Banebringer

The Heretic Gods #1

by Carol A. Park

Book One of The Heretic Gods
 
BANEBRINGERS. Source of the bloodbane who stalk the land. Cause of a thousand wrongs. Despised. Cast out. Hunted.
 
Vaughn never asked for the powers of a long-forgotten moon goddess. But rarely do the gods give humans a choice when using them in their machinations. Now Vaughn is a Banebringer, loathed by all who discover his true identity—even his father, a man obsessed with his own power and bent on destroying Vaughn's miserable life.

Vaughn is desperate to end his father before the madman ends him. But to do so he'll need the skills of Ivana, a vindictive assassin with her own scores to settle. The only question is whether Vaughn can keep himself from becoming another of her targets long enough to see his father eliminated.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Action

Audible Audio

Published October 7, 2019

Reviews

[Jennifer (bunnyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The coolest thing about this book is the magic.

-The Banebringer’s are gifted/cursed (depending on who you talk to) with elemental type magic from their god/goddess. In the case of Vaughn, it’s the moon Goddess who gives him the power over water and the immensely handy trick of invisibility (something I always thought would be awesome but now would rather just snap my fingers and have my house cleaned).

If a Banebringer dies, a rip tears into the world and a monster will come through. The size of the monster is relative to the amount the Banebringer uses their powers, because of this and for other reasons you can read about for yourself, Vaughn, tries not to use his powers.

He gets by using the aether, the magic that has been left behind from the blood when a Banebringer bleeds (I pictured this like that airy charcoal stuff you get when you have something boil over in your oven, like a sweet potato). When Vaughn really has to, he can burn the magic out of his blood but it weakens him and he has to wait for his blood to rejuvenate, much like if you donated a pint at the blood bank.

It’s a very cool system. I liked how it worked. I like the fact there was ways around the gift so it didn’t make this group of people all powerful, I liked the fun stuff- like figuring out how the different god’s blood gift worked. And I liked speculating on how much worse or better things could get if everything was out in the open about the Banebringers and the Conclave.

We do see a bit of that kind of scenario in this book as the plot unfolds, but the thing I am most curious about has to do with Ivana’s and Vaughn’s findings and how essentially it will have given everyone access to magic, potentially making things better or possibly worse for the banebringers than they already were having it. Instead of being hunted and ostracized would they be kingpins? Or would nothing change because now they are commodities whose very blood could be sold for profit? I could rattle on speculating about this stuff all day but I will stop here.


-I liked the two leads. They start out with one of those learning to work together, hate to friendship type relationships, as their personalities clash like crazy. Their relationship does read a little like a romance formula with the ‘will they, wont they’ and being a huge romance fan, I equally liked this about it and didn’t like this about it (I will come back to that in a bit).

Ivanna is gifted-less she’s an assassin that runs an inn where she takes in girls/ladies that have are down on their luck. She’s serious, has a hard outer-shell, but underneath deeply cares for her little family of girls. She also doesn’t take anyone’s crap, especially Vaughn’s. She reminded me a bit of Bujold’s Cordelia. A more pent-up version but smart, capable, and caring of her people.

Vaugh is the playboy character so typical of these types of relationships. He seems shallow but really is just a lonely man who craves having someone to see him for something else besides being a Banebringer.

They both are sporting some big emotional scars and really just need someone to get past their defences and help them to heal and what better way than with each other, which is one of the best things about having a little romance in the story. But, this book didn’t really resolve anything in this department and after a somewhat heavy romance feel mid-way, it was almost disappointing to feel like their one step forward was only one for him and three back, for her. But, that said, it wasn’t a huge part of the story and since Vaughn had his ‘awakening” moment, I am hoping she will have one in the next book and see that some people deserve the risk.

I had a couple of issues- there was quite a lot packed into this story and I mostly felt it could be trimmed a bit here and there to tighten it up and clear up a few points, but there was nothing really that took away from my enjoyment.
The book has a little mystery, little romance, bit of action, a little conspiracy, lots of learning about the world and as I said before cool interesting magic! It’s altogether very readable and though this story was self-contained it felt like the doorway into what could be an interesting series. I am very curious to see what happens next.



Other notes:
I would have loved a cast of characters for the goddesses and their power gifted.

I liked a lot of the side characters and the glimpses we saw of them made me hope for returns from them in later books. Especially Allena, and Danton, and Yaotel

I never understood why the attack on the Banebringers hide-out from the monsters. I was never sure if it was to rescue the woman, or just to prove a point…

The scenes with the blood on the slides made me think of the Thing.

The aether drying made me think of the Terminator.

-Thank you to the author Carol Park, for generously providing a copy through Esme’s tbrinder matchmaking reviewer/author service, which you can find here at The Weatherwax Report-

https://weatherwaxreport.blog/2018/04...

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact this took me a month or more to read I really enjoyed myself. I've been incredibly sick so reading has been at a snail's pace.

Longer review to come later

[BriarGrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. What do you get when you take a cursed (or is it gifted?) individual, toss in a vindictive assassin, and an obsessive, power-mad noble out to get them? You get *Banebringer* and it is a great read! Banebringer is a solid 4.5/5, so I've rounded up to 5 stars here. The book hooks you at the get-go with a unique feel to the world, and Park's appropriately fast-paced writing keeps you engaged so the book flies by. It also takes on some heavy topics, like sexism, racism, etc and handles them in a good in-world way, important without being bashed over the head with it. There's a bit of a "will they, or won't they" minor plot point that feels a bit overdone sometimes but other than that, and it's a VERY minor thing, the book is really worth it. I strongly recommend picking it up today.

[Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

Well here's another stunning self-published fantasy to add to the 'must-read' list! Just when I think there's no way I could read yet another great fantasy debut, I'm proven wrong. Banebringer is an exciting, well-developed, and deeply intriguing fantasy that I am so glad to have had the chance to read.

There are a lot of things to praise in this book, but I'll start with the world-building and magic system. The magic system itself is really incredible. It's of the elemental variety, which is a type of magic that I always enjoying exploring, and it was also the type of magic I actively enjoying learning about. It has some unique elements that really stood out to me and that really elevated the quality and strength of this book. It's easy for magic systems to be overly complex at the beginning of a fantasy novel and turn readers off, so I was particularly impressed with the one Park has created for this world.

The world-building is also incredibly strong and I found myself completely immersed in it. It's a darker world that lends itself to dark fantasy well without falling into the straight-out grimdark category, and it has so much detail that really makes this feel like a complete world

There are two main characters that we follow, Vaughn and Ivana, and both were fantastic. The setup is sort of the classic hate-to-friends relationship due to some seriously clashing personalities, and while I know some people dislike this scenario, I can't help but love it. I also want to note that the antagonist in this one was so well done and I really liked how Park crafted their motives and story together with the two main protagonists.

Ivana is a talented assassin with a tough exterior and an assertive personality that won't let anyone walk over her, while Vaughn comes across as more shallow and power-obsessed. They were both well-developed and brought so much life to the story, adding some drama, some humor, and some authenticity. Ivana may be hard-shelled, but she still feels deeply; Vaughn may seem shallow, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye In a book of this size, it's extra important to have multi-dimensional characters that you can become attached to, and Park did this wonderfully. Even the secondary characters seemed carefully developed and added to the story in productive ways.

For being nearly 600 pages, this book is surprisingly fast-paced and leaves very little in the way of lagging, which is an impressive feat for such an epic fantasy. I found myself glued to the pages and constantly looking forward to what was next, which, again, can be quite a challenge with a hefty tome.

Overall, I have very little to critique of Banebringer and can easily recommend this to any fantasy fans out there--4.5 stars from me!

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating 4.6

The fantasy book “Banebringer (The Heretic Gods # 1)” by Carol A. Park has a great story and I’m glad I read it. When I arrive I will surely read the sequel as well. I love when a writer introduces us to a new fantasy world and we as readers follow the story and characters with pleasure. The story has everything fantasy lovers want and I hope other readers will enjoy it as much as I do as they read it.

The story follows Vaughn who has the powers of a long-forgotten moon goddess, but he is not interested in it at all and does not want to listen to his father. The father does not tolerate his disobedience and wants to kill him at all costs because he has run away from his powerful family. Vaughn doesn’t want a conflict with his father for the simple reason that he doesn’t want to be his killer. He flees across the continent, avoiding any contact with his family, but when the threat from his father becomes imminent, he decides to hire a contract killer to finally solve the problem. But only then his problems begin because the killer is someone who has unfinished business with his family. When he discovering Ivana's true identity his life is at stake, whether he will be able to balance her anger, without her killing him will depend on his actions, which are not very well-adjusted.

I would recommend the book to fantasy lovers.

[Jason Aycock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I’m impressed by the quality of self-published fantasy that’s being produced these days. This shouldn’t be something I need to comment on anymore because self-published authors have been putting out great books for years, but I’m saying it anyway. And Banebringer by Carol A. Park is yet another example of the kind of exceptional stories being written by these outstanding authors.

Banebringer is a little bit magic, a little bit dark, a little bit romance, and all bits enjoyable.

“Banebringers. Source of the bloodbane who stalk the land. Cause of a thousand wrongs. Despised. Cast out. Hunted.

Vaughn never asked for the powers of a long-forgotten moon goddess. But rarely do the gods give humans a choice when using them in their machinations. Now Vaughn is a Banebringer, loathed by all who discover his true identity—even his father, a man obsessed with his own power and bent on destroying Vaughn’s miserable life.

Vaughn is desperate to end his father before the madman ends him. But to do so he’ll need the skills of Ivana, a vindictive assassin with her own scores to settle. The only question is whether Vaughn can keep himself from becoming another of her targets long enough to see his father eliminated.” – Goodreads blurb

Park offers us a world where the power of the gods has been bestowed upon those who are derisively called Banebringers. That is because when they are chosen a monster often follows with them, and if a Banebringer is ever killed, one bursts forth through the fabric of reality to take their place. Whether they are blessed or cursed with this power is a matter of debate, but most people fear and shun them, and there are some who actively hunt Banebringers down in order to “still” them for the world’s protection.

The story in Banebringer is set within the borders of one nation, and primarily within it’s capital and surrounding environs. While the wider world is noted and touched upon the emphasis is local. That doesn’t mean there isn’t much world building going on, it’s just a little more focused. What’s brought to the fore are the political powers and those not in power; the ruling governers (called Ri), the Conclave (priests of the new god and those who hunt down Banebringers), Banebringers, and the common people eking out an existence. There’s a power struggle going on with the Banebringers fighting for their very existence.

My favorite part of the world building was the magic system Park has created. It’s a system where magic comes through powers within one’s blood. Or more specifically through “aether” in one’s blood. This power comes from the old gods who are now anathema. This power also comes with a curse, that risk of bringing a monster into the world at their death. The magic is very specific with different Banebringers having different abilities. There are moonbloods, firebloods, weavebloods, bindbloods, etc. Some with the ability to turn invisible, control water, control fire, control air, heal, and so on. A Banebringer burns aether in their blood when casting magic. When they are cut a Banebringer’s blood turns to a silver aether which can also be stored and used by others. It’s a system that reminds me a lot of Sanderson’s Mistborn series or even McClellen’s Powdermage series but with more functionality for lack of a better term. It also comes with more consequences which is something I really loved. There’s always a risk to the power a Banebringer wields, and a risk to those who wish to bring an end to them.

The other area where the book really shines is it’s two main characters, Vaughn and Ivanna. The story is told through their alternating points of view. Vaughn is a Banebringer whose father Ri Gildas, a member of the conclave, is hunting him down. Vaughn struggles with his need to survive and his inability to kill his father before his father kills or stills him. Vaughn is also a bit of a womanizer. Ok maybe not a bit…he’s a horndog and recognizes it. So obviously he has a hard time with relationships.

Ivanna is a tavern keeper who takes in young women who are down on their luck. She has a past where she was wronged by a lord and his son that drives who she is today. She’s also a very skilled assassin who will cut you and not thing twice about it. Ivanna is complex and resourceful and was my favorite character in the story.

But it’s the combination of Vaughn and Ivanna that really makes the narrative fun. Their’s is the classic boy meets girl, girl wants nothing to do with boy and in fact would probably prefer to kill him, boy is scarred to death of girl but wants to bed her because omg the sexual tension, and yeah he sees through some of that armor she’s put on. It’s a romance with the potential for murder especially because Vaughn doesn’t give up no matter how dangerous it is for him and Ivanna is serious about the whole I may kill you if you don’t watch it thing. If you like a little romance with an edge in your fantasy then you’ll like Vaughn and Ivanna. Both characters have satisfying story arcs that are somewhat but not totally predictable. You’ll find yourself alternating between which one you’re pulling for most, which one you’ll be screaming “oh come on get it together” at, and discover just maybe you want both to win. Or not…I still like Ivanna most.

Park’s writing is so very readable. This is particularly evident in that this is a somewhat dark book, but it never goes down the road of grimdark. I think that’s because Park has a way of bringing light to every page. In the darkest parts of the story there is always some ray of light shining down upon it. It makes the read compelling. It’s also very readable because Park’s writing just flows well whether it’s her descriptions, her dialogue, or just the pacing of the narrative and the character interactions. You can also tell it’s been well edited because I never got hung up on misspellings, odd phrasings, or jumbled up details. After suffering through some recent traditionally published books with these problems recently this was a salve to my reading soul and another example of why self-published doesn’t mean bad writing or editing.

I must also add that the ending wasn’t what I expected. This is just book one in the series so I knew more was to come, but it didn’t go where I thought it was going. That isn’t a bad thing and I expect it is setting up some some plot tensions for the future. I really only say this because often in fantasy we can see the way a book will end and it’s all tidy and wrapped up with a bow even if the story isn’t over.

As with any fantasy story it isn’t just swords and magic and adventure. The themes of the book give it depth. While fun and at times lighthearted, Banebringer also deals with themes of blessing and curses, redemption, and forgiveness. As noted above the Banebringers are reviled by most people and hunted down, thought to be cursed and to bring a curse upon the world. But they themselves tend to look at it differently, that they are blessed with certain powers that the world doesn’t fully understand. This tension is at the heart of much of the story and raises the question of what IS a blessing or curse and does it all in the eye of the beholder? Is the label something that is true or something we are taught.

Redemption is key to the story as well. Can a person or a group be redeemed in the eyes of the world? Or is who they are and what they have done something that can’t be forgiven or ignored? Are people blamed for the actions of others and can those actions be redeemed? Are people permanently scarred by their past mistakes or those events that happened to them outside of their control?

Linked very closely to redemption is forgiveness. Can one be forgiven for their past actions? And even if others can forgive, can a person forgive themselves? What does that forgiveness look like?

I thoroughly enjoyed Banebringer. I came for the story, stayed for the writing, was happily surprised with the romance, and was thrilled with the whole. There are two more books in this world, Sweatblade a stand-alone novel about Ivanna, and Cursebreaker the second novel in the Heretic Gods series which was released this past December. I’ll be picking up both.

Note: I am friends on social media with the author’s husband and have been a guest on his podcast. I also interact on Twitter on occasion with Park as well.

4 of 5 Stars

[Calvin Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banebringer kept me up at night. Sometimes because I couldn't keep from turning the page. Sometimes because my mind was racing with the possibilities for the next step in the plot. Mostly because the characters here grab you and refuse to let go. Books rarely make me blink away tears, but there were at least three times I was shedding tears during Banebringer. It's not cheap emotion either, it's subtle and well laid out. Perhaps the best way to say it is that the emotional payoff at various points is utterly satisfying. It's a book that grabs you, holds you, and then releases you in an extremely satisfying way.

MINOR SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT

My favorite character is Vaughn. His character arc is gripping and fascinating and yet brilliantly subtle. He realizes things about himself, about his treatment of others, and ultimately about what his character (or lack-thereof) has cost him. Somehow Park manages all of this with seeming preachy at any point. Add to all this a very interesting "hard magic" system, and it makes for an engrossing read. I can't wait to see where Vaughn's journey goes in the future.

This isn't to say that Ivana is boring. Quite the opposite. Her own journey is perhaps the more emotional of the two. There is one scene near the end of the book that makes me cry every time I read it because it is so real, and honest, and cathartic. I find Kaladin, in Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive books, to be incredibly relatable. Ivana is relatable in an entirely different way, but to the same depth as Kaladin. She may wear a mask and build walls to cover it, but she feels deeply and that feeling--or, at the beginning, lack of feeling--is woven as a brilliant driving force in the story being told here.

I think at its heart Banebringer is more of a character story than we often find in Fantasy at present. It scratches an itch I didn't quite know I had. I can't recommend it highly enough.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was an alpha/beta reader for this book and I am related to the author.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Banebringer! There are two things that make this book really stand out. The first of those is the magic system. Banebringers are people cursed/blessed (depending on your perspective, I guess) by ancient gods that no one worships anymore. Depending on which god or goddess does the cursing/blessing the Banebringer may find themselves with the ability to create illusions or turn invisible or create fire or any other number of things. But the system is actually significantly deeper than this. It's definitely "hard magic" and I really dig the whole thing. The way it intersects with religion is really interesting and I feel like there is a great deal more to things than Park has revealed yet. I'm looking forward to the next entry for that reason alone.

But there is a second stand out aspect of this book. That's the characterization. The magic system is really fun and interesting and fascinating. But the characters were what made me keep flipping the pages. I loved the interaction and tension between Vaughn and Ivana. Each of their decisions seemed so authentic to who they were as characters. It's hard to find characterization that is so consistent, even when that can mean you're annoyed a bit at the characters themselves because you see that their decisions aren't necessarily the right ones, but they're the ones they have to make because of their background or whatever. This is to say nothing of all the side characters who were also relatable and fun, especially Alena. I need to see more of her. Danton and Yaotel also each brought something interesting to the table and I hope future books reveal more about them. Danton, in particular, has a sort of heroic moment near the end of the story that I thought was meaningful.

The magic system already makes this book worth the price of entry (at $3.99 on kindle, who could refuse?!), but the characters take this to the next level. I can't say enough good things about it. Go buy it, read it, and thank me later.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review, so thank you to the author for that!

Overall I felt this was an enjoyable read and gave it a strong 4 out of 5 stars. This is especially impressive for a debut self-published book.

I think the factor I enjoyed most in the book was the unique magic system. Not everything about the magic system was explained, but the parts that were explained were done really well with tie-ins to an internal mythology and well-thought out balance to the abilities and powers. I especially liked that the practitioners of this magic, the Banebringers, were able to either use their own internal magic via their blood or "harvest" their own blood by letting it turn to aether when exposed to air and gathering the aether flakes. I did want to give some recognition to the author on trying to handle this potential self-harm issue with sensitivity. I noticed she tried to address it in the text without detracting from the storyline, and it's a tough balance to strike.

One of our main characters, Vaughn, is a magic-user who is being hunted by a particularly determined Hunter with a personal grudge. I will say Vaughn was the toughest character for me, just because his characterization seemed like a total dichotomy. He is able to use his magic to make himself invisible, yet we're repeatedly shown that he's clumsy and not very sneaky despite this advantage. At the same time, he's supposed to be really coordinated and good with a bow and arrow. Similarly, around women he seems sort of bashful, but at the same time he's supposed to be a love 'em and leave 'em Lothario-type, who only ever has one night stands in order to avoid emotional entanglements. Some of his internal contradictions just didn't work for me in forming a cohesive character.

Our other lead is Ivana, a sometimes-assassin who runs an Inn that's basically a half-way house for unwed mothers and young children. Ivana too has her contradictions, but hers were a little easier to understand for me. Given her choices, her past and the motivations that came from it were pretty easy to figure out. It was refreshing having a female assassin character that didn't play into every trope out there - I liked that she wasn't particularly great at weapon work, but instead relied more on cunning and poison.

The book did play with some traditional fantasy-assassin tropes, such as of course there are secret pathways through the sewers and a sort of untrustworthy brotherhood of thieves/criminals. I also particularly enjoyed the portions of the book where we get to explore the magic system and the characters reason out more of how it works.

On the flip side, I didn't love the bane-monster parts of the book nearly as much. That part of the magic system was not as fleshed out so perhaps that's why I didn't enjoy those portions as much. Similarly, some of the political machinations didn't always seem to hang together.

Minor criticisms aside, I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to anyone who likes fantastical monsters and especially anyone who enjoys unique magic systems.

[Filip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banebringer might very well be my favourite debut novel of 2018.

Carol A. Park’s first novel deserves a whole lot of attention for its solid characters, worldbuilding, romance and an impressively deep and deliciously complex magic system! These are the aspects of Banebringer I will be expanding upon during the length of this review, so sit tight and enjoy!

Banebringers (or Gifted, as they prefer to be called) are the chosen of the old, sacrilegious gods of the land, blessed (or cursed) with amazing powers. Invisibility, pyrokinetics, darksight and water manipulation, healing abilities and so much more, they are all gifts of the patrons to their Banebringers. And that’s just the start – this isn’t just elemental magic; it’s also blood magic. When a Banebringer bleeds, their blood quickly turns to aether, a silvery substance that can be used by another Banebringer to reproduce the abilities of the first. And just in case that’s not enough, if one of those remarkable Gifted is killed, their death opens up a tear in reality, which summons a most horrible, terrible no-good monstrosity, whose badness and horribleness is directly proportionate to just how much the Banebringer in question has used his powers over the span of their life. It’s an interesting system. Park uses it with imagination and does plenty I didn’t see coming, and for that, she gets the highest marks!

The first of the two leads in this novel is the assassin Sweetblade, who also goes by the name of Ivana and will soon be getting a prequel, called—you guessed it—Sweetblade! I hear it’s shipping out in December, and I’m looking forward to reading it. The second lead is Vaughn, our resident Banebringer, a young nobleman’s son who is dogged by his old man at every step as he tries to navigate around a world that fears and hates him. Sounds a bit magically X-Men, doesn’t it, and that might be why it appeals so much to me. I’ve ever been a gigantic sucker for a marginalized people trying to survive against an unjust world.

The dynamic between Ivana and Vaughn starts off at a pretty antagonistic level, which makes their partnership of convenience that much more fun to read, and I feel that I should give yet more props to Carol Park for the spin she gives on a relationship we’ve all read dozens of times. She makes the love-hate relationship between our two leads feel fresh again, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. Both characters are flawed, scarred and very, very human, and the conflicts they face give both of them memorable character arcs, which are nothing to sneer at. This is one of those novels where we can definitely talk about character agency.

The romance and worldbuilding are also nothing to sneer at, and neither are the supporting characters. From an antagonist whose connection with both Vaughn and Ivana is very personal, to a Banebringer leader forced in a tight spot by his constituency, to a spy and confidant with a good sense of humour, this novel has quite the colourful cast.

This is the first in a series of planned novels, though I don’t know whether this’ll be a trilogy or not. The ending is self-contained enough not to bother anyone, at any rate. What I would suggest is you get yourself a copy at the price of $3.99, and you spend a few days reading through it; you’ll be sure to enjoy it!

I’m happy to give it five stars on Goodreads, and a sky-full of in my heart!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Banebringer in return for an honest review!

[Travis Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of excellent surprises about Banebringer. One of those surprises, personally, was that I read half the book in a single day, and then the other half another day, reading sprees the likes of which I have not had since my younger Harry Potter days.

I liked that it was a dark story without becoming overbearingly "grimdark" or anything--it didn't feel like Park was intentionally trying to lean into that genre, and instead every dark aspect to the story/world and the violence happened organically and fit within what we knew about the world. The darkness served a purpose, rather than being dark/bleak just for the sake of it.

Speaking of the world, it's extremely interesting. Getting into too much detail about the different political/religious factions and how complex they end up being would be spoilerish so I'll avoid that, but it's definitely a unique and compelling world that Park has created. In addition to that, the magic system is explained just enough to make sense for the reader and be believable while still leaving enough unexplained to make it magical and mysterious. The biggest thing I'm wondering is why or how these heretic gods choose people to, for lack of a better term, "curse." Maybe we'll learn why in a future book, but even left unexplained, I was not unsatisfied.

The varying types of magic within the system were also fun and exciting to learn about, as well as delving deeper into how it works in the latter half of the book. What may seem random or hand-wavey early on in the story gets explained in detail later on, showing just how much thought Park put into fleshing out this world and its inhabitants.

And yeah, those inhabitants are fleshed out to a great degree as well. Our two main characters, Vaughn and Ivana, both feel like real people with real backstories and motivations, and the care Park put into their development is obvious. The relationship between the two is one of the best aspects of the novel, and every piece of it feels real and earned--which is no easy feat. It kept me on my toes, and I was always surprised by the outcome of scenes between the two, until I paused to consider their histories and personalities, which made me wonder how I ever thought it might go a different way. The consistency of Park's characters makes them feel real, and their motivations never feel like their only purpose is to move the plot forward.

All in all, Banebringer is a really great debut with an interesting world, realistic characters, and fun, unique magic. It's also incredibly readable, and I think once you pick it up it'll be hard for you to put it down.

[Angela Boord · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable quick and compulsive read. There's a lot to like in this book -- big magic, monsters, nerdy discussions about language translation (I like those), lots of action, well-drawn characters who grapple with emotional issues that are realistically portrayed, and a very nice slow-burn romance. There were so many scenes that just checked all the boxes that I have as a reader of both fantasy and romance -- which seems to be tough to do. In so many fantasies, the romance is relegated to a subplot, and in romances with fantasy elements, so often the fantasy seems to fall flat. The romance in Banebringer was crucial to the plot, but it never overwhelmed the fantasy, and the fantasy was done really, really well.

Also, I liked the way the book didn't shy away from serious issues -- about mental health and the way women were treated in relationships -- at the same time that it provided a nice dose of snappy banter and fun adventure scenes. It could easily have tipped too far in either direction, but it maintained a good balance between serious and fun that made it highly readable.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I didn't think the ending quite lived up to the promise of the rest of the book. On the other hand... I will definitely be waiting impatiently for the sequel! There isn't a cliffhanger ending but there are definitely issues that I hope will be picked up in Book 2.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an amazing book! I actually don't normally use Goodreads, but I felt like I needed to create an account just to review Banebringer. I am so impressed by this book. I came across it because it was in some contest for self-published novels and the back copy sounded interesting to me. I'm really glad I got it. It's a great read!

The story follows Vaughn, one of a group of people known as Banebringers, people chosen by old gods people are no longer allowed to worship, as he tries to free himself from the threat of a grim death at the hands of his own father. He reminds me a little of Captain Kirk--a suave womanizer. But one of the coolest things about the book is watching him realize that maybe he's actually kind of a jerk and really is taking advantage of women, even though he doesn't think so. Ivana is the second main character and she is just badass. I loved her scenes, and especially when she puts Yaotel in his place.

The characters are really fun, and the interplay between Vaughn and Ivana feels so real and authentic. I can't say enough good things about it. I don't read romance as a genre, and Banebringer isn't a romance at all. It's more of an adventure fantasy with a bit of investigation/mystery thrown in and all that is wrapped around this frenemy relationship between Vaughn and Ivana. It's a lot of fun and you should read it too. I don't know why this book isn't crazy popular already. Maybe it is and I just didn't realize it?

Oh! And the magic! If you like magic with rules and everything, like in the Wheel of Time or in Brandon Sanderson's other stuff or Brent Weeks, this is totally for you. The magic is explained yet still mysterious. It's fun and just really interesting to learn about. Carol Park is going to give Brandon Sanderson a run for his money as king of magic. This is the best book I've read this year.

[Julia Sarene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Banebringer by Carol A. Park quickly caught my attention for its two very different characters.
A man who is a banebringer, so can use magic, but who is a mix of clumsy and powerful.
And then we have a female assassin who doesn't take anyone's crap. Instead of the usual stone cold slayer, this one has a heart, especially for lost women!
Both of them have quite some mysteries in their past, which kept me intrigued all along the way.

I always loved a good friendship, and even though there is some attraction here, I liked that the book never actually fell into the romance category. Instead it is about fighting monsters, political intrigue, finding your own way, learning who you really are, and maybe gain back some trust in the world and some people. The trauma and hidden past also made the bit of romance it had feel more relevant than just "Do I want her/him or not?"

For me this was a great mix of a new world to explore, magic, action, character development, so I can't wait to read more in the series!

[Ben Lattimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was tremendous! Park creates an engaging world with intriguing rules. From the early pages there are characters I cared about - rooting for (and against). Ivana and Aleena are strong female characters - wonderfully written. A rarity in much fantasy literature. I loved the ending. I'm already looking forward to the sequel.

[Griffin Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, big thanks to Carol Park for sending me a review copy of Banebringer in exchange for an honest review! We appreciate review copies at fanfiaddict.com and David and I do our best to review as many as we can. We love finding new books to recommend and it's fun to dive into something new. Banebringer is the first book of The Heretic Gods trilogy and Park's self-published debut novel. The story is centered around two POV characters, Vaughn and Ivana.

Vaughn is a banebringer. Banebringers are people who have been cursed (or blessed, depending on how you look at it) with supernatural powers. The pros? Banebringers can burn off their own blood to conjure flame, create illusions, become invisible, and many more powers specific to each different banebringer. Vaughn's powers involve invisibility and power over water. Some banebringers like Vaughn choose to collect their blood for later use, drying it into a silvery powder known as aether. There is a downside to this power, though. When a banebringer dies, a portal to the "other side" opens, and the horrors that live there can come through: giant bloodthirsty abominations with no motives other than killing.

"The monster pushed its way through the tear, piece by terrible piece. Its frame was indistinct at first, edges licking backward into the tear like blurry flames, but the more of it that came through, the more concrete the details became."

Though his nature may be monstrous, Vaughn is anything but. Kindhearted and gifted with a glib tongue, Vaughn seeks to distance himself from his nature by hunting bloodbane. Vaughn himself is often more hunted than hunter, though. His own father, Ri Gildas, is out to catch Vaughn and deliver him to the Conclave, a priesthood that sedates and destroys banebringers. Life on the run is hard, but Vaughn bears it with a smile.

Ivana often goes by the name of Sweetblade. After all, an assassin is only as good as her nom de plume, right? Ivana and Sweetblade are two sides of the same coin. Ivana is curious, caring, and protective, while her personality as Sweetblade is all cool detachment, businesslike and ruthless if the need arises. Though she often hides behind the mask of an assassin, Ivana has a caring heart. She operates an inn that only employs unwed mothers, giving them a purpose in a society that throws them by the wayside. Ivana has a history, one that she's buried deep. And it involves Ri Gildas, Vaughn's father and ruler of Ferehar.

"If anyone could afford quadruple the cost of hiring an assassin to murder a Ri, it would be the Ri of Ferehar. Ivana closed her eyes. No. No amount of money could tempt her to take blood money from that man."

Through extenuating circumstances, Vaughn and Ivana cross paths - one running from his murderous father, the other out for her own taste of vengeance. Can a black sheep banebringer and a deadly assassin escape the most powerful man in the country without killing each other first?

My Take

Banebringer was a good read. It took me a long time, though I think that was because I was listening to Kings of Paradise at the same time. And, since it's the holiday season, there's everything in the world to do with very little time to do it!

What I liked most about Banebringer was the push and pull between Vaughn and Ivana. Their character interactions were funny and smart. I like how Vaughn was always trying to peek beneath her mask (among other things), and I like how they worked together when there was a problem to solve despite Ivana's standoffishness. Park has a wonderful gift for character voice, and it's displayed on every page of Banebringer.

I also enjoyed Banebringer's magic system. All of the banebringer powers were really interesting, and it was cool how banebringers' enemies often have to deal with either a) facing a dangerous magic-wielding banebringer or b) killing the banebringer and being forced to fight the resulting bloodbane that appears.

I felt like Banebringer struggled with flow. At times, I felt like I got whiplash as time passed or as characters were moving through buildings. And I feel like sometimes the reasons characters did things didn't make sense, or it wasn't explored enough. I also think that the ending was really cool, but would have been cooler had it been another 20 or so pages of really fleshing out the staging for the final scenes, the plan, and the characters' roles in the plan. Staging, foreshadowing, and linking scenes together could be better. There is also one reference to self-harm in this book, which is another part I didn't care for and don't feel fit the tone of the story or did anything extra for the character in question. That being said, it's a very small part of the book and probably wouldn't be a big deal for most readers.

That being said, I enjoyed reading Banebringer and found it worth my while. What I want to know more about is the world at large. I suspect this will come up in future novels. Who exactly gives the banebringers their powers? What makes the bloodbane come through the tears between worlds when a banebringer dies? And I want to see more bloodbanes!

I also want to know more about Ivana and her past. Don't get me wrong, there are some definitive answers in Banebringer, but I still have more questions. Fortunately for me, I went browsing around the internet and learned that my questions might soon be answered!



Sweetblade is a stand-alone Heretic Gods novel all about Ivana and her past. If you enjoyed Banebringer, check it out on December 28th on carolapark.com. I'm looking forward to it!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banebringer delivers everything you want from a fantasy novel and more! The characters are complex and intriguing, and they keep the reader engrossed in figuring out their backstories and motivations. The author handles the changing perspectives of the two main characters with great skill and uses the different perspectives to create greater tension and drive the plot forward. Combined with the convincing (and, let’s face it, terrifying) premise this book definitely leaves you wanting more! I can’t wait to read more about Vaughn, Ivana, and the conclave in book two!

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banebringer is a book that was on my radar for quite a while, especially with such a cool cover and a few good reviews from trustworthy sources. Here are just some of the ways in which I think the book shined:
- Well-written characters that are flawed, are willing to explore their motives and biases, and who ultimately land on the side of a code of morality.
- A world that is both well outside of what could be humanly possible, and yet strangely comfortable and plausible.
- A multi-layered, multi-faceted plot that has plenty of unpredictable moments, and is full of political and familial involvement.

While the best books will need to hold up in all those areas, I will always be drawn most to books that handle its characters best. This book did that extremely well, most notably in its main characters. I was especially compelled by Ivana. She was written with such a complex backstory that was revealed in small tantalizing glimpses as the story progressed, and by the end, her motives that were shown throughout became not only clear, but filled me with so much respect for her. She has flaws, and she does not let many people get close to her, and that makes her very relatable. I found myself running the gamut of emotions around her arc from frustrated to disappointed to simpathetic.

The world was full of texture, nuance and depth. Just one example was the magic system. It felt somewhat fresh and new, authentic and viable. I especially loved the twist that demonic creatures would be unleashed into the world if certain individuals were killed. This added a layer of consequence to every action, and prevented fight scenes from simply becoming a bloodbath. Speaking of the creatures, there were so many unique and interesting monsters that were a treat to read.

Finally, I loved the tone of this book. This a world with its share of darkness and struggle, but it wasn’t grim. (After a run of several grim books I have recently read, this struck a perfect balance between morality and a broken world.) I loved that there was a little hope interwoven through this book, a willingness to stand up for those who are disadvantaged, and a commitment to what is right.

This is a book that I easily recommend, easily giving it a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I am very curious to see where the series goes from here. I would like to thank the author for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Brit K. Caley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down! Seriously, I found myself reading it on my lunch breaks and after work. Only took me a few days to finish. I loved the characters and setting. They're very real and intriguing. I need more Vaughn and Ivana moments! hehe~ I definitely want to know more about the world, seems so vast and we only get a glimpse of it. Can't wait to find out what happens next! :]

[Amber Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can only echo the other glowing reviews of Banebringer. This is superbly written, character-driven fantasy. It has intriguing, nuanced relationships with surprising directions - cue the applause! Like others, I also devoured this book over 2 days.

Very minor spoilers below:

While the culture and magic systems of the world are clever and robustly imagined, Vaughn, Ivana and the tension between them (practically a sentient being itself) are clear highlights. They are believable, wholly independent human beings with complex motivations and they are as consistent in their behaviour as you would expect from real people.

I found the concept of Bainbringers fascinating. They are not born, but "chosen" for inexplicable reasons during the "Sky Fire". We don't learn much about the Sky Fire in this book - Park is a master of show and not tell. One thing you definitely won't find here is an "explainalogue" - details about the world and Banebringers are revealed naturally through dialogue and character experiences.

There's a good serving of mystery and intrigue. The answers about BaneBringers and blood beasts don't come easily. A lot of time is spent by the characters in teasing out information from limited sources and experimentation. It's not all neatly revealed at the end either (don't worry, there's no cliffhanger, you could read this as a standalone book) and I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the trilogy to see what is teased out of the riddle.

I highly recommend this book for those who appreciate character depth, love a good mystery and like an inspirational but realistic female heroine. Ivana will not disappoint you, though she won't necessarily do what you want either - she has a mind of her own!

4.4 on my personal rating scale - 4 stars doesn't really do it justice but neither was there quite as much plot tension as I generally look for in a 5 star book.

Note: I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jon Auerbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Banebringer has one of the more unique magic systems I've come across outside of a Sanderson novel. And like Sanderson, Park does a great job weaving in the hard magic system she's developed with an intriguing plot and interesting characters, with a dash of romance, and a smattering of language translation and scientific experiments. But unlike Sanderson in Mistborn Era 1, Park's magic system, while featuring loads of cool powers based on a pantheon of deities, is grounded by a horrific cost of overuse.

Our leads Vaughn and Ivana each carry with them traumas from their pasts that quickly intersect after the two survive a vicious bloodbane attack. The relationship and romance that develops between them is deep and complex, and is one of the highlights of the book. A host of secondary characters round out a well-imagined world that still leaves much to explore in the sequel Cursebreaker.

[Kevin Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we have a complex and fascinating story with brilliantly imagined characters and plenty of mystery.

Eric Bryan Moore's narration of the audiobook is very good. As is common, he struggles to create believable opposite-gender voices, but otherwise his voices are distinct and well crafted. His vocal inflections are on point and his tempo shifts throughout the text easily convey the tension of each scene.

From the very beginning, Vaughn is a fascinating character that clearly has a deep and sordid past, while generally (at least trying to be) a good person.

It's not immediately apparent just what it means to be a Banebringer, but clearly it has its uses.

Ivanna, on the other hand, at first appears to be a walking contradiction. A mixture of qualities that seems all-but-impossible. Before long, however, we see that she, too, is largely a product of her environment.

The political and social/cultural structure of the world is fascinating and original, as is the magic system. It's really unlike anything I've ever seen, yet somehow also feels eerily familiar.

I must confess, however, to a bit of disappointment concerning the banebringers. I was really hoping for a clear explanation of just what exactly they are, where they come from, and how they're made.

Now, as the story progresses it becomes increasingly clear that there is far more going on than is readily apparent. What began as a simple revenge story quickly becomes far more.

I have to give the author props. This is the first time I've read a book with such an obvious romance subplot that had a believable reason not to reach its culmination in record time!

Although at times I wanted to scream at Vaughn for being an idiot, the whole thing is very well constructed and at times actually rather sweet.

Well done!

The closest thing I have to a criticism is there are a number of points where we just skip over days, weeks, or even months with no real inkling as to what was happening in the interim other than a vague, nebulous idea of "preparation" or "research."

Finally, the ending.
Again, more details would have really heightened the experience, but between the last two major climaxes in the book we come to a pretty epic conclusion to this fantastic story. It brings together several plot threads to provide a very satisfying ending while still leaving tons of room for the continuation of the story.

I'll definitely be reading further in this series!

[JenBsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked this. It didn't feel like 500+ pages. BUT ... it didn't GRAB me like some other epic fantasy stories I've read. I just never quite connected with the characters the way I have with Enchantress, Finnikin of the Rock, Three Dark Crowns, The Hundredth Queen, Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set ... this DID remind me of the Mistborn series a bit. Burning aether (Mistborn would consume and burn metals for different "powers") ...

I got a little confused at the names, as they were unique and each many seemed to have several (ie Vaughn/Teyrnon/Heilyn) plus the "Da" "Dal" (Mrs/Mr titles?).

The Banebringer idea was interesting and unique - as were all the different types of Bloodbanes.

I received the audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review. I liked the narrator. Very good. I also was able to snag the Kindle copy, as it's included in Kindle Unlimited. I didn't really refer to the text until I was done (sometimes I need to if I feel like I missed something in the audio, which is easy to do). Looking back over the text ... I wonder if I would have caught more/connected more reading it myself. Just a little slower, more concentrated (I admit I'm multi-tasking while listening and I can get distracted ... but then again several of the books mentioned above were all experienced in audio format).

Parental Perspective: On AudiobookBoom, it was labeled L/V for language/violence. I don't recall language - I guess "damn" was there a bit, but no F-bomb (usually the proFanity when listed). A bit surprised S/Sex wasn't listed, because it was quite prevalent throughout, somewhat explicit. Of course there is violence when one of the characters is an assassin and there are monsters.

[Nicole]

Book originally reviewed at Thoughts Stained With Ink:

Likes

Sweetblade and her fire. By far my favorite aspect of the book, from what I read. I love how she refused to put up with any shit. I also loved her hinted-at complexity and wish we could have seen more of that unveiled. I really wish I could see more time and interactions with just her: working at the inn juxtaposed to her being an assassin.

Dislikes

Pacing. This was was very slow, to me. I’ve been having that complaint about quite a few books lately, which makes me wonder if it’s actually me right now. But, one of the main reasons I put this book down is that the things I wanted to get to felt like we weren’t getting to those points any time soon and I just wasn’t excited to pick up the book anymore.

Repetition. There’s a lot of repetition of information, especially with Vaughn’s chapters. I would always fly through Sweetblade’s chapters, but Vaughn’s always felt like a challenge. And the continued the hinting at Sweetblade’s “secret” (more below) definitely started to bog it down.

Vaughn. The second main reason I put this book down. Vaughn’s incompetence was just infuriating. He as a character was a mix of a ladies man who didn’t hesitate to charm and sleep with any woman who moved and a person who had complex issues with his relationship with his father; it felt like we spent much more time with the former than the latter, with the latter being much more interesting.

Timing of “reveals”. This ties much more directly with Sweetblade, who basically has an event that happened to her that was very character-defining, yet it’s not clear to the readers exactly what happened. This was frustrating because it’s set up as going to be this major reveal (especially to Vaughn), yet we as readers don’t have a clear understanding of it, just constant hinting. And I just became frustrated at being strung along.

This is going to receive no rating from me, since I DNFed @ 63%. I usually do rate books even that I don’t finish, because I have a clear feeling of what that rating should be. But I don’t for this book. During the bits I enjoyed, it felt like a solid 3 gem read. Yet, in many other moments, I leaned towards the 2 or 2.5 range. So, it didn’t feel fair to give it a rating when I can’t decide what that rating should be.

I wish I had better news to report, because Banebringer is a book I’ve been excited to read for a while. But, I think in part why I didn’t read at all last month was because I was trying to convince myself to pick this back up and I…had just lost interest, frankly. However, I don’t think this will be the last Carol A. Park book I read. I really enjoy interacting with her online and I think I am very much an outlier in not enjoying this book (plus, I want to continue to support her and her career as a writer). I highly encourage everyone to check this out and prove this to be a “it’s just me” case.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Vaughn is a Banebringer. We enter this world not knowing much besides the face that when a Banebringer dies, a tear in reality opens and a bane monster comes through. In spite of this, people hate them SO much that things get out of hand and this happens often enough.

We first meet Vaughn whole he battle his FATHER, who is trying to kill him for being a "demon spawn"

We meet the assasin Sweet Blood aka Ivanna when Vaughn tries to hire her to kill his Father because he really can't.

What follows is an interesting journey as Sweet Blood turns Vaughn down and vows to kill him for finding out her alternative identity.

It really starts to get good at the end when we find out more and I will probably get the next book in the series. I would have preferred to have been dropped into this world knowing more, but it was a good journey, even though it moved slow.

Eric (narrator) did a great job. I was able to distinguish between all the characters and he conveyed emotions without overwhelming the authors intent. Well done for sure.

[Tony Duxbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, despite the romantic overtones. I thought that Ms. Park managed that part quite well, so even an emotionally challenged Brit like me didn't feel uncomfortable. What I liked about it was that although the people who were 'gifted' or 'cursed', had very strange abilities, none of them were superheroes. All were ordinary and scared, trying to cope with powers they didn't ask for or understand. I liked the idea that their deaths spawned monsters, which I found an original concept. The only alternative was to be sedated by the Conclave, a sinister religious organization, and spend the rest of their days as vegetables. Behind the scenes is a war between the Gods. The only problem was the author didn't explain about the 'skyfire' which is what turned ordinary people into Banebringers. All in all, a good sword & sorcery yarn that I would recommend to others.

[Zack Argyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love interesting magic systems woven into epic fantasy, Banebringer will not disappoint. Carol A. Park has a dark imagination and a story to tell.

When I first heard about this book, it sounded like all of the things I love, especially with comments about it feelings very Sanderson-esque. The magic system is exactly that. Banebringers are Carol's version of Allomancers, each breed wielding their own form of magic while being alike in the aether that runs through their blood. When a banebringer dies, it tears an interdimensional rift that releases a bloodbane, demonic creatures with intent to kill. Even the names of the banebringers have a very Sanderson vibe: Moonblood, Sunblood, Bindblood, Beastblood, Weaveblood, Fireblood, Iceblood, Lightblood, Darkblood, Charmblood.

(slight detour; if you don't like blood, don't read this. If you didn't notice from the banebringer types, it is expanded in the bloodbane types: bloodwolves, bloodhawks, bloodcrabs, bloodsprites, bloodgiants, bloodspiders, bloodbats, bloodrats. They also use magic-enhanced microscopes to look at blood, and they do a lot of pricking of their fingers and arms.)

Anyway, beside the cool, well thought out magic system, the plot is strong as well. I do think it could have been a slightly shorter book if it were tightened up (it's nearly 600 pages), but overall, the pace moves along nicely.

Alright, let's talk about the reasons this isn't five stars for me (4.5).

First is the main character Vaughn, who is too horny for my personal tastes. That said, my resentment of that led to a satisfying conclusion in the end. Sweetblade/Ivana, was a much more interesting character. She was haunted by her past, decisive in her worldview, and held firm throughout the story.

The second is the ending, which can make or break a book. I would give the ending 4 stars with a few spoilery comments. After all the build up, Gildas died way too quickly and it felt too easy. I thought his "resurrection" after his first death would have more significance, like maybe he was a vessel for one of the other gods, but it wasn't really explained otherwise. And second, the random friends sacrificing themselves to save Vaughn and Ivana for no real reason felt too convenient. But that is all opinion, and, overall, I felt like the ending was a satisfying conclusion to the story while leaving it open for more.

So, there you have it! A great story with an awesome magic system and plenty of strong worldbuilding. I definitely look forward to reading more from Park in the future.

[David Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! Banebringer is an imaginative and spell-binding book that is hard to put down! The author has created a unique world with a one-of-a-kind "magic" system with intriguing characters. The world, people and the story has a depth that keeps the pages turning. The book finale is worthy of Tolkin in the Lord of the Rings!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Banebringer” is the first book in the Heretic Gods series and the premiere audiobook from author Carol A. Park. To me, the fantasy story felt a bit like the Mistborn series from author Brandon Sanderson when it comes to its use of magic, whereas the rest of the story is rather unique. The book is masterfully narrated by Eric Bryan Moore; who I enjoyed very much from the Damian Stockwell series of audiobooks. If you are looking for a new fantasy story with a bit of science fiction mixed in, you might want to give this book a listen. After completing the audiobook, I found the overall feel to be a fantasy Romeo and Juliet coming of age type story with a much happier ending.

The story consists of a pantheon of gods like those found in a Greek mythology tale. These gods have the ability to grant or force upon humans’ specific powers based on what they are a god of; for example: water, sun, moon, etc. An individual in exchange gives this god their loyalty and devotion. When an individual has been blessed (or cursed) by the gods, they become a banebringer. What makes banebringers so dangerous is that if one is killed, on purpose or accidentally, a powerful beast is released causing havoc and destruction to those around. Because of this rather negative byproduct of killing a banebringer, often people remain clear of them, or if known, they attempt to sedate the individual to limit the risks of releasing the creature within. This story follows Vaughn, who is a banebringer not by his own choice, but this power was thrust upon him by a long-forgotten moon goddess. He is the son of a king, yet because of this power given him, he is now on the run for his life.

The story brings together two very unique and different people. Both are trying to make right past wrongs along with discovering not only new things about themselves, but those journeying with them as well. One has the potential of becoming a future king (Vaughn) and the other is a very skilled and competent assassin for hire (Ivana). What you will discover early on is that these two are like trying to mix oil and water. Each has their own agenda and yet neither is able to accomplish their intended goals without the help of the other. Just as a story consists of many stages, we are given a view into the many stages of relationship building between our main characters and there are many ups and downs along the way. We find the many connections both learn about the others past and even present struggles. We see them move from selfish desires to selfless ones as the grow and mature. I can say that I found the book to contain a bit more romance than I would have expected in a book of this genre, although it was always there in the background, it was not overly expressed.

Add to the deep character development, detailed scenery and well-defined goals, you also have a dark hidden and covert group called the Conclave. This is one group of people you did not want to upset or get on their wrong side. I would have liked to have had more details released on this secretive group, however I suspect some of this will come in future books in the series. What I found somewhat interesting were some of the more science fiction elements sprinkled within the book. My preferred genres are both fantasy and science fiction, and I found this book even better by blending them into one. There was research, experimenting and some technology used to discover and uncover things about banebringers. The magic system relied on ether and other physical properties which could be investigated and tested.

Regarding the audiobook’s narration by Eric Bryan Moore, it was deep, rich, and engaging. I felt that he understood the characters and was able to bring them to life with his performance. He did an excellent job of giving the different characters traits and unique voices making it easy to distinguish as the story progressed. I also though the use of inflection was spot on. I could feel the times of action, emotion, and tension the characters faced. The audio quality was professionally produced with no noticeable audio artifacts apart from a slight added patch. Apart from this, the narration was exceptional.

For parents and younger listeners, I do not recall the use of vulgar language nor do I have it marked in my notes. There is some light romance along with aspects of mature material often found in a coming of age book.

In summary, the book felt a bit longer than it could have been. Yet, I thought the author did a good job of focusing on the importance of companionship, dealing with current and past emotions along with some added romance. While listening, you get a good understanding of the pain of opening up new wounds and making oneself vulnerable once again to others. I found the action to be exciting, the character development to be well-done, and the purpose defined. It is a solid story that could have been a bit more concise in areas, but I think for a premiere work, it is a good start to a new series.

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story & Audible Listen🎧Fascinating & Captivating!

Banebringer
The Heretic Gods, Book 1
By: Carol A. Park
Narrated by: Eric Bryan Moore

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Carol A. Park creates an imaginative world with interesting characters and storylines, as well as terrific world dynamics and what a “Banebringer” is, how they come about and what they can do. She has wonderful writing style, descriptive and detail orientated she builds her story in a way that makes you eager to learn more. Her characters are complex and continue to develop as the story goes on. The two leads are my favorite characters, Vaughn and Ivana aka Sweetblade, I loved how they met and how their relationship built over time. There is so much to depth to these characters it was great to learn more about each. Ivana history and how she became who she was, an extremely strong and independent, cunning woman who is quick on her feet. Vaughn is such a nice guy, I liked his attitude and how he did not give up on his mission or on Ivana. His father was a real piece of work, we are shown what power hungry people do to remain in power, the way of their world made up of lies, prejudices and hate. That said we are also shown goodness, what some do to survive, prevail and help others in need. I highly recommend this book, there is never a dull moment, it is beautifully plotted, with plenty of drama, angst, action, a bit of mystery, suspense and some touching and heartfelt moments. I hope to see more of the two lead characters, there is definitely something between them, a trusting bond was formed, they just need to get past their own barriers, especially Ivana. Thank you Carol A. Park for this fantastic story.

I listened to the Audible edition, Eric Bryan Moore is a fabulous narrator and voice artist. He brings these characters to life, giving each their own voice and personality. He did an amazing job projecting the emotions and attitude of the characters as well as the drama of the story into his performance. His portrayal of these characters were pure perfection, I loved his Vaughn, how he humanized him, also loved his Ivana, grasping her strength, hardness and determination. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this fantastic listen🎧