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Doomsayer Prince: Omnibus Edition
Doomsayer Prince, Omnibus edition"This is a definite must-read if you enjoy epic fantasy," "one of a kind," and "superb depth," are just some of the high praises that reviewers have awarded The Doomsayer Prince. This is the first book in The Artifact War series by Rune S. Nielsen and features intelligent, nuanced characters in a lushly drawn, intricate, fun, and action-packed world. It's a fresh take on magical systems and magic's impact on power dynamics in society.What they foresee will shatter this ageIn his vision, colossal artifacts stride across his homeland, destroying everything in their path. In a desperate attempt to save his home, Mage Prince Phytiax heads to the wild north in search of allies. On his journey, his magical powers become damaged at the worst possible time, and his destined allies need to be saved before they can help Pino, the weakest Mage of all time and wielder of a mysterious artifact sword; Emilai, a kidnapped noblewoman—turned Witch to fight her captors; and Cordin, an old Light Master, wanted for murder, but dead-set on getting his life back. With the brutal and mysterious force invading and destabilizing the surrounding kingdoms, will his potential allies help or hinder him? And even if they save their homelands, the price might be worse than they ever imagined. About the Omnibus editionThe edition maintains the original look of the novel while combining parts one and two into a single book.Please find other books by the author
- GenresFantasy
777 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2020
9 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Rune S. Nielsen
9 books15 followersI'm the author of the Doomsayer Prince and A Company of Adventurers and a journalist. I hail from the tiny beautiful Kingdom of Denmark.
Growing up at the edge of a town between a farm, forest, and the army base (where my father worked,) I discovered secret places to dream up stories, and I plan to never stop.
Join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/13187...
Growing up at the edge of a town between a farm, forest, and the army base (where my father worked,) I discovered secret places to dream up stories, and I plan to never stop.
Join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/13187...
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 22, 2020
This book is definitely one of a kind. I have never read a book battle scenes and visions of the future are blended together so well. This is a multi-person story and it takes a while for the plot to reveal itself, but the payoff was fantastic. There were some chapters that felt overly long with descriptions and conversations, which is why I gave the story 4 stars. Great first book in this series. I look forward to the next volume!
August 24, 2020
A captivating story about power, gender, customs, friendship and magic.
This story got me from page one. The main characters get under your skin very fast, and you understand their motivation, and no one is completely good nor completely bad.
There is also a lot of world building and you get to learn the rules of the world while travelling with the main characters. It is a relatively easy read with a lot of nuances and lots of room to develop your own theories, as not all is given.
There is even mystery and crime. A lot of thought has gone into defining the world and even with magic there is no easy fix for the problems in this world.
It is the first in a series and it is apparent that the adventure are far from over, when you finish the book.
This story got me from page one. The main characters get under your skin very fast, and you understand their motivation, and no one is completely good nor completely bad.
There is also a lot of world building and you get to learn the rules of the world while travelling with the main characters. It is a relatively easy read with a lot of nuances and lots of room to develop your own theories, as not all is given.
There is even mystery and crime. A lot of thought has gone into defining the world and even with magic there is no easy fix for the problems in this world.
It is the first in a series and it is apparent that the adventure are far from over, when you finish the book.
November 19, 2020
Really 4.5 stars. There is a lot to like about this book. For one, the magic system of the 5 different types was well thought out, especially the omen class. Another huge positive was the worldbuilding, which was epic and sprawling. Superb depth. I'm also a sucker for magical items/artifacts and this book had those in spades!
The only slight negative is that the book is rather long when I think it could have been cut down a little bit. Such a minor issue though especially when the author has swung for the fences with the depth of story and characters. Will definitely continue this trilogy when the next book comes out
The only slight negative is that the book is rather long when I think it could have been cut down a little bit. Such a minor issue though especially when the author has swung for the fences with the depth of story and characters. Will definitely continue this trilogy when the next book comes out
September 6, 2020
Loved it.
Novel approach on magic and good character build up.
Hope the next book in the trilogy is imminent 😀. Nice.
Novel approach on magic and good character build up.
Hope the next book in the trilogy is imminent 😀. Nice.
January 31, 2021
This is just such a big sprawling book that just really draws you in. The world building is so well done, from the Persian-like Izanti Empire that Phytias is a prince in, to the Kingdom of Lyom, which is very much a medieval feudal society, with the nobility strictly controlling the peasants. The nobility all being mages in all these countries does make it easier to control their peasants. Each country has its own rules about who can use magic, which is split into five paths, of which users can only use one, whether it be Strength (Telekinesis), Light (Fire), Life (Healing), Death (Disintegration) or Omen (Prescience). The mages of previous ages had the potential to use multiple branches, but those bloodlines have faded over the centuries, and the society is just a faded remnant of the once powerful All-Master mage empires.
The characters are amazingly well written. The POV character arcs are so well fleshed out. Phytiax's growth from a sheltered, ambitious prince trying to save his empire and his family is phenomenal. Emilai's arc starting as a sheltered young noblewoman, who's biggest goal in life is to make a good wife for a man she hasn't even met, has a story arc that takes her into unknown places and grants her immense power, with an interesting payoff.
Pino is a really interesting character, being a throwback mage who can use all five magic types, but has almost no power or range at which to be able to use them, and is therefore a misfit, neither a mage nor a commoner. His path to the end of the story takes so many twists and turns, and Pino has to grow into his true potential. which is something you just don't expect when you meet his character for the first time. Cordin is the most traditional character, a past his prime mage that's kind of unscrupulous in working on raising his retirement funds, even with his scroll selling business. His character arc from aging grifter to knowledgeable heroic mentor is a fun one.
The antagonists are excellently written as well, ranging from ruthless but extremely competent henchmen, to a king of a small kingdom on the search for weapons from another age that will make him unstoppable. They are truly menacing, being a realistic threat to the protagonists, definitely effective foils to the protagonists. The secondary characters were well thought out, playing their parts in advancing the story, and even getting some character growth themselves, something often overlooked in storytelling. All in all, very effective and engaging world and character building.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A book this big in less capable hands could have felt like a huge slog. Instead, it caused several sleepless nights as I was just not able to put it down, having to keep reading to see what happened next. This book will have much appeal for fans of writers like Sanderson and GRRM, layered fantasy with multiple characters going thought story arcs leading to a dynamic conclusion. This is a definite must read if you enjoy epic fantasy.
The characters are amazingly well written. The POV character arcs are so well fleshed out. Phytiax's growth from a sheltered, ambitious prince trying to save his empire and his family is phenomenal. Emilai's arc starting as a sheltered young noblewoman, who's biggest goal in life is to make a good wife for a man she hasn't even met, has a story arc that takes her into unknown places and grants her immense power, with an interesting payoff.
Pino is a really interesting character, being a throwback mage who can use all five magic types, but has almost no power or range at which to be able to use them, and is therefore a misfit, neither a mage nor a commoner. His path to the end of the story takes so many twists and turns, and Pino has to grow into his true potential. which is something you just don't expect when you meet his character for the first time. Cordin is the most traditional character, a past his prime mage that's kind of unscrupulous in working on raising his retirement funds, even with his scroll selling business. His character arc from aging grifter to knowledgeable heroic mentor is a fun one.
The antagonists are excellently written as well, ranging from ruthless but extremely competent henchmen, to a king of a small kingdom on the search for weapons from another age that will make him unstoppable. They are truly menacing, being a realistic threat to the protagonists, definitely effective foils to the protagonists. The secondary characters were well thought out, playing their parts in advancing the story, and even getting some character growth themselves, something often overlooked in storytelling. All in all, very effective and engaging world and character building.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A book this big in less capable hands could have felt like a huge slog. Instead, it caused several sleepless nights as I was just not able to put it down, having to keep reading to see what happened next. This book will have much appeal for fans of writers like Sanderson and GRRM, layered fantasy with multiple characters going thought story arcs leading to a dynamic conclusion. This is a definite must read if you enjoy epic fantasy.
January 26, 2021
A long epic journey to stop the future from coming true
After undergoing a sacred ceremony granting him the power to see ten years into the future, Prince Phytiax comes back knowing that his empire will be utterly destroyed by an unknown supernaturally powerful enemy. Using bits of knowledge he'd gained in his vision, Phytiax leaves his palace to find the three powerful mages who might be strung enough to defeat the enemy.
The story swaps between multiple perspectives. One, is Prince Phytiax, young, strong, and very arrogant. As a master of Omen magic, he can see moments into the future, and thereby adjust his actions for the best possible results. However, after recklessly using his powers to save his brother's life, his foresight is damaged, at a time when he'll need it most.
Emilai is a noble lady. Abducted from her home, she's transprted together with two other kidnapped women. Using magic is forbidden for women, but Emilai is tired of being abused and weak. If she can figure out how to use it, she might have a chance to fight back and possibly escape.
Pino is one of the only mages in the world who can use all disciples of magic, but he's also the weakest mage in the world. When the woman he fancies is kidnapped, Pino follows his heart and runs to be her savior.
Those were the three main perspectives. As with most multi perspective books, it gets annoying when the story suddenly switches between characters. It's hard to connect to the characters when the story jumps around just when things get interesting.
I also found it annoying that the prose sometimes changed tenses at random moments, going from a comfortable past tense to a jarring present tense. It wouldn't be so bad if it just picked one and stayed with it. I think that mix-up happened because the Prince used the present tense when he spoke about visions he had of the future, but then the tense changes bled into the wrong moments. There were a few other grammar and spelling issues that a good editing would solve.
This book was really long. I ended up picking up and putting down this book in favor of others, which didn't help. The plot often wandered off on unnecessary long winded background info and histories. I skimmed through most of them. I enjoy reading about magic systems and histories, but not in so much detail. A lot of those backstories and detailed magical explanations could've gone into a glossary in order to slim down this book.
Aside from those issues, the plot was really interesting. It was a very wide-scaled operation, covering multiple empires and countries and different political issues, cultures, and a detailed magic system. There was a lot of magic, mostly used in fighting scenes, and detailed explanations on how every spell worked. The characters were interesting too. At times, i sympathized with them, and at other times, I thought they were idiots. The two male protagonists were adults, but they thought and acted like immature teens when it came to women.
The plot was intriguing. It took a long while, but it was nice to finally find out who the enemy was and to learn their goal. It was a long, but interesting journey. The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.
I'd recommend this for those who like long books that take one on a slow long journey that thoroughly explores the world, culture, and characters. Be prepared to spend a long time in these pages.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
After undergoing a sacred ceremony granting him the power to see ten years into the future, Prince Phytiax comes back knowing that his empire will be utterly destroyed by an unknown supernaturally powerful enemy. Using bits of knowledge he'd gained in his vision, Phytiax leaves his palace to find the three powerful mages who might be strung enough to defeat the enemy.
The story swaps between multiple perspectives. One, is Prince Phytiax, young, strong, and very arrogant. As a master of Omen magic, he can see moments into the future, and thereby adjust his actions for the best possible results. However, after recklessly using his powers to save his brother's life, his foresight is damaged, at a time when he'll need it most.
Emilai is a noble lady. Abducted from her home, she's transprted together with two other kidnapped women. Using magic is forbidden for women, but Emilai is tired of being abused and weak. If she can figure out how to use it, she might have a chance to fight back and possibly escape.
Pino is one of the only mages in the world who can use all disciples of magic, but he's also the weakest mage in the world. When the woman he fancies is kidnapped, Pino follows his heart and runs to be her savior.
Those were the three main perspectives. As with most multi perspective books, it gets annoying when the story suddenly switches between characters. It's hard to connect to the characters when the story jumps around just when things get interesting.
I also found it annoying that the prose sometimes changed tenses at random moments, going from a comfortable past tense to a jarring present tense. It wouldn't be so bad if it just picked one and stayed with it. I think that mix-up happened because the Prince used the present tense when he spoke about visions he had of the future, but then the tense changes bled into the wrong moments. There were a few other grammar and spelling issues that a good editing would solve.
This book was really long. I ended up picking up and putting down this book in favor of others, which didn't help. The plot often wandered off on unnecessary long winded background info and histories. I skimmed through most of them. I enjoy reading about magic systems and histories, but not in so much detail. A lot of those backstories and detailed magical explanations could've gone into a glossary in order to slim down this book.
Aside from those issues, the plot was really interesting. It was a very wide-scaled operation, covering multiple empires and countries and different political issues, cultures, and a detailed magic system. There was a lot of magic, mostly used in fighting scenes, and detailed explanations on how every spell worked. The characters were interesting too. At times, i sympathized with them, and at other times, I thought they were idiots. The two male protagonists were adults, but they thought and acted like immature teens when it came to women.
The plot was intriguing. It took a long while, but it was nice to finally find out who the enemy was and to learn their goal. It was a long, but interesting journey. The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.
I'd recommend this for those who like long books that take one on a slow long journey that thoroughly explores the world, culture, and characters. Be prepared to spend a long time in these pages.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2025
Doomsayer Prince by Rune S. Nielsen is a gripping and inventive fantasy novel that blends elements of political intrigue, mystical prophecy, and the struggle for power. The story centers around the protagonist, Prince Phytiax, who is burdened with a mysterious and dangerous gift: the ability to predict catastrophic events, hence earning the title of the “Doomsayer.” His gift, while useful, makes him a target for those who either wish to control him or silence him altogether.
Nielsen excels at world-building, creating a detailed and immersive fantasy setting where the tension between rival factions is palpable. The kingdom in which Phytiax lives is rife with political machinations, and Nielsen does a masterful job of capturing the subtle dynamics of court life, the manipulation of alliances, and the ever-present danger of betrayal. The blend of magic and realism creates an atmosphere that keeps the reader engaged, as the sense of impending doom seems inescapable.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Doomsayer Prince is the character of Phytiax himself. As the titular character, he is both a product of his environment and a tragic figure, torn between using his powers for good and being manipulated by those who see his abilities as a means to an end. His inner conflict is compelling, and Nielsen’s exploration of the psychological toll of such a burden is a strong element of the narrative.
The novel also does a great job with pacing. The plot moves quickly without feeling rushed, and Nielsen ensures that the reader remains invested in the outcome through twists and turns that keep the stakes high. The dialogue is sharp and full of intrigue, and the secondary characters, though sometimes archetypal, add necessary layers to the story.
However, some may find the novel’s tone a bit heavy, especially with the constant threat of doom that hangs over the narrative. At times, the weight of Phytiax’s fate can be overwhelming, and certain moments may feel like they verge on repetitiveness as the protagonist contemplates the futility of his visions. Nevertheless, this thematic exploration is one of the novel’s strengths, as it deals with questions of destiny, free will, and the consequences of knowledge.
In conclusion, Doomsayer Prince is an ambitious and thought-provoking fantasy novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy complex characters, intricate politics, and a plot that combines the personal with the grand. Rune S. Nielsen’s ability to craft a world full of intrigue and to explore deep emotional and philosophical themes makes this a standout work in its genre. Fans of dark fantasy will find much to enjoy in this tale of prophecy, power, and the price of knowing the future.
Nielsen excels at world-building, creating a detailed and immersive fantasy setting where the tension between rival factions is palpable. The kingdom in which Phytiax lives is rife with political machinations, and Nielsen does a masterful job of capturing the subtle dynamics of court life, the manipulation of alliances, and the ever-present danger of betrayal. The blend of magic and realism creates an atmosphere that keeps the reader engaged, as the sense of impending doom seems inescapable.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Doomsayer Prince is the character of Phytiax himself. As the titular character, he is both a product of his environment and a tragic figure, torn between using his powers for good and being manipulated by those who see his abilities as a means to an end. His inner conflict is compelling, and Nielsen’s exploration of the psychological toll of such a burden is a strong element of the narrative.
The novel also does a great job with pacing. The plot moves quickly without feeling rushed, and Nielsen ensures that the reader remains invested in the outcome through twists and turns that keep the stakes high. The dialogue is sharp and full of intrigue, and the secondary characters, though sometimes archetypal, add necessary layers to the story.
However, some may find the novel’s tone a bit heavy, especially with the constant threat of doom that hangs over the narrative. At times, the weight of Phytiax’s fate can be overwhelming, and certain moments may feel like they verge on repetitiveness as the protagonist contemplates the futility of his visions. Nevertheless, this thematic exploration is one of the novel’s strengths, as it deals with questions of destiny, free will, and the consequences of knowledge.
In conclusion, Doomsayer Prince is an ambitious and thought-provoking fantasy novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy complex characters, intricate politics, and a plot that combines the personal with the grand. Rune S. Nielsen’s ability to craft a world full of intrigue and to explore deep emotional and philosophical themes makes this a standout work in its genre. Fans of dark fantasy will find much to enjoy in this tale of prophecy, power, and the price of knowing the future.
April 14, 2021
A wonderful new world to explore. a fascinating new take on magic. Great story and cool characters.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews