Blood of a Fallen God

The Forgemaster Cycle #1

by Joshua C. Cook

Generations ago, the Godsfall devastated the land of Palnor. The two Gods of Humanity, Amder and Valnijz, perished in battle with each other. When William Reis breaks an ancient taboo to fulfill a dream of generations, he shatters the peace that the land enjoys. William finds himself facing an impossible task, can one man bring a God back to life? If he succeeds, his triumph will not only protect the land, but will save the life of his only family. If he fails, Armageddon.
But how can he hope to subdue his enemies, when some claim to follow the very same God he works to return? A corrupted faith, blood tainted monsters, and a near immortal High Priest are only part of what he faces. He has only one way to vanquish those who stand against him, to become a figure out of legend, to become a Forgemaster.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Audiobook, Magic, Fiction

497 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2019

About the author

Born and Raised in Sunny (sometimes) Florida, I grew up in a house of readers. I've always been into good Sci-Fi, fantasy, and technology. In fact I ended up somehow working in the IT field for the last 13 years.
One of the things that surprised me about my career was the interaction of people with technology. How blindly trusting people are of whatever the computer says on it, regardless if what it's saying is even possible.
When I decided to write, I chose to play in the space of the interaction between people and technology, and reality vs. perception.

Reviews

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood of a Fallen God by Josh Cook is the first book that I have read by this author and I don't say this often, but this book is a MUST READ! If you enjoy fantasy novels, you enjoy a nice taste of horror, and you enjoy the darker elements that come in play then this book is a must get! You will not be disappointed!
In Blood of a Fallen God the author hits the ground running...literally. You are introduced to Will Reis who is running for his life from a dangerous and cruel monster...the twist? They were once human! Now, if you're like me questions are bubbling to the surface as to...what are these creatures? What happened to them to change them? What will happen to Will if they get a hold of him? Okay, so that last question is kinda dumb, but the answer is horrific and I love it! Seeing as he is the main character of this story, of course, he escapes, but barely...but while he escapes...the truth is far darker than that. Now! The pace of this story does slow down after the "hit the ground running" chase scene, but this story never stops being engaging and suspenseful. The author does a fantastic job weaving together this storyline piece by piece.
One by one you are introduced to a variety of characters. Don't worry this never becomes overwhelming like I at one time feared that it would. The author does an excellent job piquing my interest in each character as they are introduced, which keeps me page-turning throughout this story. I love how some of the relationships are manipulated and twisted. It's truly fascinating. The unexpected twists and turns are one of the best parts of this storyline. In the beginning, I wanted to know what happened to create this twisted world, but my patience paid off in spades because I got not just answers, but flashbacks as well. Piece by piece this story comes together and you see the fight that is ahead not just for Will, the main character, but all who are connected to him in one way or another.
Don't ask me if there is anything that I don't like about this book because there is absolutely nothing negative I can say. I'm absolutely shocked. Haha! This book was planned out and executed with pure finesse. This book gives me so many things that I absolutely love in a book - engaging characters, a fascinating storyline, horror, dark fantasy, and dangerous monsters. I can easily say that I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series and hoping that I don't have to wait long.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. If you are a fan of dark fantasy novels, twisted storylines, and stories that pull you into the book and don't let go then this is the book to pick up. I love a good fantasy novel and this book checks all the boxes. This book is long, but it is worth every page! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily reviewing. This was an amazing book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about William and where he goes and what he does! This book had me hooked from page 1 and I barely wanted to put it down. Well done to the author on a really good book, with an amazing and intriguing plot!

[Anne Monteith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel by new author Josh Cook starts out running and from the first pages you get a sense of how good this will be. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so it’s going to be hard to write a review.

This is a story of sacrifice and love, a story of ancient gods, one evil, one good, that fell long ago in battle and the attempt of those who want to return the evil god to the world to subject mankind to untold pain, misery and torment.

Duncan and William Reis are two cousins, the last of the line of Reis living in the Reach where their family has always lived. The reach is known for three things, the ore that they mine, the skill of the miners and that no one from the Reach has ever been chosen to go to Ture and join the guild, It was the dream of William’s father and he was not chosen and since his death it has become William’s. While his Duncan doesn’t want him to leave and doesn’t want him to try because he doesn’t want him to be hurt and disappointed he does help him by giving him ingots of Wight Iron which is very rare and valuable, he found the ingots while out scaving, which is like treasure hunting and scavenging.

When Willis goes to ask the priest to bless his work after it’s made, he’s hurt that Haltim tries to discourage him; this man has been like a father to him since his own father disappeared years ago. Haltim is priest that serves the Eight Gods but he was sent to an old church that once served only Amder, the god of creation to keep an eye on the Reis family and to keep the High Priest informed of what they are doing,

William has built a forge in a place that he found that is away from the Reach, he doesn’t want to hear people say that he’s wasting his time, that he’ll never be chosen because of where he’s from. Duncan reluctantly agrees to help him and while there becomes certain that there is a treasure in the upper part of the area which he is certain holds a tomb. Knowing that William will not approve of what is basically grave robbing he plans to return and explore the area for treasures that he imagines will bring him untold wealth.

Will William realize his dream to join the guild and become a master? Will Duncan find his treasure? Will the followers of Valnijz succeed in their attempt to bring him back to life and will any of the other gods try stop this from happening? Find out for yourself in this exciting novel. I cant wait to read the next book in this series.

In an effort to be totally honest, I’ve disclosed that I received and ARC, however, I did purchase the book.

**4.25/5 STARS I received a free digital ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a honest, unbiased review. I sincerely thank Netgalley, author and/or publisher for giving me this opportunity.**

[Judy Cooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. The struggles, trials and tests of faith that both William and Duncan face will keep you on the edge wondering what is just around the next corner. Will William complete the tasks set for him and be able to save Duncan, the only remaining family he has left? Will Duncan be able to break the blood curse? Which God will be the first to rise? It's a race of one of the best nail biting adventures I have read in a very long time. Will be waiting impatiently for the sequel....
I received this book free and am giving my honest review.

[Melanie Cesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This story had me hooked from the start. I can’t believe everything that happens. Great plot. The trials and tribulations of Will and Duncan will have you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. The character development is fantastic, the story filled with action and suspense. There were also a lot of emotions brought out in this story. I was anxious, sorrowful, and angry but also filled with hope. The story keeps you full of anticipation and leaves you filled with wonder. I’m anxious to see what’s next.

I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received ARC from Books Go Social and Netgalley for honest read and review.
Had this on my TBR List for a while and finally got round to picking it up when Joshua gave me a nudge in the right direction.

This was such a good book that had me hooked from the beginning.Centering around Will and Duncan ,this story takes us on a whirlwind ride of emotions.

Really excellent character building and a great story. Will William save Duncan and raise a God?

I am so glad I managed to get a hold of this one.

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** NO SPOILERS ***
Joshua C. Cook has woven together a tale of a fantasy world with several unique aspects I've not read in others previous fantasy tales. It is a tale of two cousins in a small mining and smithing town, their bonds and their differences. They both lost their parents in a nearby area that has rampant evil but contains valuable items. The creatures, once human but warped by the dark magics are now fast bloodthirsty beasts. The cousins have talents. One is an exceptional smith. The other, though trained and gifted, has no interest in smithing, preferring the thrill of scavenging in the evil area. The smith has the impossible dream of becoming a smith that is trained by the guild. Two huge obstacles stand in is path. The first is crafting an item in his forge that is worthy enough to be considered for competition, judged by guild masters. The second is that for reasons unknown, it has been ordained that no one from this town can ever be guild trained. The story of how the two of them are able to combine their talents to start the process and confront the obstacles is also the story about two dead gods, the power they can exert into the world, their desire of each to return and the loyalty of their followers. If either or both are successful, the world as they know it will significantly change.

The story includes loyalty, deception, treachery, unexpected encounters, unlikely allies, sacrifices. I found it to hold my interest, move quickly, and left me wanting more. The main characters are well developed, and all have their own shortcomings, doubts and flaws. The forces against them are well designed and as evil as they come.

I really recommend you give this tale a read - you won't be disappointed...AND there's more to come! I've just started the first sequel.

[John Gwilliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book but with a few mistakes in it. I liked the honesty if it, characters reacted the way most people would and I didn't feel like shouting in my head saying don't do that you idiot. Sometimes I think opposing characters knew a little too much of what the other was doing but it still worked. On to the next book!

[Janet Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood of a Fallen God was excellent. If you are a fan of fantasy and mythology this is a book you shouldn't miss. My first Joshua C. Cook novel will not be my last. I can't wait to listen to the next book in the series.

[Debbie Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok against the other reviews...I thought it was slow. I also thought the characters lacked any real depth. I wont be reading the other books it was an ok story. Normally I read a book every couple of days this took me over a week as I just could not get that enthused.

[Craig Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dammit I think I'm hooked on another series!

This book didn't start out easy for me. Nothing to do with the story that's FANTASTIC but the narrators attempt at Scottish brogue just rubbed me the wrong way!! LOL

I don't know if I got used to it or he got better at it but i was able to let that go and get on with the story! I have to say i loved this story and can't wait for book 2 to come out.

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[H.M.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!

I Emailed the author as soon as I finished the book and wrote "Dude (Yeah - I called him Dude) - tell me there's going to be a sequel to this!"

Yes. And thank goodness, he's already working on it.

Blood of a Fallen God is a non-stop, action-packed fantasy adventure that follows the lives of cousins Will and Duncan Reis, the last of their family line, as they try to stay alive while facing the end of the world as they know it. Will just wants to join the Guild and become a Guild master despite the fact that no one in from his hometown, The Reach, has ever been let in since the last Forgemaster died fighting Valnijz at the Godsfall.

Duncan just wants to be a scaver, or scavenger, of sorts, until he receives a cut from an evil blade and can't continue his work.

When Will's accepted into the Guild anyway, a chain reaction of events causes him to find himself in a great deal of danger - along with his cousin and very wise priest and friend, Haltim - priest of the God, Amder. While Duncan, devastated by his fate, and excommunicated Haltim try to reach Will, the forces of evil, set about by the followers of the God, Valnijz (Amder's brother), do everything in their power to stop them. In the meantime, Will learns of his destiny within the Guild itself. (Don't want to give away any spoilers!)

It's a race against time to see which God can be raised from the dead first for that will be the God whose followers will continue living.

The book is 460+ pages of non-stop action causing me, the reader, to lose sleep thanks to wanting to read just one more chapter before going to bed! I had to keep reading because I needed to know what happened next. Talk about being drawn into a story!

I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this review, but this is an author whose books I will definitely seek out to read again the moment they become available. The characters were compelling and the plot well laid out so I could easily follow the story, get to know the characters and locations and still not know what's going to happen next. Holy cow what an exciting story!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Reacher must never become a Guild Master, especially the Reis family, although no one remembers why. The Priesthood is adamant, and set on ending the Reis line forever.

Will and Duncan Reis are cousins and inseparable, although they both want different things in life. They survived the same past tragedy and are the only family they each have left. But while Duncan wants to stay in the Reach, get married and have a family, metalsmith Will dreams of leaving the Reach and becoming a Guild Master. An ill-fated quest to find a special crystal to help in his application Trial connects Will to the lost god Amder, and he has visions of the last Forgemaster and the final battle between Amder and the god of blood and death, Valnijz. When a Guild Master comes to the Reach looking for Potentials, Will knows he has to make something special to show his worthiness to become a Guild apprentice. The hammer he makes starts him on his jouney toward his fondest wish, but the name Reis is anathema and he travels to the Guild under an assumed name.

The last thing anyone expected was two fallen gods determined to re-enter the mortal world, one to destroy and one to save. This is an epic fantasy of good vs. evil, a quest of self-discovery, and the fate of the world falling on the shoulders of two young, untried heroes.

This is darker than my usual read, a long winding tale of alternating POVs between several of the major players, including the high priestess of Valnijz. It shows people at their best and worst, and really tests the mettle of the Reis men. It explores the pros and cons of following your dreams--and what happens when the dream wasn't what you thought it would be.

I enjoyed reading this book, the characters were interesting and there was enough action and tension to draw me through the story. I was disappointed, though, that the story wasn't as technically clean as it could have been. There were a lot of typos and grammatical error I'd have thought would have been resolved during editing. But the story was great. I'd read more from this author.

[Got My Book]

I got this Audiobook for free. My opinions are my own. / Real Rating = Unrated, DNF

I almost never DNF a book that I receive as a review copy; but, I just couldn't continue anymore. I didn't hate it, I just kept getting bored and quitting over and over. I think there is a kernel of a good story here, it just needs to move faster.

CONTENTS (more narrative than descriptive): Zombies who eat people alive / swearing (use of D word) / Human sacrifice / Consumption of human blood

NARRATION: Accents = sort of Celtic (for dialog but not regular narration) / Sound Quality = Good (the part I finished) / Speed = slow (I listened on 1.5 instead of my usual 1.25) / Voices = moderately distinguished
Note: at original speed, the slow soothing nature of the narrator's voice would be great for helping you get to sleep.

[Karen Dries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is Awesome. Before I begin I want to say that I received a free copy and voluntarily reviewed the book. But I would definitely purchase this book. I love fantasy, science fiction and Mysteries and this book does them all justice. From the beginning you are drawn into the lives of William and Duncan Reis from the Reach. Their journey is one of adventure , with pain, sorrow, self discovery and hope.Everywhere you turn there is something going on. You are always holding yourself back from turning the page too quickly lest you miss something. Always eager to charge ahead, feeling like you are part of the story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series o see how Duncan fared. What do I mean? Well, you'll just have to read for yourself.

[Tashia Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood of a Fallen God is the first book I have read by Joshua C. Cook. I am very pleased I purchased and took the time to give this author a chance. The book was beyond my expectations. His descriptive detail is superb to say the least. His choice in narrative is outstanding. The book's in-depth and strong characters brings this story to life. I found myself hanging on each page from the first page to the last. The storyline fascinated me completely. Mythology and gods and each authors take and spin on the subject is different and Joshua C. Cook's choice is truly remarkable. It offers an array of characters, filled with action, tense moments, and constant intrigue. This is definitely an author I will read again. I highly recommend Blood of a Fallen God.

[LeMiliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book by the author, I'd never read anything by him before but thought I'd give this one a go. I am so glad I did the storyline is very different, it's unique and compelling reading, personally I was hooked from beginning to end.

The things that happen to Will and Duncan kept me turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. I liked the character development it was really well done and the story itself is filled with action and suspense.

It's something of an emotional rollercoaster that had me at times feeling angry, sorrowful and somewhat anxious about what was to come but it also made me feel hopeful at times too. The story was certainly different from anything else I have ever read.

I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

[lisa engel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found a new favorite author! I received the book free for my honest review. ..WOW! I literally read until my eyes closed and started it again as soon as I woke up. New worlds, God's, ways of life and the beings that made the world so unique are detonate high points. I don't want to give any spoilers away... I loved how family and people's perceived notions and greed, jealosies shape things that we may not really imagine. How would jealousy make you act? How can your beliefs lead you to UNIMAGINABLE lengths? Loyalty, belief and faith in yourself can lead to REBIRTH.

[Michael Nadeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a bit bigger than my usual reads and if I’m honest it was a bit long wides in the middle, yet that being said it really drew me along regardless. The story itself is one that pulls at my heroic heart and I long to be beside these valiant heroes. The entire book is filled with fantastic places and forgotten gods as well as shady religious factions and heroic sacrifice. Had the story been any less it would’ve earned only 4 stars, but it climbed to heights that kept me on the edge of my seat. This one is truly a 5 star story and well worth the time.

[Anil Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...
I love to read. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed. It is slightly bigger. took me some time to get started and finish. I usually like to read books on the cult theme. this book is well written. kept me glued to the book till finishing it. overall very interesting read. very well written. vividly and elaborately written book.  recommend to me felloe reader who enjoy reading this genre. wonderful book"thanks for providing an opportunity to read this.

[Rita Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
There's just something about Mount Olympus,
That has always drawn me into books regarding Waring God's!
This book doesn't disappoint, Its very well written.
I love the plot idea, it's unique which is hard when so many books are written yearly about the subject.
But Joshua Cook, manages to create a world of his own...with characters that suck you in,
Cheering for one, displeased with another..
This book was like a emotional roller coaster!
And That's just what I like...

[Mary Whalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for my honest review. I liked the writing and the main characters. The story was exciting and moved along. My copy needed some editing, which I am sure was done before release. My drop of a star is because it reminded me of the old time sci fi writers. Not a bad thing at all for most. For me, having a world populated exclusively by men with the stereotypical female popping up from time to time makes me feel not included in the story. Like I say, a personal thing, most of you should buy it and read it because it’s a fast moving, exciting story.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book! I received a free copy and voluntarily reviewed the book. I enjoy a good fantasy novel and this did not disappoint. The plot is great -full of action and moves at a nice pace. The characters are well written and believable. This was a fairly quick read because the story started off with lots of excitement and drew me in. If you enjoy fantasy, this book will satisfy.

[David Shipside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew, that was a long read, and I mean that in the best way! Shorter works can be good, but longer books can really draw you in and keep you in the story longer.
The premise is great and the characters reveal depth throughout the book.
I will recommend this to friends.
I recieved this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

[Bookwyrm Speaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how a series should start. Engaging characters, a plot that's fast paced with some twists and turns, action scenes that are well thought out and put you in the moment. The characters had realistic motivations, and acted in real ways to resolve the various crises in the book. All told, I definitely recommend this one.

[joyale lampkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Had me so on edge.

I never thought that I would like a book like this but I was trying to multi-task so I wouldn't have to put the book down and having to tell the story to my short-term boys made it even better. William and Duncan fighting this battle in two different levels. Trying to raise the God of creation and the blood god. Wow! Thank you!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed"
This is very well written. I loved the character development. The story kept moving right along so you are not going to put it down a forget it. I highly recommend this book and enjoy your read.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually liked the story even though it's not usually what I read. It had me hooked from the fist line and I had a hard time putting it down. The twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend this story to many of my friends.

[Aaron Polish · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed." Even though it was a short part of the story, I loved it, the way the Gods went to war at each other was perfect, but I can't wait to see the real story as well, great job.

[Gatorflyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is not a genre I normally enjoy reading, Mr. Cook had me hooked early on.
The intricate twists and turns really made for an enjoyable read. I hear there may be a sequel in the future... if so, I'm definitely in! I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.