God of Manna

by Daeus Lamb

The hideous God of Manna has taken away the soul of Mortristan’s father. Now, it is Mortristan’s doom to find what his father never could: something worth living for.

But when Mortristan is forced to hunt an intruder in the God of Manna’s paradise-city, he learns just how enslaved he is. As bad as life is with the God of Manna, it’s impossible to live without him. Can Mortristan really sacrifice everything he has to find just one thing that’s lasting?

The God of Manna has reigned for millennia and he does not take rebellion lightly…

The world needs a savior. And if Mortristan doesn’t find a way of escape, he will too.

This book is available for free at: https://www.thescratchingquill.com/go...

Genres: Fantasy

Unknown Binding

Published April 9, 2019

Reviews

[Catherine Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book needs another book. It seems unfinished some how. The book itself is pretty darn good. It's pretty interesting book. I have not read a book quite like this one and I was not sure if I would like it. I surprised myself and actually liked the book. It's a must read it you like books like this one.

[Kate Flournoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t quite know how to say everything I want to say about this book. It’s a fairytale, but it’s so much deeper than the fairytale stereotype. Its outwardly beautiful world is full of dark secrets, and while the characters can be both whimsical and amusing, they resonate with a depth of human sorrow rarely found in ‘actual’ fairytales.
The style is clever and engaging, full of little nuggets of wisdom and humor and a descriptive flair that paints the city of Elysigard and all its people in vibrant colors. Underneath the fairytale exterior (much like Mortristan’s world) the story is rich with themes of human greed, apathy, hope, determination, and sacrifice.

Beautiful and deep. Definitely recommend.

[Kelsey Hathaway · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.)
The blurb the author sent with this book said that this would be a challenging read. I assumed he meant epic and sweeping, with lofty themes. It was definitely hard to read, because it made no sense. I believe the author was attempting to create an air of mystery, with flowery prose and characters speaking in riddles. Instead his writing style just confused the plot. The story seemed rushed; he left massive holes in the storyline where there was an opportunity for real action to take place. Overall this was a disappointing read.

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thumbs Up: Interesting High Concept. Poetic Yet Contemporary Prose Style. Witty Narration/Dialogue. High Fantasy/Allegory. Depth. Quick Read. Original.

Stunningly poetic and philosophically profound, GOD OF MANNA is the type of story that I know I shall mull over and re-read over and over again. I am struck by the rich symbolism and witty prose Lamb was able to incorporate in a novella.

The plot threw me for a loop in a good way that I didn't expect and I found to be a very interesting experience.

The only downside I'd like to point out is 1) the characters didn't feel fully fleshed out - most likely due to the length of this work as a novella restricting this aspect, 2) as a personality who absolutely need closure I felt the ending was a bit too ambiguous. But this second part also added to the mystic atmosphere, which is cool at the same time. 3) Although the prose IS poetic as I said above, there were some areas that certainly felt more contemporary which I am not used to and did not like very much (being a fervent classic reader).

Like all myths, this is short read yet the story itself feels so much longer. I'm grouping this author along with George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and G.K. Chesterton, and I can't wait for his next release! :)

Also do NOT let the fact that this was independently published make you doubt the quality of this release. (There are no annoying typos or formatting issues to speak of.) It's worth it!

4.5 stars - Very Good.
What are you waiting for? Pick up a copy on Amazon and go read it! :)


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review. All statements in this review are solely mine.

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was waiting for the moment in this book when the story would fall into a certain plot type I was expecting it to fold into.

It didn't.

And instead the novella charted its own path in a direction I can only describe as unique and fitting.

As a novel story in the quasi-fairytale/mythological genre, it's rather fascinating and I would need to read it a second time to fully grasp it. What sold me the most on the story, however, was actually it's use of language.

Put simply: the style and word choices in this story are stunning and I was often distracted by the main storyline in the text because of the delightful and evocative turns of phrase Lamb regularly uses in describing the settings and characters. The book's grasping at profundity and its quite beautiful in its grasping.

I should mention here that I do personally know the author (and work alongside him), so whatever potential biases that may bring with it ought to be duly noted. That being said, there are no conscious biases on my end--this is a pretty fascinating and beautifully-written story.

I look forward to reading more.

Rating: 4 Stars (Very Good).

[Gabrielle Pollack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book where you can see the writer's personality bleeding through? It may be in subtle, genius ways, but it's delightful all the same.

God of Manna is the third book I've read by Daeus Lamb and holds the same enjoyment as his other works. His prose is rich with strong, carefully selected words and witty wordplay. His characters are quirky and imaginative, and his story world intriguing.

But his tale wasn't all fancy words. Deep meaning hides behind God of Manna's allegorical tilt. The story explores one of the greatest questions the human race has faced: what truly lasts?

I have to say that I didn't understand everything that happened in the story (which is probably my fault for not reading slower XD). I'm also more into books that are on a slightly easier reading level (though I enjoyed the creativity of the prose :D). Overall, God of Manna stands apart from today's fiction thanks to its unique style and characters. So, if you're looking for a deep, poetic experience, I'd give God of Manna a shot.

[Marie Tankersley]

Dnf

I simply kept forgetting about this, and I was always bored when reading it. It wasn’t a bad book, I just wasn’t in the mood, so I thought I’d set it down.

[CC Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever I see a book designed to provoke thought, I'm usually pretty hesitant to pick it up. It will either be a breathtaking tale, or it'll be so badly marred with bland characters and pretentious writing that it's neither enjoyable nor readable. The God of Manna by Daeus Lamb is one such book, and while it's by no means breathtaking, I wouldn't call it terrible either. It's... decidedly middle road.

The book is short (just over a two-hour read), and while the first quarter is a bit of a slog to get through, things do pick up with the introduction of the fruit thief. Who, in all honesty, is the only interesting character this book has to offer. Everyone else, including our protagonist, is written as flat, forgettable caricatures. Your characters make your story, and these ones didn't offer much. Still, I found the lore of the book very entertaining, which is why I picked it up in the first place.

All in all, this just wasn't a book that resonated with me. It's decently written, and a fast read once you get through the clunky beginning. But I really can't recommend it, especially to a casual reader. Not because it's "thought-provoking", but because my only thought was: what was the point of this?

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC from VORACIOUS reader for an honest review.
The book is beautifully written, because it was written with very flowery prose, but the way it was written, I couldn't follow, I felt I was trying to figure out a puzzle or something all the time.
I really wanted to enjoy it, but I just l couldn't get into it.
There are some readers that will & have loved it so keep picking it up but for me I gave it 2.5 ⭐

[Carrie-Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cool book! (I ended up reading it in one day when I didn't actually intend to. :) I want to look through it again to catch more details, but I loved the author's descriptions and word choices, as well as the mix of fairy and real life. I'm also really impressed with the quality of the writing.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the most extremely unique read. The experimental style and descriptions in this book rank it high on my shelves! Well-written, well-described and beautiful plot. It was a little hard to follow, due to the extreme writing technique, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

[Lucia M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah I absolutely love Daeus’ writIng

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very good, it is very much like a fairy tale but also much more. Its a lovely length for a quick read my only issue is it felt a little rushed towards the end, I think it could have been fleshed out a little more in the last quarter to make the story feel fully finished but I still definitely recommend this as a good read!! I recieved a complimentary copy from the author via voracious readers only in exchange for an honest review.

[Taylor Clogston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free.

This book has a breathtakingly mythopoeic opening, a touching and satisfying closing, and a middle that was a bit too quaint and quirky for my tastes.

If you love fable, allegory, and fairy tale stories, you'll find a lot to love here.

[Rebecca House Howe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good story, but I found it very difficult to follow at times and none of it meant very much to me. I think maybe it's just not my cup of tea.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly given a free digital copy by the author through Voracious Readers Only.

When I finished reading God of Manna, my first thought was, "hmm, that was weird." But it was a very similar feeling I got to when I watched Ridley Scott's Prometheus. That was a weird movie but there were so many interesting things going on that I still have questions about.

That's how I feel about God of Manna. It's a very short read and I was left wishing that I knew more about certain details in the characters, the god of the story and, of course, the world itself. What motivates Mortristan to act the way he does? What exactly is the relationship like with his father? How has his death affected him and how does that lead to his motivations? Throughout, there were so many things that intrigued me but those same things are also left unanswered. Perhaps it relies on the 'fairytale' nature of the story. Not everything is always perfectly explained in a fairytale and most times, fairytales (brief and short as they are) are told as a lesson. What is the lesson to be learned here? I think that question is best answered for the readers themselves.

I was very impressed by the writing. The author certainly writes beautiful prose and they're not long, winding sentences that I can't keep up with either. They're short and to the point but his abilities really shines when he starts describing the environments and atmosphere the characters are experiencing. Unfortunately, it's not always consistent. There were a few instances where I would read some weird simile or metaphor that disrupted the beauty of his prose and completely took me out of my immersion. An example here would be, "Mortristan grimaced at this standard caricature of a female, who wilted whenever the sun wasn't shining." I got the comparison but it kind of just made me laugh.

Another thing that confused me is the vagueness (it's the best way I can describe it) of his writing, as beautifully descriptive as it is at times. I understand that the story doesn't want to give too much away, and I can appreciate a good mystery, believe me, but I found it difficult to follow sometimes. The shortness of his sentences also meant I couldn't always keep up with the plot or where a character was. At one point, Mortristan returns to his manor and he's in his bedroom, but a few sentences later, he finds himself in the attic. I had to read that scene a few times to understand how he got from point A to point B.

Despite my criticisms I want to conclude by saying I really did appreciate what Daeus Lamb was trying to do with this novella. It hits many of the beats we would typically associate with a fairytale but in an interesting way that gets progressively darker. That shift in tone to Mortristan-is-doing-great to Mortristan-may-not-be-doing-so-hot-right-now didn't feel inorganic with the writing despite some inconsistencies. Overall, I would recommend to give this book a chance!

3.5/5, rounded up to a 4/5.

[Charlotte Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about a fantastical city - in which the 'insiders' live. This city is comprised of wealthy families and highly fertile arable land. Those outside the city walls must survive on handouts from the city which are strictly controlled. The whole land worships the 'God of Manna'. He takes offerings from his people, which can comprise of many things, including people. The main character exists as a spirit, and shows us the tale of a man who resides within the city walls. The story goes on to show the murder of an outsider, and the truth of the God of Manna.

One of the things I found interesting about this was the discussion of the divide between the people inside and outside of the city walls. With those outside the city being portrayed to the inhabitants as less than human, unlike those who are blessed to live within the city walls. In a short story it shows one of the blatant ways in which segregation can occur, and be perpetrated by. During the story we see Mortristan, who wishes to change this. Mortristan goes on to be held captive and possessed by the God of Manna and dies there after 40 days. Upon his death he is buried outside the city walls by the Fruit Thief (who's name we never discover) and a seed is placed upon his body. This means that in his death he goes on to feed the Outsiders, and does what he intended to do in life. This becomes an example of how you can impact others, even after your death. But also how Mortristans' views changed through his life, and he more and more readily rejected societal views of the Insiders.

This book ended up being far deeper and philosophical than I expected, but in a manner that I found easily readable. That being said, it definitely takes some time to understand what Daeus Lamb is trying to say, particularly in the beginning chapters. This does become easier later on as you gain a greater understanding of what the book is discussing. There are also a number of similarities to the Bible, that I found to be unnecessary in a book about a fictional god, i.e. the magical city where there is much flora and fauna is rather Eden-esque, Mortristan is captive for 40 days prior to death, and the tragic event in the beginning characters life is the sacrifice of his child to the God of Manna.

I would definitely read this again, and fully appreciate the more philosophical backgrounds to this book. I also think there needs to be a sequel, as there could be more added to the story which would truly make for a fantastic story line.

[Amanda Little · Rating 1 out of 5]

**DISCLAIMER** I received a complimentary copy of this novel via Voracious Readers Only for review purposes.

In a sentence: The premise of the book is intriguing, but the execution fell short for me.

The story is based in world where "The God of Manna" rules the land through fear of starvation. The "outsiders"--those outside the walls where the food grows--are forced to serve this God by providing sacrifices such as goods, labor, and even children to satiate the god's own appetite in order to receive rations. It is illegal for the outsiders to grow their own food or for anyone to help them. Mortristan is a lord from within the walls who seems to have a tug on his conscience when he meets an The Fruit Theif on the way home from visiting his fiance, Elysha (who I THINK is a fairy??), and later an outsider who sneaked into his home.

The entire time I was reading I struggled to connect with any of the characters. I could not figure out who the main characters were, why their story mattered, or the motivation behind of the plot. Were we following The Fruit Thief? Mortristan? Elysha? Maybe it's too cerebral for me, but...

The pacing was incredibly rushed. I could not keep up with the events. It reminded me of other high fantasy novels the likes of Tolkien but without the artful world building and character and plot development.

The plot seemed thrown together around an idea rather than characters, which makes reading it difficult to follow and leaves the plot shallow. All the fantasy I have ever read has always brought a world to life first then dove into the conflict. I kept waiting for more details only to be thrown into the next scene. Since I was constantly reeling from the pacing, I also struggled to see the theme fully developed.

Oh, and the metaphors and similes used for descriptive purposes seemed really odd. It was almost like the author doesn't have a firm grasp on typical English analogies.

Positives: I didn't catch a ton of grammatical errors.

And... One line stuck out to me that seemed relevant to what I think is the premise of the novel: "Men will never admit it, but they need something to lean on" (581, Chapter 5). It seems to speak to the idea that there needs to be a sense of community/brotherhood amongst members of society in order for all to thrive. But maybe I'm way off on that.

Pick up this quick read if you like heady stuff veiled in confusing plot and shallow character development.

[Chelsea R.H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this novella from the author)
In one word, this novella is fascinating. But, in the end, I didn't enjoy it as mcuh as I could have, which I'll get into later.
First of all, a lengthy list of the things I did like!

-It was really well written! I admit that I'm wary of self-published books, because I've read several that have been badly written and badly edited. I didn't find that problem with this book. I didn't find a single typo. The phrasing was poetic and it was easy to imagine the setting from the description given. Overall, the writing had a very mythological feel to it that I've only felt in a few other stories.

-It was high-concept. I am always impressed by a book that takes on complex themes of morality and I liked the focus on "finding something that lasts".

-The setting was also rich and complex, with fascinating worldbuilding. In the first chapters, we're introduced to a dystopian setting, where people are divided into insiders and outsides. The outsiders live in a desolate wasteland where food cannot grow, while the insiders live in luxury inside the walls of Elysigard, where food is plentiful and everything is green. I loved the way this dystopian, and yet mythological setting was blended together so well. It wasn't something I would have thought could work, yet it did.

At the end of the day, the only thing I didn't like was the length. I felt the author crammed far too much into it, and that this story could have been brilliant if it was fleshed out into a full 100k novel. I wanted to know the characters better, as I never felt I could connect with any of them. I wanted to know more about the God of Manna, both the original and the rebel. I wanted to explore the world more. And I felt because a lot of these things, plus points in the plot, were glossed over I couldn't like this story as much as I could have.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this and read it in less than an hour, so it was a nice Sunday afternoon read. It's definitely worth the read, as it's well written and often thought provoking. And if the author decided to expand this into a novel, it would definitely have a great chance of becoming one of my five star reads.

[Jenna “Meadow” | The Book of Meadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This little novella was quite unique, fascinating, and very well written. However, at the end I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I thought I may in the beginning.

As I already mentioned, this book was very well written with poetic phrasing and wonderful descriptions of a land ruled by the God of Manna and his loyal high priests. This land is split into two areas; the outsiders who live outside the wall in a desolate wasteland and the insiders who live inside the wall with plentiful food, crops and gorgeously tended plants and flowers. It was almost a dystopian setting but also somewhat mythological which made for an interesting and complex world.

The concept of the novella dealt with complex themes of morality and ‘what truly lasts’. Again this added to the uniqueness of the novella and Lamb’s writing style.

Although I liked all of these aspects, I did find myself confused at times. In the beginning, we are introduced to an outsider character where the scenes are a bit more mythological. Very quickly, we are introduced to Mortristan who is dealing with his father’s death and what he can do to help his people and the outsiders. Along the way we are introduced to some mysterious and almost god-like characters, but yet the God of Manna rules all, so what does this mean for Mortristan? And that is where I got fully lost. I was confused as to who some of the characters truly were and what was the full point of Mortristan’s rebellion and actions. Also, I was expecting to find out more about the first main character’s early life and was disappointed when we never circled back to him and the wind that took him away.

Overall, a enjoyable book in its writing style and uniqueness, but other readers may end up enjoying it more for its complexity and subtlety which required a bit more heavy thinking than I was expecting.

*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Kaitlyn Lembke · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into, and as the story progressed, I still wasn't quite sure.

A melodramatic prologue captivates readers, feeding them promises of being whisked away to a Utopia. I pressed on.

The character development was one of the many strong suits, and the beautifully crafted prose danced off the tip of the tongue that left one anticipating more.

Readers find themselves sympathizing with the protagonist and can't help rooting for him regardless of the direction he takes. Lamb engages us to re-evaluate our philosophies and morals alongside the protagonist's and raises the questions:
How far will you go? And can you handle the truth?

The climax stalled and sputtered, leaving the hero's journey to one's imagination, which was somewhat perplexing. Perhaps the author did this
on purpose in an attempt to have the reader begin their own hero's journey within, again, I'm not sure.

Overall I feel that the novel is unfinished and can grow into a more significant publication. I felt that there were a few too many gaps left for the reader to fill. A little more backstory helps establish and reinforce the scene. The novel's vocabulary felt a little disorganized and disruptive due to casually flipping between real-world and fantasy. But Lamb's prose is by far one of my favourites to read.


A good story with the potential to be great leaves the reader wanting more. And that's exactly what I want, more.

was provided by the Daeus Lamb, in the participation of Voracious readers.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurb that drew me in to read this book led me to believe I was about to read an epic fantasy, with religious themes. While the religious themes were definitely there, I wouldn't call this an epic fantasy. It is, as others have indeed described it, closer to a fairytale. The text in the blurb is also a bit deceiving, as the actual prose in the novella (it is a short read) is far less direct, and more highfalutin/poetic. Overall, I must sadly say that this novella was not for me.

What I liked
- The story is short and sweet, creating the air of a original fairytale. Quite impressive, as fairytales in their original form are not written all that often in modern times.

- Without losing the fairytale format, the story does a great job in conveying the emotions of the main character, Mortristan. His doubt, guilt and confusion show very nicely.


What I didn't like
- The novella's ending was very sudden and almost felt like the author had to rush to finish the ending. It left me feeling a bit unfulfilled. The character's development also seemed to suffer from this short form the author chose, and beyond the MC and the fruit thief, it was hard to care about any of the characters.

- The language in this story is quite poetic. In some elements of the book, this works beautifully, but in my view the author also overdoes this quite regularly, and creates extremely flowery language to describe things such as the scent of an attic, or a moving carriage, to the point where it actually lessens the impact rather than increases it. Sometimes less is more.

- The book appears deeply Christian. That's not my cup of tea, but it's fine. However, at some points, the experiences that happened to the main character mirrorred certain pivotal stories from the bible so closely, it felt uninspired.

[TTreadsYA · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you enjoy folklore, legends, myths and story fantasy stories about legends this this is for you! The length is not horrible either and there is no overly complicated wording so I believe it's acceptable for all. Though all this sounds fun for me it was not. It did have some issues.

One issue being the dialogue, which was very clunky. No one exactly zero people would speak the way these people did. It was extremely awkward and did pull me out of the story quite a lot. It also made every character not memorable at all. I just finished this book and I can't name anyone other then the main character and his "love interest". Which may just be an issue I have with myths or folklore to begin with.

Issue number two, even though the story was short it had a tendency to ramble. I did have to skim a fair bit of the small chapters because so many words made themselves into about a sentence and a half of plot. For me this made the reading experience drag on. But where there was plot it did have some captivating things.

Issue number three, this issue is minor so don't let it prevent you from reading this if you want to. The story was not incredibly unique it felt a bit to much like other things I've heard or read. In some ways a few chapters felt like they were retextured from other stories. I am not trying to say that the author meant this in anyway shape or form it was just a me thing with these types of stories they have to be very out there for me to not call back on other things.

Overall if you do enjoy things about kings, townships, wars and magic give this a go! I feel like you would enjoy it as well. I have a feeling this would be incredible as a graphic novel or comic form. I think I'd like it more as such being able to see what they are explaining would make it better I feel.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novella to read and review from Voracious Readers Only.

'God of Manna' is a very short novella that reads like a fable set in a fantasy world. We follow the short tale of Mortristan as he struggles with the morality and ethos of the world he has to live in.

The world that Daeus Lamb sets up is very intriguing; a dystopian world divided in two - the outsiders and the city dwellers. Due to the brevity of the novella it doesn't get developed too much, but I do think there are enough interesting snippets here that, if the author chose to expand on them, would make for a unique setting for a full length novel.

Truly, this novella doesn't really read like a story. There isn't so much a plot as there is a .. moment. Mortristan is a character who pontificates a lot, but doesn't really do much. And not much really happens to him either. This is why I describe it as a fable. Ultimately the point of this novella is to teach? Or at least, I think so. The way that Daeus Lamb writes is a little confusing at times, a distant echo of classical authors like Wilde or Dickens - I actually really like it, but it does leave a lot of things kind of up to interpretation. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the ending to me left a lot to be desired.

Overall, a 3.5 star rating, rounded up to a 4. Mostly just because I didn't quite like the pacing, and some of the story elements were under-developed. However, I did enjoy the writing style, and I think that Daeus Lamb has the potential to write and create wonderful settings, and I look forward to seeing what he creates in the future!

[Peter Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story: a man inherits a lordship after his father's death within a city of privileged people. Outside the city the land is barren and the people have lost the knowledge of cultivation. They must offer sacrifice to the "God of Manna" to receive sustenance. The new lord is imprisoned in an attempt to teach the outsiders farming. He dies in his imprisonment and his body, buried by a curious old man, is the seed for a tree available for outsiders to eat from.

The meaning: This book has clear connections to the story of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. It is a story of how the privileged people of God has starved the outside world and controls what they receive, physically and spiritually. Mortristan is a symbol of Christ, punished for offering knowledge to the outsiders and ultimately his life is used to plant a tree of life where everyone can eat from. When imprisoned, Mortristan is tempted to gain his "freedom" by giving in and eating, joining the priests; then as second in command to the "God of Manna"; and third to be married to Elysha, a symbol of earthly cares and pleasures. After 40 days of hunger, Mortristan is gone from his "tomb" where he was to be imprisoned and buried. The last chapter shows the sacrifice one must make to follow Christ. If you are afraid of losing your place in a line for provisions that will go away and leave you hungry, you will miss out on the fruit of the tree that ends all hunger.

Fantastic story. Received the book through Voracious Readers Only.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story telling and imagery in God Of Manna is beautiful and cleverly written. It’s almost like a fairytale, only much deeper and darker. The world that Daeus Lamb has created, though incredibly beautiful on the outside, is full of dark secrets.

The story centers around Mortristan, who after the death of his father, inherits the title of lord. When Mortristan finds someone trespassing on his land, he is determined to find out the meaning behind this meeting, and his greater purpose in a world controlled by the God Of Manna. Mortristan is a whimsical, funny character, filled with a whole lot of sorrow that makes him feel incredibly real.

God Of Manna is full of themes of human greed, hope, determination, and sacrifice, that left me thinking well after I had finished reading.

It is a relatively short book, and parts of it did feel rushed and unfinished in places, slightly hard to follow in some parts, and I had to read it a second time to fully catch some of the details I missed during the first read through. I feel like the book could be longer, just because a bit more of the story could have been developed with a little extra space and more pages. As deep as the story is, more could have gone into character development and world-building. For example, there were several glimpses into Mortristan’s backstory, and I would have loved to see more of that.

I received a free ARC for God Of Manna via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.

[Tamika · Rating 2 out of 5]

*DISCLAIMER* I was sent God of manna complimentary of voracious readers for reviewing purposes!

—————————

I wanted to read this book because the synopsis intrigued me and then reading that he drew inspiration for Brandon Sanderson’s “The way of Kings” had me a pretty excited because I absolutely love that author and his work. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed in the end.

- Lambs writing is very poetic and has the reader think more deeply in to what’s underneath the surface, in saying this though, it ended up being a little bit excessive. In moderation, pretty and poetic wording can be beautiful but too much can consistently steer the story away from the main plot, and the elements of what’s being described is less impactful.

- It also felt very rushed, especially towards the end. I saw no character development and felt nothing special towards any of the characters, they were all average and pretty forgetful. Except for the fruit thief, but that’s only because I was a bit confused with his whole character. Also… is Elysha a fairy? It was alluded to but again, it was said so poetically that I did not know if it was real or just imagery for her beauty.

- I also did not have a great grasp on the actual world, I know it’s a short read, and hard to fit extensive world building but with a fantasy book built in a world only the author knows about I felt like we should have had a bit more insight in to the happenings of it all.

All in all, I think the idea that Lamb had in mind was very interesting, if only it had been executed a bit differently, I might’ve enjoyed it a bit more. Regardless of all this, I look forward to what else Lamb has to offer in the future because I think he has great potential!

[Susan Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the outset, Mr. Lamb takes us on a whirlwind fairytale adventure through the land of Elysigard. We follow the main character, Mortristan, on his quests to rid himself of shame and guilt; to provide for the hungry people of Elysigard and to marry his true love, Elysha.

I found the first few chapters intriguing, as the characters came to life. We begin to see the complex Mortristan as a Lord with dark torment, yet dependent upon finding the answers about the ones on the other side of Elysigards stone walls. He is soothed by the presence of his future wife, yet haunted by his own cruel acts. I liked the concept of the Wind and the Passing having their own personality. Mr. Lamb paints vivid pictures with his words in a poetic, descriptive style.

As I moved through the chapters, there was so much activity surrounding the multiple themes that there was almost a perfunctory feel to the writing in the latter third of the book. My perception here could just be as Mr. Lamb stated in his introduction, that the storylines could have been more fluid had I read The Grand Inquisitor by Dostoevsky first.

I do recommend God of Manna to those interested in the Fantasy genre.

[Sally Clifton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This very short story is one of the most interesting I have read in a long time. The last time I read anything this intriguing was Labyrinth of Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, however that was much longer. A tale basically of the sins of the ancestor coming home to roost on the present generation, it’s just a shame it wasn’t made into a full length novel, as this would have kept me thoroughly entertained for several days. The style of writing is quite unique and the author conjures up an intricate and fantastical world which he makes very easy to envision, with characters who are both complex and command empathy. Just as I was getting really into and excited about reading it though, it just ended. I have to admit, I sat up, mouth open in shock as the end was so abrupt. I loved the style though and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more work from Daeus Lamb. I only gave it 3 stars due to the abruptness of the end and the fact that it was so very short - I felt cheated that there wasn’t more.

[Sarah Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know where to start with this.

I have given it 3 stars because my personal opinion is that this read more like a framework to a book than an actual book. Its extremely short and I felt at times that there was too much time spend describing elements that didn't need it and not enough spent on the background.

The characters and story are itself extremely interesting and if this was made into a full length book I probably would have highly rated it. As it stands it feels like its incomplete. There's not much information about what's going on or their impact to the story and a lot of the time you're reaching to fill in the gaps but then it quickly moves on. There are major elements that I felt were left unanswered. Too much jumping between mini event to mini event but zero character development or story development. The beginning chapters were just left hanging and never returned back too. And the ending felt somewhat unexplained.

It was interesting though. Just...wish there was more of it as the writer has a lovely way of describing the world.