Pilgrim

Pilgrim #1

by Harmon Cooper

A former assassin. A new beginning. An unspeakable past.

Abandoned at birth and raised to be an assassin by the mysterious Diyu Brotherhood, Danzen Ravja has had enough of the life of a contract killer. After completing his disastrous last assignment, he slips away to the remote Genshin Valley hoping to disappear for good.

Once he reaches Suja Village, Danzen does his best to keep his identity a secret.

He eventually becomes known as "Pilgrim" by the locals after he takes shelter in an abandoned monastery, which he plans to rebuild.

But his troubled past quickly catches up with him.

At the direction of his former teacher, the Brotherhood has put a hit on Danzen that has every assassin in the kingdom after him, which would be bad in itself if it weren't for his dark secret: Danzen Ravja is half-demon, and if he spills even a single drop of blood, he unleashes a horde of demons who will stop at nothing to kill Danzen and anyone he holds dear.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Action, Fiction, Demons, Dark Fantasy

755 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2020

About the author

Harmon Cooper is the author of over sixty fantasy works. His bestselling series include Pilgrim, War Priest, Cowboy Necromancer, and Tokens and Towers.

His series, The Feedback Loop, is one of the earlier GameLit works first published in 2015. An earphone award winner for the series Death's Mantle, Harmon won the LitRPG/GameLit Audiobook of the Year award for Sacred Cat Island, narrated by Legends and Lattes author Travis Baldree.

Harmon write progression fantasy, cultivation fantasy, and LitRPG/GameLit.

Reviews

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've bounced off a couple of this author's series so I have no idea why I picked this one up as well. I'm glad I did, mind, though I have no intention of going on to the next book.

This story is very episodic, at least to start. It's over halfway through the book before our protagonist makes a lasting connection that isn't transactiony. And even then I had to overlook the name "Kudzu" for the kitsune (called something else but that's essentially what she is) companion he picks up and hangs around with. The pace is good enough that it pulled me along and I even liked Pilgrim and his handling of his central dilemma of being hunted by his former assassin organization.

I did think it took a bit long for him to realize that he is painting a target on the backs of all the people around him as there's no indication that those hunting him care about collateral damage. If anything some of them seem to relish making big splashes (who says assassins have to be subtle?). That said, I kind if liked how it resolved in the end, especially in emotional terms.

This is too episodic to be a great story. But it held my interest pretty well. So I'm going to round the 3½ up to four stars. Reading the blurbs of the next story reveals enough that I'm not interested in going on, but at least for this book, it was a good time.

A note about Chaste: Pilgrim isn't ready to settle into any kind of commitment and isn't the type to relish intimacy. There are scenes in brothels and bathhouses but none of them prurient enough to trigger any kind of steam. So this is questionably chaste.

[Tony Hinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads like juvenile fiction. One set-piece segues to another with little rumination. The protagonist is never in any real danger. Side characters move on and off stage, leaving no lasting impact.

At one point the protagonist is asked if he has any regrets from his twenty years of assassinating people. To which he replies, "I don't know." Really?

[Soo · Rating 3 out of 5]

12/27/23 Notes:

Mikael Naramore is a great narrator. I think it's rather cool that there are many talented voice actors and emotive narrators. They add a lot of value to the audiobook world and make it possible for me to dive into more stories via audio.

😆 I appreciate the details and plot sequences in this book more because there have been so many books with less. The plot elements, characterizations and pivotal events in Pilgrim make sense within its story world.

12/11/21 Notes:

In comparison to other work by Cooper, this one was toned down a bit. The concepts for the story were good, but it took too long to establish the characters, setting and overall plot. I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would by the end of the book, but it took over 300 pages to get to the I like it stage. I plan to read the next book at some point. =)

- Cool to see the author trying out new ideas.
- Uneven pacing, but a nice nod to ronin type tales.
- I was happy to note that there isn't a harem or wonky relationship in this one. Realistic relationships are one of the downfalls for HC's stories, but not enough of a flaw to keep me from trying out his books.

[Shreyas Deshpande · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ratings:- ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

[Gareth Otton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pilgrim is the story of Danzen Ravja, a half-human half-demon assassin in a fantasy setting that felt like ancient Japan. The story opens just as Danzen is giving up the assassin life for good, but the people who raised him and taught him to be the killer that he is won't let him go that easily.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and one that I wasn't quite expecting to like as much as I did. It is made up of a lot of smaller adventures almost like episodes of a TV series that builds towards a larger story. Though violent and quite dark at times, it also felt like a light-hearted fantasy story that was slowly building to something bigger but luxuriating in taking its time doing so.

This was a book that was never afraid to spend time on the little details in the world-building and the story greatly benefited from that. It was these little details that made this world come to life, and it was the time spent creating characters that, while maybe a little one-dimensional at times, were characters that I cared about.

Overall the fantasy elements were excellent, the action was exciting, the world-building was top-notch, and there wasn't much to dislike about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading it I can't wait for the next instalment.

[Joey Stettnisch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, a bit random as far as plots go. Also there are clearly fake/bought reviews on this series which I'm not cool with at all, especially because I didn't dislike this book. If your looking at reviews for a litrpg type book and you notice a lot of the reviews have a bold text headline then a review under it, it's a bought or fake review with either 4 or 5 star rating. Annoys me to no end.

[Arnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pēc vairāk kā 20 gadu ilgas algotas slepkavas karjeras un aptuveni tikpat ilga apmācības procesa laika Diyu brālībā Danzenam Ravjam beidzot ir gana. Savreiz iecerētais upuris ir gana turīgs, lai pārtrumpotu sākotnējo kontrakta ielicēju pār viņa galvu un viņu pašu padarītu par upuri, vai cita veida līdzīgi gadījumi, ir padarījuši ideju to visu pārtraukt un nodoties krietni mierīgākai un rāmākai dzīvei kāda pasaules nomalē krietni vien pievilcīgāku.

https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you wonder what type of book this is, you only have to read the 'Prologue' to find out. The reader is pulled kicking and screaming into a world of assassins and their marks, an amazing boomerang sword called Astra, and a guy named Danzen Ravja who, when his blood flows outside his body, releases masses of demons.

Danzen just wants to retire in peace from the 'assassin business' that he's now sickened by, but he doesn't think it's going to be that easy. His employer is not keen on letting him go, and his (ex-)colleagues all want him dead and will hunt him down to the ends of the earth to do so.

This is fantastic. It has everything I enjoy in a book.** The worldbuilding is precise and so believable, as are the characters. The author is so good at the relationships between the characters. They feel real and relatable, emotional, and appealing. The yokai are wonderful, and I'm not going to spoil them for you, but if you are into Japanese folklore then you are going to be so happy that you'll go 'pop'.

Trust me, you will love this book, just as I did. At 630 pages, the story will have you so engrossed and you'll zoom through it so quickly that you'll believe someone got their sums wrong.

Harmon Cooper's writing has matured and, having read all his books, I appreciate all the research and imagination that he puts into his work, and it shows in every page. There's so much packed between these pages that if it was a suitcase, you, and your mates, would have to sit on it.

I chose an early copy of this book which I then voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.

** Funnily enough, I didn't actually know that I enjoyed this kind of genre until I read one of the author's works!

[Benny Hinrichs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see the appeal, but I didn't really like this book. I really enjoy big plot arcs that span the whole book and come together at the end (unless it's explicitly a short story collection). This book was somewhere between novel and short story collection, and I wish it would have committed to one or the other. There was sort of a grand plot, but sometimes we went large stretches without making any progress on it, which made it feel like it was dragging. We'd get overlong sections of idle description, e.g. him going to sleep. Whenever these would happen, I'd be on edge waiting for it to tie into the plot, and it usually didn't.

One of the plot points I didn't get is why would the assassins be looking for him? Don't they have jobs to do, money to make? Two years later and their best and brightest are still coming after him. Is the Brotherhood so affluent they can cease operations for two years and send all agents to look after one guy?

There were some annoying cliches, like when he throws the one assassin in front of oxen (Mufasa style), but he's too squeamish to go and look if she's dead (really?). You knew in that second that she was coming back.

They end up going to the supernatural Tavern, which is not foreshadowed at all. I would have liked it a lot better if we'd at least had a mention of this Tavern before they have to go there so far into the book. Really adds to the cobbled-together, incomplete feeling.

Overall, I wanted more cohesion from the narrative. As I said at the start, the semi-episodic nature of the book will appeal to some people, but not to me.

[William Bainbridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all this was a solid read. A three star might be slightly deceiving to the unknowing eye but this was fun and much better than the majority of the indie books that I have read in my time.
Firstly, Danzen is a pretty good mc, he's nothing new and he brings nothing new to the literary world but I don't think he necessarily needs you. He is pretty much a mix between John Wick and and Geralt of Rivia. He is a strong and stoic half demon ex assassin. He can seem robotic at times and his dialogue can often be a little cringey/ anime like but its quite easy to look past IMO. He feels very cookie cutter as a character but sometimes the simple things are the the best, old but gold is a saying for a reason.
The side characters are excellent. IMO these are the best part of the book and I would go as far as saying Cooper does deserve some credit for the way he is able to pull them off. A shape-shifting fox and an obese cat who wears a waistcoat. It might sound silly, it might sound absurd, but yes people, I am telling you with a straight face that the chunky cat is the best part of this book. They both have strong characters and they are written extremely consistent and with really likable personalities. The other side characters who rank a little lower in terms of screen time etc are also really good. I like how Cooper showcases relationships and marriages, they feel real and positive, its nice to see happy homes.
The world here is really strong. It seems to be a medieval Asia and it leads to a really cool setting which allows Cooper to ultimately explore the Yokai in such depth and showcase a very cool variety of Asian mythical monsters.
So why did this book get a rating of only 3 stars? Well, this book suffers from a lot of the pitfalls that most shonens usually fall privvy to as well (and I'm a huge shonen fan). Some parts of the story are quite cringey and are almost trying too hard to be cool. The story is also incredibly episodic. It feels as though we go from one monster of thr week to the next, it can be quite absurd how much this book truly resembles the "monster of the week" trope at times. It can lead to very stale reading and really repetitive stretches that can feel quite hard to push past. I don't wanna spend too much time here on this but it goes without saying that these issues are quite big.
Lastly, I LOVE the powers used here in this book. They really are incredible. They are always super interesting and I think Cooper utilises some of them in some really creative ways. Big credit to Cooper for the creative shown in the powers in this story.
Also, lastly lastly, before I read this book one guy said in his review that this reminded him of 'John Wick'. Fair to say that after finishing it I am inclined to agree.
Solid read. Nothing special but it is was enjoyable. I definitely don't regret reading it.

[Akshay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of "Pilgrim" by Harmon Cooper:

This Pilgrim by Harmon Cooper presents a fantastical world steeped in elements reminiscent of ancient Japan, following the journey of Danzen Ravja, a half-human half-demon assassin. While some readers may find enjoyment in its fast-paced, episodic nature akin to a TV series, the novel falls short in delivering a truly engaging narrative.

From the outset, the story lacks depth, reading more like juvenile fiction than a mature exploration of its themes. The protagonist's lack of introspection and the absence of genuine peril detract from any sense of stakes or tension. Despite the potential for a complex character grappling with moral dilemmas, Danzen's nonchalant response to questions about his regrettable past fails to resonate with readers.

While the world-building efforts are commendable, with intricate details enriching the setting, the characters feel disappointingly one-dimensional. Although the relationships between characters are explored, they ultimately lack depth, leaving them feeling superficial and unremarkable. Additionally, the presence of yokai and other elements of Japanese folklore may appeal to some readers, but their execution fails to evoke the wonder and fascination promised.

Despite its flaws, Pilgrim offers moments of excitement through its action-packed sequences and hints at a larger narrative arc. However, these fleeting moments of enjoyment are overshadowed by the novel's overall lack of substance and failure to fully capitalize on its intriguing premise.

In conclusion, while Pilgrim showcases potential with its fantastical setting and action-packed plot, it ultimately falls short of delivering a compelling narrative. Readers seeking a more profound exploration of character and themes may find themselves disappointed by its superficial treatment of its subject matter.

[Jarryd Kalideen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly good

The cover and premise grabbed my attention,once I started I saw the length of this book and felt a bit fatigued already - thinking it'll drag along. I was seriously surprised, I have it until 20% to grab my interest and it more than did. To me it reads somewhat like an anime series - with different episodes with their own plot yet always lending to the overall story. The world building was amazing, sort of an ancient Japan (Eastern) feel, the characters are great and the mythology blends well. It is an engaging fantasy story that I feel anime lovers will especially enjoy. Really looking forward to the rest.

[Jon Honey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent story, seemed a bit rambling though, like H.C. wanted to write a wuxia and started without a concrete plot. I’ll not complain too much though, because the lack of a concrete plot doesn’t change the fact that this was pretty enjoyable. Just a bit difficult to finish (put it down and read other things quite a bit)

[Dave Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 67% not "Bad" but...
(2 stars = it was ok 3 stars = I liked it. this was 2 and a half stars)
This book isn't Bad bad, but I was only reading it just to get through it. When I checked to see how much I had to go and it said 6 hours, I folded.
This starts out as a string of literal clichés and well worn tropes (worn out tropes?) To be honest it's strong resemblance to Samurai Jack actually kept me going. sadly, that was not enough to carry me through. The leading review of this book says: "reads like juvenile fiction. One set-piece segues to another with little rumination". what an apt description. I'd also add that there is very little character development or world building other than each set-piece adds a new monster to the bestiary. I did like how the bestiary was incomplete and often wrong. Nice touch. My problem here was that it quickly feels like none of it matters. a bunch of stuff happens, but that doesn't do anything or mean anything.
Pilgrim is better than the start of Cherry Blossom Girls, but that's not saying anything.
I'm concerned that the more I read of Harmon Cooper the less I'll like any of his stuff.
You know what? I'm betting if you're not a middle aged old guy you'll like this more than I did. Don't let some stranger on the internet tell you what to think. Go see for yourself.

[SP Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF'd at 3%. This book is written for a very specific target audience and I am not that. Which is a shame, because I really wanted to like this. (That premise, those covers!)

The ideas here are cool, but the prose and execution is just not there for me. It's telly, it's clunky, it's melodramatic, and 13 year old me probably would have liked it, but 31 year old me can't stand it.

Another reviewer who actually read the whole thing described the writing as "juvenile" and I can't help but agree. Perhaps if this were a novella I might be able to push through it, but 556 pages is just too much when I could be reading something I'd actually enjoy instead.

At the very least, I bought this book as a part of the charity sale to benefit victims of the Uvalde shooting, so bless the author for that.

[Gabriel d'Matos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uma pena que o livro não é tão bom quanto a sua capa. Em geral Pilgrin é um bagunça narrativa que consegue o feito incrível de tornar um assassino meio demônio se aposentando em um templo abandonado e lidando com Yokais, sem graça e entediante. O autor disse que se inspirou em Witcher, John Wick, Yojimbo e Inuyasha pra montar essa história e mundo, só que faltou somente um elemento que ele falhou em extrair de todas essas obras, carisma.
Terminar esse livro foi um desafio, a salvação sendo que o livro é bem escrito, mas em suma essa é uma obra com várias ideias boas que não foram bem aproveitadas e que provavelmente serão todas desperdiçadas se seguir o caminho que pretende. É realmente uma pena.

[Kurt · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is very much a slow burn, which might be fine if the characters were interesting and engaging, but they aren't. The protagonist, in particular, has all the charm and charisma of a fence post, and the surrounding characters aren't much better.

The story also lacks much in the way of a cohesive, singular plot. The book is broken up into multiple parts, each part having a number of chapters. And each "part" is essentially a short story. There's a little bit of glue to bring the stories together, but not enough for me to really care much.

Overall, a significant swing and a miss from my perspective.

[Holly Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pilgrim is the story of a super powered assassin who isn’t very good at staying retired. The book includes many shorter stories/ adventures that combine to make up the longer book with all sorts of unusual mystical creatures, otherwise known as Yokai. Pilgrim is a bit quirky, as one would expect from the author, but it is a bit more tame then his other recent work. There are no sex scenes or harems in this book.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jen King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stuff just happens

This doesn’t feel like a story but a series of loosely connected vignettes. Main character is overpowered, which Also makes it hard to relate to.

[Liquid Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this introduction to, assumedly, a series, there is character introduction, overall arc, side quests to keep the action going, character development and nuggets of possible, future storyline.

I didn’t consume this one quickly. Granted, I’m not reading as much or as fast as I have in the prior years, but I went in spurts on this one. However, about half-way through the read, I started to get more engaged and ended up reading through at a faster pace.

The characters are enjoyable. The protagonist, Danzen Ravja (aka Pilgrim) is an orphan turned accomplished assassin. He had one final kill to go before retiring wealthy, but of course, if that happened, the story would have been very short. Let’s just say – don’t trust a leader of assassins. Fair enough?

So, this story is the tragic hero tale. Danzen has killed many and wants to leave that life behind. But he also needs cash and takes on dangerous jobs where his skills are put to use. He gains a core group of friends and battles his demons, literally, as he struggles with what to do when his previous and current life collide.

It looks like book two will follow the same recipe – the longer arc of who/what Pilgrim is and finding answers, action around the Diyu Brotherhood assassins, and smaller action scenes of helping those in need. I also assume there will be continued character development.

In all – I’d read the next installment!

Read September 2020. ARC Provided.

[Jonathon Hetzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a different structure to other books I’ve read. Instead of being like one story, it felt more episodic. With so many books series becoming tv show these days, I could absolutely see this one be one. Or maybe more an animated series. The way it’s set out is just perfect for it. The is organized into eleven parts and each part like four to five chapters. But I digress. This was a fun story that is paced really nice for my liking. The setting and cultures and mythology is Japanese inspired. I great array of characters that are introduced to the reader at a very calm speed because the MC is bit of a loaner so he avoids meeting new people. But he meets some fun people none the less. We learn about his past as he tells us and as he finds out himself, so it doesn’t forced. The way the story progresses you kind of get the layout of the region and where places are. I found it very easy to visualize a map in my head. The magic system and fight sequences were nicely thought out. And love the explanation of the types of yokia(demons) that I got see. I really enjoyed this book and next one will be added to my list.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Super assassin Danzen Ravja decides to retire to a sleepy village at the edge of the world. It goes well at first...

This books (I've read 1 & 2 so far) are told as collection of about 10 mini-stories that gradually lead to a finale. Each story is typically about Danzen dealing with the chaos caused by a spirit/monster affecting the town folks, or about other assassins attacking, or about Danzen's mysterious parentage.

The spirits are inspired by Japanese mythology but almost nothing else in the setting is, which seems a little strange.

I understand the dude is an assassin but I would have much preferred if, say, half of the stories weren't ultimately solved by killing something. For example, find out that a monster is just looking for salt so you can feed her salt to keep her from sucking the blood out of the villagers. Danzen keeps saying that he is seeking peace so maybe further books will have some more peaceful solutions?

For my personal taste I would also prefer that the books were a couple stories shorter.

[Andy Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began this series not knowing what to expect. The first couple of pages drew me in, depicting an action-packed battle as an assassin seeks to complete his last assignment before he retires. But he is attacked by other assassins, magically enhanced as he is, seeking to kill him so he can't retire.

That sets the theme for the book. Along the way, you develop sympathy for the assassin, seeking to get out of the dirty business of assassination for hire and just avoiding the notice of the assassin's guild.

The assassin flees to the utter edge of civilization, near hell on earth. The area is very magical, full of magical creatures. Completely against his will the assassin, now known as 'Pilgrim' by those in the local town, gets drawn into community life, performing magical services for them.

Then other assassins appear, trying to kill him.

That's the rest of the book.

It's a well above average sword and sorcery book, with creative world-building and riveting action scenes.

Don't miss it.

[Clinton Sites · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story rooted in Japanese folklore

This novel is set in a world of Magic- magic from Japanese lore.
An assassin that acquired a conscience treks to the end of the world to escape his past and possibly gain a future. In a land of (to us) mythical creatures from Japan, and an ethos of honor - the assassin emulates the people in a small village and ends up with friends he didn't recognize.

The novel has its confusing parts because we as readers are being introduced to a culture, history and mythos not normally known by many. Evil abounds, honor is paramount, what seem to be bad entities may end up as a friend, bloody battles and a world that begs for exploration.

A really good tale!

[Cape Rust · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique look at eastern folklore and an ancient eastern
society. While some characters are mystical they all felt fleshed out. This is part of a series of books so based on the authors demon-strated ability to develop characters, I am sure some of the minor characters will grow as well. Two very minor parts of the the book pulled me out of immersion, the first was the Main character describing himself as “living off grid” a modern term which has no place in this story. The second was a “Woman of the Night” removing her bra and panties, undergarments would have been more accurate. The story is entertaining enough that I am commenting on two very small lapses on the author’s part. Pilgrims walk by faith, show a little faith and join Cooper on this journey!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new series by Cooper with Narramore doing the narration works wonders. The characters are well crafted with quite a bit of empathy for the listener to bond with the narrative. I also liked how the story had a chance to come to a satisfying point giving this a good length to listen to for your cash, without going into too many details that seem superflous but rather adds to the listeners experience.
Narramore is very good as I would expect from one of my favourite narrators and he deals with the demon voice and female voices very well weaving the strange creatures into a believable world of interest. My only issue is I don't have a book 2 or audio 2 yet to continue the dialogue.

[Imkmoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retired Assassins can never Retire

This was a powerful story and very involved about an assassin that leaves behind his old life and tries to live a 'normal ' life, but the guild he use to be connected with will never let him rest. He is still hunted while running to the furthest edge of the world.
He, for the first time in his life, makes friends that he will protect with his life and does. Yet, the Brotherhood is never far away...

This was a difficult read for me and will not be reading book 2. I just could never get wrapped into the story as I do with most book I read.

Read in 6 days

[Daniel Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

NO SPOILERS.

Pilgrim was a book on my queue that I finally found time to read up on. The synopsis was interesting enough to place on my to read queue. I'm glad I did. First off, the world you step into by reading Pilgrim was really intriguing. The folklore introduced and the interactions with the main character was nicely interwoven with the main overall story. The character building added extra layers that bumped Pilgrim from your regular run of the mill protagonist.

Overall, a good read for my first Harmon Cooper novel. Will continue with the rest of the Harmon Cooper books in the series.

[Sinamile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

CW/TW: death/dying, self harm/suicide, alcaholism/alcahol abuse, physical abuse, child abuse, orphans/orphanages, sex work, assassins/assassinations, violence, knives/knive violence, swords/sword violence, blood, body horror, poision/poisoning, parental death, child illness, mention of rape, gore

Enjoyed this. Didn't understand the echo thing but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. This book reminds me of The Witcher, by that I mean it sounds nice when I'm listening but not much is happening most of the time. That's not to say I don't like it though, becuase I did.

[John Vann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series from Harmon Cooper - A new major character

This is the start of a new series just what I needed...

I know I should wait until the series is complete before I start reading but I just had to read this one based mainly on the artwork on the front of the book. And it is about assassins and a plethora of yokai (see now you need to read the book to find out about yokai). An oriental flavour to the story and plenty of action. I am really looking forward to the next one.and