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Vermilion Archives #1
Into this Wild Abyss
The Vermilion Empire is in turmoil, rocked by murder, betrayal and revolt. Amid the chaos, three individuals face the brutal reality of a society collapsing around them.
Ashara is stranded in the city and desperate to return to the grassy plains of her homeland. Surrounded by strangers, she must learn the hard way who she can trust. As things go from bad to worse, she is forced to flee with nothing but her wits and courage to protect her.
Natan is a disappointment to his merchant father. He sees the civil war as an opportunity to prove himself but does not count on the bitter cost. What starts as the pursuit of adulthood ends in a quest for revenge.
Po is a novice monk in the Ba’re order. Idealistic but at times naive, he is drawn into a web of intrigue that sees him hunted by the notorious Ministry of Virtue. The information he safeguards could determine the future of the empire itself.
Loyalties are tested and human endurance finds its limits amidst the gritty and unrelenting backdrop of a world teetering on the edge of oblivion.
Bloody and unpredictable
Ashara is stranded in the city and desperate to return to the grassy plains of her homeland. Surrounded by strangers, she must learn the hard way who she can trust. As things go from bad to worse, she is forced to flee with nothing but her wits and courage to protect her.
Natan is a disappointment to his merchant father. He sees the civil war as an opportunity to prove himself but does not count on the bitter cost. What starts as the pursuit of adulthood ends in a quest for revenge.
Po is a novice monk in the Ba’re order. Idealistic but at times naive, he is drawn into a web of intrigue that sees him hunted by the notorious Ministry of Virtue. The information he safeguards could determine the future of the empire itself.
Loyalties are tested and human endurance finds its limits amidst the gritty and unrelenting backdrop of a world teetering on the edge of oblivion.
Bloody and unpredictable
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2018
4 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 2, 2018
This is the first book in the Vermilion Archives series, a high or epic fantasy suitable for YA and older readers. The story features three main characters, and their storylines weave in and out of each other’s stories, as their lives connect and intersect during the tale.
Ashara, Natan and Po share an instinct for survival and self-preservation, and they also have a strong sense of loyalty. This story is a coming-of-age, a realisation of the brutality of war, and the brusque reality of desperation and death. It is a wild excursion into turmoil and destruction, let alone a wild abyss.
Ashara finds it difficult to trust and bond with people after she is brutally ripped from her family and her familiar existence. Being forced into servitude makes her question what she was always taught to be the truth, which is the beginning of her own personal rebellion.
Natan is used to being part of a privileged existence, so when his life is turned upside down he has to find the strength to retaliate against the kind of injustice he has previously watched and is now part of.
Po is quite an interesting character, because the violence, war and the strict rules of his existence as a monk present a conundrum for him. He is asked to ignore his instincts and behave with an almost negligent attitude towards his fellow human beings.
As their kingdoms explode into a vicious, volatile and ‘take no prisoners’ kind of war, each one of them has to make a choice about their allegiances and how to survive in this new treacherous world. It really does show how the paths they considered to be divine, a natural progression or the normal order of the universe, can change in the blink of an eye or a single decision.
Epic fantasy is an incredibly difficult genre, perhaps because it combines a multitude of sub-genres and usually has multiple storylines taking place simultaneously. Some authors have a flair for it and others do not. Newman does.
In fact for a debut novel this is incredibly well-written, developed and the world-building has plenty of potential. I would like to see him create a more emotional link between the characters and the reader, a little more depth so those readers will come back for more. Either way, he has my recommendation and I will certainly be coming back to read more by Newman.
*I received a copy for purposes of review*
Ashara, Natan and Po share an instinct for survival and self-preservation, and they also have a strong sense of loyalty. This story is a coming-of-age, a realisation of the brutality of war, and the brusque reality of desperation and death. It is a wild excursion into turmoil and destruction, let alone a wild abyss.
Ashara finds it difficult to trust and bond with people after she is brutally ripped from her family and her familiar existence. Being forced into servitude makes her question what she was always taught to be the truth, which is the beginning of her own personal rebellion.
Natan is used to being part of a privileged existence, so when his life is turned upside down he has to find the strength to retaliate against the kind of injustice he has previously watched and is now part of.
Po is quite an interesting character, because the violence, war and the strict rules of his existence as a monk present a conundrum for him. He is asked to ignore his instincts and behave with an almost negligent attitude towards his fellow human beings.
As their kingdoms explode into a vicious, volatile and ‘take no prisoners’ kind of war, each one of them has to make a choice about their allegiances and how to survive in this new treacherous world. It really does show how the paths they considered to be divine, a natural progression or the normal order of the universe, can change in the blink of an eye or a single decision.
Epic fantasy is an incredibly difficult genre, perhaps because it combines a multitude of sub-genres and usually has multiple storylines taking place simultaneously. Some authors have a flair for it and others do not. Newman does.
In fact for a debut novel this is incredibly well-written, developed and the world-building has plenty of potential. I would like to see him create a more emotional link between the characters and the reader, a little more depth so those readers will come back for more. Either way, he has my recommendation and I will certainly be coming back to read more by Newman.
*I received a copy for purposes of review*
November 28, 2018
*received a free copy for review purposes*
The novel has a uniquely organic way of expanding the plot, which I thought was very well done. The narrative pace keeps the novel moving along quickly and almost never stops for an exposition dump, which is both good and bad. While it is nice to have a fast pace and feel like things are constantly happening in the story, I felt like I didn’t have a good understanding of the world that the story was set in by the end of the book. Overall, a good start to the series and I eagerly await the next installment.
For a more in-depth review of the novel, please visit:
https://heavymetaleducation.wordpress...
The novel has a uniquely organic way of expanding the plot, which I thought was very well done. The narrative pace keeps the novel moving along quickly and almost never stops for an exposition dump, which is both good and bad. While it is nice to have a fast pace and feel like things are constantly happening in the story, I felt like I didn’t have a good understanding of the world that the story was set in by the end of the book. Overall, a good start to the series and I eagerly await the next installment.
For a more in-depth review of the novel, please visit:
https://heavymetaleducation.wordpress...
November 25, 2018
An interesting read with complex characters that do take a little while to develop. Some of the conflict begins without a clear picture of why, and without a clear understanding of the social and political structures involved, however the characters are engaging enough to overcome this. Overall I would recommend this read and look forward to seeing what the future holds in store for the strong female and male leads.
December 1, 2018
This was an engaging read! The beginning was quick to draw me in, switching between characters until their paths cross. The middle of the book lost my attention a bit, but not for lack of action. Utilize the maps if provided and you’ll be able to follow the story better. The last third of book is a fast, exciting read. Good luck putting it down!
December 1, 2018
I would definitely recommend "Into this Wild Abyss." I loved the development of the characters and their relationships as well as the interconnectedness of their narratives. (And where this may go in the future.) As the story lines progressed, I felt personally invested in their struggles. I read this book in three days and am anxiously awaiting book two!
November 22, 2018
The first half of the book was hard to get into. Even though the 3 main charters are of age (18+) they start off acting like teenagers. The 2nd half they come into there own and it gets a lot better I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in book two
November 25, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. In the beginning, I was a little overwhelmed by all the characters, and wondered how they would all come together, but I'm glad I stayed with it. There is plenty of action and intrigue throughout, and I'm more than a little disappointed to have to wait for a 2nd book.
November 25, 2018
Kept me engaged. Po, Natan and Ashara did a great job keeping me coming back for more. I wish there was a little more back story but is a good read!!!
November 15, 2018
I loved this book! It took me awhile to get into it, but once I did, I loved it! After a few chapters, I was able to keep track of who was who and really got into it. Would highly recommend!
November 13, 2018
Good read, plenty of action and once I got to know the characters a bit I found myself hating to leave their POV to go to another. What more do you need in an action yarn? Will follow this series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews