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The Deathless Trilogy #1
Deathless
From the Gemmell Award-winning author of THE VAGRANT, a thrilling new series of power, intrigue, and magic.THE DEMONSCreatures lurk in the endless forests of the Wild, plucking victims from those who scratch a living by the sides of the great Godroads, paths of crystal which provide refuge from the infernal tide.THE DEATHLESSHumanitys protectors reign within crystal castles held aloft on magical currents seven timeless royal families, born and reborn into flawless bodies. As immortal as the precious stones from which they take their names, they fight to hold the Wild at bay. For generations a fragile balance has held.AND THE DAMNEDHouse Sapphire, one of the ancient Deathless families, is riven by suspicion and grief. Their hunting expeditions against the Wild are failing and entire villages have begun to disappear.Then, when assassins strike, House Sapphire shatters.NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
433 pages, Paperback
First published June 14, 2018
146 people are currently reading
5927 people want to read
About the author
Peter Newman
9 books1,028 followersPeter Newman co-writes the Hugo and Alfie Award winning Tea and Jeopardy podcast and is also the voice of the butler, Latimer.
His debut novel, THE VAGRANT, was published by Harper Voyager and won the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for best newcomer in 2016. It was followed by THE MALICE, and then THE SEVEN.
There are also two shorter stories set in the same world, available as ebooks. THE HAMMER AND THE GOAT (which is set parallel to THE VAGRANT) and THE VAGRANT AND THE CITY, which is set between books 2 and 3.
He has also written for WILDCARDS, and Fantasy MMO ALBION ONLINE.
He's currently working on a new series. Book 1, THE DEATHLESS, is coming out in the UK in June 2018.
His debut novel, THE VAGRANT, was published by Harper Voyager and won the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for best newcomer in 2016. It was followed by THE MALICE, and then THE SEVEN.
There are also two shorter stories set in the same world, available as ebooks. THE HAMMER AND THE GOAT (which is set parallel to THE VAGRANT) and THE VAGRANT AND THE CITY, which is set between books 2 and 3.
He has also written for WILDCARDS, and Fantasy MMO ALBION ONLINE.
He's currently working on a new series. Book 1, THE DEATHLESS, is coming out in the UK in June 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
August 3, 2018
The usual caveat: I received a free advance reading copy of this work. I've met the author and found him to be a very pleasant person. Still, I don't think this affects my response to the work.
I jumped into reading sf and fantasy at a very young age. One of the aspects of our genre that I noticed even then was the 'sink or swim' style that so many books share. The reader is plunged into a new world, and had best hit the ground running and keep a keen eye on the prose to pick up every cue and clue as to where one is and what is going on.
I love that. I dread books that spend the first chapter summarizing the last 200 years of history, the genealogy of the heroine, and explaining the conflict and detailing the various geographies. Get to the story!
And Peter Newman does just that. No droning history lessons!; instead it's like running to catch a train and being jerked on board, only to find oneself in the company of some extraordinary passengers, each with an agenda and an adventure.
No spoilers, of course. But I promise you that this is a unique world, with a social structure you haven't encountered before, and with some truly nasty little creepers threatening that society.
Clues are nicely placed, hidden in plain sight. Characters show unexpected but believable resilience. They can think. They can even change their minds about things! They come in lovely shades of gray, and none of them are perfect.
This is an entry book to a new world. It does leave some threads hanging at the end, but it has enough of a resolution that I am happy to recommend this as a stand alone book, too.
This isn't really a spoiler, as it won't make sense until after you've read the book. I found myself looking at my grandchildren and thinking, "If I were that detached from them, which one would I choose as a candidate . . . . "
I jumped into reading sf and fantasy at a very young age. One of the aspects of our genre that I noticed even then was the 'sink or swim' style that so many books share. The reader is plunged into a new world, and had best hit the ground running and keep a keen eye on the prose to pick up every cue and clue as to where one is and what is going on.
I love that. I dread books that spend the first chapter summarizing the last 200 years of history, the genealogy of the heroine, and explaining the conflict and detailing the various geographies. Get to the story!
And Peter Newman does just that. No droning history lessons!; instead it's like running to catch a train and being jerked on board, only to find oneself in the company of some extraordinary passengers, each with an agenda and an adventure.
No spoilers, of course. But I promise you that this is a unique world, with a social structure you haven't encountered before, and with some truly nasty little creepers threatening that society.
Clues are nicely placed, hidden in plain sight. Characters show unexpected but believable resilience. They can think. They can even change their minds about things! They come in lovely shades of gray, and none of them are perfect.
This is an entry book to a new world. It does leave some threads hanging at the end, but it has enough of a resolution that I am happy to recommend this as a stand alone book, too.
This isn't really a spoiler, as it won't make sense until after you've read the book. I found myself looking at my grandchildren and thinking, "If I were that detached from them, which one would I choose as a candidate . . . . "
August 13, 2020
After the re-read, it's still a solid 4-star rating from me.
I received an advanced reader copy of The Deathless in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Peter Newman and Harper Voyager for the opportunity.
Newman's first entry into a new fantasy series presents a world with floating castles which are connected by roads of crystal alongside which human settlements are erected. These Godsroads are safe passages between the floating fortresses of the great houses. Covering most of the created environment is The Wilds - a macabre and terrifying forested area full of unspeakable horrors, extreme darkness, shifting trees, and creatures such as the infamous Scurrying Corpseman and Whispercages. Certain segments of the narrative that were set in The Wilds were truly intense and felt like a nightmare right out of a Brother's Grimm fairy tale.
The elite of this world are known as The Deathless and upon dying they are reborn using a family member as a vessel, essentially being reborn in a younger body to rule again. The Deathless have access to crystal armour which incorporates wings and Paralympian runners-like leg blades which grants them the power of flight and presents extra strength, endurance, and stamina. These warriors frequently go on hunts into The Wilds to protect the settlements alongside the Godsroads from the grotesque horrors of the forests and they are the celebrities of this world. We join the action as a rebirthing ceremony is taking place. It turns out that all is not well in House Sapphire and perhaps certain people do not want noble Lord Rochant to be brought back into existence. The Deathless starts off in fantastic fashion featuring assassins, betrayals, complex characters, and a meticulously crafted plot.
There are four point of view perspectives in The Deathless. Two characters are Deathless (Vasin and Pari) and the third is a highborn mother (Chandni) whose child could be used as a vessel for another lifecycle in the future so is extremely important and ultimately sacred. I will not mention the fourth point of view perspective as that could be approaching spoiler territory but it was probably my favourite, was featured much less than the others and was a really unique way of storytelling. The characters are outstanding in this novel. To begin with, I occasionally got Chandni and Pari's scenes confused but that's probably my incompetence and after a quarter of the book I had no such quarrels as there individual traits and personalities shone. The side cast are pretty brilliant too, one of my favourites being a loyal giant dog-like beast with five legs.
This is my first time reading one of Newman's books but it definitely will not be the last. I will be following this series and reading each entry as soon as I possibly can. The Deathless is dark fantasy, adult in nature yet unlike a lot of recent books in this grimdark era, I found all the point of view characters likable and there is an underlining possibility of hope. It does feature moments of horror, terror, and unpredictability. I believe I am quite attuned to predicting the directions a narrative will take but I was unsuccessful with that venture here which makes the reading experience for me much fuller and more enjoyable. This story really pulled at my emotions and my heartstrings. Once I was a quarter of the way through and used to the writing style, which is excellent - Newman has a voice that is extremely addictive to read, I found this novel really difficult to put down. Newman has composed a stunning tale with The Deathless. Unpredictable drama tinged with horror and featuring the sort of horrid creatures you wouldn't want to meet late at night. Not forgetting The Deathless who are almost like superheroes with their armour, power, influence, and immortality. There was so much to enjoy here and it's a book I'll be thinking about for a long time. This is essentially a tale of two babies and I can't begin to predict what will happen next - but I can't wait.
I received an advanced reader copy of The Deathless in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Peter Newman and Harper Voyager for the opportunity.
Newman's first entry into a new fantasy series presents a world with floating castles which are connected by roads of crystal alongside which human settlements are erected. These Godsroads are safe passages between the floating fortresses of the great houses. Covering most of the created environment is The Wilds - a macabre and terrifying forested area full of unspeakable horrors, extreme darkness, shifting trees, and creatures such as the infamous Scurrying Corpseman and Whispercages. Certain segments of the narrative that were set in The Wilds were truly intense and felt like a nightmare right out of a Brother's Grimm fairy tale.
The elite of this world are known as The Deathless and upon dying they are reborn using a family member as a vessel, essentially being reborn in a younger body to rule again. The Deathless have access to crystal armour which incorporates wings and Paralympian runners-like leg blades which grants them the power of flight and presents extra strength, endurance, and stamina. These warriors frequently go on hunts into The Wilds to protect the settlements alongside the Godsroads from the grotesque horrors of the forests and they are the celebrities of this world. We join the action as a rebirthing ceremony is taking place. It turns out that all is not well in House Sapphire and perhaps certain people do not want noble Lord Rochant to be brought back into existence. The Deathless starts off in fantastic fashion featuring assassins, betrayals, complex characters, and a meticulously crafted plot.
There are four point of view perspectives in The Deathless. Two characters are Deathless (Vasin and Pari) and the third is a highborn mother (Chandni) whose child could be used as a vessel for another lifecycle in the future so is extremely important and ultimately sacred. I will not mention the fourth point of view perspective as that could be approaching spoiler territory but it was probably my favourite, was featured much less than the others and was a really unique way of storytelling. The characters are outstanding in this novel. To begin with, I occasionally got Chandni and Pari's scenes confused but that's probably my incompetence and after a quarter of the book I had no such quarrels as there individual traits and personalities shone. The side cast are pretty brilliant too, one of my favourites being a loyal giant dog-like beast with five legs.
This is my first time reading one of Newman's books but it definitely will not be the last. I will be following this series and reading each entry as soon as I possibly can. The Deathless is dark fantasy, adult in nature yet unlike a lot of recent books in this grimdark era, I found all the point of view characters likable and there is an underlining possibility of hope. It does feature moments of horror, terror, and unpredictability. I believe I am quite attuned to predicting the directions a narrative will take but I was unsuccessful with that venture here which makes the reading experience for me much fuller and more enjoyable. This story really pulled at my emotions and my heartstrings. Once I was a quarter of the way through and used to the writing style, which is excellent - Newman has a voice that is extremely addictive to read, I found this novel really difficult to put down. Newman has composed a stunning tale with The Deathless. Unpredictable drama tinged with horror and featuring the sort of horrid creatures you wouldn't want to meet late at night. Not forgetting The Deathless who are almost like superheroes with their armour, power, influence, and immortality. There was so much to enjoy here and it's a book I'll be thinking about for a long time. This is essentially a tale of two babies and I can't begin to predict what will happen next - but I can't wait.
October 15, 2018
That was a bit bizarre and cool! I need to backtrack and read his Vagrant trilogy!!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
May 6, 2020
In a world overgrown with dark forest, known ominously as the wilds, only the immortal Deathless can hold evil at bay and protect the innocent from the vile and ravenous daemons that stalk amongst the trees.
The Deathless patrol their lands in floating crystal castles, propelled by the same nature defying magic that gives continued life to their souls. They transfer bodies when they age, making each dynasty everlasting. There are seven of them, each defined by a crystal which is the emblem of their house. They make their armour and weapons from it, shaping spears, plate and wings that allow them to fly over the wilds and hunt the creatures that dwell within. It is the only time they truly feel alive in an eternity of murderous house politics.
Newman vividly creates a place of darkness, despair and absolute horror within the wilds. For those that are not immortal, it is a place of dread and the very essence of a nightmare. The sections of the plot that were set there evoked a distinctively eerie feeling overshadowed by the presence of something malignant and rotting. I loved it. It felt like something Lovecraft would have devised. There are, no doubt, more strange horrors lurking within just waiting for the right opportunity to strike down a Deathless immortal (if he can escape away from the life of plotting, scheming and politics.)
There are three main point of view characters, each of which provides a distinct voice that helps to establish the working of this intricately crafted fantasy universe. And it is a fine one. It hasn’t given all the answers away, as some books do far too early, but instead throws you straight into the action. It begins with an assassination attempt, the aftermath of which pushes the plot forward for the rest of the book. Vasin, Pari and Chand (the POVs) all become preoccupied with surviving the ramifications of the blood bath, and, naively, begin to push the real threat to the back of their minds.
However, the mysterious enemy appears to be far more complex than the characters suppose them to be. They see only evil in the wilds, though I think there is far more at play. Newman leaves just enough suggestions to hint at something different entirely. Where did they come from? Who are these creatures? These are questions I asked myself as I saw into the mind of the Deathless, immortals that appear noble and flawless, but are not as perfect as they pretend to be. I think the origins of the daemons are somehow interlinked with the magic of the immortals. Time will tell.
The Deathless is but a peak into the vastness of this new fantasy world. I feel like I’ve only seen a fraction of what is to come. There are more Deathless dynasties to introduce which will, no doubt, come with more in-fighting and political back-stabbing. Everybody seems to be making a bid for power. Roll on book two!
_________________________________
You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
__________________________________
The Deathless patrol their lands in floating crystal castles, propelled by the same nature defying magic that gives continued life to their souls. They transfer bodies when they age, making each dynasty everlasting. There are seven of them, each defined by a crystal which is the emblem of their house. They make their armour and weapons from it, shaping spears, plate and wings that allow them to fly over the wilds and hunt the creatures that dwell within. It is the only time they truly feel alive in an eternity of murderous house politics.
Newman vividly creates a place of darkness, despair and absolute horror within the wilds. For those that are not immortal, it is a place of dread and the very essence of a nightmare. The sections of the plot that were set there evoked a distinctively eerie feeling overshadowed by the presence of something malignant and rotting. I loved it. It felt like something Lovecraft would have devised. There are, no doubt, more strange horrors lurking within just waiting for the right opportunity to strike down a Deathless immortal (if he can escape away from the life of plotting, scheming and politics.)
There are three main point of view characters, each of which provides a distinct voice that helps to establish the working of this intricately crafted fantasy universe. And it is a fine one. It hasn’t given all the answers away, as some books do far too early, but instead throws you straight into the action. It begins with an assassination attempt, the aftermath of which pushes the plot forward for the rest of the book. Vasin, Pari and Chand (the POVs) all become preoccupied with surviving the ramifications of the blood bath, and, naively, begin to push the real threat to the back of their minds.
However, the mysterious enemy appears to be far more complex than the characters suppose them to be. They see only evil in the wilds, though I think there is far more at play. Newman leaves just enough suggestions to hint at something different entirely. Where did they come from? Who are these creatures? These are questions I asked myself as I saw into the mind of the Deathless, immortals that appear noble and flawless, but are not as perfect as they pretend to be. I think the origins of the daemons are somehow interlinked with the magic of the immortals. Time will tell.
The Deathless is but a peak into the vastness of this new fantasy world. I feel like I’ve only seen a fraction of what is to come. There are more Deathless dynasties to introduce which will, no doubt, come with more in-fighting and political back-stabbing. Everybody seems to be making a bid for power. Roll on book two!
_________________________________
You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
__________________________________
March 30, 2021
Re-read, 3/30/21:
Still enjoying the outdoors more than the indoors. :)
Honestly, it's a subtle and understated fantasy world that speaks loudest when it whispers. It's hard to remember that all these ancient families with their politics and internal squabbles are actually crystal-armor-donning rebirth-type immortal warriors who fly and the Wild below is full of demons.
When we're in the thick of it, the book is quite fun. And why am I re-reading this? Because I'm about to dive into books two and three. :)
Original Review:
I've become a pretty big fan of Peter Newman since the Vagrant books. They were quirky, hardcore horror, fantasy, and even SF bundled as one huge treat.
The Deathless breaks that mold by wrapping us deep inside a world of a dark magical forest with strange creatures and castles rather than ravening armies.
What makes this special? Immortality isn't that special, but these are lords and ladies of immortals breeding their line to take over their children's bodies by way of a special bloodletting ceremony... and the realm's leaders are... slipping. Going a little mad. Their one task is to protect the castle and the people from the monsters in the wild.
But what is the real difference between the monsters in the wild and the immortal men and women? That's the big question I keep asking. In the meantime, we have an adventure with flying crystal plate armor, very interesting beasties that aren't behaving quite as monstrously as they ought, and a quirky, smart old woman getting herself involved in bigger events. A large part of the tale centers on a newborn on the run with his mother and faithful servant, protecting him as the literal vassal for an immortal.
I think I had more fun with the big questions and the wild world than with any of the indoors bits with the immortals, but overall I had no complaints about this fantasy. It still has its cool quirks like Newman's other writings, but it is also slightly more mainstream than them.
Still enjoyable, even if I didn't squee this time. :)
Still enjoying the outdoors more than the indoors. :)
Honestly, it's a subtle and understated fantasy world that speaks loudest when it whispers. It's hard to remember that all these ancient families with their politics and internal squabbles are actually crystal-armor-donning rebirth-type immortal warriors who fly and the Wild below is full of demons.
When we're in the thick of it, the book is quite fun. And why am I re-reading this? Because I'm about to dive into books two and three. :)
Original Review:
I've become a pretty big fan of Peter Newman since the Vagrant books. They were quirky, hardcore horror, fantasy, and even SF bundled as one huge treat.
The Deathless breaks that mold by wrapping us deep inside a world of a dark magical forest with strange creatures and castles rather than ravening armies.
What makes this special? Immortality isn't that special, but these are lords and ladies of immortals breeding their line to take over their children's bodies by way of a special bloodletting ceremony... and the realm's leaders are... slipping. Going a little mad. Their one task is to protect the castle and the people from the monsters in the wild.
But what is the real difference between the monsters in the wild and the immortal men and women? That's the big question I keep asking. In the meantime, we have an adventure with flying crystal plate armor, very interesting beasties that aren't behaving quite as monstrously as they ought, and a quirky, smart old woman getting herself involved in bigger events. A large part of the tale centers on a newborn on the run with his mother and faithful servant, protecting him as the literal vassal for an immortal.
I think I had more fun with the big questions and the wild world than with any of the indoors bits with the immortals, but overall I had no complaints about this fantasy. It still has its cool quirks like Newman's other writings, but it is also slightly more mainstream than them.
Still enjoyable, even if I didn't squee this time. :)
April 2, 2019
I am so disappointed that my first encounter with Peter Newman’s work was such a letdown. I wanted to abandon it several times, but I kept going telling myself that something will improve, and the story will get better (after all, Robin Hobb rated it 5 stars). Unfortunately, it didn’t. Not for me, at least.
The idea behind the worldbuilding is great: there are 7 ruling families, whose members are virtually immortals, their souls being ‘reborn’ in another body after the current ones die. The families are named after 7 gems (Sapphire, Tanzanite, Ruby, etc.) and they have crystal armors built (sort of an exoskeleton) from the respective gems, having wings and being able to fly.
They live in floating castles, along the Godroad and beyond that, on the ground, there is the Wild, a cursed land, full of monsters. The families are bound to protect villages from the Wild and to keep the monsters at bay.
It could have been a great story if the plot and characters would have been better written. Such a pity they were not. Everything seemed artificial: from the characters’ behavior to their actions, schemes and dialogues. It is true that not everything is explained in this volume and I guess in the sequels there is much to discover, but because I didn’t root for anybody in this volume, I don’t think I will continue with this series further.
The writing also seemed flat to me, no passion in the words whatsoever, nothing to keep me on edge. There were moments that did spark my interest on a couple of occasions, but they were not pursued further or the scene was suddenly terminated and the narrative thread switched to something else half a page later.
I don’t want to deter anybody from reading it; maybe I’m used to other writing style than Newman’s. It’s only that this one was not my cup of anything at all.
>>> ARC received thanks to HarperCollins UK/HarperVoyager via NetGalley <<<
The idea behind the worldbuilding is great: there are 7 ruling families, whose members are virtually immortals, their souls being ‘reborn’ in another body after the current ones die. The families are named after 7 gems (Sapphire, Tanzanite, Ruby, etc.) and they have crystal armors built (sort of an exoskeleton) from the respective gems, having wings and being able to fly.
They live in floating castles, along the Godroad and beyond that, on the ground, there is the Wild, a cursed land, full of monsters. The families are bound to protect villages from the Wild and to keep the monsters at bay.
It could have been a great story if the plot and characters would have been better written. Such a pity they were not. Everything seemed artificial: from the characters’ behavior to their actions, schemes and dialogues. It is true that not everything is explained in this volume and I guess in the sequels there is much to discover, but because I didn’t root for anybody in this volume, I don’t think I will continue with this series further.
The writing also seemed flat to me, no passion in the words whatsoever, nothing to keep me on edge. There were moments that did spark my interest on a couple of occasions, but they were not pursued further or the scene was suddenly terminated and the narrative thread switched to something else half a page later.
I don’t want to deter anybody from reading it; maybe I’m used to other writing style than Newman’s. It’s only that this one was not my cup of anything at all.
>>> ARC received thanks to HarperCollins UK/HarperVoyager via NetGalley <<<
March 4, 2021
I really enjoyed Peter Newman’s The Vagrant trilogy. It was a bizarre, creepy fantasy with a compelling tone. You can check out my review of it here. So turning to his latest series, I had high hopes for Deathless. Overall, it was a decent fantasy novel but not up to the originality of The Vagrant. The plot and characters were serviceable enough but in the end it didn’t hold my interest. It’s hard to come back from pushing the boundaries with something safe. If I had read this before The Vagrant, I probably would have enjoyed it more.
That said, there’s also another aspect of Deathless that lost me. So many fantasy novels are driven by lead characters who belong to royalty. Unless an author does something truly different with that foundation, I’m over it. It’s just too expected. And like so many books about royalty there’s always a struggle between those who are arrogant and exert their power as a form of domination and those who believe in “nobility” and that classic cliché “noblesse oblige.” Authors fall back on these premises of blinded nobles “learning their lesson” after being exposed to the poor or working classes. Deathless falls into that trap. And while I’m sure there are some unexpected twists in store in Books 2 and 3, Book 1 in this series just didn’t offer anything unique. I’m not going to continue with the series.
That said, there’s also another aspect of Deathless that lost me. So many fantasy novels are driven by lead characters who belong to royalty. Unless an author does something truly different with that foundation, I’m over it. It’s just too expected. And like so many books about royalty there’s always a struggle between those who are arrogant and exert their power as a form of domination and those who believe in “nobility” and that classic cliché “noblesse oblige.” Authors fall back on these premises of blinded nobles “learning their lesson” after being exposed to the poor or working classes. Deathless falls into that trap. And while I’m sure there are some unexpected twists in store in Books 2 and 3, Book 1 in this series just didn’t offer anything unique. I’m not going to continue with the series.
June 7, 2018
Fantasy Fiction has an ever-evolving nature. Throughout the years there has been a number of prominent authors who had the ability to alter its natural course. Some of them heavily influenced the genre to the point that whole new sub-genres were created, and others nudged it to a new direction ever so slightly that was barely even noticeable, but helped modernize the genre all the same. Peter Newman is one of the latest.
The only safe place left for humanity is the side of the Godroads. The Wild is infected by Demons, and the only thing keeping them at bay are the Deathless. Immortals from seven royal families who have ruled for centuries, every time they die they get to be reborn in the bodies of their family. But when a scheme to murder a Deathless and all of his descendants is exposed, the fragile balance shatters, bringing all kinds of hell loose in the world.
Peter Newman first got our attention with The Vagrant. A fresh and exciting debut told by a unique voice and with an unparalleled prose, it made a sensation in the fantasy community. The sequels were equally impressive, establishing Newman and bringing him one step closer to becoming a household name. But a lot of people, including me, held their breath, waiting to see what comes next. Was the success of the The Vagrant trilogy just a one time thing simply because Newman offered something different, or can he replicate his success with another series? After finishing The Deathless, I can assure you that, without a doubt, Peter Newman is here to stay.
The Deathless takes place in a complete new setting and no previous knowledge is required, although people who have read Newman's other trilogy will see an easter egg or two, connecting the two worlds. The world in which The Deathless takes place, the whole setting even, is bizarre, but that is to be expected. Newman likes to build his own distinctive world that will be memorable enough to stand out among myriads of other fantasy settings. His characters are exceptionally well-fleshed-out, staying close and occasionally crossing the obscure, thin line, separating hero from villain. The story itself is intriguing and provocative, but it's the compelling prose and captivating imagery that tops it off.
Finally, as is the case with The Vagrant, The Deathless works as a standalone. I'm confident that it will sell good enough to guarantee a sequel, and more accurately a complete trilogy, but as opposed to other entries in new fantasy series, you can read this one and get a satisfying ending.
The only safe place left for humanity is the side of the Godroads. The Wild is infected by Demons, and the only thing keeping them at bay are the Deathless. Immortals from seven royal families who have ruled for centuries, every time they die they get to be reborn in the bodies of their family. But when a scheme to murder a Deathless and all of his descendants is exposed, the fragile balance shatters, bringing all kinds of hell loose in the world.
Below, she could see miles and miles of unconquered woodland spreading in every direction: the Wild. Strange. Threatening. The very sight of it chilled her, and in the dark it was all too easy to imagine it growing, reaching out to engulf the road-born who dwelled on its perimeter.
She couldn't imagine living so close to death. How do they sleep down there? She wondered. How do they bear it?
Peter Newman first got our attention with The Vagrant. A fresh and exciting debut told by a unique voice and with an unparalleled prose, it made a sensation in the fantasy community. The sequels were equally impressive, establishing Newman and bringing him one step closer to becoming a household name. But a lot of people, including me, held their breath, waiting to see what comes next. Was the success of the The Vagrant trilogy just a one time thing simply because Newman offered something different, or can he replicate his success with another series? After finishing The Deathless, I can assure you that, without a doubt, Peter Newman is here to stay.
The Deathless takes place in a complete new setting and no previous knowledge is required, although people who have read Newman's other trilogy will see an easter egg or two, connecting the two worlds. The world in which The Deathless takes place, the whole setting even, is bizarre, but that is to be expected. Newman likes to build his own distinctive world that will be memorable enough to stand out among myriads of other fantasy settings. His characters are exceptionally well-fleshed-out, staying close and occasionally crossing the obscure, thin line, separating hero from villain. The story itself is intriguing and provocative, but it's the compelling prose and captivating imagery that tops it off.
Finally, as is the case with The Vagrant, The Deathless works as a standalone. I'm confident that it will sell good enough to guarantee a sequel, and more accurately a complete trilogy, but as opposed to other entries in new fantasy series, you can read this one and get a satisfying ending.
November 28, 2022
💀 DNF at 24% because:
And also because:
P.S. This is my fourth DNF in three weeks and I'm beginning to wonder if someone is trying to tell me something. Maybe it's time I gave up on reading altogether and went back to world domination for good?
July 2, 2018
Note: I audio-booked this mostly so please excuse spelling mistakes on names, I also really recommend the audio as Emma Newman is excellent :D
Okay, this book is a firm new favourite for me, and I am jolly happy about that becuase I recently saw and met both Peter and Emma Newman at Super Relaxed Fantasy Club in London, and they are both delightful... Not only is Peter lovely in person, this book is definitely filled with an awful lot of drama, excitement, quality characters and unique ideas. I fully loved it, and I expect that this series will continue to grow and develop over the course of the series (which I am now eagerly anticipating and looking out for!)
This is the story of the Deathless, a race of humans who are elevated above normal humanity and they are able to reincarnate into their descendants when they die (essentially making them immortal). The Deathless is made up of different Houses, each one named for a precious stone such as Tanzanite, Sapphire, Ruby etc. We're predominantly following the Sapphires and one Tanzanite in this book, because the Sapphires have recently suffered a slight dip in honour due to some failings within their House and trading with the Wild (a dark and untamed part of the world that kills almost everything on sight).
Along with the ability to reincarnate and continue living far beyond the normal lifespan, provided new bodies (a.k.a Vessels) are available, the Deathless have special Crystal armour which they can wear to fly. They also live in grand castles in the sky so they can look down on their lands and help out the humans when the Wild comes for them.
In this book we pick up the story just as one of the Sapphire Lords, Lord Rochant, is about to be reborn into a new vessel. However, the ceremony doesn't go as planned because assassins are inside the castle, and they are trying to kill off the surviving members of his line. We see through the eyes of multiple characters, one of whom is Lord Rochant's lover, Lady Perry of Tanzanite, and she's in the castle at the time of the attacks and becomes integral to the hunt and rescue of the vessel and Lord Rochant.
We're also following a young mother named Chandri, and her baby Satiendra, who is the heir to Lord Rochant's line, and the last surviving vessel after the attacks. Chandri is forced to flee quickly in the book, and we follow her as she descends from the sky to The Wilds below and is forced to fend for herself with the help of just one lone guard, Varg.
Another character we look through the eyes of is Lord Vassim of Sapphire. His mother was killed for her betrayal and he has spent the last few years wallowing and unhappy, but when he leads a hunt nto the Wilds he finds out the truth of his mother's fall and this leads him on a path he never could have anticipated.
Of the three leading plot-lines and character, I found Lady perry to be the most enjoyable. She's elderly, but also completely full of life and vibrance still. She may have a frail body, but that is not going to stop her from seeking justice and she is witty too. I really enjoyed how she managed to manipulate different situations to her advantage, and I think she has a lot of exciting potential still to come.
On the whole, the action for this was exactly what I enjoy, a mix of slower plot to get to know the characters, and faster fights and action which felt pace-y and exciting to read about. I definitely think the balance here was well done, and the story felt like it flew by at a good speed, without seeming overly long or too hurried.
I have to say, the magic of this world lies largely with the world itself and the things that can be found there such as Dogkin (kind of like a 5-legged dog) and crystal armour. There are also a whole load of things that lie waiting in the Wilds and these creepy rituals and beats were definitely visceral and haunting to read about.
In the end, I found myself completely absorbed in the writing and the characters. I cannot wait to find out where it will go next, because there's a lot of things which are revealed in the latter half, and which will no doubt have big consequences, and I will eagerly watch for the next one in the series. A strong 4.5*s from me and I would say well worth a read even if you weren't as much a fan of the Vagrant as the style here is very different and a lot easier to get into, I thoughts. :)
Okay, this book is a firm new favourite for me, and I am jolly happy about that becuase I recently saw and met both Peter and Emma Newman at Super Relaxed Fantasy Club in London, and they are both delightful... Not only is Peter lovely in person, this book is definitely filled with an awful lot of drama, excitement, quality characters and unique ideas. I fully loved it, and I expect that this series will continue to grow and develop over the course of the series (which I am now eagerly anticipating and looking out for!)
This is the story of the Deathless, a race of humans who are elevated above normal humanity and they are able to reincarnate into their descendants when they die (essentially making them immortal). The Deathless is made up of different Houses, each one named for a precious stone such as Tanzanite, Sapphire, Ruby etc. We're predominantly following the Sapphires and one Tanzanite in this book, because the Sapphires have recently suffered a slight dip in honour due to some failings within their House and trading with the Wild (a dark and untamed part of the world that kills almost everything on sight).
Along with the ability to reincarnate and continue living far beyond the normal lifespan, provided new bodies (a.k.a Vessels) are available, the Deathless have special Crystal armour which they can wear to fly. They also live in grand castles in the sky so they can look down on their lands and help out the humans when the Wild comes for them.
In this book we pick up the story just as one of the Sapphire Lords, Lord Rochant, is about to be reborn into a new vessel. However, the ceremony doesn't go as planned because assassins are inside the castle, and they are trying to kill off the surviving members of his line. We see through the eyes of multiple characters, one of whom is Lord Rochant's lover, Lady Perry of Tanzanite, and she's in the castle at the time of the attacks and becomes integral to the hunt and rescue of the vessel and Lord Rochant.
We're also following a young mother named Chandri, and her baby Satiendra, who is the heir to Lord Rochant's line, and the last surviving vessel after the attacks. Chandri is forced to flee quickly in the book, and we follow her as she descends from the sky to The Wilds below and is forced to fend for herself with the help of just one lone guard, Varg.
Another character we look through the eyes of is Lord Vassim of Sapphire. His mother was killed for her betrayal and he has spent the last few years wallowing and unhappy, but when he leads a hunt nto the Wilds he finds out the truth of his mother's fall and this leads him on a path he never could have anticipated.
Of the three leading plot-lines and character, I found Lady perry to be the most enjoyable. She's elderly, but also completely full of life and vibrance still. She may have a frail body, but that is not going to stop her from seeking justice and she is witty too. I really enjoyed how she managed to manipulate different situations to her advantage, and I think she has a lot of exciting potential still to come.
On the whole, the action for this was exactly what I enjoy, a mix of slower plot to get to know the characters, and faster fights and action which felt pace-y and exciting to read about. I definitely think the balance here was well done, and the story felt like it flew by at a good speed, without seeming overly long or too hurried.
I have to say, the magic of this world lies largely with the world itself and the things that can be found there such as Dogkin (kind of like a 5-legged dog) and crystal armour. There are also a whole load of things that lie waiting in the Wilds and these creepy rituals and beats were definitely visceral and haunting to read about.
In the end, I found myself completely absorbed in the writing and the characters. I cannot wait to find out where it will go next, because there's a lot of things which are revealed in the latter half, and which will no doubt have big consequences, and I will eagerly watch for the next one in the series. A strong 4.5*s from me and I would say well worth a read even if you weren't as much a fan of the Vagrant as the style here is very different and a lot easier to get into, I thoughts. :)
July 9, 2018
I'm a big fan of The Vagrant trilogy and had high hopes for The Deathless, I wasn't dissapointed. Peter Newman is now officially one of my favorite authors!
What can I say, floating castles, scary creatures and flying immortal men are the ingredients of this fantastic book!
A whole new world, with new beings and new rules and yet the same original and refreshing feel as The Vagrant trilogy.
My favorite character is Lady Pari, a strong inventive and intelligent woman.
I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this series!
What can I say, floating castles, scary creatures and flying immortal men are the ingredients of this fantastic book!
A whole new world, with new beings and new rules and yet the same original and refreshing feel as The Vagrant trilogy.
My favorite character is Lady Pari, a strong inventive and intelligent woman.
I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this series!
November 27, 2019
"What's the point in winning if we destroy ourselves in the process? There's no gain replacing one broken wheel with another."
Well, this was an intriguing read! Full of all sorts of creative inventiveness: floating castles, privileged sky-born Deathless Lords, the Wild with its strange demons and the road-born peoples struggling to survive in the shadows of the Godroads.
I'm going to start The Ruthless right away - I just have to know what happens next!
Well, this was an intriguing read! Full of all sorts of creative inventiveness: floating castles, privileged sky-born Deathless Lords, the Wild with its strange demons and the road-born peoples struggling to survive in the shadows of the Godroads.
I'm going to start The Ruthless right away - I just have to know what happens next!
August 18, 2018
4.5 Stars
The Deathless by Peter Newman is a great start to what will surely be a new series by Peter Newman. I absolutely loved his first series The Vagrant and give it my highest recommendations. This book is just as well written but lacks any characters that you can really empathize with. It is this that keeps me from giving this book full marks.
There is an amazing world portrayed in The Deathless and I really hope for more.
The Deathless by Peter Newman is a great start to what will surely be a new series by Peter Newman. I absolutely loved his first series The Vagrant and give it my highest recommendations. This book is just as well written but lacks any characters that you can really empathize with. It is this that keeps me from giving this book full marks.
There is an amazing world portrayed in The Deathless and I really hope for more.
September 16, 2022
Well that was disappointing.
It feels like Newman went from refreshingly new to a run of the mill plot that doesn't try remotely hard to engage.
*Cries in bought this book at full price*
🖤
So this book. *🥁🥁* Immortal beings squabbling.
Which sounds really cool and totally isn't an unwelcome plot. But with this book, felt like reading about children arguing. Everyone wants to write about political scheming without the finesse that such a plot would require.
The plot was clumsy, contrived and ill-befitting of being referred to as anything but subpar.
I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like if I'm going to read about beings that are for all intents and purposes, immortal, then they should, for the love of God, be smart and calculating.
There is a sense that Newman wants this book to go one way and one way only, 'family member feel slighted and betrays the rest of the family'. There is no nuance to this book.
🖤🖤
For an author that wrote a book carried on the back of an extraordinary mute character, the characters' Newman presents in this book move between mediocre and just plain weird.
Pari, Chandni, Nidari and the rest are just your typical run of the mill fantasy immortal characters, lacking everything that would make their exploits stay with you.
for no reason at all and it was just not something that the author was able to fully sell to me as plausible, Infact I don't think Newman explained how that could have happened.
A sizeable part of this book takes place in the Wild but little of the Wild's workings is explained especially as it seems this lack of explanation is used to ensure the survival of the main characters.
🖤🖤🖤
All in all, there's definitely huge potential with this story and the end does pick up but Newman doesn't seem to be able to prop up the story as a whole successfully. Leaving you with the kind of book where neither the characters' nor the plot stays with you long after you're done.
⭐⭐ disappointing stars 
July 24, 2018
I'm a big fan of Newman's writing style and originality. He hasn't lost any steam since the The Vagrant series.
October 5, 2019
Took me a while to finish but it really picked up near the end.
Good world building. Very stark but fits well.
Good characters. Lots of grey though and it's got some really good characterisations.
Good pacing and a few twists and turns. It's a bit if a genre style mix mash which is unusual and works I think.
Keen to read on especially with that Interesting ending.
Good for those who like something a little different and a mix of sci fi and fantasy.
Good world building. Very stark but fits well.
Good characters. Lots of grey though and it's got some really good characterisations.
Good pacing and a few twists and turns. It's a bit if a genre style mix mash which is unusual and works I think.
Keen to read on especially with that Interesting ending.
Good for those who like something a little different and a mix of sci fi and fantasy.
September 21, 2020
My absolute favorite!!! The writing is so unique and skilled, often times I read the lines slower to savor it. It's somewhat confusing in the first chapter but after that you'll definitely get hooked. Plenty of conspiracy theories to make in this one. LOVED IT
May 23, 2022
Writing and character felt flat to me.
Worldbuilding is interesting.
Worldbuilding is interesting.
August 28, 2018
3.5 ★★★
The Deathless es la primera novela de la nueva serie de Peter Newman. Es un obra de fantasía lleno de intriga, juegos de poder, política, traciones, suspenso y locura. Todo esto combinado con un mundo donde convive la humanidad, inmortales que viven en castillos de cristal y demonios y criaturas infernales que habitan en los bosques.
Previamente, había leído la saga The Vagrant de Newman y la disfrute mucho. The Deathless tiene una historia y conflictos muy distintos, pero también me ha parecido una obra bien escrita y atrapante.
Trama: No es simple. Diversas historias se entrelazan en esta novela, pero eso provocó que sea muy dinámica y ágil. Los protagonistas pertenecen o están relacionados con la Casa Sapphire que, básicamente, es un gran problema y punto. Existe una lucha de poder continúa que se libra entre ellos. Hay traiciones, mentiras e hipocresía. A pesar de ser “casi” familia, son enemigos entre ellos y sus relaciones son complejas.
Ambiente: Creo que su mundo fantástico fue uno de los puntos más positivos de la novela. Está bien construido, es original y creíble. Newman ideó un mundo absolutamente tenebroso y retorcido lleno de oscuridad, peligros, desesperación y criaturas infernales dentro de los bosques.
En los capítulos donde se describe The Wild, se pueden experimentar el miedo, la ansiedad y la desesperación de los personajes. Sobretodo, porque no saben a que pueden enfrentarse. Algunas de las criaturas que el autor describió fueron muy espeluznantes, incluso, aquellas que no puedes ni entender ni imaginar. Y, seguramente, hay muchísimos peligros más aguardando en el bosque.
Personajes: Ok, hay muchos personajes como es común en una novela de fantasía y, obviamente, no recuerdo el nombre de todos. Sin embargo, hay personajes principales definidos y cada uno tiene su perspectiva por capítulo; así que se vuelve un poco más fácil de entender cada una de sus historias.
Vasin y Nidra: Madre e hijo. A Vasin no le tenía mucha fe. De hecho, me pareció un personaje un poco flojo y sin criterio propio. Espero que mejore en la siguiente novela.
Por otro lado, Nidra es distinta y un personaje muy interesante.
Chandni, Satyendra y Varg: La gran madre, Chandni, me pareció un poco insípida. Sí, es valiente y protectora con su hijo, pero tampoco me convenció. Hubiera preferido alguien más fuerte.
Satyendra también fue un personaje muy interesante y sólo es un bebé. Tiene mucho potencial.
Varg me agradó, pero siento que tampoco tiene criterio propio. Es como un títere. Me gustaría que en la siguiente novela su personaje sea más decidido.
Lady Pari y Lord Rochant: Ohhh Pari...fue mi personaje favorito. Me parece que es un poco tirana, pero creo que fue el personaje más conciso y con una personalidad brillante. Estoy emocionada por ver cómo será su personaje en la siguiente novela.
Lord Rochant fue...mehh. No fue tan predecible, pero tampoco fue impactante.
Glider: Tengo que informar que en esta novela tenemos otra CABRA; lo cual es demasiado GENIAL porque las cabras que describe Newman son otro personaje y siempre son muy badass. Glider no ha sido la excepción. Tiene mi completa aprobación.
Romance: Ummm...sí, un poco, pero no como elemento principal. El amor podría ser el motivo por lo que suceden varias acciones en la novela, pero no es central ni particularmente muy descriptivo. Aunque, personalmente, soy una amante del romance, en esta novela me parece que está aplicado bien.
Final: La novela tiene un desenlace abierto ya que obviamente habrá una continuación. A pesar de todo, no lo sé, lo sentí un poco precipitado. No estoy segura de que me convenciera del todo, al igual que los personajes. Estos me parecieron que estaban bien, pero no me llegaron completo. Sin embargo, la segunda entrega promete mucha más acción e intriga.
En general, creo que The Deathless es una novela muy satisfactoria para esta nueva saga. Ha sido un inicio prometedor y, sin dudas, continuaré con los siguientes libros para conocer más sobre las historias de cada personaje. Muy recomendada.
“Hunt well and thorough.”
The Deathless es la primera novela de la nueva serie de Peter Newman. Es un obra de fantasía lleno de intriga, juegos de poder, política, traciones, suspenso y locura. Todo esto combinado con un mundo donde convive la humanidad, inmortales que viven en castillos de cristal y demonios y criaturas infernales que habitan en los bosques.
Previamente, había leído la saga The Vagrant de Newman y la disfrute mucho. The Deathless tiene una historia y conflictos muy distintos, pero también me ha parecido una obra bien escrita y atrapante.
Trama: No es simple. Diversas historias se entrelazan en esta novela, pero eso provocó que sea muy dinámica y ágil. Los protagonistas pertenecen o están relacionados con la Casa Sapphire que, básicamente, es un gran problema y punto. Existe una lucha de poder continúa que se libra entre ellos. Hay traiciones, mentiras e hipocresía. A pesar de ser “casi” familia, son enemigos entre ellos y sus relaciones son complejas.
Ambiente: Creo que su mundo fantástico fue uno de los puntos más positivos de la novela. Está bien construido, es original y creíble. Newman ideó un mundo absolutamente tenebroso y retorcido lleno de oscuridad, peligros, desesperación y criaturas infernales dentro de los bosques.
En los capítulos donde se describe The Wild, se pueden experimentar el miedo, la ansiedad y la desesperación de los personajes. Sobretodo, porque no saben a que pueden enfrentarse. Algunas de las criaturas que el autor describió fueron muy espeluznantes, incluso, aquellas que no puedes ni entender ni imaginar. Y, seguramente, hay muchísimos peligros más aguardando en el bosque.
“I am a student of silence, and the things that can be found on its edges.”
Personajes: Ok, hay muchos personajes como es común en una novela de fantasía y, obviamente, no recuerdo el nombre de todos. Sin embargo, hay personajes principales definidos y cada uno tiene su perspectiva por capítulo; así que se vuelve un poco más fácil de entender cada una de sus historias.
Vasin y Nidra: Madre e hijo. A Vasin no le tenía mucha fe. De hecho, me pareció un personaje un poco flojo y sin criterio propio. Espero que mejore en la siguiente novela.
Por otro lado, Nidra es distinta y un personaje muy interesante.
Chandni, Satyendra y Varg: La gran madre, Chandni, me pareció un poco insípida. Sí, es valiente y protectora con su hijo, pero tampoco me convenció. Hubiera preferido alguien más fuerte.
Satyendra también fue un personaje muy interesante y sólo es un bebé. Tiene mucho potencial.
Varg me agradó, pero siento que tampoco tiene criterio propio. Es como un títere. Me gustaría que en la siguiente novela su personaje sea más decidido.
Lady Pari y Lord Rochant: Ohhh Pari...fue mi personaje favorito. Me parece que es un poco tirana, pero creo que fue el personaje más conciso y con una personalidad brillante. Estoy emocionada por ver cómo será su personaje en la siguiente novela.
Lord Rochant fue...mehh. No fue tan predecible, pero tampoco fue impactante.
Glider: Tengo que informar que en esta novela tenemos otra CABRA; lo cual es demasiado GENIAL porque las cabras que describe Newman son otro personaje y siempre son muy badass. Glider no ha sido la excepción. Tiene mi completa aprobación.
Romance: Ummm...sí, un poco, pero no como elemento principal. El amor podría ser el motivo por lo que suceden varias acciones en la novela, pero no es central ni particularmente muy descriptivo. Aunque, personalmente, soy una amante del romance, en esta novela me parece que está aplicado bien.
Final: La novela tiene un desenlace abierto ya que obviamente habrá una continuación. A pesar de todo, no lo sé, lo sentí un poco precipitado. No estoy segura de que me convenciera del todo, al igual que los personajes. Estos me parecieron que estaban bien, pero no me llegaron completo. Sin embargo, la segunda entrega promete mucha más acción e intriga.
En general, creo que The Deathless es una novela muy satisfactoria para esta nueva saga. Ha sido un inicio prometedor y, sin dudas, continuaré con los siguientes libros para conocer más sobre las historias de cada personaje. Muy recomendada.
May 18, 2018
TLDR: this was a very intriguing book, with a really neat world. Not quite as startlingly good as The Vagrant was (which isn’t much of a critique, given just how startlingly good The Vagrant really was), but it’s an excellent book that has me feeling very smug for getting to read it early.
So. Details. I’ll start with a non-spoilery synopsis. In a world overrun by the demons of the Wild, humanity clings to settlements lining the Godroads, ancient pathways that repel the demons and keep the people who live nearby relatively safe-ish. But despite the protection of the Godroads, the demons must be regularly beaten back, a task which falls to the Deathless. There are seven ruling Crystalline Houses, each led by a small number of the Deathless, ruling from their castles floating safely above the dangers of the world. The Deathless live, and die, and then are reborn into the body of one of their descendants, accumulating over many lifetimes the skill and experience needed to battle the Wild and keep humanity’s rather tenuous existence on this world going. But there’s intrigue and machinations going on within House Sapphire, and the balance between the Deathless and the Wild that has endured for millennia might have tipped as a result.
The world is super cool, and probably the best part of the book. There’s no overt connection to the world of The Vagrant (though I have certain suspicions), but there’s undeniable similarities. Humanity protected against corrupted and corrupting demons by ancient divine-ish beings who aren’t quite living up to their responsibilities – this should sound familiar to fans of The Vagrant and its sequels. And the Wild itself feels like a cross between the demons of The Vagrant (the Scuttling Corpseman and Toothbag would be right at home among them) and the Wood from Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. Peter Newman as a distinct style, there’s no question about that. Luckily I like it quite a lot.
Now, the Vagrant trilogy left me a bit concerned that Newman might have one of the most oddly specific ranges of any author I’ve ever read: namely, that the quality of his books was directly in proportion to the presence of goats. The Vagrant was chock full of goaty goodness, and it was just amazing. The Malice had a healthy goatish presence, and was very good if not quite as good as The Vagrant. The Seven didn’t have that much goatacity, though it still had some, and it was a solid and satisfying ending to the series.
Luckily, I’m pleased to report that despite The Deathless lacking even a single goat, it’s still very good. That evil and vindictive ruminant was really something special, and I do feel that The Deathless isn’t quite on the level of The Vagrant, but if this book represents Newman’s version of a sophomore slump, I’ll happily take it.
So. Details. I’ll start with a non-spoilery synopsis. In a world overrun by the demons of the Wild, humanity clings to settlements lining the Godroads, ancient pathways that repel the demons and keep the people who live nearby relatively safe-ish. But despite the protection of the Godroads, the demons must be regularly beaten back, a task which falls to the Deathless. There are seven ruling Crystalline Houses, each led by a small number of the Deathless, ruling from their castles floating safely above the dangers of the world. The Deathless live, and die, and then are reborn into the body of one of their descendants, accumulating over many lifetimes the skill and experience needed to battle the Wild and keep humanity’s rather tenuous existence on this world going. But there’s intrigue and machinations going on within House Sapphire, and the balance between the Deathless and the Wild that has endured for millennia might have tipped as a result.
The world is super cool, and probably the best part of the book. There’s no overt connection to the world of The Vagrant (though I have certain suspicions), but there’s undeniable similarities. Humanity protected against corrupted and corrupting demons by ancient divine-ish beings who aren’t quite living up to their responsibilities – this should sound familiar to fans of The Vagrant and its sequels. And the Wild itself feels like a cross between the demons of The Vagrant (the Scuttling Corpseman and Toothbag would be right at home among them) and the Wood from Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. Peter Newman as a distinct style, there’s no question about that. Luckily I like it quite a lot.
Now, the Vagrant trilogy left me a bit concerned that Newman might have one of the most oddly specific ranges of any author I’ve ever read: namely, that the quality of his books was directly in proportion to the presence of goats. The Vagrant was chock full of goaty goodness, and it was just amazing. The Malice had a healthy goatish presence, and was very good if not quite as good as The Vagrant. The Seven didn’t have that much goatacity, though it still had some, and it was a solid and satisfying ending to the series.
Luckily, I’m pleased to report that despite The Deathless lacking even a single goat, it’s still very good. That evil and vindictive ruminant was really something special, and I do feel that The Deathless isn’t quite on the level of The Vagrant, but if this book represents Newman’s version of a sophomore slump, I’ll happily take it.
July 13, 2018
(No spoilers.)
I'd been looking forward to the next book from Peter Newman ever since I heard of it, but with trepidation, because a new book series following one so beloved is never an easy thing to pull off. Regretfully, despite his wonderful gift of world building, this is not a series I'll be continuing with. Having loved The Vagrant series so much, I was surprised at how little I liked any of the characters in this book. With the exception of one, all the characters are selfish, scheming and childish, with no redeeming features at all. This makes reading the book a bit of a chore. The only one I liked was the dog.....
The world building itself lacks the bleak yet engrossing nature seen in his first series, and it feels like in his desire to create something different, some of the charm of connecting with the readers has been lost. The story was unusual certainly, very creative. It just didn't interest me enough for me to find it enjoyable. I felt the pace was rushed in places, leaving no room for character development, while in other places I thought the chapter would never end. There are many tedious repetitive descriptions of clothing and makeup too, and of things like battle armour.
In the end, I really wanted to love this as much as his first series, but it's lacking everything that made me love The Vagrant. I'm very disappointed and saddened to feel as I do, because Peter Newman is a gifted author and made such a fantastic start to his writing career. I just felt no trace of him anywhere in this new book except the descriptions of the characters in the wild, those sparkled with his creative style. It's a shame that the rest is so lacking. :( No book two for me in this series.
I'd been looking forward to the next book from Peter Newman ever since I heard of it, but with trepidation, because a new book series following one so beloved is never an easy thing to pull off. Regretfully, despite his wonderful gift of world building, this is not a series I'll be continuing with. Having loved The Vagrant series so much, I was surprised at how little I liked any of the characters in this book. With the exception of one, all the characters are selfish, scheming and childish, with no redeeming features at all. This makes reading the book a bit of a chore. The only one I liked was the dog.....
The world building itself lacks the bleak yet engrossing nature seen in his first series, and it feels like in his desire to create something different, some of the charm of connecting with the readers has been lost. The story was unusual certainly, very creative. It just didn't interest me enough for me to find it enjoyable. I felt the pace was rushed in places, leaving no room for character development, while in other places I thought the chapter would never end. There are many tedious repetitive descriptions of clothing and makeup too, and of things like battle armour.
In the end, I really wanted to love this as much as his first series, but it's lacking everything that made me love The Vagrant. I'm very disappointed and saddened to feel as I do, because Peter Newman is a gifted author and made such a fantastic start to his writing career. I just felt no trace of him anywhere in this new book except the descriptions of the characters in the wild, those sparkled with his creative style. It's a shame that the rest is so lacking. :( No book two for me in this series.
August 16, 2018
Peter Newmans original trilogy never really did much. The sparness of the writing for some reason didnt work for me. I loved the characters and the world building but plot wise it was a little too strange. This here is his new novel which again has great world building, the same sparse gothic/horroe like writing style but just so-so characters. I never really felt like I cared for anyone. I know this was meant to have shades of grimdark where we arent meant to agree with every decision made, but I never really felt compelled to read about any of the 4 main POVs. Newman has a great conceptual mind when it comes to fantasy worlds and cultures, creates these weird dark characters but ultimately the style just doesnt work with me.
August 27, 2020
3.5
I was so excited to get this in a giveaway and I moved it right up my list to get to it much sooner. Newman created a fascinating world here with a unique social structure that felt fresh and new. Where it fell apart a little bit was with the characters. Some of them felt a little bit too simple while the others just didn't feel fleshed out enough and made decisions that didn't seem to really make sense. He did do a good job of creating morally gray spaces throughout much of this while also building the "Deathless" with a very morally questionable method and not fully encountering it yet. Characters aside, there's a lot of potential here for the further books and I'll be very interested to see if the next books dive into the areas I think need to be more fully explored here.
I was so excited to get this in a giveaway and I moved it right up my list to get to it much sooner. Newman created a fascinating world here with a unique social structure that felt fresh and new. Where it fell apart a little bit was with the characters. Some of them felt a little bit too simple while the others just didn't feel fleshed out enough and made decisions that didn't seem to really make sense. He did do a good job of creating morally gray spaces throughout much of this while also building the "Deathless" with a very morally questionable method and not fully encountering it yet. Characters aside, there's a lot of potential here for the further books and I'll be very interested to see if the next books dive into the areas I think need to be more fully explored here.
November 6, 2020
This is an extremely interesting and well written first book of an original fantasy series. The world is intriguing and the characters are relatable and multi-layered. I enjoyed reading all POVs.
I'll be continuing this trilogy for sure.
The Audiobook narration was excellent too.
I'll be continuing this trilogy for sure.
The Audiobook narration was excellent too.
November 29, 2021
My thanks to Harper Voyager, and Netgalley. I've wanted to read this author for awhile now, but it wasn't a priority. Then I saw the ads for this, and I knew I had to read it! Fortunately, or unfortunately, depends I guess. I was given a preview copy for review, "for which I'm always grateful for." This book sounded like the bomb! I think my main problem is that although I am someone who believes in the grey, meaning not black or white, this story was almost offensive to me. Folk are black and white in this book. No, not literally. I mean they live high, "floating castles" or they live low, "with demons." Meanwhile, playing as bait, waiting for the privileged to save them. What? That's offensive to me. People who live in floating castles, and can live forever. They die and are eventually reborn into their bloodline. Meaning they push a soul out of its original form into who knows where, just so they can be reborn and live again. It's a silly thing, I know, but for me, who isn't religious, I worry about souls. Not religious, but I believe in the soul!😢😕 It's a damned conundrum! Where does a lost soul go? I honestly didn't stay around enough to learn If Mr. Newman even addresses this issue. Even when I read stories like this, where arseholes rule above all, I can almost always find someone that I'll side with. That was not the case here. I'm my head, I just imagined me with an axe that never gets dull, and me just chopping. Like I'm Jack and the Giant beanstalk. Just chop, chop, chopping those castles down. I'm sorry, but I'll give most book 30 to 40%, but at this pace, if I've not found anyone I like, and moreover, many that I despise, then I won't continue. I probably wouldn't read anything by this author again. Mostly because he does have quite a few books out. He should be seasoned by now. To my reckoning, he's just not that good. I will say that the writing was fine, and also the pacing. But, I just did not like this story. Would I recommend this? Dude, whatever floats your boat. I've read the reviews. Some like this and will continue with the series,.others like me would prefer to choke to death on a mentholated sucrets before I had to read this again!I
UPDATE: I have now re-read this book, and read the 2 following books! I eat my words! This was a fantastic series! It's one I would like to read again!
UPDATE: I have now re-read this book, and read the 2 following books! I eat my words! This was a fantastic series! It's one I would like to read again!
July 8, 2018
Wow, I loved this! Flew through the pages with a burning hunger to find out what happens next, which is the biggest compliment I can think of! Loved the characters and the storyline and the way the pieces of the puzzle fit together, showing how this will continue on and not be a stand alone book! I'm struggling to think if I've read this author before, as I know of another book, the Vagrant, but cannot remember reading it, just seeing the cover on the library shelf! I'm going down there tomorrow to take it out and make sure I definitely haven't read it! I'll know within moments, but all I can say now is that Newman is talented and a great story-weaver - if you haven't read this alrady, now's the time!!
June 25, 2018
This is a lot of fun, A wild new world that has trappings of fantasy and lots of intrigue. I had read Mr. Newman before and now I will be sure to follow him more closely, His voice is very engaging and although there were a few weak spots in this tale, it ripped along and the action and world kept me turning the page.
Definite good time, check it out
Definite good time, check it out
August 10, 2018
What the author does well: create a unique setting with a political system/struggle of the world unlike any other.
What lacks: A convincing plot. The devil is in the detail which is sorely lacking. I just don't feel the character's motivation here. Partly because a lot is held in darkness, but even when it isn't the characters are a bit wishy-washy.
But I enjoy most of it, and look forward to more.
What lacks: A convincing plot. The devil is in the detail which is sorely lacking. I just don't feel the character's motivation here. Partly because a lot is held in darkness, but even when it isn't the characters are a bit wishy-washy.
But I enjoy most of it, and look forward to more.
December 23, 2023
"Things are not well in the home of your lover. Loyal friends are posted elsewhere. Strangers walk the halls, sharpening knives while they wait for his return. He needs help. He needs you. Come now. Come carefully."
When my copy of The Deathless arrived and this was printed on the back of the dust-jacket I knew that I would love this book. To no surprise to anyone, I did end up loving it.
I am a big fan of The Vagrant, and only very recently was brave enough to read its sequels, which, to my relief, I also loved. However, after finishing The Seven I just needed more. What a joy to find out that this book existed and that while it isn't necessary to read the Vagrant trilogy first, it is set in the same world only years later.
The Deathless is set years and years after the Vagrant and the world has changed. The land is now covered in a forest, called the Wild, filled with demons and only the Godroads and the Castles are safe. The Castles are inhabited by the Deathless. What can I say about the Deathless.... well, like the name suggest they don't really do death, at least not properly. This exclusive club of people, most of which are related to each other, is a recipe for disaster. Add in that they are also the people protecting the common folk from the demons and you've got a bit of a mess on your hands.
Peter Newman creates this world in shades of grey. I honestly did not know who I was supposed to be rooting for until the very end. Everyone is flawed and is just trying to do their best, even the immortal ones. Then there's the fact that being deathless comes at a price, a price that everyone just seems to accept. So many interesting concepts in such a short book is hard to do and I hope that future books will delve a bit more into the morality of being deathless and how the people feel that ultimately pay the price. I'd also like to learn more about the Wild, which for some reason reminded me a bit of the forest in Uprooted even though the books are nothing alike.
I can't finish this review without talking about the writing. One thing that I love about Peter Newman's writing is that it really doesn't feel like a chore. With a lot of books I read I know I am going to enjoy them in the end but I still need to force myself to actually sit down and read them. Not with the Deathless, I sat down and read and 100 pages just flew by. Exactly the type of reading I like doing when I should be doing my uni assignments.
March 30, 2018
Straightforward fantasy with a novel and engaging setting, and the plot certainly took a development I did not see coming. The characters were realised without feeling really compelling. Felt a little hollow, almost, in terms of world building, but definitely recommend for fantasy aficionados.
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