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Black Powder Wars #1
Black Cross
Alternate cover edition for ASIN B00RH7F3OM
For previous cover edition see here
Arcane magic can be a ruinous power, despite admirable intentions.
A mysterious scroll finds its way into Lord Severun’s hands, enabling him to release a dangerous experiment upon Wesson. With Sergeant Falchion unable to forgive himself for aiding the wizard, and desperate factions taking advantage of the devastating aftermath, Falchion embarks on an arduous quest alongside friends and strangers alike. However, even if their attempt to seek aid is successful and the city is saved, they risk revealing a secret that threatens much more than Wesson alone.
From a fantasy world not too dissimilar to our own dark and bloody histories, the beginning of an epic tale is told. Incredible magic is unleashed, allies become enemies; unlikely friendships are forged, and a foul plot is discovered that will shatter the long lasting peace of Altoln and her allies, plunging them into a gritty, brutal conflict that falls far from the fluffy fairytales of old.
For previous cover edition see here
Arcane magic can be a ruinous power, despite admirable intentions.
A mysterious scroll finds its way into Lord Severun’s hands, enabling him to release a dangerous experiment upon Wesson. With Sergeant Falchion unable to forgive himself for aiding the wizard, and desperate factions taking advantage of the devastating aftermath, Falchion embarks on an arduous quest alongside friends and strangers alike. However, even if their attempt to seek aid is successful and the city is saved, they risk revealing a secret that threatens much more than Wesson alone.
From a fantasy world not too dissimilar to our own dark and bloody histories, the beginning of an epic tale is told. Incredible magic is unleashed, allies become enemies; unlikely friendships are forged, and a foul plot is discovered that will shatter the long lasting peace of Altoln and her allies, plunging them into a gritty, brutal conflict that falls far from the fluffy fairytales of old.
492 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2015
37 people are currently reading
2217 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Ashman
9 books429 followersBorn Lancashire, England, J. P. Ashman is a Northern lad through and through. His parents love wildlife, history, fantasy and science fiction, and passed their passion on to him. They read to him from an early age and encouraged his imagination at every turn. His career may be in optics, as a manager/technician, but he loves to make time for writing and reading every day. Now living rurally in the Cotswolds with Wifey and their little Norse Goddess Freya, he's inspired daily by the views they have and the things they see, from the deer in the fields to the buzzards circling overhead.
Writing is a huge part of his life and the medieval re-enactment background and tabletop gaming lend to it; when he's not writing the genre, he's either reading or playing it. He plans to keep writing, both within his current series, and those to come, whether short stories or epic tomes.
Writing is a huge part of his life and the medieval re-enactment background and tabletop gaming lend to it; when he's not writing the genre, he's either reading or playing it. He plans to keep writing, both within his current series, and those to come, whether short stories or epic tomes.
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July 3, 2024J.P. Ashman handed me this book himself at Bristolcon
I don't know why I'm smiling like someone has a knife to my balls. And J.P isn't as tall as he looks: I'm actually leaning over on a bar stool.
Anyway, a fine chap.
The hardback is deceptive as it looks to be a book of medium size when in reality it is filled with tiny font and is in fact a *long* novel. 234,000 words long in fact. Prince of Thorns was 82,000!
Black Cross is a novel where the author's enthusiasm shines out on every page. Ashman has a love of arms and armour, and the chance is that you will learn something new about some weapon or piece of kit. Do you know what a heater shield is? Well, you can't cook on it or use it to warm the hovel. I learned that. Reminded me of Jeff Salyards' Bloodsounders' trilogy in that regard.
Black Cross has a distinctly D&D inspiration. There are magic users, clerics who heal, kobolds, griffins, goblins on wolves, elves galore. And he's not alone in that. T.O. Munro's Lady in the Helm and Jonathan French's The Grey Bastards are two others (among many) adopting a similar approach. It can work very well.
The defining feature of the book for me was the enormous number of point of view characters. I remember struggling a little when the first 8 chapters of Richard Ford's Herald of the Storm each introduced (and stayed with) a new PoV. With Ashman the PoV count mounts swiftly and soon exceeds Ford's. PoVs are swapped regularly in a way I've not see before but that I am told is seen in Miles Cameron's The Red Knight. I believe both books exceed twenty points of view!
So, we spill across the plot and the city in a plethora of characters encountering such wonders as giant lobsters, naked seal-men, hot air balloons, nymphs, and the like while dealing with a strange plague and court politics. It took me a while to get to writing this review so I'm a little hazy on some of the detail, and to be fair there was a *lot* of detail.
While the story has an upbeat feel to it there's plenty of grim, including rape, torture, young girls forced into prostitution, all that kind of thing.
So, it's a story full of energy and imagination.
The writing itself can be a bit rough and ready in places, and there are some typos of the reins/reigns variety. Some of the awkwardness and exposition may be an unavoidable side effect of the large number of pairs of eyes we view this world through, but that of course offers compensatory strengths, not least of which is the novelty of a fresh approach to storytelling.
The Bookworm Blues blog gave Black Cross 4* and selected it as a semifinalist (best of a batch of 6) in my first Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off.
You can check it out on Amazon and have a read of the start. See what you think.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
I don't know why I'm smiling like someone has a knife to my balls. And J.P isn't as tall as he looks: I'm actually leaning over on a bar stool.
Anyway, a fine chap.
The hardback is deceptive as it looks to be a book of medium size when in reality it is filled with tiny font and is in fact a *long* novel. 234,000 words long in fact. Prince of Thorns was 82,000!
Black Cross is a novel where the author's enthusiasm shines out on every page. Ashman has a love of arms and armour, and the chance is that you will learn something new about some weapon or piece of kit. Do you know what a heater shield is? Well, you can't cook on it or use it to warm the hovel. I learned that. Reminded me of Jeff Salyards' Bloodsounders' trilogy in that regard.
Black Cross has a distinctly D&D inspiration. There are magic users, clerics who heal, kobolds, griffins, goblins on wolves, elves galore. And he's not alone in that. T.O. Munro's Lady in the Helm and Jonathan French's The Grey Bastards are two others (among many) adopting a similar approach. It can work very well.
The defining feature of the book for me was the enormous number of point of view characters. I remember struggling a little when the first 8 chapters of Richard Ford's Herald of the Storm each introduced (and stayed with) a new PoV. With Ashman the PoV count mounts swiftly and soon exceeds Ford's. PoVs are swapped regularly in a way I've not see before but that I am told is seen in Miles Cameron's The Red Knight. I believe both books exceed twenty points of view!
So, we spill across the plot and the city in a plethora of characters encountering such wonders as giant lobsters, naked seal-men, hot air balloons, nymphs, and the like while dealing with a strange plague and court politics. It took me a while to get to writing this review so I'm a little hazy on some of the detail, and to be fair there was a *lot* of detail.
While the story has an upbeat feel to it there's plenty of grim, including rape, torture, young girls forced into prostitution, all that kind of thing.
So, it's a story full of energy and imagination.
The writing itself can be a bit rough and ready in places, and there are some typos of the reins/reigns variety. Some of the awkwardness and exposition may be an unavoidable side effect of the large number of pairs of eyes we view this world through, but that of course offers compensatory strengths, not least of which is the novelty of a fresh approach to storytelling.
The Bookworm Blues blog gave Black Cross 4* and selected it as a semifinalist (best of a batch of 6) in my first Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off.
You can check it out on Amazon and have a read of the start. See what you think.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
March 26, 2017
Picking up and reading Black Cross, you will witness, more or less, a great author in the making.
In the Kingdom of Altoln, a powerful wizard assisted by an ingenious cleric releases what he believes to be a magical potion of purification; a spell that will purge the streets of the kingdom from all the criminals inhabiting it. But when the citizens of Altoln start dying in the thousands, the wizard understands that what he freed was nothing more than a pandemic; the Black Death. From mere circumstances, an unwillingly involved sergeant is now called to take part in an impossible quest in order to find a cure, or at least bring some aid. But with goblins, Inquisitors, and other mysterious forces at play, will Falchion manage to complete that formidable task, or are all citizens of Altoln doomed to perish?
"The onlooker had caused the deaths of thousands, and that fact, he knew, would hunt him until the end of his days. But this death... this death would not."
Ashman's debut is a complex and intricate work in which you experience a strange combination of excitement and dread. Great and in-depth characterization, unpredictable events, breathtaking fighting sequences and astonishing plot-twists are only some of the elements that you will find in the thrilling yet realistic world of the Black Cross; a world that somehow feels already established and not in the making, proving Ashman's unique storytelling abilities and detail-crafting skills. Reading all of this, you will probably think that the book has no faults, but unfortunately this isn't the case. Black Cross has a significant problem, for which the beta-readers are to blame. It is painfully, unevenly paced. While most of the book, especially the beginning and ending, is well structured and balanced with enough action events to keep you interested and entertained, a significant part is uneven, overstretched and therefore boring. If you are a slow reader then this may come as a problem, giving you the feel that you are stuck in the same events for a lot of pages, but if you are a book devourer then you won't even notice it.
All in all, Black Cross is an exceptional debut that I recommend to all fantasy bookworms and fast readers, and I strongly believe that with a better team of beta-readers in the future (and the experience he has already gained) J.P. Ashman will eventually come to be a household name.
*3,5 round up to 4 because it's a debut*
You can find more of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
In the Kingdom of Altoln, a powerful wizard assisted by an ingenious cleric releases what he believes to be a magical potion of purification; a spell that will purge the streets of the kingdom from all the criminals inhabiting it. But when the citizens of Altoln start dying in the thousands, the wizard understands that what he freed was nothing more than a pandemic; the Black Death. From mere circumstances, an unwillingly involved sergeant is now called to take part in an impossible quest in order to find a cure, or at least bring some aid. But with goblins, Inquisitors, and other mysterious forces at play, will Falchion manage to complete that formidable task, or are all citizens of Altoln doomed to perish?
"The onlooker had caused the deaths of thousands, and that fact, he knew, would hunt him until the end of his days. But this death... this death would not."
Ashman's debut is a complex and intricate work in which you experience a strange combination of excitement and dread. Great and in-depth characterization, unpredictable events, breathtaking fighting sequences and astonishing plot-twists are only some of the elements that you will find in the thrilling yet realistic world of the Black Cross; a world that somehow feels already established and not in the making, proving Ashman's unique storytelling abilities and detail-crafting skills. Reading all of this, you will probably think that the book has no faults, but unfortunately this isn't the case. Black Cross has a significant problem, for which the beta-readers are to blame. It is painfully, unevenly paced. While most of the book, especially the beginning and ending, is well structured and balanced with enough action events to keep you interested and entertained, a significant part is uneven, overstretched and therefore boring. If you are a slow reader then this may come as a problem, giving you the feel that you are stuck in the same events for a lot of pages, but if you are a book devourer then you won't even notice it.
All in all, Black Cross is an exceptional debut that I recommend to all fantasy bookworms and fast readers, and I strongly believe that with a better team of beta-readers in the future (and the experience he has already gained) J.P. Ashman will eventually come to be a household name.
*3,5 round up to 4 because it's a debut*
You can find more of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
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August 10, 2018Black Cross' sequel: Black Guild is now available on Amazon Kindle
BLACK GUILD Amazon link
For News about new releases - such as Black Guild - and future promotions, as well as receiving a FREE short story (Dragonship) e-book initially and more free content in future, join other readers by signing up to my Newsletter below.
Sign me up, JP!
BLACK GUILD Amazon link
For News about new releases - such as Black Guild - and future promotions, as well as receiving a FREE short story (Dragonship) e-book initially and more free content in future, join other readers by signing up to my Newsletter below.
Sign me up, JP!
March 12, 2017
How can I possibly describe Black Cross? How about, a hearty-epic-buddy-flintlock-pirate-fantasy-adventure with humans and wizards, goblins and gnomes, an inquisition, a plague, sexy elf maidens, assassins, Dukes, Ladies and Lords, magic wands, deadly potions, docks and ships and wooded wilderness, unique shapeshifters (a seal-man, to be specific), abounding action, dockside gangs, succubi, and high intrigue galore. And I mustn't forget, a giant caterpillar. Whew. And I don't think that even covers it.
This is a massive text and a sprawling story unlike any I've read in quite some time, and enjoyable through and through. Ashman's imagination boggles the mind. Much of the story takes place in urban settings reminiscent of perhaps the 1500 or 1600s (entirely a guess there), but with plenty of sojourns across the countryside and into the deep woods.
We have several groups of good guys, all wonderful characters. One of Ashman's great strengths is developing and sustaining relationships between buddies and cohorts old and new. And all, even if they don't know it, are pitted against downright bad guys, from thugs to those in the highest positions of society. The story is framed by the release of a plague and the race to uncover the plot, cover it up, or find a cure regardless of the cause - depending on who the characters are and whose side they are on.
The tale is terrifically complex but relatively easy to follow. The writing style is a bit wordy for my taste - but it is a legitimate style, not incompetence on the author's part, and I'm sure there are many who enjoy the hell out of it. Overall, I'd say the tone is light-hearted and fun - but Ashman does a great job of also shocking us with terrific horror and cruelty. This plays not as inconsistency, but as punctuating and even poignant counterpoint.
A swashbuckling tale of vast proportions, as exciting as it is epic. And this is just the beginning. Very much looking forward to the next installment in the series.
This is a massive text and a sprawling story unlike any I've read in quite some time, and enjoyable through and through. Ashman's imagination boggles the mind. Much of the story takes place in urban settings reminiscent of perhaps the 1500 or 1600s (entirely a guess there), but with plenty of sojourns across the countryside and into the deep woods.
We have several groups of good guys, all wonderful characters. One of Ashman's great strengths is developing and sustaining relationships between buddies and cohorts old and new. And all, even if they don't know it, are pitted against downright bad guys, from thugs to those in the highest positions of society. The story is framed by the release of a plague and the race to uncover the plot, cover it up, or find a cure regardless of the cause - depending on who the characters are and whose side they are on.
The tale is terrifically complex but relatively easy to follow. The writing style is a bit wordy for my taste - but it is a legitimate style, not incompetence on the author's part, and I'm sure there are many who enjoy the hell out of it. Overall, I'd say the tone is light-hearted and fun - but Ashman does a great job of also shocking us with terrific horror and cruelty. This plays not as inconsistency, but as punctuating and even poignant counterpoint.
A swashbuckling tale of vast proportions, as exciting as it is epic. And this is just the beginning. Very much looking forward to the next installment in the series.
August 4, 2016
Great debut, very well written, more on the classic side of fantasy with very good grimdark elements. Recommended!
August 26, 2024
I have waited quite a long time to finally read this awesome debut, as I didn't want to buy the kindle version.
So, when I finally got the book, I delved right in and had a really hard time putting it down again!
I absolutely loved this story. The interesting plot and the pacing held me caught up in the story all the way through. The different POVs provide variety and let us see more of the world.
I clicked quickly with the main characters and was quite afraid for them in dangerous situations. Ashman actually knows that you will be far more engaged in the story, if some important characters die along the way, so you can't feel too safe. That worked perfect on me. I was completely freaked out at one point in the story, about how he could do that to me.
I especially loved how different the characters were. There is not only the scheme of "good guy/hero" and "bad guy/villain". Instead characters can change over time, or have both sides within them.
He played on my emotions perfectly and had me holding my breath, squinting at the book with only one eye, cheering loudly (when someone was brutally mutilated -very deservedly) and sigh in relief at other parts.
In the second half it gets quite brutal and bloody in some parts, so it isn't for the faint of heart or squeamish readers ;)
Yes, it had some flaws, but nothing major that would have spoiled my enjoyment.
Sometimes I felt it a bit unrealistic, under what conditions people could fight on, and on. But as the fight scenes were written very well and especially the weapons very realistically described, I can overlook that few moments easily.
Overall It was an incredible debut, that could easily have been published by one of the big publishing houses. I couldn't put it down amd was sucked completely into the story - so it gets a wholehearted recommendation from me! Definitely worth the money and the time spend - I can't wait for the next one!
So, when I finally got the book, I delved right in and had a really hard time putting it down again!
I absolutely loved this story. The interesting plot and the pacing held me caught up in the story all the way through. The different POVs provide variety and let us see more of the world.
I clicked quickly with the main characters and was quite afraid for them in dangerous situations. Ashman actually knows that you will be far more engaged in the story, if some important characters die along the way, so you can't feel too safe. That worked perfect on me. I was completely freaked out at one point in the story, about how he could do that to me.
I especially loved how different the characters were. There is not only the scheme of "good guy/hero" and "bad guy/villain". Instead characters can change over time, or have both sides within them.
He played on my emotions perfectly and had me holding my breath, squinting at the book with only one eye, cheering loudly (when someone was brutally mutilated -very deservedly) and sigh in relief at other parts.
In the second half it gets quite brutal and bloody in some parts, so it isn't for the faint of heart or squeamish readers ;)
Yes, it had some flaws, but nothing major that would have spoiled my enjoyment.
Sometimes I felt it a bit unrealistic, under what conditions people could fight on, and on. But as the fight scenes were written very well and especially the weapons very realistically described, I can overlook that few moments easily.
Overall It was an incredible debut, that could easily have been published by one of the big publishing houses. I couldn't put it down amd was sucked completely into the story - so it gets a wholehearted recommendation from me! Definitely worth the money and the time spend - I can't wait for the next one!
July 13, 2015
You know how it is, you set out to do the right thing, to make a difference, to improve the lives of people and it all goes mammary glands upwards. In the world that J P Ashman has created, that is exactly what happens. The consequences of this selfless, helpful act serves drag in all the races of the world into a crisis.
Black Cross is a “medieval Europe society” based Fantasy novel where the human race is beginning to experiment with black powder. Against this backdrop, the author brings in the typical fantasy races; elves and dwarves, but the most evil of all remain the humans. It is the human race that has created and given power to a tyrannical church and its inquisition, created a religion based on the denial of freedom, a hate of magic, and a need to be controlling.
Opposing them are the Clerics and Wizards in their tower. The clerics are healers, of no particular religion, more those whose magical skills relate to healing and whose scientific knowledge, of anatomy, of herbs and medicines, allow them to treat the sick. The wizards are the wielders of destructive power, searchers and researchers of knowledge.
One of my favourite devices in this story is the bookworm. A magical worm that searches through books, looking for the knowledge requested by the wizard and then transmits it to the caster. It works very much like search engine for the web, a google worm. It was charmingly written and provided a nod to the modern world, and widening of the magical repertoire of the people. The wizards here wield magic, that’s what they do, there are no complicated rules and structures. Cast a spell, get tired – it is simple, it works and doesn’t distract from the story.
There are two main plotlines to track through the book.
In the first we follow Falchion, a man named for the sword he carries, as he carries out his orders and unwittingly sets going a chain of events that will lead to many deaths. He is a military man, a fighter, a warrior, and through his eyes we travel the world beyond the main city. I liked him. He is a good man, staying true to his beliefs and trying to do his best. He is surrounded by friends, who have their own personalities, and that camaraderie is a strong point.
In the second, we follow two mysterious policemen / detectives, who are trying to solve a crime. Their investigation leads deeper into the underworld of the city. Both these men have their own past and powers, they are surrounded by others who seem to have abilities beyond the normal range – a very Special Special Branch of the police force, if you will permit. There is also, along this track, an assassin’s point of view, a young girl and an abused prostitutes. That you can feel for all these characters is a mark of good writing.
The story is well handled and there are, thankfully, no info-dumps (I don’t like info-dumps). To be critical, I think the first third of the book is a little slow before takes off and starts moving at a fair ol’ clip. There are a few typo’s and strange sentences, but not many and I know it has been re-edited since so there are probably even fewer (or even none) by now and anyway they didn’t drag me out of the story or interrupt the flow. My last criticism is points-of-view, sometimes these changed mid-chapter and were well handled, but sometimes mid-paragraph which jarred a little. Minor points, not even at the level of grumble.
However, if you want to read a traditional fantasy story with characters you can care about, a story that develops the world and hints at a greater threat, where a central theme is the State versus the Church, then this could well be for you. Oh, and BBFC fashion, this book contains scenes of sexual nature, torture and strong language.
I enjoyed it. 4/5*
Black Cross is a “medieval Europe society” based Fantasy novel where the human race is beginning to experiment with black powder. Against this backdrop, the author brings in the typical fantasy races; elves and dwarves, but the most evil of all remain the humans. It is the human race that has created and given power to a tyrannical church and its inquisition, created a religion based on the denial of freedom, a hate of magic, and a need to be controlling.
Opposing them are the Clerics and Wizards in their tower. The clerics are healers, of no particular religion, more those whose magical skills relate to healing and whose scientific knowledge, of anatomy, of herbs and medicines, allow them to treat the sick. The wizards are the wielders of destructive power, searchers and researchers of knowledge.
One of my favourite devices in this story is the bookworm. A magical worm that searches through books, looking for the knowledge requested by the wizard and then transmits it to the caster. It works very much like search engine for the web, a google worm. It was charmingly written and provided a nod to the modern world, and widening of the magical repertoire of the people. The wizards here wield magic, that’s what they do, there are no complicated rules and structures. Cast a spell, get tired – it is simple, it works and doesn’t distract from the story.
There are two main plotlines to track through the book.
In the first we follow Falchion, a man named for the sword he carries, as he carries out his orders and unwittingly sets going a chain of events that will lead to many deaths. He is a military man, a fighter, a warrior, and through his eyes we travel the world beyond the main city. I liked him. He is a good man, staying true to his beliefs and trying to do his best. He is surrounded by friends, who have their own personalities, and that camaraderie is a strong point.
In the second, we follow two mysterious policemen / detectives, who are trying to solve a crime. Their investigation leads deeper into the underworld of the city. Both these men have their own past and powers, they are surrounded by others who seem to have abilities beyond the normal range – a very Special Special Branch of the police force, if you will permit. There is also, along this track, an assassin’s point of view, a young girl and an abused prostitutes. That you can feel for all these characters is a mark of good writing.
The story is well handled and there are, thankfully, no info-dumps (I don’t like info-dumps). To be critical, I think the first third of the book is a little slow before takes off and starts moving at a fair ol’ clip. There are a few typo’s and strange sentences, but not many and I know it has been re-edited since so there are probably even fewer (or even none) by now and anyway they didn’t drag me out of the story or interrupt the flow. My last criticism is points-of-view, sometimes these changed mid-chapter and were well handled, but sometimes mid-paragraph which jarred a little. Minor points, not even at the level of grumble.
However, if you want to read a traditional fantasy story with characters you can care about, a story that develops the world and hints at a greater threat, where a central theme is the State versus the Church, then this could well be for you. Oh, and BBFC fashion, this book contains scenes of sexual nature, torture and strong language.
I enjoyed it. 4/5*
February 16, 2017
(This review is also here, on my blog!)
Well, this was fun! And by fun, I obviously mean holy fuck this book is dark AF. Goddamn.
It started out a bit slow for me. It was a little hard to stay immersed in the story right at the start. I have no idea if there was a discernible cause to it that was out of my control, or if it's that I'm ADD as fuck. Probably the latt-OMG SHINY THINGS.
Not to be daunted by books that I have trouble getting into (this is one of many, and a lot of them ended up favorites of mine), I persevered and ohoho, I found a really good and engaging story before long!
So, the leader of the Mage's Guild and the leader of the Cleric's guild combine forces to more or less genocide all the criminals in the city... y'know... for the greater good. To do this the mage casts an arcane spell that the cleric brewed into a potion. They give the potion to a sergeant in the town's guard, and he unknowingly releases it into the wild. Turns out the arcane magic goes wrong and they start the bubonic plague. Whoops! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Luckily, the city of Wesson has saviors. Falchion, the sergeant who feels guilty for bringing the plague down onto the city; Sav, a scout and one of Fal's best friends; and Errolas, a ranger from the elven lands in town to investigate the arcane magic usage (among others) are heading to the elves for help. Because of course the elves can help. They're bloody elves. Elves are awesome!
Back in town, two guardsman, Sears and Biviano, who are sort of detectives, are investigating how the plague started, and sort of stumble upon some considerable crazy and corrupt as fuck stuff going down in the church. Shenanigans ensue.
Then there's Longoss, the assassin. who falls for Elleth, an innocent girl fleeing the plague forced into a not-so-innocent life, and Coppin, her sister in all but blood. There's some considerable shit going down in the Black Guild too, and Longoss is at its head. The girls just get dragged along for the ride.
This book isn't for the faint of heart. The world in which these characters live is not a good one, much like ours much of the time. There is a lot of violence, a lot of rape and a lot of death. Preteen girl getting prostituted without knowing what sex is: check. Dude getting his dick cut off: check. Girl gets her nipple bitten off: check. Someone horribly burns to death: check. People getting tortured: check and check, People getting shot with crossbows: hoo boy, check and mate. - George R.R. Martin would likely have to take a breath at some point and be like 'Fucking Jesus, dude.'
That said, this book has fantastic characters. Everyone is a mystery, in their own way. Some of the mysteries get solved by the end of the book, but most don't. I want to know just who and what the fuck Biviano is, because he is hilarious and mysterious all in one. Sears is some sort of crazy berzerker demon thing, Falchion's real name apparently means something important, and Coppin has green hair (which I feel is important somehow, because it's pointed out several times but never explained).
My favorite character though is Errolas, the elven ranger. There's nothing inherently special about him, other than the fact that he's an elf. Once again, elves are awesome. I have a lot of elf esteem... so yeah.
I bet you're wondering what elf esteem is now. Let me show you!
I obviously don't take too many things too seriously, and as I said, this book is dark and full of terrors. I found reasons to lighten it up. There's a scene nearer to the beginning where the city is on fire, and the words 'thatched roofs' and their being on fire immediately brought to mind not the fact that people's fucking houses were burning down, oh no. It brought to mind this motherfucker right here. (You know exactly what that is a link to. Don't even act surprised >.>)
Okay, so now that we have a comic and a Strongbad video in a review of one of the grimdarkest books that I've ever read, I'll go ahead and end this on a high note.
I loved it. I can't wait for more. Errolas4ever. *micdrop*
Well, this was fun! And by fun, I obviously mean holy fuck this book is dark AF. Goddamn.
It started out a bit slow for me. It was a little hard to stay immersed in the story right at the start. I have no idea if there was a discernible cause to it that was out of my control, or if it's that I'm ADD as fuck. Probably the latt-OMG SHINY THINGS.
Not to be daunted by books that I have trouble getting into (this is one of many, and a lot of them ended up favorites of mine), I persevered and ohoho, I found a really good and engaging story before long!
So, the leader of the Mage's Guild and the leader of the Cleric's guild combine forces to more or less genocide all the criminals in the city... y'know... for the greater good. To do this the mage casts an arcane spell that the cleric brewed into a potion. They give the potion to a sergeant in the town's guard, and he unknowingly releases it into the wild. Turns out the arcane magic goes wrong and they start the bubonic plague. Whoops! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Luckily, the city of Wesson has saviors. Falchion, the sergeant who feels guilty for bringing the plague down onto the city; Sav, a scout and one of Fal's best friends; and Errolas, a ranger from the elven lands in town to investigate the arcane magic usage (among others) are heading to the elves for help. Because of course the elves can help. They're bloody elves. Elves are awesome!
Back in town, two guardsman, Sears and Biviano, who are sort of detectives, are investigating how the plague started, and sort of stumble upon some considerable crazy and corrupt as fuck stuff going down in the church. Shenanigans ensue.
Then there's Longoss, the assassin. who falls for Elleth, an innocent girl fleeing the plague forced into a not-so-innocent life, and Coppin, her sister in all but blood. There's some considerable shit going down in the Black Guild too, and Longoss is at its head. The girls just get dragged along for the ride.
This book isn't for the faint of heart. The world in which these characters live is not a good one, much like ours much of the time. There is a lot of violence, a lot of rape and a lot of death. Preteen girl getting prostituted without knowing what sex is: check. Dude getting his dick cut off: check. Girl gets her nipple bitten off: check. Someone horribly burns to death: check. People getting tortured: check and check, People getting shot with crossbows: hoo boy, check and mate. - George R.R. Martin would likely have to take a breath at some point and be like 'Fucking Jesus, dude.'
That said, this book has fantastic characters. Everyone is a mystery, in their own way. Some of the mysteries get solved by the end of the book, but most don't. I want to know just who and what the fuck Biviano is, because he is hilarious and mysterious all in one. Sears is some sort of crazy berzerker demon thing, Falchion's real name apparently means something important, and Coppin has green hair (which I feel is important somehow, because it's pointed out several times but never explained).
My favorite character though is Errolas, the elven ranger. There's nothing inherently special about him, other than the fact that he's an elf. Once again, elves are awesome. I have a lot of elf esteem... so yeah.
I bet you're wondering what elf esteem is now. Let me show you!
I obviously don't take too many things too seriously, and as I said, this book is dark and full of terrors. I found reasons to lighten it up. There's a scene nearer to the beginning where the city is on fire, and the words 'thatched roofs' and their being on fire immediately brought to mind not the fact that people's fucking houses were burning down, oh no. It brought to mind this motherfucker right here. (You know exactly what that is a link to. Don't even act surprised >.>)
Okay, so now that we have a comic and a Strongbad video in a review of one of the grimdarkest books that I've ever read, I'll go ahead and end this on a high note.
I loved it. I can't wait for more. Errolas4ever. *micdrop*
January 2, 2018
Wow! Black Cross was all kinds of everything. One of the most unique and powerful Fantasy novels I've read this year.
This is a huge sprawling epic with an enormous cast of engaging characters, some of whom have become my favorite in the genre.
There are multiple plot points going on throughout the novel and many different POV chapters, but Ashman has managed to perfectly juggle his characters and provide them with just the right amount of time to shine, while ensuring they come together for the core premise. Fans of Miles Cameron's Traitor Son series will find much to enjoy, while characters like heroic Falchion, and Ashman's own Abbott and Costello , Biviano and Sears will ensure much enjoyment for Kings of the Wyld fans as well.
Writing wise, Black Cross is quite a complex work. Ashman manages to create a completely different tone and narrative style for each of his POV's which creates a brilliant fusion between a Grimdark edge and a more classic Epic feel.
I have received an ARC of Ashman's highly anticipated sequel Black Guild which I can not wait to immerse myself in.
JP Ashman is a fantastic self published author who clearly adores what he does and fills each page with an infectious enthusiasm that simply must be experienced.
This is a huge sprawling epic with an enormous cast of engaging characters, some of whom have become my favorite in the genre.
There are multiple plot points going on throughout the novel and many different POV chapters, but Ashman has managed to perfectly juggle his characters and provide them with just the right amount of time to shine, while ensuring they come together for the core premise. Fans of Miles Cameron's Traitor Son series will find much to enjoy, while characters like heroic Falchion, and Ashman's own Abbott and Costello , Biviano and Sears will ensure much enjoyment for Kings of the Wyld fans as well.
Writing wise, Black Cross is quite a complex work. Ashman manages to create a completely different tone and narrative style for each of his POV's which creates a brilliant fusion between a Grimdark edge and a more classic Epic feel.
I have received an ARC of Ashman's highly anticipated sequel Black Guild which I can not wait to immerse myself in.
JP Ashman is a fantastic self published author who clearly adores what he does and fills each page with an infectious enthusiasm that simply must be experienced.
September 6, 2016
U osnovi priča je interesantna, likovi su razrađeni i ima ih dosta, tempo je dobar i generalno nema dosadnih momenata.
ALI, ali, ali,... dijalozi, naročito na početku, jako umeju da razbiju bilo kakvo uživanje pošto se ima osećaj da ih je pisao neki školarac kolko neozbiljno zvuče i često imaju previše ekspozicije. Sa druge strane oseća se kako knjiga napredujesam stil pisanja postaje sve bolji i bolji tako da je šteta gosn Ašman nije još jednom ili dva puta prepravio celu knjigu.
U svakom slučaju ovo je bilo zabavno i priča dovoljno intrigantna da ću čitati nastavak kada izadje.
ALI, ali, ali,... dijalozi, naročito na početku, jako umeju da razbiju bilo kakvo uživanje pošto se ima osećaj da ih je pisao neki školarac kolko neozbiljno zvuče i često imaju previše ekspozicije. Sa druge strane oseća se kako knjiga napredujesam stil pisanja postaje sve bolji i bolji tako da je šteta gosn Ašman nije još jednom ili dva puta prepravio celu knjigu.
U svakom slučaju ovo je bilo zabavno i priča dovoljno intrigantna da ću čitati nastavak kada izadje.
November 22, 2017
Really good read. considering this was an impulse buy.....I enjoyed it from start to finish!
October 3, 2019
A review of
Black Cross
By
J.P. Ashman
Black Cross is the first novel in The Black Powder Wars series by J.P. Ashman. This novel became a semi-finalist in the 2015 SPFBO competition, which means it must be pretty good right? Intrigued I dived in.
It follows the interwoven stories of a large cast of interesting characters caught in the outbreak of a mysterious plague in the city of Wesson. Events in the novel start off with a strange experiment by Arch Mage, Lord Sererun and his gnome assistant Master Orix – a master physician. Unwittingly involved in their experiment is Sergeant Falchion, a foreigner serving as a guardsman for the Mages Guild in the city.
Falchion plays a huge role in this novel along with his companions Sav, a roguish scout, and his Elven friend Errolas as some of the main protagonists. There are other point of view characters as well who all slowly align with the various forces and factions at work in Black Cross. As for antagonists, they are included as point of view characters also, so we get to see the larger plot slowly coalesce.
There is intrigue and mystery on every page in Black Cross, factions moving in the shadows positioning themselves against one another, all the while the cast of characters is either doing the positioning or caught in the middle of it all.
I got the feeling that the author has taken some inspiration from the world of D&D as there was a distinct feel to many of the characters, factions, settings and creatures encountered. Ashman blends a variety of cultures and characters seamlessly in a way that feels completely natural which I really enjoyed. We have the more classic fantasy western inspired medieval warriors, knights and city guard. We have back street thugs and criminal gangs mixed with deadly assassin guild known as the Black Guild. Speaking of the Black Guild, we have all types of characters, both protagonist and antagonist, ranging from street thugs, magical femme fatals, to more Eastern inspired ninja style assassins. Ashman also includes some puritan style Witch-Hunters (who totally kick ass!!) and even Pirates. If that’s not enough, there is even a detective story thrown in, as two of my favourite characters, Biviano and Sears, play unlikely special detectives on behalf of the city guard and have a knack for uncovering all manner of mischief. I really enjoyed these two, they hold plenty of character twists of their own and slowly become hugely important.
This is a novel which could be considered High Fantasy but yet I found it to be much grittier and at times darker than what we have come to expect from High Fantasy. So why did I describe elements of this book as High Fantasy? Well, we have magic, Tolkien-esque Elves, mention of Dwarfs. There are Goblins, Kobalds and a host of other mythical fantasy creatures, such as a Selkie, a giant lobster monster and mention of Dragons, but it is not simply a High Fantasy. It has a violent, dark and gritty undercurrent throughout. But it’s not all grit and gloom either, there is a lot of humour from some really likeable characters. Ashman has woven a huge variety of fantasy elements into his book which made for and enthralling read and hard to put down.
The descriptions of settings are rich and easily imagined. Ashman displays an extensive knowledge of weapons and armour also, as a wide variety are used by his myriad cast and I found each was well researched and used convincingly.
I very much enjoyed Black Cross, I have immediately procured the remaining books in the series from the author himself and eagerly await them. I would very much recommend this book. So if you haven’t read it go buy a copy and enjoy an immersive and exhilarating trip into Wesson. I promise you will not be disappointed.
Thanks for reading,
Lee C. Conley
Black Cross
By
J.P. Ashman
Black Cross is the first novel in The Black Powder Wars series by J.P. Ashman. This novel became a semi-finalist in the 2015 SPFBO competition, which means it must be pretty good right? Intrigued I dived in.
It follows the interwoven stories of a large cast of interesting characters caught in the outbreak of a mysterious plague in the city of Wesson. Events in the novel start off with a strange experiment by Arch Mage, Lord Sererun and his gnome assistant Master Orix – a master physician. Unwittingly involved in their experiment is Sergeant Falchion, a foreigner serving as a guardsman for the Mages Guild in the city.
Falchion plays a huge role in this novel along with his companions Sav, a roguish scout, and his Elven friend Errolas as some of the main protagonists. There are other point of view characters as well who all slowly align with the various forces and factions at work in Black Cross. As for antagonists, they are included as point of view characters also, so we get to see the larger plot slowly coalesce.
There is intrigue and mystery on every page in Black Cross, factions moving in the shadows positioning themselves against one another, all the while the cast of characters is either doing the positioning or caught in the middle of it all.
I got the feeling that the author has taken some inspiration from the world of D&D as there was a distinct feel to many of the characters, factions, settings and creatures encountered. Ashman blends a variety of cultures and characters seamlessly in a way that feels completely natural which I really enjoyed. We have the more classic fantasy western inspired medieval warriors, knights and city guard. We have back street thugs and criminal gangs mixed with deadly assassin guild known as the Black Guild. Speaking of the Black Guild, we have all types of characters, both protagonist and antagonist, ranging from street thugs, magical femme fatals, to more Eastern inspired ninja style assassins. Ashman also includes some puritan style Witch-Hunters (who totally kick ass!!) and even Pirates. If that’s not enough, there is even a detective story thrown in, as two of my favourite characters, Biviano and Sears, play unlikely special detectives on behalf of the city guard and have a knack for uncovering all manner of mischief. I really enjoyed these two, they hold plenty of character twists of their own and slowly become hugely important.
This is a novel which could be considered High Fantasy but yet I found it to be much grittier and at times darker than what we have come to expect from High Fantasy. So why did I describe elements of this book as High Fantasy? Well, we have magic, Tolkien-esque Elves, mention of Dwarfs. There are Goblins, Kobalds and a host of other mythical fantasy creatures, such as a Selkie, a giant lobster monster and mention of Dragons, but it is not simply a High Fantasy. It has a violent, dark and gritty undercurrent throughout. But it’s not all grit and gloom either, there is a lot of humour from some really likeable characters. Ashman has woven a huge variety of fantasy elements into his book which made for and enthralling read and hard to put down.
The descriptions of settings are rich and easily imagined. Ashman displays an extensive knowledge of weapons and armour also, as a wide variety are used by his myriad cast and I found each was well researched and used convincingly.
I very much enjoyed Black Cross, I have immediately procured the remaining books in the series from the author himself and eagerly await them. I would very much recommend this book. So if you haven’t read it go buy a copy and enjoy an immersive and exhilarating trip into Wesson. I promise you will not be disappointed.
Thanks for reading,
Lee C. Conley
September 28, 2017
As reviewed on my page Knaak's Knoll! Please go to the page and like it in order to see future reviews and recommendations!
https://www.facebook.com/KnaaksKnoll/
BLACK CROSS
BLACK CROSS is the first novel in the BLACK POWDER WARS saga by Brit writer J.P. Ashman and a rousing, gritty adventure in itself. Ashman introduces us to a realm very influenced by old England around the plague years yet filled with both magic and progress on highly significant scales. A complex tale with a large and varied cast set in a squalid yet intriguing background, BLACK CROSS still manages with only a slight hiccup or two to tie everything together quite satisfactorily.
Those who enjoy Errol Flynn, epic and grimdark fantasy, strong world-building, and unique characters will all find reason to add BLACK CROSS to the top of your to-read pile.
BLACK GUILD, the sequel, will be released at the end of 2017.
*****
Born Lancashire, England, J. P. Ashman is a Northern lad through and through. His parents love wildlife, history, fantasy and science fiction, and passed their passion on to him. They read to him from an early age and encouraged his imagination at every turn. His career may be in optics, as a manager/technician, but he loves to make time for writing and reading every day. Now living rurally in the Cotswolds with Wifey and their little Norse Goddess Freya, he's inspired daily by the views they have and the things they see, from the deer in the fields to the buzzards circling overhead.
Writing is a huge part of his life and the medieval re-enactment background and tabletop gaming lend to it; when he's not writing the genre, he's either reading or playing it. He plans to keep writing, both within his current series, and those to come, whether short stories or epic tomes.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jpashmanblac...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JP_Ashman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon.com link: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cross-Fi...
Also available in paperback and hardcover
website & blog: https://jpashman.com/
*****
Richard A. Knaak is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the Legend of Huma, WoW: Wolfheart, the Dragonrealm, the Black City Saint series, and much more. His latest releases include the Turning War Trilogy for the Dragonrealm, Black City Demon (2nd in the Black City Saint series), and the urban fantasy, Frostwing.
Splitting his time between Chicago and Arkansas, he is currently at work on Knights of the Frost for the Dragonrealm, Black City Dragon ( 3rd in the Black City Saint series), and the new epic fantasy setting, Rex Draconis. To learn more, please like his pro Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/richardallen...
https://www.facebook.com/KnaaksKnoll/
BLACK CROSS
BLACK CROSS is the first novel in the BLACK POWDER WARS saga by Brit writer J.P. Ashman and a rousing, gritty adventure in itself. Ashman introduces us to a realm very influenced by old England around the plague years yet filled with both magic and progress on highly significant scales. A complex tale with a large and varied cast set in a squalid yet intriguing background, BLACK CROSS still manages with only a slight hiccup or two to tie everything together quite satisfactorily.
Those who enjoy Errol Flynn, epic and grimdark fantasy, strong world-building, and unique characters will all find reason to add BLACK CROSS to the top of your to-read pile.
BLACK GUILD, the sequel, will be released at the end of 2017.
*****
Born Lancashire, England, J. P. Ashman is a Northern lad through and through. His parents love wildlife, history, fantasy and science fiction, and passed their passion on to him. They read to him from an early age and encouraged his imagination at every turn. His career may be in optics, as a manager/technician, but he loves to make time for writing and reading every day. Now living rurally in the Cotswolds with Wifey and their little Norse Goddess Freya, he's inspired daily by the views they have and the things they see, from the deer in the fields to the buzzards circling overhead.
Writing is a huge part of his life and the medieval re-enactment background and tabletop gaming lend to it; when he's not writing the genre, he's either reading or playing it. He plans to keep writing, both within his current series, and those to come, whether short stories or epic tomes.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jpashmanblac...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JP_Ashman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon.com link: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cross-Fi...
Also available in paperback and hardcover
website & blog: https://jpashman.com/
*****
Richard A. Knaak is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the Legend of Huma, WoW: Wolfheart, the Dragonrealm, the Black City Saint series, and much more. His latest releases include the Turning War Trilogy for the Dragonrealm, Black City Demon (2nd in the Black City Saint series), and the urban fantasy, Frostwing.
Splitting his time between Chicago and Arkansas, he is currently at work on Knights of the Frost for the Dragonrealm, Black City Dragon ( 3rd in the Black City Saint series), and the new epic fantasy setting, Rex Draconis. To learn more, please like his pro Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/richardallen...
May 21, 2016
I'm surprised this book doesn't have higher ratings and isn't more popular than it is. It's a really great book.
CHARACTERS
The author has managed to created really memorable characters here. They're all well fleshed out. The reading of the book is mad even more thrilling by the discovery of each of the individual characters. Each has a different role to play. Each is unique, making the resulting blend truly exquisite. I also noticed an element of mystery in every POV character. It makes the whole thing even more intriguing, as the characters are complex and highly unpredictable.
I didn't exactly fancy the author's portrayal of the race of elves, especially their women. The grace, sternness and dignity I've come to associate with fictional elves is missing. In the book, they're more or less humans with only enhanced beauty and magical powers.
While this book would be classified by most to be Grimdark, it's extensive use of magic and creatures such as dwarves, elves, goblins and griffins among others bring it to the realm of pure epic fantasy.
PLOT
It's a great story, elastic, really flexible, and continually expands. Those are the best stories. Despite there being quite a lot of magic, it doesn't distract from the story. It's a really complex story, at some point I had to slow down with my reading because I was missing too many things.
As well as being a great story, it's also unique. It's not typical Grimdark like Mark Lawrence or Joe Abercrombie, it's got a blend of Tolkien as well. There's antiheroes, heroes, and villains.
THEMES
We have the usual evil vs good theme, as characterises nearly every work of fantasy, but it's cleverly covered with other layers. The entire thing is intriguing enough to distract from the main theme in the story which is the fight against an unknown evil. The antiheroes make you root for them! Their gritty, dark deeds blend with their odd but righteous sense of justice.
Love is a lightly treated issue, and I prefer it that way.
SETTING
Much of what happens in the book only occurs within the city of Wesson. There are no mind blowing descriptions of the continent of Brisance, or the countryside. Despite the book's really epic scope, it's more plot driven and doesn't dwell too much on the setting.
It's a really great read. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who reads this review.
CHARACTERS
The author has managed to created really memorable characters here. They're all well fleshed out. The reading of the book is mad even more thrilling by the discovery of each of the individual characters. Each has a different role to play. Each is unique, making the resulting blend truly exquisite. I also noticed an element of mystery in every POV character. It makes the whole thing even more intriguing, as the characters are complex and highly unpredictable.
I didn't exactly fancy the author's portrayal of the race of elves, especially their women. The grace, sternness and dignity I've come to associate with fictional elves is missing. In the book, they're more or less humans with only enhanced beauty and magical powers.
While this book would be classified by most to be Grimdark, it's extensive use of magic and creatures such as dwarves, elves, goblins and griffins among others bring it to the realm of pure epic fantasy.
PLOT
It's a great story, elastic, really flexible, and continually expands. Those are the best stories. Despite there being quite a lot of magic, it doesn't distract from the story. It's a really complex story, at some point I had to slow down with my reading because I was missing too many things.
As well as being a great story, it's also unique. It's not typical Grimdark like Mark Lawrence or Joe Abercrombie, it's got a blend of Tolkien as well. There's antiheroes, heroes, and villains.
THEMES
We have the usual evil vs good theme, as characterises nearly every work of fantasy, but it's cleverly covered with other layers. The entire thing is intriguing enough to distract from the main theme in the story which is the fight against an unknown evil. The antiheroes make you root for them! Their gritty, dark deeds blend with their odd but righteous sense of justice.
Love is a lightly treated issue, and I prefer it that way.
SETTING
Much of what happens in the book only occurs within the city of Wesson. There are no mind blowing descriptions of the continent of Brisance, or the countryside. Despite the book's really epic scope, it's more plot driven and doesn't dwell too much on the setting.
It's a really great read. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who reads this review.
April 5, 2016
So I have just finished this beast.
A great debut by an obvious fan of fantasy and shiny armour!
As I saw it, this was really two books in one. There was the Grimdark element of the city Altoln, and the more epic fantasy setting of a journey to those wise old elves.
I have to say that I much preferred the grittier elements of the story, but that is just down to personal preference.
You can definitely see the author's craft develop as the story progresses, his talent for battle scenes is evident throughout too.
I think there are points where less could have been more, but as debuts go I was impressed with the story, the complexity of the world and the rich variety of characters.
Overall, an exciting story that has something for every fan of fantasy.
A great debut by an obvious fan of fantasy and shiny armour!
As I saw it, this was really two books in one. There was the Grimdark element of the city Altoln, and the more epic fantasy setting of a journey to those wise old elves.
I have to say that I much preferred the grittier elements of the story, but that is just down to personal preference.
You can definitely see the author's craft develop as the story progresses, his talent for battle scenes is evident throughout too.
I think there are points where less could have been more, but as debuts go I was impressed with the story, the complexity of the world and the rich variety of characters.
Overall, an exciting story that has something for every fan of fantasy.
September 5, 2015
The author creates an epic, richly-detailed and powerfully written fantasy novel. As others have pointed out, the novel has a more gently-paced start, but once the multiple storylines are up and running, the novel quickly kicks into high gear and does not disappoint. At times gritty and dark, especially during the intense fight scenes, the book isn't all gloom and doom with the darkness often offset by the humorous banter between two of the books most interesting characters. I think fans of Mark Lawrence, Joe Abercrombie or David Gemmell will enjoy this book.
February 22, 2016
I very much enjoyed reading this book. The story started off slowly but got up to speed quite quickly. I liked the diversity and number of characters, and the mixture good/bad in them. I got really envolved with them which resulted in being really unhappy and a certain point and really happy at another. I would recommend this book tot anyone!
February 28, 2016
Well it doesn’t take long for Black Cross to get going at all. We are straight into it with the intriguing Lord Severun, who appears to be conducting some sort of magical experiment. Within a very short space of time it becomes apparent that it has gone horribly wrong, and the world of Brisance will never be the same again. It is a great scene-setter and drags you instantly into the narrative. Already questions are bouncing around in the mind and before you know it you are four or five chapters in and completely engrossed.
A good chunk of that is down to J.P.’s style – which is short chapters and a constant switching between the impressive cast of POV characters that are introduced into the tale. But these aren’t information dumps whose sole purpose is to get all the dramatis personae identified as soon as possible, you get the sense that wherever the author takes you next is where you need to be. Within a few short chapters we have been introduced to the majority of the characters that form the bulk of the story (though not all, there are a few gems who turn up later) and we have already seen a good number of the seemingly disparate threads that we know will be slowly teased together over the rest of the book (and the series for that matter).
There are some “common” fantasy elements contained within Black Cross, which you would expect as the genre does have a few “norms” that should be stuck to.
In this case we have the sprawling “Tolkeinesque” world of Brisance with the main focus of the narrative centered around the sprawling medieval city of Wesson. Brisance has your typical collection of big cities, forests, barren wildernesses and, what I’m going to call, “realms for other species” – because I can’t think of a better phrase right now.
Wesson itself is like most of the cities you encounter in these tales; grandiose palaces and churches sit alongside thoroughly destitute citizens and areas you only go in once. There are multiple different races who are trying to interact and not tear each other apart as well as political power plays involving (amongst others) the magically-inclined Clerics of the Wizards and Sorcery Guild, the religious zealots of the Inquisition and external factions such as the Elves and the (hitherto quiet) Dwarves.
People within these factions tend to behave pretty much as you might expect; the Elves we encounter are intelligent and ethereal, the Inquisition are downright unpleasant and the wizards and sorcerers do what they say on the tin – though J.P. thankfully doesn’t rely on grandiose magical powers to drag the narrative along; if you do magic, it costs you energy and effort in his world. You also have your classic portrayals of reluctant heroes, loveable rogues and ruthless killers.
The real beauties though are those characters that sit slightly outside of any of these pigeon holes such as Longoss, a thoroughly unpleasant gentleman not averse to a bit of assassination nor to frequenting the many drinking dens and brothels of the underbelly. He is thoroughly amoral, absolutely ruthless and brutal when he needs to be (one scene involving a fight with a couple of Black Guild assassins still gives me the shivers now).
I love him. He evolves fantastically through the course of the book and it’ll be really interesting to see where J.P. goes with him.
Same goes for the pair of policeman – Sears and Biviano – who clearly aren’t what they seem at first glance but provide some moments of great humour (often at the blackest of times) whilst making sure you know that they are not people to be trifled with.
I really love J.P.’s characterisations – there is depth and breadth to everyone he introduces and he manages to do enough with each of them to make them stand out from the crowd that a lazier writer might lose them in. There are shades of grey running right through Black Cross, and it feels more real for it.
Plot wise this cracks along at a decent rate, but with a constant sense that there is more going on over and above the individual narratives that are taking place in parallel with each other. Anyone who reads my reviews regularly will know this is one of the things I love about Brandon Sanderson’s work – multiple little threads being held together by larger threads that aren’t always obvious to see. Black Cross is distinctly different in tone to a lot of Sanderson’s work (there are some disturbingly brutal scenes in here for example) but the similarity with this element is obvious from the start.
Black Cross has obviously been a labour of love for J.P. and his determination to get things right and not rush it comes across throughout. His love of medieval recreations and weaponry also adds a level of detail – he knows his stuff and that always makes a big difference, it is a lot easier to make create the illusion of reality if you have a very good basis which to operate. I found it refreshing to read a debut novel (of this scale anyway) and have a strong sense that the author has complete control of where he is going, how long it will take to get there and what he wants to show us along the way.
So overall, you won’t be surprised to know I absolutely loved this. It is well-paced; inhabited by morally ambiguous characters and grey areas; lovingly described and above all, full of action and adventure. No punches are pulled, J.P. knows exactly what story he wants to tell and he has done a wonderful job of telling it. Can’t wait for the next one!
Verdict: 5 stars out of 5
A good chunk of that is down to J.P.’s style – which is short chapters and a constant switching between the impressive cast of POV characters that are introduced into the tale. But these aren’t information dumps whose sole purpose is to get all the dramatis personae identified as soon as possible, you get the sense that wherever the author takes you next is where you need to be. Within a few short chapters we have been introduced to the majority of the characters that form the bulk of the story (though not all, there are a few gems who turn up later) and we have already seen a good number of the seemingly disparate threads that we know will be slowly teased together over the rest of the book (and the series for that matter).
There are some “common” fantasy elements contained within Black Cross, which you would expect as the genre does have a few “norms” that should be stuck to.
In this case we have the sprawling “Tolkeinesque” world of Brisance with the main focus of the narrative centered around the sprawling medieval city of Wesson. Brisance has your typical collection of big cities, forests, barren wildernesses and, what I’m going to call, “realms for other species” – because I can’t think of a better phrase right now.
Wesson itself is like most of the cities you encounter in these tales; grandiose palaces and churches sit alongside thoroughly destitute citizens and areas you only go in once. There are multiple different races who are trying to interact and not tear each other apart as well as political power plays involving (amongst others) the magically-inclined Clerics of the Wizards and Sorcery Guild, the religious zealots of the Inquisition and external factions such as the Elves and the (hitherto quiet) Dwarves.
People within these factions tend to behave pretty much as you might expect; the Elves we encounter are intelligent and ethereal, the Inquisition are downright unpleasant and the wizards and sorcerers do what they say on the tin – though J.P. thankfully doesn’t rely on grandiose magical powers to drag the narrative along; if you do magic, it costs you energy and effort in his world. You also have your classic portrayals of reluctant heroes, loveable rogues and ruthless killers.
The real beauties though are those characters that sit slightly outside of any of these pigeon holes such as Longoss, a thoroughly unpleasant gentleman not averse to a bit of assassination nor to frequenting the many drinking dens and brothels of the underbelly. He is thoroughly amoral, absolutely ruthless and brutal when he needs to be (one scene involving a fight with a couple of Black Guild assassins still gives me the shivers now).
I love him. He evolves fantastically through the course of the book and it’ll be really interesting to see where J.P. goes with him.
Same goes for the pair of policeman – Sears and Biviano – who clearly aren’t what they seem at first glance but provide some moments of great humour (often at the blackest of times) whilst making sure you know that they are not people to be trifled with.
I really love J.P.’s characterisations – there is depth and breadth to everyone he introduces and he manages to do enough with each of them to make them stand out from the crowd that a lazier writer might lose them in. There are shades of grey running right through Black Cross, and it feels more real for it.
Plot wise this cracks along at a decent rate, but with a constant sense that there is more going on over and above the individual narratives that are taking place in parallel with each other. Anyone who reads my reviews regularly will know this is one of the things I love about Brandon Sanderson’s work – multiple little threads being held together by larger threads that aren’t always obvious to see. Black Cross is distinctly different in tone to a lot of Sanderson’s work (there are some disturbingly brutal scenes in here for example) but the similarity with this element is obvious from the start.
Black Cross has obviously been a labour of love for J.P. and his determination to get things right and not rush it comes across throughout. His love of medieval recreations and weaponry also adds a level of detail – he knows his stuff and that always makes a big difference, it is a lot easier to make create the illusion of reality if you have a very good basis which to operate. I found it refreshing to read a debut novel (of this scale anyway) and have a strong sense that the author has complete control of where he is going, how long it will take to get there and what he wants to show us along the way.
So overall, you won’t be surprised to know I absolutely loved this. It is well-paced; inhabited by morally ambiguous characters and grey areas; lovingly described and above all, full of action and adventure. No punches are pulled, J.P. knows exactly what story he wants to tell and he has done a wonderful job of telling it. Can’t wait for the next one!
Verdict: 5 stars out of 5
October 1, 2016
Review also appears in http://bohomind.com/book-review-black...
Yesss! I did it. I finished it.
A fantastic debut in the series and from the author, this book is a mixture of World of Warcraft franchise and The Elder Scrolls. Guilds of morally questionable assassins and experimentative mages spread fear in our mind while bubonic plague makes our heart twist with sufferings and loss of the people. Torture racks (whoever played Skyrim, remember the torturer in Helgen?), dungeons, kobolds, goblins, gnome clerics (didn't know they are similar to the idea of healers), dwarves barely give us any breathing time before a civil riot breaks out.
After an intense prolog, the first chapter was deceptively unimpressive. Soon, I realized how brilliantly the author took out of the ship into the land of Brisance, where the main story takes place. If you Google, a short definition of the word Brisance is 'the shattering effect of a high explosive.'
Thank you, JP, for the maps. I have a thing for maps.
I took an awfully long time to finish the book because I had to keep going back to keep track of groups or individual characters. But what a great book!
Each character and each scene were important here. The editor has done an excellent job in not striking off any of those. I can't say there weren't any weaknesses in this 'tome'. But as a debut, a few dialogs and lines can be easily overlooked.
Do I like this book? Aye.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this grimdark fantasy sandwiched between a few slices of political drama, with the saucy goodness of Backbiting assassins and mages guild master screwing up 'for the greater good.'
Elves in this book are almost human but live in Tolkien-like tree houses, enchanting weapons, and armors.
Little girls are lured into a life of prostitution by glamor and apparent freedom and face reality in a hard way.
A word of warning, this book is meant for mature readers. This story is no rosy romance. The love and other tender emotions in this book brew from near death experiences, rape, and pillage. If you appreciate strong story-telling with a matter-of-fact, realistic tone of narration with rarely any exaggeration of emotion, this books is a must read for you.
I think this is a good example of hard fantasy (I don't have an alternative word for this. If it works for sci-fi why not fantasy?)
The author has woven a complex plot with subparallel subplots and good magic system. The large variety of races is tough to retain in your memory if you are new in the fantasy genre. In the beginning, I found the language difficult (local dialects, think it is called cockney?) But after a second read, I felt it was necessary as an adorably innocent relief from the gritty, gory chain of events.
I am going to recommend this book to every serious fantasy lovers, and I am eagerly waiting for the next in the series.
Yesss! I did it. I finished it.
A fantastic debut in the series and from the author, this book is a mixture of World of Warcraft franchise and The Elder Scrolls. Guilds of morally questionable assassins and experimentative mages spread fear in our mind while bubonic plague makes our heart twist with sufferings and loss of the people. Torture racks (whoever played Skyrim, remember the torturer in Helgen?), dungeons, kobolds, goblins, gnome clerics (didn't know they are similar to the idea of healers), dwarves barely give us any breathing time before a civil riot breaks out.
After an intense prolog, the first chapter was deceptively unimpressive. Soon, I realized how brilliantly the author took out of the ship into the land of Brisance, where the main story takes place. If you Google, a short definition of the word Brisance is 'the shattering effect of a high explosive.'
Thank you, JP, for the maps. I have a thing for maps.
I took an awfully long time to finish the book because I had to keep going back to keep track of groups or individual characters. But what a great book!
Each character and each scene were important here. The editor has done an excellent job in not striking off any of those. I can't say there weren't any weaknesses in this 'tome'. But as a debut, a few dialogs and lines can be easily overlooked.
Do I like this book? Aye.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this grimdark fantasy sandwiched between a few slices of political drama, with the saucy goodness of Backbiting assassins and mages guild master screwing up 'for the greater good.'
Elves in this book are almost human but live in Tolkien-like tree houses, enchanting weapons, and armors.
Little girls are lured into a life of prostitution by glamor and apparent freedom and face reality in a hard way.
A word of warning, this book is meant for mature readers. This story is no rosy romance. The love and other tender emotions in this book brew from near death experiences, rape, and pillage. If you appreciate strong story-telling with a matter-of-fact, realistic tone of narration with rarely any exaggeration of emotion, this books is a must read for you.
I think this is a good example of hard fantasy (I don't have an alternative word for this. If it works for sci-fi why not fantasy?)
The author has woven a complex plot with subparallel subplots and good magic system. The large variety of races is tough to retain in your memory if you are new in the fantasy genre. In the beginning, I found the language difficult (local dialects, think it is called cockney?) But after a second read, I felt it was necessary as an adorably innocent relief from the gritty, gory chain of events.
I am going to recommend this book to every serious fantasy lovers, and I am eagerly waiting for the next in the series.
May 13, 2017
took a little longer than normal to read this one but what a enjoyable read. this one is truly epic with assassins, manges,wizards,dwarves,elves and talking dogs. i read books to be entertained and i award the stars accordigly and this is a five star read. i am waiting for the next in the series, this is a book not to be missed. buy it you wont be sorry.
April 28, 2015
I was a bit dismayed when starting Black Cross. The opening pages gave a lengthy list of characters and their descriptions. Ok, epic fantasy I get it but I tend to have GRRM cold sweat moments of needing index cards and a cork board until I can get everything under my belt and into my memory. So off I went into the wonderful world that Mr. Ashman has constructed. By page 50 or so I started to notice an itch at the back of my neck that something needed to happen. I thought about my motivation behind that, do I really need brain wrenching action right off the bat, to see violence or some other type of mayhem to enjoy a book from the beginning? I have read numerous works that never picked up but enjoyed them immensely such as The Iliad. Yeah, I know I really liked it but I have never in my life said I wasn’t off center. :P)
By the time I had finished the book I was putting off reading more than a chapter at the time just so I could wake the next day a spend more time with the characters of the Black Cross that I have grown so fond of and now wait patiently for the next book/novella (hint hint wink wink Mr. Ashman). Black Cross doesn’t really start off slow but there is a bit that needs to be introduced to get the various plot lines, yepper more than one, off and running. It gives the reader a chance to experience the characters in everyday nuances that for me only enriched my experience with each character. Mr. Ashman is weaving a web throughout the book that will end some plot lines and expand others that will continue on in the series. I stopped trying to guess a third of the way into the book and sat back, relaxed and kept reading.
The characters are well developed. I am not a fan of bringing out everything about a character right off or even throughout the entire book if it is the first book of a series. I want mystery, with hints of insight into their past and future. It leaves room for surprise and fulfillment. Ms. Ashman accomplishes this with all of the characters. Biv and Sears are my fav throughout the book. A Laurel and Hardy relationship to be sure but the play between them only heightens what you don’t know about them even though they make references from time to time alluding to the depth of their understanding of each other and their relationship. I also enjoyed the cockney accent given to the two characters reveling in sounding it out in my head. Told you before, I am off center. hehe.
The environment involves humans, elves, and dwarfs although you don’t get to meet any dwarfs in the first book. The diversity of the races along with the diversity within the races is pleasant. One would expect the same type of fantasy trope as you read along but there is some surprising elements of the humans that I haven’t read in fantasy before and a slight different angle on the elves as well. I really enjoyed all aspects of this book from environment, character development to the development of the plot lines and where they lead too. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a fantasy novel that will be a fresh aspect in many avenues from the typical tropes of fantasy that we know.
I also enjoyed, my opinion and assessment, the underlying messages delivered by Mr. Ashman’s writing. One person despite what meme’s and other philosophical bozos tell you can’t change the world. Statistically even that one person that looks to have change the world had help since birth to get to that point so yeah, one person can’t change the world. What the reader sees in the Black Cross is not that any person should set out to change the world but go forth and do what is right. If you are fortunate you may touch one life, one area or community in a way that will set things in motion to be just a bit better than they would have been otherwise. One of the MC sets things in motion but after that no one act of his makes or breaks the plot or the final goal. But what if that MC decided to not do the right thing to stand up and act? Would the final goal still been achieved? Possibly but we will not know that because that MC decided to act and not sit by and watch or just complain and do nothing. We all can learn something from that in the Black Cross. Doing the right thing should be its own reward and not the expectation of the positive consequence that may never come to fruition.
Buy the Black Cross, you will not be disappointed and more than likely will add a new favorite author to your list.
By the time I had finished the book I was putting off reading more than a chapter at the time just so I could wake the next day a spend more time with the characters of the Black Cross that I have grown so fond of and now wait patiently for the next book/novella (hint hint wink wink Mr. Ashman). Black Cross doesn’t really start off slow but there is a bit that needs to be introduced to get the various plot lines, yepper more than one, off and running. It gives the reader a chance to experience the characters in everyday nuances that for me only enriched my experience with each character. Mr. Ashman is weaving a web throughout the book that will end some plot lines and expand others that will continue on in the series. I stopped trying to guess a third of the way into the book and sat back, relaxed and kept reading.
The characters are well developed. I am not a fan of bringing out everything about a character right off or even throughout the entire book if it is the first book of a series. I want mystery, with hints of insight into their past and future. It leaves room for surprise and fulfillment. Ms. Ashman accomplishes this with all of the characters. Biv and Sears are my fav throughout the book. A Laurel and Hardy relationship to be sure but the play between them only heightens what you don’t know about them even though they make references from time to time alluding to the depth of their understanding of each other and their relationship. I also enjoyed the cockney accent given to the two characters reveling in sounding it out in my head. Told you before, I am off center. hehe.
The environment involves humans, elves, and dwarfs although you don’t get to meet any dwarfs in the first book. The diversity of the races along with the diversity within the races is pleasant. One would expect the same type of fantasy trope as you read along but there is some surprising elements of the humans that I haven’t read in fantasy before and a slight different angle on the elves as well. I really enjoyed all aspects of this book from environment, character development to the development of the plot lines and where they lead too. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a fantasy novel that will be a fresh aspect in many avenues from the typical tropes of fantasy that we know.
I also enjoyed, my opinion and assessment, the underlying messages delivered by Mr. Ashman’s writing. One person despite what meme’s and other philosophical bozos tell you can’t change the world. Statistically even that one person that looks to have change the world had help since birth to get to that point so yeah, one person can’t change the world. What the reader sees in the Black Cross is not that any person should set out to change the world but go forth and do what is right. If you are fortunate you may touch one life, one area or community in a way that will set things in motion to be just a bit better than they would have been otherwise. One of the MC sets things in motion but after that no one act of his makes or breaks the plot or the final goal. But what if that MC decided to not do the right thing to stand up and act? Would the final goal still been achieved? Possibly but we will not know that because that MC decided to act and not sit by and watch or just complain and do nothing. We all can learn something from that in the Black Cross. Doing the right thing should be its own reward and not the expectation of the positive consequence that may never come to fruition.
Buy the Black Cross, you will not be disappointed and more than likely will add a new favorite author to your list.
May 22, 2016
That was quite a ride! ‘Black Cross’ – the first instalment of J.P. Ashman’s ‘Black Powder Wars’ – is a fun-filled romp through filthy streets, war-torn cities, monster-infested caves and gorgeous ancient forests. Though it contains many a nod to classic elements of old-school fantasy, its primary focus is the plague-ridden city of Wesson, which is favourably reminiscent of Richard Ford’s ‘Steelhaven’ trilogy.
As others have pointed out, ‘Black Cross’ has a large and varied cast, and the author makes sure each character has plenty of page time (hence the novel’s somewhat hefty length; though I read the Kindle version I also own the paperback, and can attest to its weightiness!) Thankfully, ‘Black Cross’ starts out strong, throwing us into events straight away with an intriguing prologue. Though it does take a while to get going again after an exciting beginning, it does pick up and is absolutely packed with battles, beasties and blackguards (and beards).
I found ‘Black Cross’ to be entertaining - in spite of a few elements that, for me, didn’t quite fit with the initial grim and gritty atmosphere of the story. For example, the story contains lots of classic tropes that fans of high fantasy will adore, but also plenty of grimdark action. But although the two don’t gel together as well as you’d think, there are still loads of memorable (and crazy!) moments that arise throughout. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing more of the mysterious Black Guild in the next book . . . what’s it called again? Oh. It’s called ‘Black Guild’. Guess I’ll get my wish!
Other things I hope to see in future books are: more strong female characters; more backstory about how Severun and Orix concocted their not-so-cunning plan in the first place; and, of course, more of the black powder everyone’s been dropping hints about . . .
As others have pointed out, ‘Black Cross’ has a large and varied cast, and the author makes sure each character has plenty of page time (hence the novel’s somewhat hefty length; though I read the Kindle version I also own the paperback, and can attest to its weightiness!) Thankfully, ‘Black Cross’ starts out strong, throwing us into events straight away with an intriguing prologue. Though it does take a while to get going again after an exciting beginning, it does pick up and is absolutely packed with battles, beasties and blackguards (and beards).
I found ‘Black Cross’ to be entertaining - in spite of a few elements that, for me, didn’t quite fit with the initial grim and gritty atmosphere of the story. For example, the story contains lots of classic tropes that fans of high fantasy will adore, but also plenty of grimdark action. But although the two don’t gel together as well as you’d think, there are still loads of memorable (and crazy!) moments that arise throughout. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing more of the mysterious Black Guild in the next book . . . what’s it called again? Oh. It’s called ‘Black Guild’. Guess I’ll get my wish!
Other things I hope to see in future books are: more strong female characters; more backstory about how Severun and Orix concocted their not-so-cunning plan in the first place; and, of course, more of the black powder everyone’s been dropping hints about . . .
April 23, 2018
Wow that was a lot to take in, and most of it really good. This one is hard for me to review as there is just so much stuff to cover. I feel as if it's better suited to a conversation piece as I know I can't possibly touch on everything covered.
I'll admit it took me quite a while to read this one (though I do have varying degrees of limited reading time) and part of that is due to me not really caring about one of the groups (the one that ends up with the elves...elves are a very easily clichéd race and I need some twists and original takes on them to get me invested), so every time the story switched to them I immediately lost momentum, even though I did like one of the characters in said group (Fal).
The characters I liked the most were Longoss and the duo of Biviano and Sears. A lot of great colorful, thoughtful, and bloody moments between those three. I'd love to see a spinoff of Biviano and Sears, even if it were a short story or series of shorts.
As for the atmosphere/tone, there's not one that can be pinned down, and by that I mean there's moments when it feels just like a lighthearted adventure where everything is right in the world or where you know everything will be right, but then other times things can get really dark like someone getting their limbs bashed to pulp and their eyes plucked out. So yeah, you kinda get both ends of the spectrum here, sometimes it can be jarring and not so smooth a transition, but not enough to put a major hindrance on my reading...it actually kinda balances out nicely so you're not completely in a dark mindset.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy but can handle some dark and gory moments.
Overall I thought this was a great read and totally worth my time.
:::::
Cover: Pen Astridge did a wonderful job on the new cover. It doesn't prepare you for the dark moments in the story but it definitely does its job at grasping ones attention.
I'll admit it took me quite a while to read this one (though I do have varying degrees of limited reading time) and part of that is due to me not really caring about one of the groups (the one that ends up with the elves...elves are a very easily clichéd race and I need some twists and original takes on them to get me invested), so every time the story switched to them I immediately lost momentum, even though I did like one of the characters in said group (Fal).
The characters I liked the most were Longoss and the duo of Biviano and Sears. A lot of great colorful, thoughtful, and bloody moments between those three. I'd love to see a spinoff of Biviano and Sears, even if it were a short story or series of shorts.
As for the atmosphere/tone, there's not one that can be pinned down, and by that I mean there's moments when it feels just like a lighthearted adventure where everything is right in the world or where you know everything will be right, but then other times things can get really dark like someone getting their limbs bashed to pulp and their eyes plucked out. So yeah, you kinda get both ends of the spectrum here, sometimes it can be jarring and not so smooth a transition, but not enough to put a major hindrance on my reading...it actually kinda balances out nicely so you're not completely in a dark mindset.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy but can handle some dark and gory moments.
Overall I thought this was a great read and totally worth my time.
:::::
Cover: Pen Astridge did a wonderful job on the new cover. It doesn't prepare you for the dark moments in the story but it definitely does its job at grasping ones attention.
May 21, 2018
Another one I hoped to enjoy more.
Black Cross shows great imagination and world-building, and the basic plot has enough action and mystery, but I, unfortunately, found the whole thing I little too slow. A good portion of the book was me wondering how long it would take them to reach the elves.
There was also a lot of characters which I found difficult to keep track of, and I found myself unable to picture most of them or tell them apart.
That being said I did enjoy the read. Black Cross was good, but not great. I will continue the series, but not straight away.
Black Cross shows great imagination and world-building, and the basic plot has enough action and mystery, but I, unfortunately, found the whole thing I little too slow. A good portion of the book was me wondering how long it would take them to reach the elves.
There was also a lot of characters which I found difficult to keep track of, and I found myself unable to picture most of them or tell them apart.
That being said I did enjoy the read. Black Cross was good, but not great. I will continue the series, but not straight away.
August 31, 2015
This book was fantastic!! I absolutely loved it. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. Great world building, still mysterious, and things have been explained but yet still need to be. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I also like the elves too. Absolutely amazing. Very well done
October 13, 2016
Man, I hate to do this, but I'm calling it - did not finish, about 40% through - this one is just too grim for me.
Now, I will say - if you love grim dark and HUGE casts, you'll like this book.
Unfortunately, I like neither. I miss the golden days of fantasy - the days of Eddings and Tolkien. I don't mind a touch more darkness, but too much just kills me.
Initially, this book was okay, until about 1/3 of the way in - cast was a bit big for my taste, but I was still intrigued enough to keep reading .
Then the author did something I just couldn't handle. Maybe I'm too soft-hearted. Maybe it's because I'm a daddy myself. But what he added was sickening. Cringe inducing and nauseating. If that's what he meant to do, he succeeded. But now I don't want to read anymore.
This is not why I read fantasy. The world is a sucky enough place as it is. I'm well aware of underage prostitution and the sex trade. I read fantasy because I want to escape the crappy complexities of our world and go somewhere where we get to see good fight evil and win. Every time. I love it when magic rings are destroyed, dark overlords are vanquished, and peace and justice rule the land.
So, if you want something grim and disturbing, something that takes our world and adds magical plagues (as if it didn't suck enough), please, do read this book.
If you're like me, just say no.
Now, I will say - if you love grim dark and HUGE casts, you'll like this book.
Unfortunately, I like neither. I miss the golden days of fantasy - the days of Eddings and Tolkien. I don't mind a touch more darkness, but too much just kills me.
Initially, this book was okay, until about 1/3 of the way in - cast was a bit big for my taste, but I was still intrigued enough to keep reading .
Then the author did something I just couldn't handle. Maybe I'm too soft-hearted. Maybe it's because I'm a daddy myself. But what he added was sickening. Cringe inducing and nauseating. If that's what he meant to do, he succeeded. But now I don't want to read anymore.
This is not why I read fantasy. The world is a sucky enough place as it is. I'm well aware of underage prostitution and the sex trade. I read fantasy because I want to escape the crappy complexities of our world and go somewhere where we get to see good fight evil and win. Every time. I love it when magic rings are destroyed, dark overlords are vanquished, and peace and justice rule the land.
So, if you want something grim and disturbing, something that takes our world and adds magical plagues (as if it didn't suck enough), please, do read this book.
If you're like me, just say no.
July 16, 2017
This book has a little bit of everything I like. Action, sorcery, strange creatures, love, greed, loyalty and betrayal. The characters are well defined and the plot has enough depth to keep you guessing where it might be going.
There is plenty of violence in this book, so not for the faint-hearted. I like the way it gets going with action pretty much from the start. There are plenty of things going on in Black Cross, as you will no doubt have gathered from the aforementioned.
I like the way, J.P. Ashman can take a character that most people would loathe, then turns them into an unlikely hero. I won't spoil it and give the game away, but rest assured there are one or two surprises in store. "Ye 'ave me word on that!"
There were one or two small errors, typos, but I've yet to read a book that doesn't have those, so I have given it five stars.
I would highly recommend fantasy lovers to give this book a try.
There is plenty of violence in this book, so not for the faint-hearted. I like the way it gets going with action pretty much from the start. There are plenty of things going on in Black Cross, as you will no doubt have gathered from the aforementioned.
I like the way, J.P. Ashman can take a character that most people would loathe, then turns them into an unlikely hero. I won't spoil it and give the game away, but rest assured there are one or two surprises in store. "Ye 'ave me word on that!"
There were one or two small errors, typos, but I've yet to read a book that doesn't have those, so I have given it five stars.
I would highly recommend fantasy lovers to give this book a try.
December 31, 2015
As debuts go this ticks all the right boxes for me that alone gives out 3 solid stars , the next star comes from J.P himself through his creation of the characters and world to his creative writing skills . The only reason I have not given a fifth star even when in some parts it's richly deserved is I want J.P to push himself to meet the standard here and then hack it to fuck and bask in the blood filled glory of the success a second book will deliver ( for me the second book counts more ) . The future looks bright for J.P and more so for us as fans . So J.P if your reading this go put that little bundle of Norse goddess down an get back to the writing .
Want to read
April 6, 2019Excellent book
So fun to find a novel that is epic and grim dark at the same time! Already pre ordered Black Guild for a great price!
So fun to find a novel that is epic and grim dark at the same time! Already pre ordered Black Guild for a great price!
January 18, 2018
Black Cross is a great debut novel by J.P. Ashman as other reviewers have mentioned. It is epic and complicated with dashes of humour, heroism and villainy thrown in for good measure. There are a number of story threads and characters as befits its genre.
The setting starts with a world similar to medieval Europe and then elements of D&D are thrown in midway through the book. I could also see some similarities between Terry Pratchett's The Watch series and the guard in this book. Most of the characters are memorable - the detectives and the assassin (no names to prevent spoilers) were my favourites.
Is it great? Unfortunately, the answer is no. But the potential is there for it to become so. The biggest gripe I have, is its uneven pacing. It took me a while and a couple of starts to get into the story. But, once it started, the pacing kept improving until it was break-neck towards the end. A secondary (but minor) one is the verbosity. I feel that this story would have been tighter with better and merciless editing. Be warned, there is a character whose circumstances will make you cringe.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
If you liked this review, you can find more like it on my blog Digital Amrit
The setting starts with a world similar to medieval Europe and then elements of D&D are thrown in midway through the book. I could also see some similarities between Terry Pratchett's The Watch series and the guard in this book. Most of the characters are memorable - the detectives and the assassin (no names to prevent spoilers) were my favourites.
Is it great? Unfortunately, the answer is no. But the potential is there for it to become so. The biggest gripe I have, is its uneven pacing. It took me a while and a couple of starts to get into the story. But, once it started, the pacing kept improving until it was break-neck towards the end. A secondary (but minor) one is the verbosity. I feel that this story would have been tighter with better and merciless editing. Be warned, there is a character whose circumstances will make you cringe.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
If you liked this review, you can find more like it on my blog Digital Amrit
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