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The War Priests of Andrak Saga #1
The Children of Never
FEAR NO DARKNESS!The War Priests have defended the world against the vile Omegri for generations. Staunch defenders of the Purifying Flame, the lone light capable of preventing the darkness from creeping in, they stand the watch for 100 days each year. It is the Burning Season. A time of strife where their power is sorely tested and there are constant dangers let loose in the world. In the Duchy of Fent the Grey Wanderer has been spotted moving through the mist. Where he goes, bad things follow. Children soon begin to disappear. Whispers of the dead returned to life spread. The Baron is beset by evil and forced to turn to Castle Andrak for aid.Brother Quinlan and his squire are deployed to Fent in the hopes of solving the mystery of the missing children and stopping the evil from spreading. What he discovers stretches him to the edge of sanity, for evil is never satisfied. The Omegri will have this world and all within it should the War Priests fall.The Children of Never is the follow on novel to the L Ron Hubbard Writer's of the Future Contest 4th place winner The Purifying Flame.
- GenresFantasy
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2020
11 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Christian Warren Freed
56 books747 followersChristian W. Freed was born in Buffalo, N.Y. more years ago than he would like to remember. After spending more than 20 years in the active-duty US Army he has turned his talents to writing. Since retiring, he has gone on to publish over 25 military fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as his memoirs from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, a children's book, and a pair of how to books focused on indie authors and the decision making process for writing a book and what happens after it is published.
His first published book (Hammers in the Wind) has been the #1 free book on Kindle 4 times and he holds a fancy certificate from the L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. Ok, so it was for 4th place in one quarter, but it's still recognition from the largest fiction writing contest in the world. And no, he's not a scientologist.
Passionate about history, he combines his knowledge of the past with modern military tactics to create an engaging, quasi-realistic world for the readers. He graduated from Campbell University with a degree in history and a Masters of Arts degree in Digital Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He currently lives outside of Raleigh, N.C. and devotes his time to writing, his family, and their two Bernese Mountain Dogs. If you drive by you might just find him on the porch with a cigar in one hand and a pen in the other. You can find out more about his work by following him on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianFreed
Twitter:
@ChristianWFreed
Instagram: www.instagram.com/christianwarrenfreed/
Website: https://christianwfreed.com/
Join his mailing list for new releases, updates, and upcoming events: http://subscribepage.com/warfighterbooks
Books by Christian Warren Freed
The Forgotten Gods Tales
#1 Dreams of Winter
#2 The Madman on the Rocks
#3 Anguish Once Possessed
#4 Through Darkness Besieged
#5 Under Tattered Banners
#6 A Time For Tyrants
An Hour of Wolves- short story
The Northern Crusade
#1 Hammers in the Wind
#2 Tides of Blood and Steel
#3 A Whisper After Midnight
#4 Empire of Bones
#5 The Madness of Gods and Kings
#6 Evens Gods Must Fall
The Histories of Malweir (all stand alones)
#1 Armies of the Silver Mage
#2 The Dragon Hunters
#3 Beyond the Edge of Dawn
Immortality Shattered
#1 Law of the Heretic
#2 The Bitter War of Always
#3 The Land of Wicked Shadows
# Storm Upon the Dawn
The Children of Never (stand alone)
Where Have all the Elves Gone? (stand alone)
One of Our Elves is Missing
The Lazarus Men (stand alone)
Repercussions: A Lazarus Men Agenda #2
A Long Way From Home: My Time in Iraq and Afghanistan 2002-2006
Coward's Truth: A Novel of the Heart Eternal
Tomorrow's Demise: The Extinction Campaign
Tomorrow's Demise: Salvation
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 19, 2019
In this dark fantasy world, the children of Fent are being abducted and the Grey Wanderer has brought back to life a man once dead. Although life isn’t quite what I would call his existence, it is more like a partial life as he is indebted to follow the requests of those who raised him back up. But after nearly twenty children go missing, even the Baron of the land can no longer pretend it isn’t occurring or have only the minimal amount of resources dedicated to finding the children, especially after he sees the ghost of one in his private chambers. The only possible solution is to send a request to the Priests of Andrak for assistance.
In this world, the Priests of Andrak are respected, feared. They hold back the Omegri, or demon-like creatures, from entering during the Burning Season. The Omegri only have a small amount of influence in the realm of the living, but what they want is more and they use the Burning Season – a hundred day period where the Omegri try to re-enter the world – to gain a foothold. The ongoing battle between the War Priests and the Omegri has taken a huge toll, the War Priests once were many castles strong, but now only have one last castle: Castle Andrak.
The main story actually follows along a couple of different paths. One is with the Quinlan, the War Priest who has come to Fent to assist in finding the children and put down Baron Lord, the deceased man who is abducting them. The other is with the local troops who patrol between two villages looking for Baron Lord as he wanders. But there in one of the villages something else is a bit off and the leaders of the troops begin to investigate although their methods seem a bit unrefined.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and found the writing and storytelling very fluid. It is always a pleasure to find books where I am immediately drawn into the story from the beginning as I did when I read the descriptive language in the first chapter regarding the Grey Wanderer and the children. In addition, there were a few other things I came to really appreciate:
1) The story is from a different perspective than your typical fantasy novel, which is really nice to see. You don’t always have to save the world or come into great powers or form a rebellion to have a good story. Not to mention the mild horror aspects of it that help set the mood, especially at the beginning.
2) The back story of the War Priests regarding what they do and how they do it was told very judiciously. They aren’t overly explained with their entire history give to us. To me there is a still a shroud of mystery about them as I am still not quite sure what all their capabilities are and where their magical power lies.
3) The characters each had their own concerns, worries, fears, and flaws to work through. Baron Einos may be Lord of the land, but even he worries about rebellion if answers can’t be found. Lizette, the mother of one of the missing children, finds her voice as a representative between the Baron and the family. Sergeant Sava, a soldier in charge of the troops, is a character whom I suspect isn’t one that you are necessarily supposed to love, but perhaps come to appreciate as he does what he feels he needs to do to maintain troop preparedness. (I’m actually still working through my feelings on this character and haven’t decided if I like him as a character or hated him.)
The only concern I did have was the additional War Priest being brought in toward the end as I wondered what their role is. However, since this is a new series I suspect this character may be helping to set up future books.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for a review copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
In this world, the Priests of Andrak are respected, feared. They hold back the Omegri, or demon-like creatures, from entering during the Burning Season. The Omegri only have a small amount of influence in the realm of the living, but what they want is more and they use the Burning Season – a hundred day period where the Omegri try to re-enter the world – to gain a foothold. The ongoing battle between the War Priests and the Omegri has taken a huge toll, the War Priests once were many castles strong, but now only have one last castle: Castle Andrak.
The main story actually follows along a couple of different paths. One is with the Quinlan, the War Priest who has come to Fent to assist in finding the children and put down Baron Lord, the deceased man who is abducting them. The other is with the local troops who patrol between two villages looking for Baron Lord as he wanders. But there in one of the villages something else is a bit off and the leaders of the troops begin to investigate although their methods seem a bit unrefined.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and found the writing and storytelling very fluid. It is always a pleasure to find books where I am immediately drawn into the story from the beginning as I did when I read the descriptive language in the first chapter regarding the Grey Wanderer and the children. In addition, there were a few other things I came to really appreciate:
1) The story is from a different perspective than your typical fantasy novel, which is really nice to see. You don’t always have to save the world or come into great powers or form a rebellion to have a good story. Not to mention the mild horror aspects of it that help set the mood, especially at the beginning.
2) The back story of the War Priests regarding what they do and how they do it was told very judiciously. They aren’t overly explained with their entire history give to us. To me there is a still a shroud of mystery about them as I am still not quite sure what all their capabilities are and where their magical power lies.
3) The characters each had their own concerns, worries, fears, and flaws to work through. Baron Einos may be Lord of the land, but even he worries about rebellion if answers can’t be found. Lizette, the mother of one of the missing children, finds her voice as a representative between the Baron and the family. Sergeant Sava, a soldier in charge of the troops, is a character whom I suspect isn’t one that you are necessarily supposed to love, but perhaps come to appreciate as he does what he feels he needs to do to maintain troop preparedness. (I’m actually still working through my feelings on this character and haven’t decided if I like him as a character or hated him.)
The only concern I did have was the additional War Priest being brought in toward the end as I wondered what their role is. However, since this is a new series I suspect this character may be helping to set up future books.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for a review copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
August 9, 2019
If you enjoy a story on the darker side of things, I definitely recommend this book. Perfect for readers of dark fantasy and epic fantasy as well. There's a prevalent feeling of brotherhood / brothers in arms reinforced by the characters' backstories. I loved the worldbuilding and I applaud Christian Freed for his storytelling kills. He did however set the knight bar too high - where am I ever going to find one like that?
Last but not least, one of my fave quotes: "Remnants of clothing, once finery fit for a king’s court, clung to him in tattered rags. His station had fallen. Brogon spared no thought for loved ones still among the living. They meant little. Paramount was the desire to accumulate more children. That desire fueled him in unimaginable ways. Some primal instinct he failed to understand sent him to the children’s homes. He liked to think they felt no pain. Just a snap of the neck and they were free."
Last but not least, one of my fave quotes: "Remnants of clothing, once finery fit for a king’s court, clung to him in tattered rags. His station had fallen. Brogon spared no thought for loved ones still among the living. They meant little. Paramount was the desire to accumulate more children. That desire fueled him in unimaginable ways. Some primal instinct he failed to understand sent him to the children’s homes. He liked to think they felt no pain. Just a snap of the neck and they were free."
January 29, 2020
I am very excited to have been given a copy of The Children of Never, part of the War Priests of Andrak Saga, by Christian Warren Freed.
“Mist hovered over the near empty fields. Stands of cedar and black pine broke the monotony of what many considered the endless boredom of the grass plains. Pastures and farmlands stretched as far as a man might walk in a day and beyond. Folks here kept to themselves and preferred others to do the same.”
So begins The Children of Never, the first in the War Priests of Andrak Saga by Christian Warren Freed.
I was absolutely hooked from this first paragraph. This fantasy book has everything — mystery, magic and a whole lot of lore.
The book starts with children going missing across the duchy of Fent. Baron Einos is then forced to act, to try and solve this mystery before unrest and rebellion grows in the local population. The Grey Wanderer has been stealing the children in the middle of the night — a knight who has risen from the dead for reasons unknown. He works with the local constable, Kastus, and after some deliberation, he summons the war priests of Andrak who specialise in fighting magical foes. The Baron also enlists the help of Lizette, a local peasant whose daughter is one of the missing children. She acts as liaison between the baron and the local peasants, and later, the priests of Andrak.
I really liked the characters in this book. They are all well fleshed out — even characters who are only in the book briefly. For example, despite only being in the book for a couple of pages, when you meet Covis and Barin, two children who are playing in the village of Fent, they feel very realistic. Even the Grey Wanderer himself, despite clearly being a villain, was a character that I ended up feeling very sympathetic and even sorry for as the story went on, which I feel is quite a feat!
The world feels like your typical medieval-esque fantasy world, with elements of magic mixed in with primitive swords and castles. There is clearly a lot of history and lore here that I look forward to learning more about. For example, you meet a Sclarem, described as a mysterious figure with “pale green flesh” and “a mane of blackest hair,” and the Majj, a red-skinned warrior race standing seven feet tall with “great shaggy mans, claws and fangs.” This makes the world feel incredibly rich and full of life. I really want to learn more about the F’talle and the Omegri, too.
At the start of the book, it felt that it would be another medieval fantasy world with hardly any female characters. The only key female character is Lizette, who becomes a valuable aid to Baron Einos, despite her common background. The Lady Deana, an elder in the local village of Palis, plays a small part in the story (mostly to be difficult and annoyed with the constable).
The baron’s wife, Aneth, is only a minor background character — she is currently pregnant so doesn’t leave the castle. But as she says: “This castle needs more strong women. Too many men spoil matters and the conversation is droll.” However, as the story progressed more strong women were introduced (Arella and Sanice). I would like to see more of them — they are mostly ‘off camera’, showing up later in the story when the focus is on other characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series to find out more about this fascinating world.
Originally published on my blog at www.lecari.co.uk
“Mist hovered over the near empty fields. Stands of cedar and black pine broke the monotony of what many considered the endless boredom of the grass plains. Pastures and farmlands stretched as far as a man might walk in a day and beyond. Folks here kept to themselves and preferred others to do the same.”
So begins The Children of Never, the first in the War Priests of Andrak Saga by Christian Warren Freed.
I was absolutely hooked from this first paragraph. This fantasy book has everything — mystery, magic and a whole lot of lore.
The book starts with children going missing across the duchy of Fent. Baron Einos is then forced to act, to try and solve this mystery before unrest and rebellion grows in the local population. The Grey Wanderer has been stealing the children in the middle of the night — a knight who has risen from the dead for reasons unknown. He works with the local constable, Kastus, and after some deliberation, he summons the war priests of Andrak who specialise in fighting magical foes. The Baron also enlists the help of Lizette, a local peasant whose daughter is one of the missing children. She acts as liaison between the baron and the local peasants, and later, the priests of Andrak.
I really liked the characters in this book. They are all well fleshed out — even characters who are only in the book briefly. For example, despite only being in the book for a couple of pages, when you meet Covis and Barin, two children who are playing in the village of Fent, they feel very realistic. Even the Grey Wanderer himself, despite clearly being a villain, was a character that I ended up feeling very sympathetic and even sorry for as the story went on, which I feel is quite a feat!
The world feels like your typical medieval-esque fantasy world, with elements of magic mixed in with primitive swords and castles. There is clearly a lot of history and lore here that I look forward to learning more about. For example, you meet a Sclarem, described as a mysterious figure with “pale green flesh” and “a mane of blackest hair,” and the Majj, a red-skinned warrior race standing seven feet tall with “great shaggy mans, claws and fangs.” This makes the world feel incredibly rich and full of life. I really want to learn more about the F’talle and the Omegri, too.
At the start of the book, it felt that it would be another medieval fantasy world with hardly any female characters. The only key female character is Lizette, who becomes a valuable aid to Baron Einos, despite her common background. The Lady Deana, an elder in the local village of Palis, plays a small part in the story (mostly to be difficult and annoyed with the constable).
The baron’s wife, Aneth, is only a minor background character — she is currently pregnant so doesn’t leave the castle. But as she says: “This castle needs more strong women. Too many men spoil matters and the conversation is droll.” However, as the story progressed more strong women were introduced (Arella and Sanice). I would like to see more of them — they are mostly ‘off camera’, showing up later in the story when the focus is on other characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series to find out more about this fascinating world.
Originally published on my blog at www.lecari.co.uk
January 21, 2020
In the duchy of Fent, children are going missing, snatched from their beds by a man brought back to life by magic. After a ghostly vision, Baron Einos, the ruler of Fent has no choice but to petition the legendary Priests of Andrak for help but the missing children is just the beginning of his woes...
The Children Of Never is a dark yet epic fantasy with plenty of magic, mystical beings, battles and even a little bit of mystery thrown in there.
I don’t read that much fantasy but I found reading this book it didn’t matter, it just pulled me in from the start with its air of mystery and intrigue. I also appreciated the fact that the story wasn’t overly convoluted and I found it easy to follow.
I have just found out that this is the follow up to a short story,The Purifying Flame, something I didn’t realise as I was reading it but I found it fine to read as a standalone.
The writing was descriptive and I could picture things vividly as I read. There was also a large cast of characters and points of view during the book but I managed to follow each of their stories easily, as they were well rounded and unique.
One of the strongest characters, to me, was Lizette. Grieving for her missing child, she uses it to fuel her determination to see an end to the once dead man and get the Baron, to take notice of the villagers plight.
I did have a couple of issues. There was a tendency to switch POV within chapters, even within the same paragraph on occasion, without any real warning. Also, I felt the ending was a little rushed compared with the rest of the story but of course that’s just my opinion.
If you enjoy your fantasy novels with a dark edge to it, then I would recommend The Children of Never.
The Children Of Never is a dark yet epic fantasy with plenty of magic, mystical beings, battles and even a little bit of mystery thrown in there.
I don’t read that much fantasy but I found reading this book it didn’t matter, it just pulled me in from the start with its air of mystery and intrigue. I also appreciated the fact that the story wasn’t overly convoluted and I found it easy to follow.
I have just found out that this is the follow up to a short story,The Purifying Flame, something I didn’t realise as I was reading it but I found it fine to read as a standalone.
The writing was descriptive and I could picture things vividly as I read. There was also a large cast of characters and points of view during the book but I managed to follow each of their stories easily, as they were well rounded and unique.
One of the strongest characters, to me, was Lizette. Grieving for her missing child, she uses it to fuel her determination to see an end to the once dead man and get the Baron, to take notice of the villagers plight.
I did have a couple of issues. There was a tendency to switch POV within chapters, even within the same paragraph on occasion, without any real warning. Also, I felt the ending was a little rushed compared with the rest of the story but of course that’s just my opinion.
If you enjoy your fantasy novels with a dark edge to it, then I would recommend The Children of Never.
February 1, 2020
The Children of Never, by Christian Warren Freed, is a dark fantasy with an air of mystery. It follows a range of characters as they try to understand and solve the problem of children going missing in the duchy of Fent; a problem which starts off sinister and only grows worse as they come to understand the true nature of the forces at play.
I thought a real strength of the story was in its characters and some of the smaller moments between them. I loved Lizette, a woman who loses her daughter in the first few chapters. She takes the pain and confusion of that terrible loss and turns it into strength, becoming one of the backbones of the plot. I also thought there were some very sweet moments between Baron Einos, responsible for the people of Fent and understandably troubled by the recent turn of events, and his wife Aneth.
There were two main drawbacks for me while reading this, one more personal and one more nitpicky. Personally, I found the style of the writing a barrier to fully immersing myself in the world, although I think it’s very of the genre. Epic fantasy definitely tends towards the heightened language Freed uses in this book, and I know most readers of the genre either don’t mind or actively enjoy it, but I found it a bit much at times if I’m honest. The other thing was a tendency to slip between perspectives mid-chapter, sometimes several times, which I found confusing and distracting.
Those aside, I thought Children of the Never was an intriguing fantasy story with strong world-building and some great characters. I definitely want to learn more about the war priests! If you’re a fan of dark or epic fantasy, enjoy mystery and like seeing an array of mystical creatures battle it out over the fate of the world, I recommend picking up this story.
I thought a real strength of the story was in its characters and some of the smaller moments between them. I loved Lizette, a woman who loses her daughter in the first few chapters. She takes the pain and confusion of that terrible loss and turns it into strength, becoming one of the backbones of the plot. I also thought there were some very sweet moments between Baron Einos, responsible for the people of Fent and understandably troubled by the recent turn of events, and his wife Aneth.
There were two main drawbacks for me while reading this, one more personal and one more nitpicky. Personally, I found the style of the writing a barrier to fully immersing myself in the world, although I think it’s very of the genre. Epic fantasy definitely tends towards the heightened language Freed uses in this book, and I know most readers of the genre either don’t mind or actively enjoy it, but I found it a bit much at times if I’m honest. The other thing was a tendency to slip between perspectives mid-chapter, sometimes several times, which I found confusing and distracting.
Those aside, I thought Children of the Never was an intriguing fantasy story with strong world-building and some great characters. I definitely want to learn more about the war priests! If you’re a fan of dark or epic fantasy, enjoy mystery and like seeing an array of mystical creatures battle it out over the fate of the world, I recommend picking up this story.
February 24, 2020
The Children of Never is my kind of story. First, before I get deeper into the review, this is able to be read as a standalone. It’s a follow up to a short story called The Purifying Flame, but there wasn’t anything missing in this story that got me lost.
I thoroughly enjoyed Christian Warren Freed‘s writing. His storytelling is fluid and compelling. I was immediately drawn in from the beginning. The descriptive language made it easy for me to visualize everything. The world building is probably one of my favorite parts of this story. The author does a wonderful job creating something that feels authentic.
I enjoyed the fact that this wasn’t a typical fantasy novel. It took it’s own path and carved a section out in the genre for itself. With some horror thrown into the mix, this really impressed me.
I absolutely loved the characters. Each had their place and their own stories. Some I loved and some I didn’t care for – but that was based on personality and purpose, not lack of depth. Christian Warren Freed knows how to create strong characters.
I will be on the lookout for more from this author. Until then, I highly suggest checking The Children of Never out. This was an easy five stars to hand out!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Damppebbles Blog Tours. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
I thoroughly enjoyed Christian Warren Freed‘s writing. His storytelling is fluid and compelling. I was immediately drawn in from the beginning. The descriptive language made it easy for me to visualize everything. The world building is probably one of my favorite parts of this story. The author does a wonderful job creating something that feels authentic.
I enjoyed the fact that this wasn’t a typical fantasy novel. It took it’s own path and carved a section out in the genre for itself. With some horror thrown into the mix, this really impressed me.
I absolutely loved the characters. Each had their place and their own stories. Some I loved and some I didn’t care for – but that was based on personality and purpose, not lack of depth. Christian Warren Freed knows how to create strong characters.
I will be on the lookout for more from this author. Until then, I highly suggest checking The Children of Never out. This was an easy five stars to hand out!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Damppebbles Blog Tours. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
October 7, 2023
I believe I would have been able to get into this story and enjoy it more if there weren't so bloody many typos. The book needs a serious proofreader and editor to go over it!
The war-priest concept was cool, although more info about them is needed besides the fact that they worship the Flame. I really don't know what it is, other than it existing as a counter-balance against evil. I wanted to like this book, but it needs some serious work.
The war-priest concept was cool, although more info about them is needed besides the fact that they worship the Flame. I really don't know what it is, other than it existing as a counter-balance against evil. I wanted to like this book, but it needs some serious work.
July 10, 2022
Cracking read!
I really enjoyed this book, first time I've read anything by this author & it was a cracking read!
Fent is at the centre of disturbing times, a dead man arises, children go missing, ghosts are seen & mythic creatures are abroad. The baron has hard choices to make if he & his land are to survive.
I really enjoyed this book, first time I've read anything by this author & it was a cracking read!
Fent is at the centre of disturbing times, a dead man arises, children go missing, ghosts are seen & mythic creatures are abroad. The baron has hard choices to make if he & his land are to survive.
February 24, 2020
I love discovering new fantasy authors so when The Children of Never dropped into my inbox I was excited to give it a read.
This book finds us in the Dutchy of Fent. Someone/something is taking children from the villages, but for what purpose and why is there no trace of them once they have gone? The beginning of the book takes a little concentration to wrap your head around everything. Quite a few people and themes are introduced quickly.
There is a very strong undercurrent of the supernatural and different magical beings. I personally really love this in a book. Christian’s imaginings of these beings I found to be unique and fresh, as are the magic systems which each use. As you are introduced to a few, some only fleetingly, we didn’t get to know them all in depth. This is the first in a series though, I’m sure more will be revealed in time.
Characters
I would say this story is very character driven. We are introduced to many and even the side characters were very well written. I certainly felt as if I got to know all of them. No easy task when so many interweaving personalities are presented.
The characters are all multi-facetted and although it felt almost medieval in it’s setting; the women were just as strong and as equal to the men. Taking on positions as Elders, soldiers and advisers. I especially loved Lizette, a grieving mother who channeled that energy to help the other families of lost children and becomes an important part of the story.
I felt quite sorry for the Baron of Fent, his is a quiet Dutchy, pretty much runs itself, when all this supernatural is suddenly dumped on his doorstep. I enjoyed his character; he has flaws which are allowed to show. However, he wants the best for his people and he is determined to see an end of everything that has befallen them.
It took me a little while to get into Freed’s writing style, the pacing at the start is a little patchy and the view points swap within a chapter. I did find this a little jarring at first but once you get into the rhythm of it, it does work well. Once the story kicks in the pacing settles and I found myself really flying through the story.
Final Thoughts
This is a world rich in magical lore but I feel we only just scratched the surface of everything Fent has to offer. The ending of the book is very well worked, it ties up some aspects of the story but leaves the door open to extend others. I am very much looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
My thanks to Emma for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Christian for a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.
This book finds us in the Dutchy of Fent. Someone/something is taking children from the villages, but for what purpose and why is there no trace of them once they have gone? The beginning of the book takes a little concentration to wrap your head around everything. Quite a few people and themes are introduced quickly.
There is a very strong undercurrent of the supernatural and different magical beings. I personally really love this in a book. Christian’s imaginings of these beings I found to be unique and fresh, as are the magic systems which each use. As you are introduced to a few, some only fleetingly, we didn’t get to know them all in depth. This is the first in a series though, I’m sure more will be revealed in time.
Characters
I would say this story is very character driven. We are introduced to many and even the side characters were very well written. I certainly felt as if I got to know all of them. No easy task when so many interweaving personalities are presented.
The characters are all multi-facetted and although it felt almost medieval in it’s setting; the women were just as strong and as equal to the men. Taking on positions as Elders, soldiers and advisers. I especially loved Lizette, a grieving mother who channeled that energy to help the other families of lost children and becomes an important part of the story.
I felt quite sorry for the Baron of Fent, his is a quiet Dutchy, pretty much runs itself, when all this supernatural is suddenly dumped on his doorstep. I enjoyed his character; he has flaws which are allowed to show. However, he wants the best for his people and he is determined to see an end of everything that has befallen them.
It took me a little while to get into Freed’s writing style, the pacing at the start is a little patchy and the view points swap within a chapter. I did find this a little jarring at first but once you get into the rhythm of it, it does work well. Once the story kicks in the pacing settles and I found myself really flying through the story.
Final Thoughts
This is a world rich in magical lore but I feel we only just scratched the surface of everything Fent has to offer. The ending of the book is very well worked, it ties up some aspects of the story but leaves the door open to extend others. I am very much looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
My thanks to Emma for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Christian for a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews