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The Infinite Dimensions #1
The Dead Sky Order
In the unforgiving land of the Lower Realm, a threat emerges from across the river: The relentless Dead Sky Order, bolstered by Ka-Guardians from the Frozen Sky. As they launch a violent invasion, the fate of entire realms hangs in the balance.
Amidst the chaos, Ores finds himself banished to the icy wastes of Icesea, where he witnesses the brutal assault. Desperate for aid, he seeks out the legendary Solchampions, elite warriors granted unparalleled wealth, freedom, and authority. Among them is Llancer, facing his Final Solcede.
Meanwhile, Kalla, a proprietor of an inn, is thrust into the heart of the conflict, hiding dangerous secrets that could unravel the very fabric of reality. Her daughter, Samar, holds revelations that could shatter the barriers between worlds, but survival comes first as they brave the invasion and its relentless aftermath.
While fire rains from beyond the sky and molten rock consumes the land, what becomes of the souls when the Frozen Sky falls? Dive into a world of danger, secrets, and otherworldly intrigue in this epic tale of survival and sacrifice.
Amidst the chaos, Ores finds himself banished to the icy wastes of Icesea, where he witnesses the brutal assault. Desperate for aid, he seeks out the legendary Solchampions, elite warriors granted unparalleled wealth, freedom, and authority. Among them is Llancer, facing his Final Solcede.
Meanwhile, Kalla, a proprietor of an inn, is thrust into the heart of the conflict, hiding dangerous secrets that could unravel the very fabric of reality. Her daughter, Samar, holds revelations that could shatter the barriers between worlds, but survival comes first as they brave the invasion and its relentless aftermath.
While fire rains from beyond the sky and molten rock consumes the land, what becomes of the souls when the Frozen Sky falls? Dive into a world of danger, secrets, and otherworldly intrigue in this epic tale of survival and sacrifice.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2018
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23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 24, 2019
The Dead Sky Order has many things going for it. First, and maybe most importantly is the unique fantasy world - its somewhat dark and grim, but the sky is frozen and there's a separate region where the dark and sickly have to be separated from the rest of society. There's a sense of quest, and inn owner, a character with amazing abilities, warriors, and nature full of dangers. Next, the characters are unique on their own. They've adjusted to the harsh reality of their world - the only one they have ever known. We have a warrior that was banished, the girl before mentioned with crazy abilities, an inn owner with secrets, and characters willing to sacrifice their own lives.
My favorite is the world building and how Murphy allows the reader to fill in some of the gaps; the characters unique interests and story lines; and the grim overall feeling. I like dystopia stories, but even more I like grimdark.
My favorite is the world building and how Murphy allows the reader to fill in some of the gaps; the characters unique interests and story lines; and the grim overall feeling. I like dystopia stories, but even more I like grimdark.
June 22, 2019
Fans of high fantasy might enjoy 'The Dead Sky Order". It's certainly a complex tale with numerous factions and orders in conflict. There's intertwined storylines set in backdrop of a medieval-like setting. The author's writing is pretty decent, as far as I saw. The descriptions of the landscape and scenery were captivating in places. Every chapter also seemed to be packed with action with some blood curdling language i.e. bones snapping, bruising, aches and pains and gritted teeth.
The main issue I had with story was that, while much was going on in the foreground, and the pace was quite brisk - I couldn't really grasp any back story or reasons why things were happening. It all seemed to coming at me at a thousand miles an hour with little intrigue and mystery. I thought the novel might benefit with a little orientation - maybe a prologue to describe some of the history to the land and then kick off from there. Therefore I give - 3 stars, but others may feel differently.
The main issue I had with story was that, while much was going on in the foreground, and the pace was quite brisk - I couldn't really grasp any back story or reasons why things were happening. It all seemed to coming at me at a thousand miles an hour with little intrigue and mystery. I thought the novel might benefit with a little orientation - maybe a prologue to describe some of the history to the land and then kick off from there. Therefore I give - 3 stars, but others may feel differently.
January 24, 2020
A skirmisher's delight
I am a fan of dark and grimdark fantasies. The Dead Sky Order mostly scratched this itch. It has plenty of intimate fights, but we focus on small groups of survivors, so we never get what I'd call an epic battle. Still, the characters we get were well written. The epilogue promises more, but taken in a refreshing new direction. The rest of my review will contain mild spoilers.
The Good.
The world has a quarantine for infected people. The prejudices from each side are well represented. The solchampions are especially well written in this regard.
Speaking of solchampions, I loved their solcede. It reminded me of the wardens in one of my favorite video game series: Dragon Age.
The revelation of Kalla and Samar's relationship was fun. I think the chapter with young Kalla was my favorite.
Reuben's cowardice was welcomed. Often people in these stories are too brave and noble.
I'm a big fan of inventing religions so I appreciated worshipping the frozen sky.
The Kalla and Jenk relationship was another highlight.
The Bad.
It took a while to get chapters with significant dialogue. I prefer character discussion versus internal thoughts to explain the world.
Llancer and Ores are often referred to as Officer and Pikehelm. It was a little thing but weird enough to pull me out of the story each time.
I loved most characters, but not Samar and Jenk. Since they're so important, that took away from the coolness of the solchampion characters.
The flashbacks weren't easily identifiable. I had to go back to find "fifteen years later."
I'm not a fan of the power of love trope.
The Technical.
There is graphic violence and profanity in this book.
I am a fan of dark and grimdark fantasies. The Dead Sky Order mostly scratched this itch. It has plenty of intimate fights, but we focus on small groups of survivors, so we never get what I'd call an epic battle. Still, the characters we get were well written. The epilogue promises more, but taken in a refreshing new direction. The rest of my review will contain mild spoilers.
The Good.
The world has a quarantine for infected people. The prejudices from each side are well represented. The solchampions are especially well written in this regard.
Speaking of solchampions, I loved their solcede. It reminded me of the wardens in one of my favorite video game series: Dragon Age.
The revelation of Kalla and Samar's relationship was fun. I think the chapter with young Kalla was my favorite.
Reuben's cowardice was welcomed. Often people in these stories are too brave and noble.
I'm a big fan of inventing religions so I appreciated worshipping the frozen sky.
The Kalla and Jenk relationship was another highlight.
The Bad.
It took a while to get chapters with significant dialogue. I prefer character discussion versus internal thoughts to explain the world.
Llancer and Ores are often referred to as Officer and Pikehelm. It was a little thing but weird enough to pull me out of the story each time.
I loved most characters, but not Samar and Jenk. Since they're so important, that took away from the coolness of the solchampion characters.
The flashbacks weren't easily identifiable. I had to go back to find "fifteen years later."
I'm not a fan of the power of love trope.
The Technical.
There is graphic violence and profanity in this book.
March 8, 2020
Somewhere in space and time, the people of the Frozen Sky are threatened by raiders, hordes of plague victims and the mysterious and seemingly all-powerful Ka-Guardians. The Dead Sky Order is the story of their fight for survival.
In this hierarchical feudal society, people are divided into classes. The common people are mostly merchants and innkeepers. They are protected by the Solchampions, an elite group of warriors that reminded me of the medieval Knights Templars. Assisting the Solchampions are the lowly Pikehelms, grunt soldiers who do the dirty work.
In this dystopian novel, the author had done an excellent job in creating an alien, yet recognizable world. Because the narrative is told from the perspective of several characters, this strange world unfolds through the eyes of very human and real characters. I can’t say I liked all of these characters, but I did find them compelling. I also appreciated that the author allowed me to piece together the intricacies of this strange world for myself. At the end of the book, I had questions, but that is as it should be.
This book is the full package for fans of dark fantasy: well-paced action, compelling characters and an imaginative plot. I enjoyed it and look forward to a sequel.
In this hierarchical feudal society, people are divided into classes. The common people are mostly merchants and innkeepers. They are protected by the Solchampions, an elite group of warriors that reminded me of the medieval Knights Templars. Assisting the Solchampions are the lowly Pikehelms, grunt soldiers who do the dirty work.
In this dystopian novel, the author had done an excellent job in creating an alien, yet recognizable world. Because the narrative is told from the perspective of several characters, this strange world unfolds through the eyes of very human and real characters. I can’t say I liked all of these characters, but I did find them compelling. I also appreciated that the author allowed me to piece together the intricacies of this strange world for myself. At the end of the book, I had questions, but that is as it should be.
This book is the full package for fans of dark fantasy: well-paced action, compelling characters and an imaginative plot. I enjoyed it and look forward to a sequel.
August 7, 2019
Dead Sky Order is a familiar take on dystopian fiction, but a good read nonetheless, especially if you are a fan of the genre. Where it shines is in the characters and the flow between chapters; I personally felt each section was ended on a positive note, a new reveal that both furthered the story at a respectable clip as well as gave you that "one more chapter..." feeling that is hard to describe (but you probably know it well).
Where it fell down a bit for me was in the language. Not a persistent issue throughout, but there were definitely sections that seemed to meander a bit, or the wording felt a little challenged. The imagery and detail are solid and the world is well thought out, but descriptions are sometimes wandering. There's a lot of "titles" and language introduced (fairly quickly) that is specific to the world Murphy has painted.
It's a slow burn and a bit of struggle with the narrative until Murphy has enough time to lay the foundation, at which point the story picks up. Worth the read if you are a fan of the genre!
Where it fell down a bit for me was in the language. Not a persistent issue throughout, but there were definitely sections that seemed to meander a bit, or the wording felt a little challenged. The imagery and detail are solid and the world is well thought out, but descriptions are sometimes wandering. There's a lot of "titles" and language introduced (fairly quickly) that is specific to the world Murphy has painted.
It's a slow burn and a bit of struggle with the narrative until Murphy has enough time to lay the foundation, at which point the story picks up. Worth the read if you are a fan of the genre!
December 8, 2020
The plot, to abridge detail, involves a sect, known as the Lower Realm, at war with a nefarious faction, Dead Sky Order, that is determined to eradicate them. The story shifts from multiple characters point of view and with each chapter preceding the other, readers are able to feel a sense of reliability with them and their struggles. Though I tend to read science fiction, I was intrigued by the story’s setting and character development. Dialogue didn’t feel unnatural, since it open reader’s eyes in how characters interacted with the world. At the end of reading , many readers will be left in reminiscence of the events and its characters.
July 1, 2019
The Dead Sky Order is the telling of a turning point on a faraway planet. Beneath the revered Frozen Sky, an unstable kingdom terrorized by wolves and raiders alike turns to a handful of sworn warriors, the Solchampions, to protect them from oncoming threats. A river divides the sick from the well in a land plagued with an unstoppably contagious disease. Told from the perspective of several of the land’s last defenders, The Dead Sky Order chronicles the last fight of a lowly soldier, a warrior seeking his own end, a mother set on protecting her daughter, and young souls trapped in their own dangerous destiny. The worshipped Ka-Guardians have banded together with several other violent tribes in the land to destroy all those yet untouched by the sickness. The journeys of each individual character collide in the end to form one last front against the hordes as the ancient frozen sky begins to fall.
This book is best for sixteen-year-olds and young adults because it includes considerable violence and mature language. Murphy has woven a fantasy tale rich with imagery that paints both beautiful and brutal pictures. His book demonstrates a mastery of suspense, with each chapter leaving a character wrestling with a revelation or faced by a formidable force. There is just enough mystery to capture the attention of a reader. There is plenty of material for action-lovers, but fantasy readers who prefer violence to be left up to the imagination may not enjoy the incredibly detailed accounts of often gruesome deaths. While diving into the well-crafted imagery of the world below the Frozen Sky, the reader may initially be rather confused by a lack of cohesive explanation of the new world. Since the characters for the most part understand their place in the world, they are slow to explain it to the reader through their thoughts and actions, perhaps leading to decisions with unclarified purposes. However, young adults who enjoy mystery, fantasy, and suspense will be intrigued and excited by the twists and turns of The Dead Sky Order, with the author’s understanding of his setting evident by the depth of the world he has created.
This book is best for sixteen-year-olds and young adults because it includes considerable violence and mature language. Murphy has woven a fantasy tale rich with imagery that paints both beautiful and brutal pictures. His book demonstrates a mastery of suspense, with each chapter leaving a character wrestling with a revelation or faced by a formidable force. There is just enough mystery to capture the attention of a reader. There is plenty of material for action-lovers, but fantasy readers who prefer violence to be left up to the imagination may not enjoy the incredibly detailed accounts of often gruesome deaths. While diving into the well-crafted imagery of the world below the Frozen Sky, the reader may initially be rather confused by a lack of cohesive explanation of the new world. Since the characters for the most part understand their place in the world, they are slow to explain it to the reader through their thoughts and actions, perhaps leading to decisions with unclarified purposes. However, young adults who enjoy mystery, fantasy, and suspense will be intrigued and excited by the twists and turns of The Dead Sky Order, with the author’s understanding of his setting evident by the depth of the world he has created.
June 23, 2019
The Dead Sky Order is a dystopian novel about The Lower Realm fighting to keep their territory safe from The Dead Sky Order who threatens to invade their side of the river that divides them. Each chapter features a different character’s perspective. There’s Ores, the banished warrior; Llancer, The Solchampion embarking on his final quest; Kalla, the owner of an inn and mother of Samar, a girl who shares extraordinary abilities with her “brother,” Jenk; and others who are willing to sacrifice their lives in order to stop the invasion. This world is bleak and brutal, but it is better than the fate that awaits them if The Dead Sky Order succeeds. Their methods of protection range from gory swordplay to particle manipulating superpowers. Full of suspense, countered with nonstop action, the conclusion keeps you guessing until the final pages.
When I first started reading The Dead Sky Order, I was immediately impressed with Murphy’s descriptive language. Early on, he paints a clear picture of his fantasy world in a very grounded setting. It’s a very icy and gray world. The book’s characters are understandably stern and earnest, but they are also very driven and relatable in their indecision during these extreme situations that require split second actions under the constant threat of slaughter.
The plot is very weighty, thick with its own vocabulary and various groups of characters that can be difficult to keep track of. I don’t read many books in this genre, but this one is very well-constructed. My favorite character was Ores whose chapters contained the clearest prose, which helped to steer me back on track whenever I fell behind in the plot. I recommend this book to anyone who loves dark fantasy stories that rely heavily on world building and descriptive action and suspense in order to portray a credible fantasy world.
When I first started reading The Dead Sky Order, I was immediately impressed with Murphy’s descriptive language. Early on, he paints a clear picture of his fantasy world in a very grounded setting. It’s a very icy and gray world. The book’s characters are understandably stern and earnest, but they are also very driven and relatable in their indecision during these extreme situations that require split second actions under the constant threat of slaughter.
The plot is very weighty, thick with its own vocabulary and various groups of characters that can be difficult to keep track of. I don’t read many books in this genre, but this one is very well-constructed. My favorite character was Ores whose chapters contained the clearest prose, which helped to steer me back on track whenever I fell behind in the plot. I recommend this book to anyone who loves dark fantasy stories that rely heavily on world building and descriptive action and suspense in order to portray a credible fantasy world.
May 27, 2019
Great writing. Realistic and multifaceted characters in an original and well-developed world. A gripping and original storyline that keeps you interested until the end. I’m looking forward to a sequel!
July 2, 2020
3.5 stars
A book, like most things, is the sum of its parts. Good stories can make mediocre novels, just as a great joke can be bogged down by the performance. It is all in the details - the timing, execution, etc. And there are many degrees of separation between ratings; the more missed queues, the worse the overall experience is. Even if the core of the creation is a solid piece of work. The Dead Sky Order is a good example of this; a great story cut to death by many niggling issues.
In this dystopian book the barbarians are literally at the gates as infected hordes are crossing the river, threatening one of the last bastions of civilization. To make matters worse ancient and powerful beings called Ka-Guardians have resurfaced, manipulating the events for some unknown purpose. But all is not as they seem, and somehow a young girl name Samar may be the key to figuring out what is happening.
Timothy John Murphy's tale weaves the narrative of several characters as they try to survive and understand the changes happening to their plague riddled world. I found his prose at times inspiring, and intense. His characters are dynamic and believable, and the pace of the conflict is sufficient to keep you interested.
For the most part. However, if you read the opening paragraph of this review, there has to be a "but." Remember where I mentioned "unknown purpose," in relation to the Ka-Guardians? Lack of backstory creates a dearth of clarity. While I was intrigued to enough to keep reading, it seems like many of the events that unfold happen without any proper buildup. There was no weight, to both ground the story, and build intrigue into why something was happening. In the end I felt like I was being swept along a river with little to grasp on.
And then there was the uneven prose. While there were some wonderfully descriptive examples, there were equally as many strangely constructed sentences and lines of questionable grammar that I was often jolted out of immersion. This inconsistent writing also crossed over into the dialogue and helped to lessen the emotional impact of various scenes. In the end it was too much. No amount of strong narrative/story-line can extract a flawed execution totally from the muck.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I had a feeling that I could have enjoyed it much more if there was a bit more polish. Dead Sky Order, simply put, never really rose above. While the sky may be the limit, you need a lot of oomph to get off the ground.
A book, like most things, is the sum of its parts. Good stories can make mediocre novels, just as a great joke can be bogged down by the performance. It is all in the details - the timing, execution, etc. And there are many degrees of separation between ratings; the more missed queues, the worse the overall experience is. Even if the core of the creation is a solid piece of work. The Dead Sky Order is a good example of this; a great story cut to death by many niggling issues.
In this dystopian book the barbarians are literally at the gates as infected hordes are crossing the river, threatening one of the last bastions of civilization. To make matters worse ancient and powerful beings called Ka-Guardians have resurfaced, manipulating the events for some unknown purpose. But all is not as they seem, and somehow a young girl name Samar may be the key to figuring out what is happening.
Timothy John Murphy's tale weaves the narrative of several characters as they try to survive and understand the changes happening to their plague riddled world. I found his prose at times inspiring, and intense. His characters are dynamic and believable, and the pace of the conflict is sufficient to keep you interested.
For the most part. However, if you read the opening paragraph of this review, there has to be a "but." Remember where I mentioned "unknown purpose," in relation to the Ka-Guardians? Lack of backstory creates a dearth of clarity. While I was intrigued to enough to keep reading, it seems like many of the events that unfold happen without any proper buildup. There was no weight, to both ground the story, and build intrigue into why something was happening. In the end I felt like I was being swept along a river with little to grasp on.
And then there was the uneven prose. While there were some wonderfully descriptive examples, there were equally as many strangely constructed sentences and lines of questionable grammar that I was often jolted out of immersion. This inconsistent writing also crossed over into the dialogue and helped to lessen the emotional impact of various scenes. In the end it was too much. No amount of strong narrative/story-line can extract a flawed execution totally from the muck.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I had a feeling that I could have enjoyed it much more if there was a bit more polish. Dead Sky Order, simply put, never really rose above. While the sky may be the limit, you need a lot of oomph to get off the ground.
December 12, 2021
A good read
I enjoyed this book. A very interesting read. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys books that contain fight scenes and anything scifi like.
I enjoyed this book. A very interesting read. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys books that contain fight scenes and anything scifi like.
June 3, 2019
Actual rating 3.5
I am in two minds for the Dead Sky Order, which reflects in my rating. The novel boasts numerous interesting concepts and interactions and a unique world, but struggles with stilted prose (most of it during the initial sections) and insufficient descriptions that left me uncertain of what exactly was transpiring and what the author wanted me to see or feel. (the prose is similar to the synopsis', so if you have no qualms with then you should be fine with the book's writing style.)
The Dead Sky Order initially struggled to capture my interest fully, in part due to the qualms mentioned above and in part because the book's greatest strength takes a while the manifest. For me, it was the mystery of the world, the magic and of Jenk and Samar that sparked my interest, but these don't take shape until about half-way through. They're hinted at throughout, but only become relevant in the latter portions.
In conclusion, cool and world and plot elements, imperfect execution.
(It should also be noted that the world is quite grim.)
I am in two minds for the Dead Sky Order, which reflects in my rating. The novel boasts numerous interesting concepts and interactions and a unique world, but struggles with stilted prose (most of it during the initial sections) and insufficient descriptions that left me uncertain of what exactly was transpiring and what the author wanted me to see or feel. (the prose is similar to the synopsis', so if you have no qualms with then you should be fine with the book's writing style.)
The Dead Sky Order initially struggled to capture my interest fully, in part due to the qualms mentioned above and in part because the book's greatest strength takes a while the manifest. For me, it was the mystery of the world, the magic and of Jenk and Samar that sparked my interest, but these don't take shape until about half-way through. They're hinted at throughout, but only become relevant in the latter portions.
In conclusion, cool and world and plot elements, imperfect execution.
(It should also be noted that the world is quite grim.)
February 28, 2020
Read my full review on LitPick: https://litpick.com/review/dead-sky-o...
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