Aching God

Iconoclasts #1

by Mike Shel

“Closer, mortal. You are here, finally, to feed the Aching God…”

The days of adventure are passed for Auric Manteo. Retired to the countryside with his scars and riches, he no longer delves into forbidden ruins seeking dark wisdom and treasure. That is, until old nightmares begin plaguing his sleep, heralding an urgent summons back to that old life.

To save his only daughter, Auric must return to the place of his greatest trauma: the haunted Barrowlands. With only a few inexperienced companions and an old soldier, he must confront the dangers of the ancient and wicked Djao civilization. Auric has survived fell beasts, insidious traps, and deadly hazards before. But can he contend with the malice of a bloodthirsty living god?

First book in the Iconoclasts trilogy, Aching God is the debut novel of RPG adventure designer Mike Shel. He is working on book 2, Sin Eater. The first two chapters of Sin Eater are included at the end of Aching God.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Dark Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Audiobook, Epic Fantasy

14 pages, Audible Audio

First published April 9, 2018

About the author

NEW BOOK: WEST OF THE WORLD IS AVAILABLE. Purchase here.

Mike was born in Detroit and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, oldest of three boys, the son of a firefighter and homemaker. He has practiced as a psychotherapist for nearly 30 years. He lives in central Indiana with his wife Tracy, son Leo, and dogs Tilly and Bobo. Mike began freelancing for Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder Roleplaying Game in 2010. He released his first novel, Aching God, in 2018. Its sequel, Sin Eater, followed in 2019. Idols Fall, released in 2021, is his third novel and completes the Iconoclasts trilogy. His latest next novel, set in the same world, more than 200 years after the events of Iconoclasts, WEST OF THE WORLD , is out now. He's working on its sequel, THOU UNCLEAN SPIRIT,.

Indie authors depend on word of mouth. If you enjoyed this novel and its predecessors, make the howling hellscapes that are Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook a force for good and chat them up. And as always—always—make sure to post ratings and/or reviews at Amazon, Goodreads, r/Fantasy, Audible, or on that SFF review blog you keep telling everyone you’re going to start.

Peace, love, and kindness to all.

​

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

Aching God started off nicely and ended great, but I have issues with the overall pacing.

Aching God is the first book in the Iconoclasts trilogy by Mike Shel. This novel, and the entire trilogy, is a self-published series that has been lauded with praises for the past few years. And yes, I’ve been keeping my eye on this trilogy for years now. The author was kind enough to send me the entire trilogy, and now that the trilogy is indeed finished, I have no more excuse to postpone reading it. I definitely enjoyed reading Aching God, but admittedly, I also have mixed feelings about it that stopped me from giving it a higher rating.

The story in Aching God follows Auric Manteo, a 50 years old retired hunter who has stopped delving into forbidden ruins. But as old nightmares start plaguing his sleep, he receives an urgent summons to return to his old life. To save his only daughter, Auric—and a group of inexperienced companions—must return to the place of his greatest trauma: the haunted Barrowlands. I’m not sure why this occurred, but I seem to have approached Aching God with a completely false expectation. Based on the premise and what I’ve heard from many reviewers, I somehow seem to expect that the majority of the story in Aching God will take place in the Barrowlands. This isn’t the case at all; Aching God is a quest-based fantasy novel, and the parts at the Barrowland itself lasted for only about 100 pages long. This means that for the first 400 pages, the narrative is full of the characters stopping from one place to another. As Auric himself said, they’re constantly delayed by unnecessary side quests, and I do personally found the travel and the side quests to be a bit too long.

’“We all have our failings, Gnaeus,” answered Auric. “Understanding one’s own is the measure of wisdom.”’

The main reason why I didn’t feel engrossed in the travel section was that I couldn’t feel invested with the supporting characters. Auric is the only POV character, and I definitely don’t mind having an epic fantasy story with only one POV character to follow; I’ve read a lot that I absolutely loved. However, Aching God is a novel that, in my opinion, would benefit from having multi-POV narration to flesh out the supporting characters. Other than Belech and Sira, I feel that the side characters didn’t have enough characterizations for me to care. One of the side characters that I thought was super interesting was Geneviva, but she appeared too briefly in this book; Shel might be saving her story for the sequels. And info dump that doesn’t mean much to the story other than enriching the world-building felt done a bit too much.

It’s not all negative, of course. As I said, I have mixed feelings on Aching God. I loved reading Auric’s nightmare sections, Morz’s story, and the entire Barrowland parts. One of the other aspects that differed again from my expectation, I expected this to be a much darker and intense story. The darker tone of the story was delivered in these three sections I just mentioned, and honestly, Geneviva’s mysterious story. Other than that, Aching God is so far from being a dark story, in my opinion. The world-building was great, though. Shel included a lot of information, although some of them were done in an info-dump manner, they totally enriched the lore and history of the world.

I have to say, although Aching God didn’t live up to my high and false expectations, I’m still interested enough to read the sequel, Sin Eater, because I’ve heard that it will have another POV character to accompany Auric. This feels right as the direction that the series needs and the ending of Aching God did promise great things to come. I look forward to reading Sin Eater soon; hopefully within this year.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!

My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Element, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Hunter, Jimmy Nutts, Jennifer, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Shaad, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.

[MagretFume · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A very compelling tale, with interesting characters, great horror elements and original world building. 

The writing and pacing are fantastic, and I was surprised at how much is contained in this comparatively short book. 

I will definitely continue the series.

[Nicholas Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audiobook, which was narrated by Simon Vance, and damn did he do a great job.

The Aching God takes place in a setting that just begs to be a pen and paper roleplaying game. It feels like a classic quest, but one infused with rising dread instead of hopeful optimism. The world is fleshed out in vivid detail; its politics and religion play vital roles, and every npc--er, I mean character is brimming with unique personality. If, like me, you like your books like you like your games: full of harrowing adventures, magic swords, cursed relics, and terribly hazardous dungeon-crawls, then this book is not to be missed.

While it does have a satisfying conclusion there's plenty world left to explore, and the sequel (Sin Eater) is already upon us.

[Phil Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often I come out and review a book in such glowing terms, but I just stayed up late to finish reading Mike Shel's ACHING GOD and guys, it's the real deal.

I'm trying to figure out how best to explain why I loved this book. Perhaps it's the older protagonist, a retired professional adventurer who now suffers from debilitating and entirely believable PTSD stemming from his last catastrophic foray into a forbidden dungeon.

Perhaps its the palpable sense of dread and horror that Mike conveys throughout the book at the prospect, memories, and experience of exploring a tomb filled with horrors desperate to end your life. How he actually makes you experience just how viscerally traumatizing such an exploration might prove.

Or maybe it's the worldbuilding, which he unveils without exposition dumps but manages to build over the course of the novel so that you become invested in this new land, curious about its history, its pantheon, its crumbling empire, eager if not hungry to learn more by the novel's end.

Or the varied cast of characters, each unique and compelling in their own right. I actually started to get worried for the party as I came to like them more and more. I knew Mike was going to eff them up. That not all of them could survive. I almost cursed his making me care about them. And when things got ugly - and I won't lie, they got really ugly - Mike didn't spare in twisting the knife, and I was surprised at how badly I felt for the crew.

Or maybe it's - but enough. You get the gist. On the face of it this is a classic D&D styled quest but really it's so much more. It's a wise, thoughtful exploration of what such experiences do to people, the prices they pay, how it breaks them down and then leaves them to decide whether they stay broken or somehow stand back up.

Guys, if you dig Lovecraftian horrors, expansive world building, classic D&D styled setups, deep characters and equal doses of introspection, action, and horror, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book.

[Esme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard so much about this one! Many people on my GR friends list have read this one and 5 starred it, including people like Swiff who I tend to have similar taste with – so I was really excited to start 😀 It didn’t let me down!

I love older characters, there’s just something about a more grizzled and life-worn person that makes them more appealing to me. So, I was pretty thrilled to figure out that this is book had one of my favorite tropes! An older badass coming out of retirement story! Auric spent 30 years working for the Syraeic syndicate and got himself into some dire situations which have left him scarred for life, consistently waking himself up due to night terrors where he relives his friend’s deaths every night.

Auric’s wife also committed suicide four years ago after the death of their son – this guy has not had it easy. He went into retirement to try and escape the turmoil and live his last years in peace, but he was summoned to the Citadel on an urgent matter. When he arrives, he finds out that there’s a plague going through the city, it’s incredibly deadly and only two people have survived. To make shit worse, his daughter is one of the afflicted. He and his daughter have a strained relationship and don’t speak with each other too often, but he cares deeply for her and is willing to do whatever it takes to help. Auric is told that the officials have good reason to believe an ancient relic brought up from a dungeon was responsible for the outbreak.

His mission is to return it to the temple to stop the ongoing plague that’s killing people in the tens of thousands. The syndicate has lost so many members that they have to ask for help from a retiree who is a self-confessed broken person. Auric blacks out at the sight of blood, he has tremors in his hands and has to be pulled out from under his bed while having night terrors. I really love the fact that he didn’t come busting out of retirement with guns blazing, this is a guy suffering from severe PTSD and is willingly throwing himself right back into the fire.

Before they can set off for their adventure, however, they have to get permission from the Queen. I love the set up for this queen. Over 100 years ago her people prayed for her life to be spared, she had been an incredible builder, inventor, and overall beloved Queen. A priest from a bizarre sect said that he could save her, and he did, but she came back wrong. She’s just as likely to chop your hands off as she is to grant your request at court for flippant and unpredictable reasons. She’s ancient, she’s been in charge for over 117 years and there doesn’t seem to be an end to it. The priest who “saved” her said she would rule forever and it appears as though he’s right. She moves like a 20-year-old and sounds strong and healthy when she speaks, but her body is deteriorated and smells like a corpse.

I found the main character to be very engrossing, we spend a lot of time in his head and he’s such a different sort of character I liked him immediately. I enjoy seeing people who are truly struggling with inner demons and the challenges they’re presented with rather than just smashing their way through every problem with ease. This guy knows what he’s about, but he is so broken that he’s barely functioning. He also can be full of some pretty sage advice being of more advanced years and having seen a lot of shit go down. I found that the side characters had their own voices, their own motivations, and behavior patterns which made them feel realistic despite being exaggerated at points (The Queen).

The magic in this was creepy and had a really dark overtone – necromancy and the undead play a pretty big part in this story. I’ve been alternating my reads between darker and lighter books and it’s really upping my enjoyment of darker stories. I liked basically everything about the world building, the gods and priests devoted to them were varied and intriguing. The priests devoted to healing magic were the most interesting to me (but I always play Healer Class), they refuse to heal themselves even though they could, to the point where they’d let a leg be amputated over committing the sin of self-healing. The healers are also powerful, able to knit the flesh back together from even the most life-threatening wounds – super useful to take on an expedition into a dungeon.

The tone of this was pretty dark, there was a lot of violence, a good amount of necromantic magic, illness, death, undead etc. However, the main character is a really good person and it’s very easy to root for him, so it balances the world around him nicely, it kept it from getting overly dark.

The writing was very solid, it felt professionally edited and revised. Debut novels often suffer from telling instead of showing or having long info dumps in the narrative to ‘bring the reader up to speed’. Instead, in this one there were bits of world-building dropped in slowly in the dialogue with very little info dumping. There were just a few times where I was told about events or something else in summary to tell me things I already knew either in dialogue or narrative, which was repetitive, but they were brief and didn’t happen that often.

If I were going to have a complaint about the book it would be the pacing, but it may just be a personal thing. I kept waiting to get to this dungeon but that didn’t come around until about 75% through the book. I think if I had known that it wasn’t going to happen until later I would have been less antsy reading it. The story was just as focused on his journey to get to this dungeon as it was about what he was going to do when he got there.

Overall, I really loved this one, it’s my first 5 star in a while and it feels so good 😀

This book still won’t be for everyone though, the world is pretty dark and violent, there’s cursing in it and it’s long – about 600 pages.

Audience:

Single POV
older POV
PTSD in fantasy
darker world with lighter character
undead, necromancy, monsters
mysterious magic
lots of fantasy elements – high fantasy


Ratings:

Plot: 13/15
Characters: 14/15
World Building: 13.5/15
Writing: 13.5/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 12/15
Personal Enjoyment: 9.5/10


Final Score: 86.5/100 – 5 star, highly recommended!

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Click here for my full review:

http://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.com...

Auric Manteo is a retired adventurer and former member of a guild named The Syraeic League. Auric thought that his relic-hunting days were over long ago after multiple family tragedies, including the deaths of his son and later his wife by suicide. All Auric cares to do now is live out the rest of his life trying to pick up the pieces and hopefully mend the strained relationship that he has with his only remaining loved one, his daughter Agnes. So it is more than a little unsettling when Auric is summoned out of retirement and called to appear at the Citadel, where he is given a task that is essentially a suicide mission. It seems that a devastating plague has overtaken much of the land and is spreading at an incredibly rapid pace. If that wasn't bad enough, Auric's estranged daughter Agnes is one of the many afflicted. The origins of the plague are believed to be the result of a disastrous mistake where a powerful cursed artifact was taken from its resting place. This artifact was never meant to be removed and now the gods are apparently unleashing their retribution. Auric is told he must embark on a mission with a small band of handpicked companions to journey back to the Barrowlands, where he experienced his most traumatic and devastating loss. For through the Barrowlands lies the dungeon where the cursed artifact was taken, and there it must be returned before the plague finishes wiping out the rest of humanity and with it, his daughter.

To be successful, Auric must battle not only the inhuman creatures that stalk the Barrowlands, but also the demons that still reside within him and are constantly bringing him back to the horrible events from his past that still haunt him to this day. What the ultimate outcome will be is very much up to how well Auric can beat back the torment and rely on his years of experience as a skilled member of the Syraeic League to attempt to replace what was taken. His daughter's life and the lives of tens of thousands of potential plague victims depend on it.

I've seen ACHING GOD described in many book review outlets as a LitRPG book. I kind of quibble with that representation, quite frankly. While it definitely has a LitRPG feel at times, this is at heart a solid Sword and Sorcery novel much in the same vein as Dave Duncan's Seventh Sword series and Michael Moorcock's Elric saga. I thought that ACHING GOD was a fabulous example of how world-building can be incredibly effective in setting the atmosphere and mystery of the book. As I was reading I was consistently intrigued by the Barrowlands and what terrible secrets they contained. Shel does an excellent job of setting things up and revealing subtle hints about the relics and the history behind the relic hunters of the past. The tension slowly builds and once Auric and his companions finally make it to the Barrowlands to begin carrying out their mission, the action is breakneck and the bad guys are just scary as hell. This is really where the book excels I thought, the downright brilliant representation of the creatures who inhabit this blasted land. Shel writes incredibly vivid battle scenes and doesn't describe the carnage in a half-hearted manner, it's brutal and I loved every minute of it. When people die in the ACHING GOD, they die in excruciating detail and not peacefully.

Auric is yet another tortured main character, but he's by no means shallow or cookie-cutter the way that many are. He has experienced a ton of grief in his life and his battle to hang on to the last vestige of family that he has left, his daughter, is heart-breaking and absolutely motivates his actions. Because of this, he's an easy character to cheer for. I found myself completely invested in wanting him to succeed in mending his relationship with Agnes while at the same time also trying to stop the plague that could ultimately wipe everyone out. The fact that this is a debut self-published novel by Mike Shel is astounding to me because it is written with a seasoned-author's vision and eloquence. I had a very minor issue with the pacing at times but by no means did it detract from me liking this book a whole heck of a lot. Because ultimately when the book really gets into high gear about midway through, all of that buildup pays off in a big way. So do yourself a favor and pick up ACHING GOD by Mike Shel. If Sword and Sorcery with a pinch of LitRPG and Horror sounds good to you, then this is the book you should be reading right now. Also, keep an eye out for book two of the Iconoclasts series Sin Eater sometime in the near future. Personally, I can't wait!

[Rob Hayes]

An excellent read. Kinda like a D&D adventure with PTSD. If you like dark epic fantasy with a gothic feel, fraught with danger, and with an air of Elden Ring about it... this is for you!

[Alec Hutson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, yes. What a terrific read. I really hope Mike Shel's The Aching God is a harbinger of where the fantasy genre is headed. Not childish or simplistic, but also not gory, dull, dreary grimdark. Well-crafted fantasy for adults that presents a complex, interesting story in a faceted world (with some grayness), yet manages to elicit a sense of wonder in the reader. The character of Auric - solid, grounded, flawed, but a good man - is a welcome respite from an endless parade of anti-heroes. And I love that Mr. Shel managed to craft a realistic fantasy world about that most beloved of fantasy tropes - delving into forgotten ruins in search of ancient treasures. This is the novel that kids who played D&D 20 years ago deserve. Greatly enjoyed.

[The Nerd Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Podcast link to author interview
The Nerd Book Review

.
First of all I’ve been in a pretty epic reading slump lately. I’ve been getting by because I need to with the podcast but I haven’t always enjoyed my reading the last month or two. This novel was a pure joy from the first page to the last. I found myself even trying to steal a couple of pages even when I knew I was only going to have time to read a couple of pages before something came up.
The MC, Auric, was a refreshing change-up from the typical teenager or young man in peak physical condition who has exceptional skills with a Blade or magic. Auric was a man in his early 50’s, past his prime a bit physically and certainly emotionally. He is suffering from a bit of ptsd and is brought into the story because of his potential leadership skills with a young but talented team he must lead to save his former comrades from a mysterious supernatural illness. I enjoyed all of the characters and felt like they were each fleshed out and made up a great team.
I really enjoyed the story arc and felt like the story remained entertaining even when they were in the journey phase. The storyline was nicely wrapped up while still leaving plenty for future stories set in this world.

[Kitty G Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I read this as it's one of the finalists for #SPFBO 2018 and I am a judge *

This book is a dark, big adventure of a story. It's got a lot of things to like, but it felt a bit words and overdone at times for my personal liking, so I ended up giving it a 3*s (6/10 for #SPFBO). We follow a character called Auric who is retired until he is summoned to the city where his estranged daughter has been living with only the knowledge that something has happened to her. Auric is an old veteran, and he plays into that character very well with haunting visions and dreams, a somewhat cynical view on the world, and a lot of history to draw upon. He's the only one of our characters who has faced similar situations to what lies ahead, and so he is kind of their leader.

The true heart of the story revolves around a mysterious rot which seems to be infecting and killing people, all coming from an ancient artefact that was discovered. No one really knows why the rot is spreading or how, but they know it's something to do with this object, and after all the deaths the city has had they are determined to return the object and hope that it appeases whatever is spreading the sickness.

What I like about this story is the loving, fatherly side of Auric towards his crew and also his daughter despite his estrangement from her. He's a kind-hearted old veteran, and he's determined to help whoever he can.
I also think that the magic has some cool elements with strange creatures attacking and Queens who can rule for centuries. There's a lot of creative ideas, and I found them all fun to read about.

Personally I think the biggest disconnect I had was from the story as a whole. To me, I felt like this was a very slow burn and it also falls into quite a few stereotypes that I have seen before. I wanted the book to keep me interested throughout, but I found myself not reading it for quite some time and then going back to it but then putting it down again; it didn't seem to have that exciting factor that I needed to keep on reading it over other things.

Overall, I think that the writing is good even though it's slow, and the story is a positive one if you like classic fantasy adventures, but for me it was a bit too plodding and I didn't feel as much of a connection to the story as I wanted. Maybe I'm cynical as I have read so many stories that start off like this, but it didn't feel different enough to stand out to me, it was just a good read in general so 3*s it is and 6/10 for #SPFBO

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in a row I've given a 5 star rating... That bodes ill for the first book I pick up that disappoints me. After a string of really good books it can be hard to find reads.

Now all that said this is humdinger of an action fantasy. Any veteran of fantasy lit and those who've been intro'd to fantasy through RPG or Hack & Slash games will get this. We open with a man who's a veteran of "adventuring. He'd worked for a group who contracted to "clean-out" ruins left by a long (probably) dead empire that was soaked in magic. This "people" had apparently been undone, even wiped out by this magic.

In his last horrific adventure he'd been the only survivor of his group...he'd seen all his friends "destroyed" (again horrifically) by a power that overwhelmed them all. He'd barely gotten out alive and was found half crazed carrying the severed head of one of his best friends. After this he took the fortune he'd acquired over all those years, and retired.

Now something from the past, some action by ruin hunters has come back to haunt his world...and his daughter. He must now put away his nightmares marshal his courage and go back underground and carry a cursed gem back to the place from which it was taken in the forlorn hope this may stop a plague the gem has apparently unleashed...a plague from the Aching God who ached to devour the life of everyone, possibly everything.

Recommended.

Enjoy.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one of the finalists for the SPBO2018, my first time reading these books in this competition.

So far I have really enjoyed what I have read of the 10 finalist (still a couple of more to read).

Plenty of variety in the final 10, most of fantasy’s sub genres are in here.

I really enjoyed this book, all the characters development is well written and believable especially the PTSO of the main character. World building was also well done, the author has left himself lots of lovely places and time periods for future books to come.

Highly recommended to all my GR friends who read fantasy.

[Wol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a fantastic time with this one. Shel instills a sense of creeping dread from the very beginning and it increases with every chapter. Auric was a refreshing main character – older, battle worn, plagued by his memories and PTSD from the life he has led. He’s a good hearted but flawed man who’s doing his best in a difficult situation, and given that the genre is host to a sea of misanthropic badasses, that’s something I truly appreciate. For me, Auric was reminiscent of Caz from Bujold’s The Curse of Chalion, which immediately made me root for him.

The story is dark and bloody and violent, but the goodness of the characters kept it safely out of grimdark’s more cynical territory. The worldbuilding is paced nicely with minimal infodumping and, as Coffee mentioned, it has a strong Dungeons and Dragons vibe. It reads like a well plotted campaign, one that I’d be delighted to play in. The characters are vibrant and at times grotesque, and the moral path isn’t always black and white. The prose is strong and it all feels quite polished – one thing I appreciated very much was the sense that words weren’t being wasted on irrelevant waffling. The details all either drove the story forward or told us something interesting about the nature of the characters, right down to someone cheekily pilfering a slice of bacon intended for the master.

The story’s progression is pretty linear, but builds up to a creepy, high-stakes bloodbath of a dungeon crawl for the last 25% of the book. If that sounds like your jam, I’d highly recommend it.

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so surprised by this book. I listen to audio books exclusively, I hardly ever have the time to read them anymore. That being said, narration is extremely important to me. Certain books that would otherwise be great, have been left untouched due to the narrator (::coughnickpodehlcough::) being completely unsuited and/or bad. After listening to the sample chapter I was pleasantly surprised by Simon Vance (this was the first time I've heard him), and boy, I'm so glad I bought this book. Simon Vance was spectacular. He's a narrator that doesn't just read the book, he acts the part of every character. He has a recognizably distinct voice for each character, he reads with emotion and realism. In fact, I'd go so far as to say he's the best narrator I've listened to (for this genre) other than Steven Pacey. That being said, not only is the narrator top notch... the book is surprisingly extremely well written, engaging, well paced, action packed, emotional and... realistic. I know that's an odd term for a book in this genre, but when listening to it I couldn't help think that I was reading about characters and a universe in an alternate reality. Or a history from thousands of years ago that actually existed.


I say "surprisingly" because I was a little hesitant since this is a self published book and a debut novel, however, it reads like it was written by someone that's been established in the genre for 20+ years.


It opens with Auric (forgive the spelling if/when I get the spelling of these names wrong). An aging warrior and adventurer, and also our protagonist, that was employed by the Syraic League for 30 years. The League is a militaristic order that's tasked by the regions nobility to search and explore ancient Djao ruins for lost and forgotten relics, and other items of importance. The Djao are an ancient race that worshiped demons and practiced dark, necromantic arts. Auric is old, weary and has some serious PTSD from his time spent with The League, holding himself responsible for a catastrophic failure of an expedition he led his team of fellow League members (and friends) on. Having lost his wife, son and having a strained and distant relationship with his only surviving estranged daughter, Agnes, we find him living in a small village outside the life of court, in retirement from The League. He's learned to enjoy three years of life after retirement here until nightmares begin, nightmares of the most harrowing event of his life. It is at the onset of these nightmares that he receives a summons from the Syraic Lector to come back to Boudan, the home of the Queen, Court and the headquarters of the Syraic League. The summons is vague, but mentions his daughter is in peril.


All these details are exposed in the first chapter, what goes on from here is simply a fantastic story of sword and sorcery, love and comradery between friends and fellow adventurers, nightmarish descriptions of horrible creatures and perhaps the best description of how a lifetime of "adventuring" and exploring these types of horrible places can scar the mind. I felt so much sorrow for Auric and the things he's seen and experienced, and the author does such a great job of portraying his genuine fear, anxiety, dread and guilt. It's the first time in a fantasy book that I've read a truly terrifying and accurate depiction of PTSD and it's effects on a character. Along with this, I also had such an extreme feeling of foreboding, dread and creeping anxiety myself while reading. Like I knew there was something evil in the shadows, something unknown waiting around the corner waiting to consume everyone in the book... but I didn't know what it was. Very Lovercraftian horror-esque in this sense, and I loved every second of it!


I also loved the sub characters in this book. We have Belach, a staunch supporter that meets Auric at the beginning of the book and is tasked to help him get to Boudan to answer his summons. Belach is a friendly, warm and good hearted soldier around the same age as Auric, that is loyal to the bone. Sira, a healing Priestess of Belu that has a chance encounter with Auric, a girl with a lopsided smile that reminds Auric of someone near and dear to his heart. Del, a tattooed, menacing Sorceress with a vast knowledge of the Djao and a heart of gold. Lumari, an alchemist that is a bit OCD and perfectionist and lastly, Nais, a young and brash swordsman that's a bit reckless, vain and condescending although extremely deadly with a blade. Watching these people grow to know each other, rely on each other, protect each other and care for each other was really great. These aren't the most fleshed out characters in fantasy, in terms of their backstory, but they all feel REAL. I grew to care about them all, and was genuinely worried when they were in peril.


The author does a fantastic job at world building as well. Instead of dumping chapters of information on us with long drawn out descriptions of insignificant details, he seamlessly weaves in details throughout the story, mainly using character dialogue. The world slowly and naturally unfolds for the reader and we begin to envision it, and it seems like just when we are a little lost and wondering about something, the author does a great job at tying up the loose ends.


I'm beginning to ramble so I'll just say a few more things here. I can't write the review without giving a shout out to the chapter that introduces The Queen (long may she reign!). Just remember that when you read the book, that when you reach the chapter with her introduction, you're in for a treat! The authors description of her is truly chilling. 


The book isn't perfect and does have a slow chapter or two near the beginning, but that's nothing compared to how good the book is overall. This was also one of those books that I was dreading the ending so bad, simply because I knew it would be over. I wanted more, and when it ended I just felt lost, even though the ending was solid and wrapped up the story of the first book, while still leaving plenty of possibility and intrigue for the second and third book.


For any fans of classic sword and sorcery, dark fantasy, Lovecraftian horror... this book is for you. It's not quite as polished as something on the level of Martin or Abercrombie, but man, for an authors first novel, it's truly something special. I'll be buying the second book (titled "Sineater", scheduled for an early 2019 release) on day one.

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shel’s Aching God receives great reviews and does well in SPFBO contest. I had to see for myself what’s the hype about.

The plot is fairly simple, but not simplistic. Clever twists and turns keep the reader guessing and turning the pages. A mysterious plague devastates the Syraeic League, and no one knows how to fight it. Perhaps returning the Besh relic to the temple will help? Because of the plague, the League “employs” story’s protagonist Auric and his companions to make it work.

Auric Manteo, a retired Agent of the Syraeic League, is a traumatised but otherwise skilled and resourceful adventurer. In the past, during and after his missions for the League, he’s lost most of the people he had cared about. He still deals with PTSD. I think his intriguing and dark back-story makes Auric compelling and relatable. His faults make him more tridimensional, more layered and human. He reacts to events in believable ways. I think Auric’s character and POV make this novel interesting to read.

Other characters get much less time and, as readers, we don’t get a chance to get in their heads. The cast of supporting characters includes a trustworthy mace-wielding fighter Belech, an alchemist, a sorceress, a showy swordsman and an inexperienced priestess of Belu (god of healing). 

Because of the choice of narration, all of them (except Belech) remain underdeveloped and two-dimensional.

I liked simple and straight-forward writing style that focuses on telling the story and not on crafting beautiful sentences. I’m impressed with the editing - expect none typos or grammar mistakes. Someone put an admirable effort to clean the book.

My main gripe with the novel concerns occasional but dense info-dumps and expositions (for example the Queen’s back-story). Fans of rich and detailed world-building will probably dig it. For me, it was tiring.

The other thing is the ending. It doesn’t answer many questions, but I get it. I’m supposed to buy the sequel. That’s how this business works. Unfortunately, a good Lovecraftian horror that made Aching God exciting, transforms along the way into dealing with more conventional evil. The build-up was great, the resolution rather disappointing (but it’s just me). 

Shel crafts a good escapism. He delivers a thrilling story full of action, wonder, and characters you can grab onto. Aching God is unpretentious (except for its significant length) and fun. The author does his best to immerse you in his world with admirable conviction and he mostly succeeds. For me, there was too much info-dumping to feel fully engaged and, at times, I felt tempted to DNF it. But I can see RPG fans love it, especially the parts of the book that take place in the Dungeon.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing role-playing games is one of my fondest memories of childhood. Most of the details from those D&D campaigns have faded, but the feeling of anticipation, discovery, and camaraderie still lingers to this day. There was nothing better than getting together with a group of friends and adventuring into the unknown for countless hours each weekend, excited and nervous and awed by whatever threat was around the next bend. I had thought those affections a thing of the past, so I was admittedly surprised when I experienced a similar wave of emotions while reading Mike Shel’s debut novel, Aching God, book 1 of the "Iconoclasts" trilogy. Somehow Shel was able capture the essence of playing a thrilling role-playing game and transfer it into a rich and compelling narrative filled with likable heroes, horrifying villains, and surprising mysteries.

Shel has a substantial resume as a freelance writer and developer of adventure modules for the Pathfinder RPG, so it’s plain to see how his experience in the genre has led to such a polished and well-developed novel. Like many of the modules and adventures that Shel has developed in his career, the story takes place in a traditional fantasy setting, with priests, clerics, spell-swords, fighters, and mages that square off against undead evils and ancient gods from lost civilizations. The story follows Auric, a retired adventurer who is pulled back into the fray after learning that his old brotherhood has fallen victim to a terrible plague that has cursed their citadel of operation. This brotherhood of adventurers had been tasked with exploring centuries-old tombs of an ancient, long-dead civilization across the sea, and one unfortunate expedition brought back a treasure that led to the triggering of this deadly plague. After Auric finds out that he has a great personal stake in solving this crisis, he joins a band of tomb-raiding companions tasked with returning the cursed treasure back where it was found. Unfortunately, this tomb happens to be the home of a malicious and unspeakably evil god, and no one really knows if returning the treasure will have any positive effect. Throughout the journey, Auric is haunted by tragedies of his past while trying to protect those in the present, all the while knowing that not everyone is likely going to survive.

There’s so much to enjoy in this book. Auric remains the primary point-of-view for the entire novel, yet it was easy to become attached to many of the supporting characters in his traveling party. The friendship and loyalty that develops between Auric and the mace-wielding fighter Belech is one of the highlights of the story, as is the journey of the earnest and endearing priestess Sira. It was also refreshing to have a singular purpose in the novel that never wavered: the goal of the quest was consistent from beginning to end. Shel did an admirable job raising the tension as the party neared their goal, and there were some genuinely frightening scenes of terror and discomfort as the nightmarish scenarios began to pile up. The plot moves along at a brisk pace, and there are plenty of twists and turns along the way that kept me on my toes. We also learn about the theological history of the realm, as well as some major events that are happening on the outskirts of our story. I have a feeling that these events will be further developed in the next book of the series, but I was happy to discover that this book can be easily treated as a standalone novel. That won’t be the case for me, as I plan to devour the next volume as soon as it’s released. Shel has created an intriguing world of high, epic fantasy that delivers on all fronts. If you’re a fan of classic RPG adventures, or just an extremely well-written novel, then make sure to pick up a copy of Aching God. It’s rare to find a debut novel that reads as well as this, which has me excited about what Shel will be able to produce down the road.

8.7/10

[Laura Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tomb Raider meets the Broken Empire: Aching God is a compelling and carefully crafted debut. Well written and engaging, this first novel in the Iconoclasts series introduces Auric Manteo, a retired relic hunter with a dark past who also happens to be one of the most sympathetic protagonists I've read in a long time. Auric's determination to stick to his own moral code and take care of his companions is refreshing, and the growing sense of camaraderie with his adventuring comrades is an entertaining complement to his own personal journey. Shel unveils Auric's past gradually - along with the history of the cursed tomb he's forced to visit in the dreaded Barrowlands - and skilfully creates an ominous, slowly building sense of impending tragedy.

Despite its somewhat grim setting and its hero's tragic past, Aching God is by no means a grimdark novel. Auric is a hero - not an antihero - in every way; there are lots of moments of levity, along with exciting action sequences along the way, and of course there's tomb raiding aplenty. Best of all, the woven-in worldbuilding and politics - as well as the sneak preview of book two - suggests that the rest of the series will be just as engrossing, if not more so.

In short, this is an excellent fantasy debut well worth checking out.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve seen others do amazing things, having prayed to their gods for aid. But how much do these deities involve themselves in our daily lives? How much do they care for our fates? I have no way of knowing. Thus, I place my faith in my sword and the companions beside me. I trust in them.

Wow. I'm coming away from finishing this book with mental imagery that will stay with me for years to come.

During a casual scroll through /r/Fantasy, I found a few (spoiler-free) reviews of this book. A common description attached to this book was "Dungeons & Dragons meets Lovecraftian horror". Well, buddy, you have my attention. Once I started reading, it was nearly impossible to put down. The pacing is excellent, the world-building is fascinating, the prose is straightforward & not clunky, and the characterization (particularly of our main character, Auric Manteo) is genuine & superb.

This self-published story is an absolute gem, albeit it a necromantic and gore-covered one. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

[L.L. MacRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite the adventure!

Aching God is extremely well-written, with excellent turns of phrases, dialogue, and description. I think descriptive writing - particularly of characters - was excellent. Coupled with Simon Vance’s fabulous narrating, it made the book very easy to settle into and picture.


One of my particular favourites was the meeting with the Queen. I was driving at the time and very nearly missed my exit on the motorway because I was so engrossed in the details of what was happening. Love the creepy magic/necromancy and the various ways the gods have affected this world.

Also the encounter with the two manticores left a lasting impression. Really nice to have slightly different fantasy creatures here and approach encountered in uncommon ways.

I did find the opening fabulous and the ending was pretty explosive, but there were a few chunks in the early part/halfway mark that felt slower than the rest. Not necessarily a bad thing to vary up the pacing, but for me it did make some of the book drag. I have seen other reviewers call these “side quests” and I’d agree with that description. It did flesh out the world more (and I ADORE worldbuilding), so it was a great addition, but did affect the pacing of the book as a whole.

That being said, the world building is fabulous and I enjoyed learning every scrap of detail. Per the DnD flavour, there are guilds - to which our main character, Auric, belongs. Or rather, he used to. He’s been called back on one final quest to help put a plague to rest that’s claimed the lives of many people. Whispers and mysteries come to light that perhaps a relic taken from a dungeon in the Barrowlands is the cause of this, and Auric’s experience is needed to return it. Perhaps that will stop the plague spread.

It’s a nice, easy to follow story, that is thickened with politics and priests, which fleshed things out nicely.

There are an awful lot of gods/goddesses/panthrons/priests/priestesses/temples, however, and dozens of side characters - most of whom are named. It made the world feel real, vibrant, and lived in, but it did get overwhelming at points - especially with all the politics thrown in, too.

I will say that aside from Auric and Belech, I didn’t feel particularly strongly towards the rest of the cast. They sort of blurred together a little for me - not sure if I would put that down to the writing or the narration - but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment too much.

I learned part-way through reading this about the DnD influences, and from that point on could definitely see them cropping up here and there! It added a fun twist and some enjoyable, tense sequences that were fabulous to read.

Simon Vance, as always, was a brilliant narrator (he is absolutely one of my faves).

Overall, a solid fantasy read with lots of adventure (and a few dark moments too), that was fun and enjoyable!

[Lezlie The Nerdy Narrative · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aching God is the debut novel of Mike Shel and the first book in his Iconoclasts Trilogy. (The trilogy is complete and all are available for purchase or download)

I received this book as a gift from my friend Andrew, who runs the YouTube channel, Andrew's Wizardly Reads, so that's how I came to read this one. As a reader whose two favorite genres are fantasy and horror, this book was sure to be a hit for me. The third clincher is that it reads like an epic D&D adventure - which I play - and who doesn't love a great quest with a group of characters?? Dark fantasy is just my absolute favorite, especially when we have magic and gods invovled.

I loved my time spent with this book and had already ordered the second in the trilogy before I was 25% of the way through. It does not read as a debut - Mike Shel did an amazing job on the writing style. I love his vocabulary choices, he chose some older, bigger words that really fit with the time period the characters live in. (at least that's how I felt) There were a couple of places I felt could have been edited down a touch, just some extra fluff that didn't lend any value to the narrative and made me itch a bit to get moving...I was so excited to get to the end goal - the destination of our quest.

Can't wait to continue this series!

[Jon Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't tell my boss, but I usually only read eBooks on my computer at work. I rarely use my Kindle unless I'm traveling. But, this book had me so enthralled that I read most of the last half on my Kindle at home. Unheard of.

I'll try to remember to add more to this later (but I probably won't). Just read it.

[Heidi Wiechert · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the fantasy world of Aching God, a mysterious plague has emerged at the headquarters of the Syraeic League, an adventuring guild that explores the ruins of an ancient civilization. Their century-old quest is to retrieve relics from the ruins and to discover more information about its culture and gods.

Auric Manteo used to go on these quests for the League until a disastrous final foray led to an abrupt retirement and years of nightmares. But things have been looking up for the aging adventurer, until he receives a letter from the League requesting his help in banishing the plague.

"Three years of untroubled sleep, disturbed by this nightmare the very morning a summons to Boudun and the Citadel arrived? Was it a hateful premonition?" pg 28, ebook

Can Auric face the demons from his past in order to save the afflicted from the ravages of the Aching God?

"His mind flashed to images from his tenacious nightmare: the corpses, the pit, Lenda's raggedly severed head gaping at him in accusation. He rested a shaking hand on the pommel of his sword to steady it." pg 73, ebook

Despite its promise, I think Aching God would be a better dungeon module than it is a story. Mike Shel begins to flesh out his characters, but they never get far beyond the basics of birthplace and motivation. I didn't feel drawn to any of the characters because of this superficial depiction.

His magic system with its secretive sorcerers who embed gems in their foreheads in order to bind themselves to their magical powers and comrades was also interesting. But, again, Shel leaves a majority of the storytelling to the reader's imagination rather than actually writing it.

The adventure itself is linear with few unexpected twists and turns. Even the reveal of the great mystery of the Aching God leaves something to be desired.

Only recommended for readers who adore the fantasy adventure genre. Otherwise I would give this a pass.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/06...

Reader, I tend to shy away from books everyone raves about because I feel this weird pressure to rave about them too. What if I don’t want to rave about them? What if I pick up a book everyone seems to love and I -gasp- don’t love it? And also, with my focus on this website right now being toward indie/self-published SFF books with fewer than 100 ratings on Amazon, this particular book only fits half of that. It is indie. It does not have fewer than 100 ratings.

That being said, I was in the mood for some epic fantasy recently. Something different. Something I thought I might be able to sink into and just forget the world. I wandered around Kindle Unlimited for a while and this book kept finding itself in my sights. Finally, the sixth time I randomly came across it on Amazon, I decided this was fate telling me I needed to read it already, and here we are.

This is a story told from the perspective of one Auric Manteo. Auric has retired from relic-hunting a while ago, but something is stirring. He’s plagued by nightmares, and seems a bit… uneasy… though he can’t put a finger on why. Then he gets a missive. He’s needed. So he rides away to go confront something terrible. Auric is basically given a suicide mission. A strange plague is sweeping the land, and his own daughter is one of the afflicted. With a ragtag team of people, he heads off to the Barrowlands, a place that triggers all sorts of trauma for Auric, to return a cursed item to a dungeon, which will, he is told, end this plague.

If you want a story about one man out to save humanity from everlasting destruction, this is absolutely it. Auric’s race is one against time. If this plague continues on the path it is going, humanity itself will cease to exist. And while this might sound a bit campy, or maybe overdone, I really loved the way Shel breathed new life into this trope by taking it and making it extremely personal. This isn’t just humanity for humanity’s sake, this is Auric’s own daughter, and while they might be estranged, the emotional impact that particular plot thread gave the story was profound. It kept this from being about some vague save-the-world ideal, and about saving his daughter, and that mattered to me.

There are a few things I want to mention about Auric. First, it’s really rare I read an epic fantasy book about a father. Even if he’s estranged from his children, it just doesn’t happen often. It seems they either aren’t usually old enough to have grown children, or they are too jaded/burnt out/restless to have them or some mix of the two. But Auric had kids. More, he was old enough to retire from his profession AND have grown children. I don’t get the sense the guy was terribly old, but he was obviously older and more rooted than most fantasy protagonists I read about, and I really liked that. It set him apart from others. Life does not stop at forty, and I loved how the author embraced that, not just giving Auric a whole backstory and a life already lived, but certain aspects of his current life that a lot of readers will be able to relate to (like having kids) and empathize with (like being retired from a profession).

Secondly, Auric is a tortured man, which obviously means I loved him. This book is written mostly from Auric’s point of view, which isn’t terribly common with epic fantasy but I think it was the right move here. Most epic fantasy seems to have multiple perspectives and readers head hop a lot, but Shel lets you get real comfortable with Auric. This allows the reader to sink into the protagonist’s mind, and sort of get comfortable there. That’s what this book needed. The interesting thing, I found, was this is an epic fantasy book, and without some of the decisions Shel made about story execution (like POV) it would have just been another epic fantasy book, but Shel is pretty much a genius. He decided to take this story, which was already really good, and make it as personal as he could and that, dear reader, is why I loved Aching God. All these small details, from the age and background of Auric, to the perspective used to tell Auric’s story, to the world itself (I mean, seriously, his entire job description is like fantasy Indiana Jones and DO I REALLY NEED TO SELL THAT TO YOU?) just made The Aching God sing.

That being said, Aching God isn’t all about Auric and his daughter and personal trauma. Again, Shel shows what a craftsman he is by deftly balancing these elements of personal and worldly. Sometimes we really steep ourselves in external conflict, and sometimes internal narrative, but Shel never really spends too much time in any one place. He’s also pretty subtle, weaving in just enough of each part of this story into every scene to make them feel perfectly balanced. By the time the book was over, I was honestly pretty amazed by how well I knew Auric, and how much I cared about the world he lives in. It’s not really something I expected.

The book itself is relentless and unforgiving. There is always something happening somewhere, and Auric, at times, seems impossibly behind the curve. It looks hopeless, it feels hopeless, and since it’s personal, that mattered to me. I genuinely wanted Auric to succeed and thrive. The book does sort of take time to warm up. Some readers might find the start a bit slow, but from the midpoint on, it’s like a boulder rolling down a mountain: unstoppable.

I believe the entire series is out now, or at least, the third book in it was recently released, and this is good because once you read this book you won’t want to wait to read the second one.

Aching God snuck up on me. I honestly went into this expecting to read another epic fantasy that was entertaining but nothing that really stuck to my ribs. I was pleasantly surprised. There were so many things here that I didn’t expect, from some unusual spins on typical tropes, to an obvious passion for the story being told, to Auric himself. Furthermore, the writer/editor side of my brain was obsessed with HOW Shel chose to tell his story, and how those decisions impacted the whole.

In summary, reader, I should not have waited so long to read this book.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quest to confront terror

Retired from the adventurous and dangerous life in the Syraeic League, Auric Manteo is once again called for one last campaign that quite possibly will save his daughter's life.
The group on this quest, all with a different set of skills, quickly meld with one another and the reader. I found myself caring about the success of each of these characters, knowing it wasn't in the cards for all of them.
I saw one review comparing the story to an Indiana Jones flick, which I feel to be an accurate comparison. It's fast paced, always dangerous, with really tight squeezes to escape from, the villains are really scary, and you are never bored. I'll definitely continue the series.

[Pavle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nažalost, ovo je bolja podloga za nastavak nego što je samostalna knjiga. A mogla je da bude stvarno nešto drugačije, pošto je povremeno legitimno zastrašujuća i konstantno sugeriše da će svakog časa uzeti put lavkraftovskog horora. Ali nikad ne stigne na destinaciju koju je za sebe odabrala. I tako, sva pitanja i sve deus ex machine koje su prisutne su tu pod opravdanjem nastavka i obećanjem odgovora na sva postavljena pitanja ovde. Što je bezveze. Ali da vrši posao kao tizer serijala, vrši, tako da uprkos mom velikom razočaranju što izgleda da je priča ipak devolvirala u nešto malo običnije, eto mene opet kada dodje deo br. 2.

2+

[Bryce O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75/5

Aching God is one of the best dark fantasies I've ever had the pleasure of reading, and THE best debut novel I've ever come across.

Following the viewpoint of Auric Manteo, a retired adventurer, the reader is dragged into an epic tale as Auric is called back to his duty following a disaster that appears to have ties to a previous expedition of his undertaking. There is action, magic, intrigue, and all-powerful-beings a plenty, along with a healthy scattering of madmen, pompous politicos and army veterans, and not a few monsters to be tackled and slain. All these and more form fascinating hurdles Auric and his companions to overcome, with the entire story layered with a healthy dose of chilling darkness sprinkled with just the right amount of horror to leave you on edge but never overwhelmed.


Pros:

-Atypical main character who nonetheless is easy to relate to, likable, and flawed while still demonstrating enough badassness to make Darrow or Kylar Stern raise their glasses to him.

-A fresh plot from typical sword & sorcery that nonetheless maintains true to the generalities of the genre.

-Wonderfully written. Seriously. The sword-smithing is top notch.

-Well developed world that again steps outside the traditional trops of typical fantasy.

-A largely self-contained book that is simultaneously part of a larger overarching plot. Regardless if you like episodic stories or epic tales that span several tomes, you will be satisfied.

-BONUS: Audiobook is narrated by the incredible Simon Vance, best known for his work on Dune and the Millenium Series


Cons:

-a very minor dose of deus ex machina

-while Auric and some of the other major characters in the book are complex and intriguing, I found the supporting characters of his party sometimes a little too flat


A large congrats to Mike Shel on this incredible debut. I cannot wait for book 2 to hit the shelves!

[Terrible Timy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book before SPFBO. My rating is not FBR's final rating, that will be announced later as the final phase progresses.

Full review also can be found on my blog, here: https://starlitbook.com/2018/04/09/ac...

I recieved a free advance reader's copy in exchange of a honest review. Thanks for Mike Shel for providing me one :)

Auric, retired from the Syraeic League lives a comfortable life far from the city, trying to come to terms with his past failures and regrets. Until, that is, when he is summoned and is being forced to face all of his weeknesses - or what he thinks are weaknesses anyway. With a new group of companions and the blessing of the Queen he is set to save not only the plague burdened Boudun but his daughter's life as well. Along their journey they face several dangers, reveal secrets and face some unexpected turn of events. This book is well written, it has the right pace and it managed to surprise me a few times. It's obvious how much time the author spent polishing it. I also liked the world building, that we've got to see many parts of this wast world - I have to mention here, that you can find a nice, colored map on the author's website. I would've left out a scene or two because they didn't seem to have much significance to the story, but I won't complain, it was still enjoyable. I also would have liked to read more about the religious system - we only get a glimpse at some gods and their follower's life. They all seem pretty interesting, and I hope we'll get to know more about them. They seem to be that kind of entities who like to meddle in human's business. There is no fun like messing with peope, is there? The pantheon bores resemblance to the roman-greek pantheon and since I'm pretty much into that kind of stuff - anything regarding religions, really - I longed to read more. The same goes for the Djao culture. I'm craving to know more about them! On a side note, Aching God didn' seem to have first book problems, we don't get many info dumpings, or if we do, it's smartly written into the dialogues and descriptions. My only problem was the vocabulary. Now, I'm not a native english reader, so it might be my lack of knowledge (I don't have this problem most of the time though), but I kept checking out words to understand what is going on. It pretty much ruined the reading experience for me at times. On the other hand, most of them were archaic versions of words used in modern english, and if their use were intended, then they fitted well into the narrative and the atmosphere of the story.

I think the weak point of Aching God for me were the characters. I liked Auric, and I understood his struggle, his motivation, his fears, I could root for him and I liked how he grew throughout the book and that despite everything he could keep his sense of humor. The same goes for Belech, he might have been my favorite character overall. With Gnaeus I had a love-hate relationship and by the end he grew on me, mostly because of his sense of humor and his undeniable self-confidence. Del and Lumari remained a mystery to me and I couldn't connect to them at all. Maybe it would have helped if we could learn more about how the Syraeic League works and how exactly are trained the different parties like the sorcerers, the swordsmen, etc. Some of the side characters were more interesting than these two ladies, I felt like they weren't fleshed out completely for some reasons. And last but not least, Sira. She was a bright light in all the darkness lurking around the corner. She is kind, brave, intelligent and a bit of a rebel. I like that combination. I also has to mention Queen Geneviv, because she reminded me so much of Queen Elizabeth I. She might have been my favorite side character. I also pictured her as Judi Dench in one of her films where she portrayed the Queen. 

Overall, I immensely enjoyed this book, especially the last 20% or so. It is a thrilling, dark, cleverly written debut novel which deserves all the attention it can get. Read it people, because it's good! And I will keep an eye on Mike Shel in the future. I have a feeling the second book, Sin Eater will be even better.

[Charlotte Kersten]

So What’s It About?

The days of adventure are passed for Auric Manteo. Retired to the countryside and isolated with his scars and riches, he no longer delves into forbidden ruins seeking dark wisdom and treasure. But just as old nightmares begin plaguing his sleep, he receives an urgent summons back to that old life.

To save his only daughter, he must return to the place of his greatest trauma: the haunted Barrowlands. Along with a group of inexperienced companions and an old soldier, he must confront the dangers of the ancient and wicked Djao civilization. He has survived fell beasts, insidious traps, and deadly hazards before. But how can he contend with the malice of a bloodthirsty living god?

What I Thought

If you asked me what kind of book a therapist-turned-RPG-writer would come up with, Aching God would be my most optimistic prediction. The “RPG writer” part is evident in how much this feels like a good old-fashioned tabletop campaign. A motley adventuring party of diverse classes goes from one entertaining escapade to another, and the world feels well-realized and interesting. Everything from the magic to the monster-infested lands they must cross and the temple itself is dripping with a dark, creepy atmosphere. Aching God, especially when describing Auric’s ill-fated prior mission, people who are warped and maddened by magic and the evil Djao gods, evokes a particular kind of creepiness that’s thoroughly enjoyable and kind of cozy in a weird way.

The therapist part comes in with Shel’s depiction of Auric’s PTSD. We see him go from a collected veteran adventurer to a trembling wreck who can’t distinguish past from present when triggered, and he struggles with nightmares and dissociation. Beyond individual symptoms, it’s clear that he is weighed down by his guilt, self-doubt and sense of responsibility. In a genre that sometimes lets its heroes emerge from harrowing trials unscathed, Auric and his struggles are refreshingly realistic.

That being said, the rest of the book’s characterization is fairly scant. Most of the adventuring party is not developed beyond basic archetypes, and this isn’t helped by dialogue that can seem a little inauthentic and stilted at times. A prime example of the emotional stakes falling flat because of characterization is Del’s death. After having barely had any development, Del has a heart-warming scene with Auric where he decides that she reminds him of his daughter, and then she is brutally murdered immediately afterwards lol. With a little refining and fleshing out, this beat would have hit much harder - when I read it, it felt more contrived than anything else. I do have a few other quibbles about things like occasional infodumping and some uneven pacing. Overall, though, I had a blast with this book, and I hope the rest of the series is just as much fun.

[kartik narayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aching God is a great mix of Lovecraftian-like horror and a pseudo Dungeons & Dragons setting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its unique twist on the fantasy genre.

Most fantasy books ignore a couple of major points. The first being the gruesomeness of their settings - their monsters and even heroes are, in reality, frightening to the extreme. The second is the metal and physical trauma inflicted on people, including the protagonists, by the constant battles that happen. Aching God takes these two points and weaves it into the storyline - what if your hero is suffering from PTSD (due to years of monster hunting and dungeon crawling) and what if the monster you have to defeat creeps the hell out of you. The result is a story that both chills and thrills the reader. In addition, it has a whole new mythology - I love books that feature Gods - which features prominently in the story.

The writing is decent but the book excels with its world building and character development. I am looking forward to the next installment - Sin Eater.

[Mike Shel]

Hey readers!

Not a review, but we are doing a Kickstarter to produce a deluxe edition of Aching God. I'm excited about what we have planned for this project. Hope you'll check it out and spread the word:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...