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Descendants of the Fall #1
Warbringer
Centuries ago, the world fell.From the ashes rose a terrible new species—the Tangata. Now they wage war against the kingdoms of man. And humanity is losing. Recruited straight from his academy, twenty-year-old Lukys hopes the frontier will make a soldier out of him. But Tangata are massing in the south, and the allied armies are desperate. They will do anything to halt the enemy advance—including sending untrained men and women into battle. Determined to survive, Lukys seeks aid from the only man who seems to Romaine, the last warrior of an extinct kingdom. Meanwhile, the Queen’s Archivist leads an expedition deep beneath the earth. She seeks to uncover the secrets of the Gods. Their magic has been lost to the ages, yet artefacts remain, objects of power that could turn the tide of the war. But salvation is not all that waits beneath the surface. Something else slumbers in the darkness. Something old. Something evil.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2020
965 people are currently reading
728 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Hodges
53 books295 followersAaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he now spends his time traveling the world in search of his next adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 3, 2020
Solid!!
Wasn’t sure what to expect but this was a solid start!! Very intriguing and the characters definitely had depth and the intrigue! Did I mention the intrigue?!? 😉
Also, I feel like I need to note how well written this is. Very well edited too!
Welp, I’m off to the next book now 😬
Wasn’t sure what to expect but this was a solid start!! Very intriguing and the characters definitely had depth and the intrigue! Did I mention the intrigue?!? 😉
Also, I feel like I need to note how well written this is. Very well edited too!
Welp, I’m off to the next book now 😬
April 6, 2020
The initial plot is entertaining, and Mr. Hodges moves it along at a good clip, keeping readers engaged by having three different characters narrate the story. Countries are at war with the Tangata, and the characters (warrior Romaine, archivist Erika, and recruit Lukys) are participating in different ways, thus providing readers with multiple viewpoints.
Other areas are not as strong. There were many times when one description would clash with the next. For instance, Romaine is shown to be an intelligent warrior, and it was inexplicable that he would leave his horse and his weapon behind when disembarking from a ship. Emotions clash with characterizations, and at times characters change for no reason. Grammar is also an issue. Once or twice in a book can be overlooked, but when there are multiple instances in some of the chapters, they interfere with the reader’s immersion into the story. Mr. Hodges also has a habit of including unnecessary description, which bloats the story and slows the pacing.
As the book neared the end, the author introduced elements that clashed with events in previous chapters. Characters should not radically change their behaviors, and forcing them to do so in order to introduce tension can cause a reader to question the entire storyline. Worst of all, “Warbringer” ends with a cliffhanger.
Overall, I found the book to be an uneven read. Cliffhangers do not compel me to read the next book in the series. I return because the characters are engaging, the writing is tight, and the story makes sense. “Warbringer” demonstrates promise, but in its current form, reminds me of a good first draft. Two-and-a-half stars.
Other areas are not as strong. There were many times when one description would clash with the next. For instance, Romaine is shown to be an intelligent warrior, and it was inexplicable that he would leave his horse and his weapon behind when disembarking from a ship. Emotions clash with characterizations, and at times characters change for no reason. Grammar is also an issue. Once or twice in a book can be overlooked, but when there are multiple instances in some of the chapters, they interfere with the reader’s immersion into the story. Mr. Hodges also has a habit of including unnecessary description, which bloats the story and slows the pacing.
As the book neared the end, the author introduced elements that clashed with events in previous chapters. Characters should not radically change their behaviors, and forcing them to do so in order to introduce tension can cause a reader to question the entire storyline. Worst of all, “Warbringer” ends with a cliffhanger.
Overall, I found the book to be an uneven read. Cliffhangers do not compel me to read the next book in the series. I return because the characters are engaging, the writing is tight, and the story makes sense. “Warbringer” demonstrates promise, but in its current form, reminds me of a good first draft. Two-and-a-half stars.
February 13, 2022
Soooo, what happened to Travis??
This was good. I didn’t think it was amazing but the characters were well fleshed out. Especially Romaine. He was the best! The world building was great and the action kept me on the edge. 4 stars.
This was good. I didn’t think it was amazing but the characters were well fleshed out. Especially Romaine. He was the best! The world building was great and the action kept me on the edge. 4 stars.
July 3, 2020
I was lucky enough to take part in a “Warbringer” book birthday blitz! My review is posted here:
https://briannasbooksandrandomness.wo...
https://briannasbooksandrandomness.wo...
July 2, 2020
The Tangata are a plague against the surviving human nations. Can the search for missing relics and gods' magic be the answer?
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is split between a few narrators, starting with Romaine - a Calafe farmer-turned-warrior whose home was overrun by the Tangata.
After watching his family and his follow-warriors die, Romaine is going through the motions, refusing to get close to other people, and waiting for their inevitable destruction.
When he finds himself lumbered with the most useless soldiers in the army, and a mysterious girl who also seems to be from Calafe; Romaine starts to fight for more than survival.
Lukys is shocked to find out what people really think of the Perfugian recruits.
All Perfugians are educated as equals, and at graduation each year a select group are given the honour of joining the Flumeeren army. It is widely known that Perfugian fighters are respected and revered... until Lukys gets to the frontline of the war and learns that Perfugian's are one step up from useless, and are basically used as cannon fodder.
Lukys decides that he doesn't want to roll over and die, and pesters Romaine into training him, so he at least has a chance.
Erika is the Queen's Archivist. She is extremely intelligent and single-minded in her pursuit of the historical artefacts that might turn the tide of the war.
After finding a gauntlet with a deadly power, and a map to more hidden sites, she seems to finally be on the right track - a relief for Erika, as the Queen is growing weary of her failures, and has made it clear that Erika won't be allowed to fail again.
Erika's people skills are poorly lacking, as she ends up getting Romaine and his Perfugian trainees as her escorts into the Tangata-filled Calafe.
I really enjoyed the world that Hodges has created.
We're in the middle - if not the end - of a war between the Tangata and humans. Calafe has already fallen, and it's only a matter of time before Flumeer does too.
You get the sense of urgency and despair from Romaine and the other soldiers stationed at the front; but the story never gets too bogged down in darkness. They're already in the middle of the big fight.
The Tangata are interesting creatures - they look human enough, except for their grey eyes. I got the feeling that they might once have been human; and with their crazed, almost animal nature there was definitely a zombie vibe (World War Z-style fast and deadly zombies, not Walking Dead).
I'm interested in seeing how these evolve throughout the series. So far, they've only shown a desire for hunting and killing humans, with only a couple of glimpses at more unusual behaviour.
The not-so-good.
I thought it lost its pace a little in the last third. I was surprised that the mission was abandoned so close to goal, especially after how tenacious Erika was.
Erika was not a likeable character. I think this was the point, but it meant that I didn't enjoy reading her narrative as much as the others.
I can understand her motivations, but she's selfish and has an inflated ego.
I think the worst part of her character is that she knows that she's probably taking these men to their deaths, and that she should feel guilty about it; but she chooses not to.
Overall, this was a really good story and I look forward to the rest of the series.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is split between a few narrators, starting with Romaine - a Calafe farmer-turned-warrior whose home was overrun by the Tangata.
After watching his family and his follow-warriors die, Romaine is going through the motions, refusing to get close to other people, and waiting for their inevitable destruction.
When he finds himself lumbered with the most useless soldiers in the army, and a mysterious girl who also seems to be from Calafe; Romaine starts to fight for more than survival.
Lukys is shocked to find out what people really think of the Perfugian recruits.
All Perfugians are educated as equals, and at graduation each year a select group are given the honour of joining the Flumeeren army. It is widely known that Perfugian fighters are respected and revered... until Lukys gets to the frontline of the war and learns that Perfugian's are one step up from useless, and are basically used as cannon fodder.
Lukys decides that he doesn't want to roll over and die, and pesters Romaine into training him, so he at least has a chance.
Erika is the Queen's Archivist. She is extremely intelligent and single-minded in her pursuit of the historical artefacts that might turn the tide of the war.
After finding a gauntlet with a deadly power, and a map to more hidden sites, she seems to finally be on the right track - a relief for Erika, as the Queen is growing weary of her failures, and has made it clear that Erika won't be allowed to fail again.
Erika's people skills are poorly lacking, as she ends up getting Romaine and his Perfugian trainees as her escorts into the Tangata-filled Calafe.
I really enjoyed the world that Hodges has created.
We're in the middle - if not the end - of a war between the Tangata and humans. Calafe has already fallen, and it's only a matter of time before Flumeer does too.
You get the sense of urgency and despair from Romaine and the other soldiers stationed at the front; but the story never gets too bogged down in darkness. They're already in the middle of the big fight.
The Tangata are interesting creatures - they look human enough, except for their grey eyes. I got the feeling that they might once have been human; and with their crazed, almost animal nature there was definitely a zombie vibe (World War Z-style fast and deadly zombies, not Walking Dead).
I'm interested in seeing how these evolve throughout the series. So far, they've only shown a desire for hunting and killing humans, with only a couple of glimpses at more unusual behaviour.
The not-so-good.
I thought it lost its pace a little in the last third. I was surprised that the mission was abandoned so close to goal, especially after how tenacious Erika was.
Erika was not a likeable character. I think this was the point, but it meant that I didn't enjoy reading her narrative as much as the others.
I can understand her motivations, but she's selfish and has an inflated ego.
I think the worst part of her character is that she knows that she's probably taking these men to their deaths, and that she should feel guilty about it; but she chooses not to.
Overall, this was a really good story and I look forward to the rest of the series.
April 22, 2020
I’m a huge fan of Aaron Hodges and Warbringer once again shows off his talent as a great writer and story teller! This is the first book in a new series and let me tell you, I can’t wait for the rest! The story is told from 3 points of view: Lukys, a young recruit, Romaine, a seasoned warrior, and Erika, an archivist. Humankind is in imminent danger of destruction from the creatures called Tangata. Can the war be turned around in humans favour? I enjoyed each of the 3 main characters and liked watching events unfold from different perspectives. As usual I loved the world built by Aaron Hodges. He does an excellent job of painting a picture for the reader with his words! Just a warning that this book ends on a cliffhanger so you’ll want to read the next one, but I’m sure it will be well worth the wait!
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 22, 2020
Hold your breath, wow just wow! A war brings out lots of people like a archivist, Erika, that wants to go after the God's jewels. A Army recruit, Lukys, that knew nothing about training. A old Army, Romaine was soured on war and the dangerous Tangata that was trying to kill everyone. Getting ordered to take the archivist to hunt for artifacts of the God's, wasn't what he wanted to do in another city and was very dangerous. Good storytelling, good book, with a little of everything.
May 9, 2020
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I have other books by Aaron Hodges. It had a few surprises, although at times I felt it was rushed. Maybe it's just me but I would have like a little more detail on how the characters got from one place to the other e.g. when they came from the village to the river.
The one thing that really annoyed me about the book was the poor editing which was surprising, as I haven't noticed it in any of the books I have read by Aaron before.
The one thing that really annoyed me about the book was the poor editing which was surprising, as I haven't noticed it in any of the books I have read by Aaron before.
July 1, 2020
I rated this one a 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars (as Goodreads doesn't let you award half-stars). I was given a free copy of Warbringer in return for an honest review.
Warbringer is the first in a new series by Aaron Hodges. The story follows three distinct characters — the Warrior, Romaine; the Archivist, Erika; and the Recruit, Lukys. Romaine is an experienced warrior, who has been fighting the Tangata for the last ten years. Lukys is 20 years old and has never been in a battle. Erika is the Queen's Archivisit, who leads an expedition to find a weapon to help the war against the Tangata, searching old historical sites abandoned by the Gods. The story switches between these three character's points of view throughout the book — each chapter has a heading of the Warrior, the Archivist or the Recruit, so it's clear who is speaking.
The Tangata are a superhuman species, created a few hundred years before after stealing magic from the Gods. They are fast and have incredible strength. They have relentlessly invaded men, and now the battle has come to the city of Fogmore. Here, men take a last stand against the Tangata — they are all that stops them from destroying all of civilisation.
Warbringer has quite a slow start, focusing on world building. However, when Erika arrives at Frogmore, this is when things begin to get interesting! We learn a lot more about each of the characters, both the three central characters as well as some of the others in the army. General Curtis originally comes across as rude and insensitive when we first meet him — but Erika's encounter with him later tells a totally different story.
I was really intrigued by the Tangata and definitely want to learn more about them. They are described as terrifyingly fast, with strong legs that can jump incredibly high. They use no weapons, instead they prefer to rip their enemy to pieces. I found them quite terrifying, especially as they seem so feral — but Romaine is able to kill them without too much difficulty, taking on two at once.
We also meet Queen Amina near the start of the book, from Erika's point of view. Again, she sounded like an interesting character, described as a warrior queen and wearing a full suit of armour (minus the helm). She is only in one scene but again, I hope to learn more about her in future books!
Finally, the most intriguing character of all is Cara. Romaine rescues her at the start of the book, and she seems to be fairly unassuming. However, it's clear by the last chapter that she is definitely not what she seems!
This is quite a slow-paced book — things start to pick up about 40% in. I would have enjoyed reading more about the expedition that Romaine, Lukys and Erika go on, than learning all about the training Romaine gives Lukys. However, the world-building is fantastic, and incredibly rich and vivid. Warbringer ends on a cliff-hanger which was a little frustrating — but the second book, Wrath of the Forgotten, has just been released, so I will have to pick that up soon!
Warbringer is the first in a new series by Aaron Hodges. The story follows three distinct characters — the Warrior, Romaine; the Archivist, Erika; and the Recruit, Lukys. Romaine is an experienced warrior, who has been fighting the Tangata for the last ten years. Lukys is 20 years old and has never been in a battle. Erika is the Queen's Archivisit, who leads an expedition to find a weapon to help the war against the Tangata, searching old historical sites abandoned by the Gods. The story switches between these three character's points of view throughout the book — each chapter has a heading of the Warrior, the Archivist or the Recruit, so it's clear who is speaking.
The Tangata are a superhuman species, created a few hundred years before after stealing magic from the Gods. They are fast and have incredible strength. They have relentlessly invaded men, and now the battle has come to the city of Fogmore. Here, men take a last stand against the Tangata — they are all that stops them from destroying all of civilisation.
Warbringer has quite a slow start, focusing on world building. However, when Erika arrives at Frogmore, this is when things begin to get interesting! We learn a lot more about each of the characters, both the three central characters as well as some of the others in the army. General Curtis originally comes across as rude and insensitive when we first meet him — but Erika's encounter with him later tells a totally different story.
I was really intrigued by the Tangata and definitely want to learn more about them. They are described as terrifyingly fast, with strong legs that can jump incredibly high. They use no weapons, instead they prefer to rip their enemy to pieces. I found them quite terrifying, especially as they seem so feral — but Romaine is able to kill them without too much difficulty, taking on two at once.
We also meet Queen Amina near the start of the book, from Erika's point of view. Again, she sounded like an interesting character, described as a warrior queen and wearing a full suit of armour (minus the helm). She is only in one scene but again, I hope to learn more about her in future books!
Finally, the most intriguing character of all is Cara. Romaine rescues her at the start of the book, and she seems to be fairly unassuming. However, it's clear by the last chapter that she is definitely not what she seems!
This is quite a slow-paced book — things start to pick up about 40% in. I would have enjoyed reading more about the expedition that Romaine, Lukys and Erika go on, than learning all about the training Romaine gives Lukys. However, the world-building is fantastic, and incredibly rich and vivid. Warbringer ends on a cliff-hanger which was a little frustrating — but the second book, Wrath of the Forgotten, has just been released, so I will have to pick that up soon!
June 25, 2020
One wizened old Calafe warrior, a strange girl and a few raw recruits are all that stands in the way of death from the Tangata. The Tangata are inhuman creatures that meddled with the magic of the Gods.
This book has strong characters with determination to do what it takes to survive and hope they can succeed.
A well written book with action and great characters. I loved this book.
This book has strong characters with determination to do what it takes to survive and hope they can succeed.
A well written book with action and great characters. I loved this book.
April 15, 2020
Great start to a new series! Interesting characters and a unique storyline set in a world that begs to be explored or in this case survived. Definitely worth checking out!
April 15, 2020
This first book is an absolutely terrific read. Next level fantasy indeed.
I loved the adventure and the action and can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I received an ARC of the book.
I loved the adventure and the action and can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I received an ARC of the book.
June 14, 2020
All I gotta say is that hoe Erika better get drop kicked and then burned at the stake!!! No redemption arc for her!! Ever.
ANDDDDD what the hell just happened to my baby Lukys at the end???? I knew those voices weren’t normal. Now he’s stranded near Calafe with the damn Tangata asking all these really relevant questions!! Please don’t eat him.
& I really loved how out of nowhere my girl Cara just sprouted wings and revealed herself as a goddess(I’m thinking she’s a half blood though since Erika noticed she can be wounded) hopefully she gets away from Erika ASAP and beats that bitches asssssss. And poor Romaine is gonna wake up all alone wondering wtf is going on. Can’t wait for next month and the next book. I need answers!!!!
ANDDDDD what the hell just happened to my baby Lukys at the end???? I knew those voices weren’t normal. Now he’s stranded near Calafe with the damn Tangata asking all these really relevant questions!! Please don’t eat him.
& I really loved how out of nowhere my girl Cara just sprouted wings and revealed herself as a goddess(I’m thinking she’s a half blood though since Erika noticed she can be wounded) hopefully she gets away from Erika ASAP and beats that bitches asssssss. And poor Romaine is gonna wake up all alone wondering wtf is going on. Can’t wait for next month and the next book. I need answers!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
Action, Adventure and Danger
What a great story teller Aaron Hodges is. He had me from the beginning to the end just wanting to know what came next. If they would get out of one scrape after another. It left me with lots of questions and answers of some. This just points to a great second book and I can not wait!.
What a great story teller Aaron Hodges is. He had me from the beginning to the end just wanting to know what came next. If they would get out of one scrape after another. It left me with lots of questions and answers of some. This just points to a great second book and I can not wait!.
April 5, 2020
Don’t you love it when an author you trust comes out with something new? That was my reaction on discovering that Aaron Hodges has released Warbringer (Descendants of the Fall Book 1). In these days of craziness it was just the sort of really well written and fun story I was looking for, and a really neat start to an exciting story arc that I can just tell will be complex but fun.
March 30, 2020
A brilliant start to a new series!
Wow! I was caught up in this story from the beginning. This is the first book of a new series by Aaron Hodges and what a start it is! It is an exciting page turner, with plenty of action, but I felt it was more character driven, which I enjoyed tremendously. And I have to tell you that there are some surprises that blew me away! This book is an epic beginning and I can't wait for book two! I love the main characters and I like the way the author tells the story through three of them. The emotion, new friendships, uncertainty, bravery even tragedy kept me glued to the pages. This book leads into the next book but I still felt good about how it ends. I highly recommend this book!
Wow! I was caught up in this story from the beginning. This is the first book of a new series by Aaron Hodges and what a start it is! It is an exciting page turner, with plenty of action, but I felt it was more character driven, which I enjoyed tremendously. And I have to tell you that there are some surprises that blew me away! This book is an epic beginning and I can't wait for book two! I love the main characters and I like the way the author tells the story through three of them. The emotion, new friendships, uncertainty, bravery even tragedy kept me glued to the pages. This book leads into the next book but I still felt good about how it ends. I highly recommend this book!
April 25, 2020
An exciting start to a new series.
This book grabed my attention right from the start.
With good characters , a good story and attention to detail.
It is as good as Aaron,s previous books which of course are all fantastic.
Romaine and Cara being the main characters who i like and they bring you into this book and you become a part of it.
Cannot wait for next book....
This book grabed my attention right from the start.
With good characters , a good story and attention to detail.
It is as good as Aaron,s previous books which of course are all fantastic.
Romaine and Cara being the main characters who i like and they bring you into this book and you become a part of it.
Cannot wait for next book....
April 23, 2020
What a wonderful story. I am still trying to piece it together. I love Cara and Luckys too. It was wonderful to read of the adventure of them against the Tangata. I can not wait for the next book. It is a great read, if you like gods and angels, and other creatures.
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April 21, 2020Aaron Hodges strikes again with another well written and imaginative new series. With this first book we are introduced to some truly great characters. This story just seems to flow and carries you the reader on a grand journey. Magical full of action and adventure. With enough twist to keep you on your toes. A truly fun read I can't wait for the next installment.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2020
This is book one of a new series by the author, Descendants of the Fall, and has a number of interesting characters. One is Romaine, a battle weary older warrior, who is the last of his comrades from the fallen kingdom of Calafe, overrun by their enemies the Tangata. He had fought for ten hard years to stop the Tangata advance, but their army was defeated and he had to watch all his comrades die. On a scouting mission with the Flumeerens, the small scouting group come across a pair of Tangatas, and after a ferocious fight, some of their group are dead, the two Tangata scouts are dead, and the woman whose footsteps Romaine had noticed, has been rescued with only a broken arm. They travel back across the Illmoor River, the only obstacle in the Tangata advance, to the small outpost of Frogmore. The woman’s name is Cara and she doesn’t reveal much about herself, until near the end of the book and then it is quite a shock to all.
Arriving just before them is a small regiment of new Perfugian recruits, and the one we learn most about is a young lad called Lukys, called a peasant by his fellow recruits from more powerful or noble families. He and the other recruits soon learn they have been sent as fodder for the fight against the Tangata. They have little to no training and are soon going to be facing action, they are ill prepared for! They are under the control of a famous General, but he is only concerned with keeping his own men safe. Lukys asks the only man who seems to care, the one that saved his life the first night from a Tangata, Romaine, to help train him so he will at least have a slight chance in the next fight. Cara also spends time with Romaine and Lukys on the outpost’s ramparts, watching his training, knowing no-one else there. She doesn’t like to be touched, but Lukys was the only one that she would allow to help with her broken arm, setting it straight and then bandaging it for her.
Another main character is the Queen’s Archivist, a young woman called Erika, who wants to discover the secrets of the Gods, who deserted the Earth after the Fall, as it was called, hundreds of years before. She has reassured the Queen that she would be able to find an artifact, or some secrets that would help in the battle against the Tangata. Unfortunately, her last few expeditions have turned up nothing and this next one, is her last one! If she fails this time, she could well be thrown out of her position and be back in the struggle to survive, she was in as a child. Her quest has her with only two men accompanying her, but this one at least turns up something and she manages to get the Queen to allow her one more expedition, but she must come back with more, or her life will be taken if she fails! She ends up at Frogmore with a request for a regiment to accompany her, but General Curtis will not allow his well-trained soldiers to go and the untrained Perfugian recruits end up under her command. Luckily for them, Romaine offers to act as their guide, since the next location is in his home land. Cara also leaves the post and travels with them, without permission.
The aim is to uncover objects to help turn the tide of the war against the Tangata. To gain some object with the power of the Gods, or some powerful magic of its own, to use in this war. But what happens to Lukys, Romaine, Erika, Cara and the rest of the young recruits, will be more than they could ever expect. The team has to split up when danger gets too close. The smaller team find the hidden location, but what they find underground is a lot stranger than they were expecting. Something else is down in the darkness, more evil and older than anything Erika or any of the others have ever experienced. There will be no salvation found in this location and their lives be forever changed. A huge battle is on the horizon and whether they will even make it back is for you to find out. An interesting look at a world in danger of being overrun by a race who are more powerful, faster and stronger than any of their own armies. Huge numbers of trained soldiers are need just to defeat a small number of the enemy. If matters don’t change in the balance of this war, everywhere will be overrun and life as they know it will be lost.
A start of another great series by the author. It is setting up a story that is far more complex than a simple fantasy adventure, looking for the powers of the long missing Gods. The main characters are all so different and have backgrounds that have pushed them into their current positions in life. There are surprises to come and a few are biggies! An interesting mix of epic fights, magic and the hunt for ancient relics, a mindless and hard to defeat foe, with dark fantasy added in. I look forward to reading more of this series and would recommend it to all who like this author’s books, love a bit of fantasy mixed with magic, or just those who love a great read.
Arriving just before them is a small regiment of new Perfugian recruits, and the one we learn most about is a young lad called Lukys, called a peasant by his fellow recruits from more powerful or noble families. He and the other recruits soon learn they have been sent as fodder for the fight against the Tangata. They have little to no training and are soon going to be facing action, they are ill prepared for! They are under the control of a famous General, but he is only concerned with keeping his own men safe. Lukys asks the only man who seems to care, the one that saved his life the first night from a Tangata, Romaine, to help train him so he will at least have a slight chance in the next fight. Cara also spends time with Romaine and Lukys on the outpost’s ramparts, watching his training, knowing no-one else there. She doesn’t like to be touched, but Lukys was the only one that she would allow to help with her broken arm, setting it straight and then bandaging it for her.
Another main character is the Queen’s Archivist, a young woman called Erika, who wants to discover the secrets of the Gods, who deserted the Earth after the Fall, as it was called, hundreds of years before. She has reassured the Queen that she would be able to find an artifact, or some secrets that would help in the battle against the Tangata. Unfortunately, her last few expeditions have turned up nothing and this next one, is her last one! If she fails this time, she could well be thrown out of her position and be back in the struggle to survive, she was in as a child. Her quest has her with only two men accompanying her, but this one at least turns up something and she manages to get the Queen to allow her one more expedition, but she must come back with more, or her life will be taken if she fails! She ends up at Frogmore with a request for a regiment to accompany her, but General Curtis will not allow his well-trained soldiers to go and the untrained Perfugian recruits end up under her command. Luckily for them, Romaine offers to act as their guide, since the next location is in his home land. Cara also leaves the post and travels with them, without permission.
The aim is to uncover objects to help turn the tide of the war against the Tangata. To gain some object with the power of the Gods, or some powerful magic of its own, to use in this war. But what happens to Lukys, Romaine, Erika, Cara and the rest of the young recruits, will be more than they could ever expect. The team has to split up when danger gets too close. The smaller team find the hidden location, but what they find underground is a lot stranger than they were expecting. Something else is down in the darkness, more evil and older than anything Erika or any of the others have ever experienced. There will be no salvation found in this location and their lives be forever changed. A huge battle is on the horizon and whether they will even make it back is for you to find out. An interesting look at a world in danger of being overrun by a race who are more powerful, faster and stronger than any of their own armies. Huge numbers of trained soldiers are need just to defeat a small number of the enemy. If matters don’t change in the balance of this war, everywhere will be overrun and life as they know it will be lost.
A start of another great series by the author. It is setting up a story that is far more complex than a simple fantasy adventure, looking for the powers of the long missing Gods. The main characters are all so different and have backgrounds that have pushed them into their current positions in life. There are surprises to come and a few are biggies! An interesting mix of epic fights, magic and the hunt for ancient relics, a mindless and hard to defeat foe, with dark fantasy added in. I look forward to reading more of this series and would recommend it to all who like this author’s books, love a bit of fantasy mixed with magic, or just those who love a great read.
June 28, 2020
It's been ten years since the fallen attacked the world, tearing it apart city by city. Romaine's home was one of the first to fall. Lukys's might in the future, but he wouldn't know, because survival wasn't guaranteed on the front lines. Erika has no home, but she's trying her best to make one for herself in the queen's court. As for Cara, she's a mystery in herself. But, when the vicious tangata come for them, their differences don't matter; they've to pool all their resources and then, they might just have a chance of staying alive.
I know the blurb I put up sounds like an amazing, if cliched YA plot. Well, blessed be the gods, nobody in this is a teenager. So, while I felt comfortably secure from hormonal genre-swapping, I still worried, for the characters at times veered dangerously close to some rather intransigent tropes. Cara, for example, reeked of a manic pixie dream girl for a lot of the story whereas Romaine was the typical dark, brooding hero with a dark past. Lukys, however, was no trope and neither was Erika. Both of them I enjoyed a lot.
Actually, let me be honest. The book is written in shifting POVs of Romaine, Erika and Lukys and I enjoyed them all. I think if Cara was given a POV herself, I might have liked her more. I understand why she wasn't though. However, as it stands, I didn't really get a feel for her and couldn't connect to her story line.
I think Erika's was the favorite arc of them all for me. She was very different from the usual female characterizations and felt like a whole unlikable person. Romaine was also given sparks of a human beyond his brooding persona. Lukys on the other hand, was a full firecracker of humanistic avarices. None of the characters are absolutely, easily lovable and that, I felt, was what made it real. I mean, how many days go by before coming across a human that you can insta-like?
The plot was good and fast paced. It's not mind-boggling, it's basically what it says on the cover- a war, warriors and the emotions in between- but, it was reasonably well done and easy to follow.
The world was rather my favorite part of the book though. It was characterised in words that brought it to life. It wasn't difficult to imagine Calafe with its untamed nature and the war-torn reality of Fulmeer. The story behind how it came be and what it came to be, the politics between nations during a crisis (rather reminiscent of the current state), and the perspective from the commoners who're just trying to get by was very well-crafted. It easily flowed into and around the story and made the journey through the book quite engrossing.
The prose can use some work though. It lacks the flow that would make it roll off the tongue in my head and it's especially evident during dialogue; the conversations are stilted and repetitive. It was probably this shortcoming that made the characters unlikable than anything else and made Cara come off kind of tropey. It does get better as we settle into the book, though I'm not sure if it's because I've grown used to it.
The themes of the story as could be expected with friendship and resilience taking the lead. Don't expect too much on the friendship front, it's a slow burn. Resilience though will hammer you from page one and I loved it. A lot of books tend to gloss over the darkness of war or crisis with interpersonal issues; this book though, does none of that. When shit strikes your door, you need to clean up your yard and there's no choice about it (again, kinda like the current situation)- I like that the author makes this point clearly.
BOTTOMLINE: The only reason I took long to read this book was because I was in a hella-deep reading slump; and in spite of the slump, I was engrossed every time I did manage to pick it up. Most of all, I remember the story too. So, it's a good read. Of course, like everything nowadays, this is book 1 of a series and so, it ends on a cliff-hanger. Other than that little stab in my liver, I would recommend it wholeheartedly.
Happy Reading!
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May 30, 2020
This first book in a new series by Aaron Hodges is a military epic fantasy at its best, I would compare it to the powerful military fantasy books written by Andy Peloquin and ML Spencer. The characters are well fleshed out and the book focuses a lot on the feelings and emotions of these characters as they interact with one another, thus we get to be very involved in their dangerous exploits as they face the Tangata. Lukys is a young recruit sent out to the frontier believing he was chosen because he was one of the best and quickly finding out he was sent there as fodder to be killed. However, Lukys is persistent and not one to shirk from his responsibilities so he turns to Romaine, a warrior of the Calafe and asks to be trained. Romaine is the last warrior standing since the Tangata had wiped out the Calafe and stolen everything that meant anything to him, so he did not fear them but loathed them. Romaine had vowed never to get close again to anyone but Lukys and Cara, a woman they saved whilst returning to their fort wormed their way into his heart. Meanwhile Erika, the Queen's Archivist arrives at the fort and demands soldiers be sent to guard her and lead her to the secret sacred sites of the Old Gods, who had vanished before the fall and taken magic with them. She was seeking out these sites to bring back magic artefacts in order to help humanity win the war against the Tangata, the monsters whose grey eyes only expressed rage and hatred and who were stronger than humans, so were winning the war. This first book is full of fast paced action, battles fought through both sword/axe and sorcery and a group of people torn by the discoveries they make about each other. The story ends on a cliffhanger, so I am dying to get book 2 into my hands to go on reading.
June 25, 2024
Warbringer (Descendants of the Fall Book 1) by Aaron Hodges
The book begins with humans at war with the Tangata and losing against the stronger and faster forces. The Tangata are taking over lands, rarely losing against humans.
Romaine, a warrior fighting against the Tangata. The kingdom he came from annihilated by the Tangata with no known survivors but for himself. His family killed by the Tangata. He uses his anger and skills to take down as many Tangata as he can.
Lukys, a young 20 year old with no fighting experience or skills whatsoever. Forced, along with other young men from his village to join into the battle against the Tangata with the group having no training for battle, just to be used as fodder, allowing more skilled fighters to get away.
Lukys convinces Rmaine to train him how to fight. As the training progresses, Lukys convinces more of his group to join in the training. However, before they feel ready, the group is forced to travel as protection for The Queen’s Archivist so she can find magic items lost in caves within Tangata infested lands.
This is really good and kept me entertained! I look forward to reading more in the series.
The book begins with humans at war with the Tangata and losing against the stronger and faster forces. The Tangata are taking over lands, rarely losing against humans.
Romaine, a warrior fighting against the Tangata. The kingdom he came from annihilated by the Tangata with no known survivors but for himself. His family killed by the Tangata. He uses his anger and skills to take down as many Tangata as he can.
Lukys, a young 20 year old with no fighting experience or skills whatsoever. Forced, along with other young men from his village to join into the battle against the Tangata with the group having no training for battle, just to be used as fodder, allowing more skilled fighters to get away.
Lukys convinces Rmaine to train him how to fight. As the training progresses, Lukys convinces more of his group to join in the training. However, before they feel ready, the group is forced to travel as protection for The Queen’s Archivist so she can find magic items lost in caves within Tangata infested lands.
This is really good and kept me entertained! I look forward to reading more in the series.
January 11, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was slow for the first two-thirds and then grabbed you. I'll read the next in the series to find out what happens.
My main problems were plot holes and things that happened for no good reason...
World: 4/5 Interesting, different. Plenty yet to discover.
Characters: 3/5 Interesting and varied generally developed well. But the archivist was a thin, unconvincing caricature - I'd expect archivists to be broader minded and better educated. Some of the behaviours too were unconvincing...
Plot: 2/5 Good in the global structure but let down by unrealistic events.
Writing: 3/5 Not bad but not terribly good either. Repetitious at times. Could have done with better copy editing as there were errors in the Kindle version that irritated.
Certainly not the worst fantasy I have read, with a good story let down by a need to suspend disbelief at times...
My main problems were plot holes and things that happened for no good reason...
World: 4/5 Interesting, different. Plenty yet to discover.
Characters: 3/5 Interesting and varied generally developed well. But the archivist was a thin, unconvincing caricature - I'd expect archivists to be broader minded and better educated. Some of the behaviours too were unconvincing...
Plot: 2/5 Good in the global structure but let down by unrealistic events.
Writing: 3/5 Not bad but not terribly good either. Repetitious at times. Could have done with better copy editing as there were errors in the Kindle version that irritated.
Certainly not the worst fantasy I have read, with a good story let down by a need to suspend disbelief at times...
September 20, 2023
An enjoyable story based on an interesting idea. Following an apocalyptic event long before, and now the subject of myth and superstition, humanity has become divided between standard humans and the ferocious Tangata, who are seeking to wipe out humans. The major characters are a veteran soldier, a new army recruit, a woman that they rescued from the Tangata and a researcher trying to recover potential weapons left from before the fall. I would have given this book 5* had the story been written as a stand-alone novel but I don't like cliff hanger ending needing you to continue to the rest of the series.
April 14, 2020
This was a good book even though it end with a cliffhanger which I prefer not to have in books I read. (Had a 6 book series end on one a then author never finished so hate a cliffhanger). The books character were developed well with good interactions between each other. This led to good scene development which sucked me into the story. The world building was good and made me feel like I was right there with them. Overall a good read and wanting next one to get here so I know what happens.
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest review.
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest review.
August 19, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. The beginning hooked me, and it kept me hooked for most of the book. I love an old fashioned medieval-ish fantasy, and this ticked all the boxes. There are only 2 reasons for it not getting 5 stars:
1. The middle (training with Lukys) caused a bit of boredom, I had to push through it, knowing it would get better soon
2. While I LOVED Erika at the start - I really disliked her towards the end - a lot. I'm not sure if that was on purpose, though, so it's just my opinion. I want to like her.
Overall, I highly recommend :)
1. The middle (training with Lukys) caused a bit of boredom, I had to push through it, knowing it would get better soon
2. While I LOVED Erika at the start - I really disliked her towards the end - a lot. I'm not sure if that was on purpose, though, so it's just my opinion. I want to like her.
Overall, I highly recommend :)
March 26, 2023
Not a bad first in series. There's lots of other series with similarities to this one, (parts of the sword of truth, and the druid of Shanara come to mind), but it's also quite a bit different, and while the story progresses logically, it still manages to go places you may not expect. If you're looking for a new series to read, that has magic, battles, and strange creatures, you could certainly do worse than to pick up this one. I liked this one, and will most likely read more of the books in this series.
September 28, 2020
If you're looking for an epic fantasy read, this book has it all: massive world, mythical creatures, and warfare. The book has multiple povs, and this worked perfectly for me, they were well introduced, and their chapters were distinct from each other. The plot pulled me in from the start. It was fast-paced and full of twists and turns, and I ended up being unable to put it down!
June 13, 2021
3 stars. At times the book was interesting. However, I thought the world in which the story takes place was vaguely described and contained several implausible elements. I also had difficulty liking the primary characters whose thoughts and actions could be primarily described with emotion and angst. Undecided on reading sequels.
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