The God King's Legacy

God King Chronicles #1

by Richard Nell

God-king Marsun, the ‘Demon King’, has ruled for centuries. But nothing lasts forever.

Once just an illiterate tribal chief, Marsun trapped an ancient evil within his mighty soul, united scattered tribes in peace and prosperity, then retreated from the world. But his sacrifice is all but forgotten. Technology marches on; new ambitious powers rise; unhappy lords plot rebellion; and from every corner of civilization, savage enemies gather. The God King’s legacy has just begun…

From the author of Kings of Paradise comes two tales in a world of knights and demons, muskets and cannon fire. Flintlock fantasy mixed with the grit of Game of Thrones.

1) Rebellion of the Black Militia
Johann Planck, bastard and scribe of the god-king’s tower, is yanked from his peaceful life of academia, and ordered to capture an immortal creature of darkness. If the knight he’s accompanying doesn’t kill him, or the demon ‘Sazeal’, fresh rebellion just might.

2) Devil of the 22nd
A crumbling empire. An abandoned army. Kurt Val Clause is an ordinary soldier trying to keep it all together because no one else has the balls. Now he has one chance to win a glorious future, die in agony, or lose his soul. He just might do all three.

Genres: Fantasy

201 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2019

About the author

Richard Nell concerned family and friends by quitting his real job in 2014 to 'write full-time'. He is a Canadian author of fantasy, living in one of the flattest, coldest places on earth with his begrudging wife, who makes sure he eats.

His debut novel, Kings of Paradise, is the first of an epic, coming-of-age, low fantasy trilogy, and a Canadian Amazon best-seller in dark fantasy. It's available now.

He also writes flintlock fantasy! Join his mailing list for news on finished work, freebies, and the occasional philosophical rant.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a Booktube channel now! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/petrikleo

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The God King’s Legacy comprised of two flintlock fantasy novellas that provide glimpses into Nell’s future books.

I didn’t expect to start reading The God King’s Legacy this soon. This year, I finished Nell’s Ash and Sand trilogy, a series that has become one of my favorite trilogies. By finishing The God King’s Legacy, the prequel to the upcoming God-King Chronicles series by Richard Nell, it would mean that I have no more Nell’s books to read. However, I needed something short to tide me over until Sanderson’s Rhythm of War is published today, and so here we are. For those of you who don’t know, the God-King Chronicles series takes place in the same world with Ash and Sand trilogy. This, however, doesn’t mean that you have to read the other series first; the same situation is applicable for Ash and Sand as well. The connection between these two series hasn’t really been made yet, but yeah, I’m sure it will appear in the future. As for this review, I will be doing a mini-review for the two novellas inside this collection.

Rebellion of the Black Militia: 3.5/5 stars

The story in Rebellion of the Black Militia follows Johann Planck, a bastard and a scribe of the god king’s tower who’s suddenly taken away from his academia life to capture a demon named Sazeal. Accompanying him is a more than a hundred years old knight named Lamorak. I liked this novella; Johann and Lamorak have a relationship development that’s well-realized. I also think that the contrast in their personality and the changes in Johann’s character were gradual and developed nicely. Plus, this novella exhibited the potential that the series has to offer in the future. My qualm with it is that it is too short; the novella is only 130 pages long, and I felt that the story ended too quickly.

“This is not a story in one of your books, Johann. In this world the strong gnash at one another with bared teeth. They twist and use and devour the weak, and justice is an endless war that can’t be won.”

Devil of the 22nd: 2.5 stars

As for this particular title, I have to admit that it didn’t really work for me. I felt that for its short length, it contained too many actions without giving enough focus on characterizations first. Kurt isn’t a particularly likable character, and for me to feel invested with his story, more pages focused on his motivation and background were definitely needed. The actions were well-written, but the overall story was forgettable to me.

“Life is the flame, he thought, touching the rough cloth. One moment it’s controlled, even beautiful, then in the next, chaos.”

The God King’s Legacy is a good appetizer for what’s to come in the future of Nell’s books. However, if you want to start reading Nell’s books, I strongly recommend you to start with his Ash and Sand trilogy. Kings of Paradise is a far more superior start than this, and I personally think the two stories contained here doesn’t show his storytelling strength and capability as a grimdark fantasy writer. That being said, I’m sure the main books in God-King Chronicles will live up to my high expectations. I am, without a doubt, looking forward to reading more of Nell’s books in the future.

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You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions

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[Samir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Richard's Ash and Sand series and this book is a confirmation that I'm gonna be a fan of God King Chronicles as well.

Richard, I said it once and I'll say it again:

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reviewed these novellas when they were released individually, but now they have a stupid-sick new cover by Shawn King so I'll merge the reviews below:

Rebellion of the Black Militia

In all my years reading speculative fiction, I haven’t dipped my toes in the flintlock fantasy genre until picking up Richard Nell’s Rebellion of the Black Militia novella. I first became aware of Richard Nell having recently finished the remarkable Kings of Paradise so I was eager to explore more of his work. This novella utilizes a vastly different setting and playbook than Paradise and I’m happy to report that Nell’s talent for character building, detailed action scenes, and skilled pacing shines brightly throughout the story.

The plot centers around Johann, an apprentice Scribe who has spent the majority of his life in a castle tower reading and researching the history of the realm. He is a (mostly) pious young man, but not familiar with the harsh realities of the surrounding empire. At the onset of the story, Johann is summoned by the knight Lamorak to help him defeat and capture a demon. Johann would then proceed to bind this demon his body, therefore removing it from further threatening the land. Once the pair start their journey, Johann quickly realizes that his knight companion and the realities of the world around him subvert his expectations and world view, and redefines what measures must be taken in order to serve the laws of their king. Soon, the pair become entangled with a rebel militia under the demon’s command, and Johann quickly realizes that his life’s path might not turn out the way he thinks.

Lamorak is a vulgar and battle-hardened knight with decades of war and blood under his belt, and a lot of early enjoyment is extrapolated from the relationship between him and Johann. They both have varied histories and conflicting morals, and their conversations and attitudes helped to breathe life into their characterization while also building upon the history of the surrounding empire. I was impressed at how much world-building information was tactfully delivered, as well as how well-defined Johann and Lamorak felt by the end of the story. Johann’s metamorphosis felt earned, and his decisions and changing viewpoints seemed like a natural reaction to the events he was experiencing. Character progression was one of the strongest parts of this story, and it speaks to Nell’s considerable talent as a writer to have his protagonist come so far in a relatively short novella.

There is some magic in the world, but it was reserved until the final act of the story, and its placement and usage added a lot of tension and gravity to the final battle scenes. The binding of demons, the powers it grants, and the consequences of such actions were a driving force through the end of the story. It was thrilling to watch our heroes battle with cannons and powder-based firearms in a bloody and oft-horrific showdown, with several surprises and twists revealing themselves along the way. At first, the combination of muskets and super-powered demons felt like a strange combination, but Nell’s attention to detail and vivid descriptions of the sights and sounds of the battlefield made it feel natural and earned.

This novella is part of a planned trilogy of novellas that will serve as a prequel series to something much larger that Nell is working on down the road. While this story feels complete, it also opens that door for potentially many more exciting missions and quests in future installments. Rebellion of the Black Militia is an excellent introduction to the world of Johann and Lamorek, and I hope it won’t be the last.

Devils of the 22nd

The second of Richard Nell’s prequel trilogy of novellas, Devil of the 22nd is much darker than its predecessor, Rebellion of the Black Militia. There’s a quiet sense of dread that grew larger and larger as we discover just how truly monstrous these characters are. And yet the disturbing behavior of the protagonists is offset by an understanding of how these men got to where they are, and the ideals that they’re fighting for. There’s no easy solutions here, and this was a reoccurring theme throughout the story that made it a compelling, if uncomfortable read.

The story centers on Kurt, a twenty-year veteran of the Eastern army, who is all but forgotten by their commanding emperor. Kurt’s men are stationed at the edge of the empire, close to the borderlands that are ruled by dangerous ‘savages.’ The surrounding land is barren, they haven’t been paid in over a year, and the soldiers and their families are starving. Kurt has assumed the identity of a dead colonel just to find something for his men to do. Some orders finally come, but it’s not the kind Kurt was expecting, so he decides to lead his men into the land of the savages to find their own fortune. What starts as a straightforward mission quickly evolves into a high-stakes threat, and ends with a thrilling quest that resolves in a surprising fashion.

These men are not heroes. Even though they’re soldiers, they’re referred to as “killers” even more so. They have been involved in capturing and selling slaves, killing unarmed families, and even worse things are inferenced. They’re tough to root for. But we spend almost the entire book inside Kurt’s head, discovering his unpredictable tendencies, his series of “masks” that he wears in different situations, his abilities to prepare and lead in battle, and his cleverness. The man is a sociopath, but is he a victim of circumstance? After twenty years of serving an Empire who cannot afford to pay him or his men, and would likely rather forget they exist? Nell has shown a talent for allowing the reader to sympathize with morally questionable or outright abhorrent characters, as often times they have no other options in order to survive. How would I feel or react if dealt the same cards in life? Would I be so different? I would certainly hope so, but there’s no way to know for sure.

There are several unpredictable turns that kept the story from stagnating in any one area, and the ending was truly surprising – an unforeseen shift in tone and subject matter and it was a welcome change of atmosphere. The battle scenes are all described in vivid detail, and the settings painted clear pictures in my head. Like Nell’s previous novella, this story felt much larger than its 160 pages. I enjoyed this one quite a bit – not as much as Rebellion, even though this was just as competently written; I felt a bit more detached from these characters and wasn’t sure if I wanted any of them to survive. But by the end of the story, I was ready to explore this twisted yet interesting world even further, and I’m very much looking forward to the release of the full series in the years ahead.

Demons, gunpowder, and drunk, pissed-off soldiers doing some drunk, pissed-off things. The cockles of my heart have never been warmer.

5/5

[Chris Haught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review now posted on the Grimdark Magazine site...

Not so much a novel as a collection of two novellas that are only distantly related, The God King’s Legacy serves as an excellent introduction into the as yet unreleased God-King’s Chronicles series.

Rebellion of the Black Militia, the first novella, is about an apprentice Scribe that is being assigned to work with a legendary Knight to weed out a rebellion that seems to have a demon behind it. In this world, demons can be captured and held by magical markings on the body of the holder, with Scribes as the experts in such castings. The God-King himself has done this, and it appears that this is what keeps the demons at bay for the most part. If a Scribe or Knight holds the demon, it is neutralized and kept from hurting the population at large. A nice bonus is that the holder gains powers directly from the demon possessing him or her.

The second story, Devil of the 22nd, follows a rogue soldier that has taken control of his army that has been all but forgotten by the Emperor after years of service in the borderlands. Kurt isn’t particularly liked by his men, but they follow him because with smoke and mirrors he is able to keep them thinking that it is in their best interests to do so. Kurt has his hidden agenda though and is playing a larger game for bigger stakes.

These two stories happen on the same continent but are very far apart and set in different countries. The tone is different in each, but we see some common elements. The demon-Scribe dynamic reminds me of Peter V. Brett’s The Warded Man (or The Painted Man outside of the USA). Meanwhile, the extensive use of guns fit the flintlock sub-genre of fantasy that’s been more popular in recent years thanks to the likes of Brian McClellan and Django Wexler. Combine these with the dark grit of Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire and you get a good feel of what to expect. Perhaps…

These stories are both self-contained and satisfying on their own but give us an excellent teaser to what might be coming when Nell releases his longer works set in this world. He takes elements we might have seen in different places and blends them together in a unique presentation which fully engages the reader and drops the occasional surprise or WTF moment here and there.

When the longer story is out there, I’ll be looking into it with anticipation.

Oh, and that cover by Shawn King just screams “take my money!”

[Jon Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the premise and originality. I'm also a huge fan of Richard Nell, but I'd let him know if I hated it.

Another SPFBO5 Entrant.

[Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in piecemeal as individual novellas and absolutely loved them both! Gritty and gripping writing, memorable characters and clever world-building. Excellent flintlock fantasy in a short form.

Strongly recommended. Fans of Joe Abercrombie and Peter McLean will not be disappointed.

[Mihir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Lukasz and my full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: This is the first prequel novella in the God-King Chronicles by Richard Nell, the author who has written the magnificently twisted Kings Of Paradise. Not to lie down with just that acclaim, this Canadian bugger went ahead and created another story which in my estimates is more complex and cooler than the Ash & Sand one.

The first novella "Rebellion Of The Black Militia" focuses on Johann Planck, an apprentice-scribe who's devoted his young life to the study of demons, their lore and the history of their kingdom. Introverted, pious and judgmental to a fault, Johann is doing his best to prove himself to his Scribery masters. He gets tasked with going to the Humberland province wherein a demon is loose and needs to be re-tethered. Helping him along with task is the deadly warrior named Lamorak the stone knight and a dour persona at that.

Pretty soon the readers and Johann learn that the demon isn't the only problem plaguing the lord and lady of Humberland. There's also perhaps a rebellion brewing or is there something more? All of these events and more force Johann to reconsider what his role is and perhaps what he wants in his life.

Richard Nell does a lot in this novella, not only do we get a whole new world, we also get a flintlock fantasy that's mashed with demons in an epic way. As has been the case with his debut book, characterization is Richard's forte and he excels herein as well. Readers won't like Johann when they meet him but there's more to him as we realize, the same is case with Lamorak and many other characters that we meet. This tale is Richard's take on the knight & his apprentice trope but done from the POV of the apprentice who looks down on the knight and everything else. The effect is darkly humourous and possibly intentional. The story is spread out over nine chapters and we get to see quite a lot of things, there's action, sex, plot twists and a satisfying ending that really made this novella a standout one.

The second novella is “Devil of the 22nd” and focusses on Kurt Val Clause, a veteran sergeant of the red division of the Keevland Empire’s eastern army, and one mean, smart son of a bitch. The empire as well as the military higher ups have all but forgotten about the First division. Kurt and his fellow soldiers have become a renegade unit of sorts, doing their own thing while under the apparent aegis of the emperor. Things take a weird turn when the regiment gets orders for a rescue and recovery of a Ms. Clara Lehmann. Kurt however decides to take those orders and spin them to his own flavor. Things are soon afoot in the Helveti lands where new things will be discovered and legends will be made.

The second novella is a bit longer and more twisted than the first. Kurt Van Clause isn’t a likeable narrator but he is a charismatic sociopath. He twists opinions, perceptions & rumours to his purpose & he has had two decades worth of time to perfect his devilish charm. This story unlike the first doesn’t have any heroes in it. It has soldiers, killers and a demon. But what it also has is a very strong narrative that keeps you hooked with its twists as well as its pace.

Richard Nell certainly has a way with his plots, we can’t really be sure where the story is heading. Plus Kurt and the other soldiers introduced within are certainly a cast worth following. Neither heroes but not outright villains either, the author really makes them human enough to be mildly sympathetic.

Overall this novella is distinctly different than the first one and is more about the mental justifications characters utilize to do things that are morally reprehensible. The story also focuses on a demon similar to the first but the character's interactions are completely different. The ending though is really unpredictable and sets up an interesting twist for the main series.

CONCLUSION: Richard Nell has created a very intriguing world and a magic system premise that's very sparsely mentioned here but is very, very imaginative. Think the demon lore of Peter V. Brett's the Warded Man saga mixed with Django Wexler's flintlock fantasy and you'll get an idea of where this series might be heading. As for me, I can’t wait for the author to write the first full length book in The God King Chronicles as I wanted more of this fascinating world.

[kartik narayanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

tl;dr: The God King's Legacy is an okayish fantasy novella which goes for some shock value to different itself.

This is my first Richard Nell book that I picked up because I heard good things about them. I was not aware that this was a novella with two short stories set in the same universe. There is a Black Company vibe at times. But unlike Glen Cook, it feels like Richard Nell has gone for over the top brutality just for brutality's shape. This is one aspect that I did not like especially since there was no payoff at the end. The stories end just as they are getting interesting.

I am going to try his Ash and Sand series to see if they are worth the hype.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are similar elements, but vastly different characters.

Rebellion of the Black Militia:

The draw of this book for me was the Odd Couple relationship between the academic and the soldier. Johann’s expectations are shattered as he quickly realizes that Lamorack is no holy knight. His drinking and dirty mouth and trips to the brothel are a reality that Johann is not at all ready for, but there is a friendship that starts and both steadily realize that the other is needed.

I really like this story… Nell took care to fill in much of the worldbuilding as the two move about on their journey and as they prep for their ultimate fight. There’s a good deal of witty dialogue and beyond Johann and Lamorak, there’s some minor characters that fill out this piece.

A quick read to be enjoyed over a drink after a long day.

Devil of the 22nd:

Kurt and his crew are gritty and learning a bit more about Nell’s world makes for good read. It’s a dark and definitely more “grim” than the first story. I’d say there’s just as many laughs, but dark humor pervades. Another difference between the two is that Rebellion was a much more straight forward read with a couple reveals, but the twists in Devil are nasty and really reveal what Kurt and his veterans are capable of.

These novellas move Kings of Paradise up my TBR and get me excited for more of The God King’s Chronicles.

For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2019/09/11/th...

For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two interesting tales

My first foray into a "flintlock fantasy" book. The mentioning of guns was a tad overdone for my taste but it felt genuine at the same time. The stories themselves were good and they me excited to read the authors next series that takes place in the same world.

[Jozua · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a an excellent introduction to the world of his new series God King Chronicles.
I loved the first story with the introduction of the demons and the power/magic system and of course the banter between Johann and Lam was entertaining.
The second story was grander in scope and felt more like a strategy game where someone had an army and was looking for a thrill, it gave a picture of how the world works on the other side where demons/fairytale creatures are a myth.
Both fast paced reads with flintlock fantasy!

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. It's two novellas set in a brand new world from Richard Nell, a world where demons can be binded to oneself if they have the proper know-how and strength, giving that person powers. Each demon has their own distinct powers though, so if you don't study up beforehand you may end up with something you weren't expecting (which is the case in one of the stories).

I'll say I enjoyed the first story a lot more than the second. The second story was a slow buildup but the last quarter of the story was really great, and after seeing where it ended it was easier to reflect back on the story and see how the buildup was necessary to show what the character was achieving.

The first story, "Rebellion of the Black Militia", follows a scribe (an individual who studies to bind demons and bring them back to their Scribery to contain them and rid them from the world -- the demons in this world can't be killed so this is the workaround) on his journey to bind a demon. He is given into the care of a knight/soldier for the journey, but this man isn't what he at first appears...he ends up being a really kick-ass and intriguing character. The two of them together made for a really entertaining story.

In this first story you learn about the demons and how they're bound, and there's a back-story that explains how a character bound his that is pretty exciting in regards to character and world history.

And the ending, oh man, I hope there's more stories with these characters soon.


The second story, "Devil of the 22nd", follows a soldier with a false identity in his journey to create a settlement where he and his followers can have their own lives outside of anyone's rules or regulations. It's a bit slow as the protagonist is setting up his settlement but if you stick with it things get really interesting when there's mention of nearby treasure. The last quarter of the story unfolds beautifully and sets things up for plenty to be explored in future stories with the protagonist, or just his legacy.

All in all, I enjoyed these stories and look forward to what Richard delivers next in this world.

[Arthur Fortune · Rating 5 out of 5]

The God King’s Legacy by Richard Nell

This is two prequel novellas from the God King Chronicles in one book.

Rebellion of the Black Militia -

Johann Planck is a bastard Scribe turned Demon Hunter, and this tale is every bit as interesting as the beginning of this sentence implies and more. A magic system I have never scene before and excellent world building keep you turning pages until you run out of pages to turn.

Devil of the 22nd -

You have five seconds. That's all you get to decide if you will root for the bad guys or not.
Kurt Val Clause will seemingly do anything to stay on top. He stumbled into a position that brought him glory and even though he is now a Lieutenant in an Army without real orders or a paycheck, he will find a way to keep his soldiers busy and get them paid or die trying.

I highly recommend this two story collection to any fan of flintlock fantasy. Especially fans of the Black Company by Glen Cook and the Powder Mage Trilogy and it’s sequel trilogy God’s of Blood and Powder by Brian McClellan.

5 out of 5 muskets.

[Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I've come to love and expect from Richard Nell is delivered in this book.

[Richard Gossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 fantastic novellas of flintlock fantasy and demon debauchery. Both stories were fantastic, well written with fantastic characterizations.

[RedJorgAncrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this book again and I think I'm comfortable putting it in my top ten of all time. Richard Nell has a skill that tickles a nerve with me, and he does it really well. He writes awesome characters, but most notably characters you might hate, but then they'll do something that makes you laugh, and then something to make you hate them even more than you did before. But then you'll kind of go along with what they're doing, knowing they're a monster (because they are). But at some point, without even realizing it, you're them. You're actually empathizing with this monster.

Ruka (from his Ash and Sand series) is a great example of this. He's up there with Karsa Orlong and my own username as the best anti-heroes I've read. This book has two characters that fit the description, but one much more than the other. More even then Ruka.

It's one of those characters where you can visualize what you're reading more than others. I couldn't get Jeff Bridges out of my head as I read and read. The potential for this character is off the charts. AND, I have no idea how the story is going to progress! I fear I'm going to end up hating him even more than before, but might be wrong. The thing I love the most is how much confidence I have in the author. I'm not sure how to improve on that.

This is only volume 1, but read this book. It's insanely good.

[Jonathan Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally write reviews as I am not able to eloquently put by thoughts into sentence as others are on this site. However this book deserves being lauded. I though during the first part I was reading the standard gunpowder fantasy but the 'other' world introduced in the second half really caught my imagination with its characters. Really looking forward to the next in the series to see how the story arcs converge,
Brilliant work

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic new series from one of the best indie Fantasy authors

Please give this book a chance. The author's other series is what got my attention but I just plowed through this book in a few days and am eagerly looking for a way to pre order the next one in the series.

Cool world building and magic system, and a very well executed hook in the second half. Ii won't spoil it for you, so please just grab this book and check it out.

[Wes Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two short stories that I would have given 4 stars if like Joe Abercrombies shorts they actually linked up in some way with his main Lords of Paradise//Ash. Still very good though, up there with any other shorts I have had the pleasure to read (barring Abercrombie) 3 and a 1/2

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not one novel but two novellas collected together as prequels for an upcoming series. I’ll review them first individually then give an overall review.

Rebellion of the Black Militia: This novella was a surprisingly good read! I’ll admit I was a bit worried in the first few pages. A naïve, priggish young scribe is set off on a quest with a grizzled, uncouth warrior who shows him the hard realities of the world and it all just felt a bit familiar, a bit tropeish. But the plot is engaging and the world is interesting, so I kept going, and I’m definitely glad I did. The plot evolves from the “odd couple on a straight-forward quest” to a more fully developed story about local militias, rebellion, and demonic powers. As the plot develops, the characters also grow and change - particularly the main character Johann - and I ended up liking both main characters by the end. The pacing in this novella really impressed me; nothing dragged on too much or felt too rushed. My only real complaint was the relegation of women to nothing more than sex objects, which was very disappointing.


Devils of the 22nd: I liked this story less, although I can’t say it was any less well-written. The whole thing is very grim. Kurt Val Clause trying to keep his company of soldiers in line when the chain of command has broken down, supplies and pay and even orders are no longer coming, and no one else seems to want to step up and keep everything together. These are not honorable warriors; they’re murderers and slavers, and Kurt himself is a chilling sociopath. Eventually orders do arrive again, but this company of broken men finds little reason to keep playing their role for the empire’s greater good when the empire has seemed to care so little about them. Mayhem, death, and a little touch of demon possession follow. To be blunt, horrible people doing terrible things is not what I really enjoy reading about, and that is pretty much the entirety of this novella. Objectively, the writing is still very high caliber. The world-building is still intriguing, the plot is still driving and fast-paced, and the prose is still clear and concise. And we finally get a female character who is interesting and capable and I’d have liked to know more about! If you’re a person who likes grimdark, definitely give this a look.


Overall review: Nell is obviously skilled as an author. I really enjoyed the flintlock aspects of the setting, and the whole magic system of binding demons is fascinating, and I want to know more. Despite not being a big grimdark reader, the world-building and the premise of the plot are good enough that I’m sold on reading this series when the novels are released.

[Jordan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four keyz on my keybort 'r' for vvutever reezon not vvorking. Hovever, I've juzt finizhet thiz etventure 'n' neet to rite thiz revievv before Phil Tucker pumpz out enother book. I'll keep it brief.

Proz:
Richert Nell hez creftet enother true vvork of litereture here. The kint of vvork your englizh teecher forcez you to reet in 1876 (ezzuming you're unfortunete enough to live in thiz nightmere vvorlt of monzterz, both humin 'n'not (I'll leeve it to you to figure out vvhere the cherecterz fell)).
Zeying Richert Nell knovvz hovv to vvrite iz like zeying cetz knovv hovv to lent on they're feet. The vvriting iz zuccint ent vivit. The vvorlt-builting 'n' zetting heve been zeen ent triet countlezz timez before (berberienz, megic, enti-engelz, gunpovvter you neym it) but never zo unqueztionebly believeble or intricetly vvoven. Theze cherecterz 'r' ezzholez, cheetz, noble, cering, zmert, neive, ent they're reel. You feel for them ent unterztent them. Thet'z vvhet Richert Nell iz uhchieving here. Thiz book 'n' "Kingz of Peretize" (check it out if you heven't) 'r' lezz 'n' lezz fentezy tropey gerbo then juzt goot ****in' ztoriez. The kint you remember ent think of for yeerz to come.

Conz:
No mep.
VVoult love zome picturez of the enti-engel tettooz.

[Michael Lore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The God King's Legacy is a collection of two novellas set in the same low-fantasy world. These stories are flintlock fantasy, where gunpowder and muskets feature heavily. It's a subgenre of fantasy I enjoy, with all the trappings of traditional fantasy but with a bit of modern flair.

In Rebellion of the Black militia, a scribe works with a knight to capture a demon and ends up helping put down a rebellion. In Devil of the 22nd, a man leads the forgotten remnants of an imperial army. Both stories are fun and move at a rapid pace, with interesting characters and just enough worldbuilding to make the world feel a bit lived in.

I'd definitely read a full novel set in this world. The magic system and politics of the world could do with some fleshing out. I really enjoyed Richard Nell's previous series and I hope he continues with this one.

[Christopher Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read for people who like grit in there stories

Incredibly well written story. Best I've read in some time.
Somewhat like joe Abercrombie in the gritty unflinching fantasy world.
Characters that you my not like but understand their motives.
Now time for me to stop typing so I can read the next in the series!

[Chris Hazen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a glimpse into a world that can be great. Like Nell's other work, its an awesome fantasy idea with complex characters that are difficult to call "protagonists". Looking forward to seeing what this becomes.

[jonathan Alexander Easley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short stories in a world I hope he revisits! my only complaint is understanding the timeline/connection between the stories.

[BRYAN HILL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and fast paced

Author does a good job of introducing two intriguing characters and a unique world of magic and muskets. Very interested to see where he takes the story.

[Stromboli Bones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say one thing for Richard Nell, say that bastard knows how to write.

[Nikola Tasev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and gritty, describing war in all of its forms, including the not-so-glorious or exciting parts. From training, marching, camping, to the occasional battle and its ugly aftermath.
I would not say it is fast-paced, but it is well written. The magic and lore are interesting, but in the very deep background, even if it is the driving force of the first story. In the second story you don't even get even a hint of magic before the final quarter.
In all - an interesting read, and the stories have satisfying ends, but it does not get me excited to read more.