tries so hard to save the slaves. You will be gobsmacked by how his story ends in this volume.
Raven and Fire go to war.
Roan meets Rhea. Gareth and Gwen suffer residual damage. Enough said.
Annise grows and matures as she assume the queen's mantle.
Grey rescues his sister. Her fatemark is still a mystery.
I believe that covers the primary characters. The five postludes at the end are an enjoyable bonus. Heinrich was a complete unknown to me. I'm guessing we read about him as introduction to his son, Tomas. I assume Tomas will be featured in another book. Of course Viper had been mentioned when reading about Raven so it was interesting to find out more of her history. I do have one issue in that when she was going to seduce Cadon she "scented herself in tea tree oil." Have you ever smelled tea tree oil? It's disgusting.
It may have been overlooked by me in the first book, but I appreciated seeing what the various fatemarks look like and reading the character's genealogy.
Last but not least, this is one of the few books I have recently perused where there were no blatant spelling or grammatical errors. Well done.
I can't stress enough how entertaining it is to see the whole picture from different perspectives. Much as in real life, good people die and others are abandoned. You've got to feel sorry for Chavos/Beggar as he's sucked into Bane's vortex. And poor, poor Jai. He tries so hard to save the slaves. You will be gobsmacked by how his story ends in this volume.
Raven and Fire go to war.
Roan meets Rhea. Gareth and Gwen suffer residual damage. Enough said.
Annise grows and matures as she assume the queen's mantle.
Grey rescues his sister. Her fatemark is still a mystery.
I believe that covers the primary characters. The five postludes at the end are an enjoyable bonus. Heinrich was a complete unknown to me. I'm guessing we read about him as introduction to his son, Tomas. I assume Tomas will be featured in another book. Of course Viper had been mentioned when reading about Raven so it was interesting to find out more of her history. I do have one issue in that when she was going to seduce Cadon she "scented herself in tea tree oil." Have you ever smelled tea tree oil? It's disgusting.
It may have been overlooked by me in the first book, but I appreciated seeing what the various fatemarks look like and reading the character's genealogy.
Last but not least, this is one of the few books I have recently perused where there were no blatant spelling or grammatical errors. Well done.
August 21, 2018
High Fantasy
I've read a few saga's, not in order but including Dune, the Hornblower epic, Bob Heinlein's notes of Lazarus Long, Ann McCaffery's Dragon Riders, the Robots of Isaac Asimov and many more. Mr. Estes is showing me he might be creating a Saga, yes, with a capital "S".
Why?
His main characters, the Fatemarked, have been solidly established (as should be the case with any good book), and with this book he is establishing the characters that influenced and controlled the reasons there was a 100 Years War.
He writes to bring a depth to these minor characters like few authors are able to do. By the time he moved on to another character, I "knew" the person he just finished.
His support team has done an outstanding job of proofing his work and making certain it all smoothly twines together. In the first book of this work, I found only two errors. One was a misspelled 3 letter word that trasformed it into another 3 letter word spell check couldn't find. The other was the substitution of the word reigns for reins. No spell check could catch that either.
This book eliminated errors like that. "Maybe" there was an error, but if so, I was so engrossed in this book it disappeared.
Ok, I got so "into" this book my wife had to interrupt to tell me it was 4:30 in the morning. I promptly went to bed ... nearly 2 hours later.
I've read a few saga's, not in order but including Dune, the Hornblower epic, Bob Heinlein's notes of Lazarus Long, Ann McCaffery's Dragon Riders, the Robots of Isaac Asimov and many more. Mr. Estes is showing me he might be creating a Saga, yes, with a capital "S".
Why?
His main characters, the Fatemarked, have been solidly established (as should be the case with any good book), and with this book he is establishing the characters that influenced and controlled the reasons there was a 100 Years War.
He writes to bring a depth to these minor characters like few authors are able to do. By the time he moved on to another character, I "knew" the person he just finished.
His support team has done an outstanding job of proofing his work and making certain it all smoothly twines together. In the first book of this work, I found only two errors. One was a misspelled 3 letter word that trasformed it into another 3 letter word spell check couldn't find. The other was the substitution of the word reigns for reins. No spell check could catch that either.
This book eliminated errors like that. "Maybe" there was an error, but if so, I was so engrossed in this book it disappeared.
Ok, I got so "into" this book my wife had to interrupt to tell me it was 4:30 in the morning. I promptly went to bed ... nearly 2 hours later.
October 29, 2021
The Fatemarked Epic really does have potential. The premise is interesting, there are compelling characters, and the plot moves along...decently. It's simply hard to look past a number of things that made this a difficult read for me.
The worst of these - for me - was the amount and type of romance in the book. There was a lot of it, and there were a lot of "fade-to-black" scenes (which were far less common in the first book, but still troubled me). For those who share my religious views, it's worth noting that one of the romances is same-sex and to my recollection all fade-to-black scenes were between unmarried characters. Unfortunately, this alone is enough that I can't recommend the book or series.
In addition, there were many points that set my teeth on edge. E.g., battles - all of them - are bloodbaths. Ninety-percent attrition seems to be normal, with no explanation provided for why armies are holding on beyond all reason. Multiple details were included without any obvious payoff - making a weapon that doesn't really play any role later, for example, in a side story that only seems to serve to delay the plot. The postludes dragged painfully, and I skimmed the last two out of sheer desperation to finish the thing.
There are good ideas here. I wish they were implemented better.
The worst of these - for me - was the amount and type of romance in the book. There was a lot of it, and there were a lot of "fade-to-black" scenes (which were far less common in the first book, but still troubled me). For those who share my religious views, it's worth noting that one of the romances is same-sex and to my recollection all fade-to-black scenes were between unmarried characters. Unfortunately, this alone is enough that I can't recommend the book or series.
In addition, there were many points that set my teeth on edge. E.g., battles - all of them - are bloodbaths. Ninety-percent attrition seems to be normal, with no explanation provided for why armies are holding on beyond all reason. Multiple details were included without any obvious payoff - making a weapon that doesn't really play any role later, for example, in a side story that only seems to serve to delay the plot. The postludes dragged painfully, and I skimmed the last two out of sheer desperation to finish the thing.
There are good ideas here. I wish they were implemented better.
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