Destiny of the Dead

The Shroud of Prophecy #2

by Kel Kade

Destiny of the Dead is the second novel in a genre-bending series from New York Times bestselling author Kel Kade.

One of Amazon's Best of the Month Books!

The God of Death is tired of dealing with the living, so he’s decided everyone should die. And he’s found allies. The Berru, an empire of dark mages, has unleashed a terrifying army of monstrous lyksvight upon everyone with a pulse.

While the wealthy and powerful, the kings and queens, abandon the dying world, one group of misfits says no more. Through dogged determination and the ability to bind souls to their dead bodies, Aaslo and his friends fight on.

In the mountains of the far north, another bastion of defense is opened. Cherrí, the avatar of a vengeful fire god, has united the survivors amongst her people and begun her own war on the invaders.

Now, Aaslo and Cherrí must find a way to unite their powers, one divine, the other profane, to throw back the monsters of the Berru, and challenge Death itself.

The Shroud of Prophecy
Fate of the Fallen
Destiny of the Dead

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Epic Fantasy, Adventure, Science Fiction Fantasy, Ebooks

309 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2022

About the author

Kel Kade lives in Texas and occasionally serves as an adjunct college faculty member, inspiring young minds and introducing them to the fascinating and very real world of geosciences. Thanks to Kade’s enthusiastic readers and the success of the King’s Dark Tidings series, Kade is now able to create universes spanning space and time, develop criminal empires, plot the downfall of tyrannous rulers, and dive into fantastical mysteries full time.

Growing up, Kade lived a military lifestyle of traveling to and living in new places. These experiences with distinctive cultures and geography instilled in Kade a sense of wanderlust and opened a young mind to the knowledge that the Earth is expansive and wild. A deep interest in science, ancient history, cultural anthropology, art, music, languages, and spirituality is evidenced by the diversity and richness of the places and cultures depicted in Kade’s writing.

Reviews

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second instalment of Kel Kade’s The Shroud of Prophecy series was just as good as the first instalment. I’m not quite as big a fan of The Shroud of Prophecy series as I am of Kel Kade’s excellent Kings Dark Tidings series but I’m definitely a fan!

This series is epic adventure fantasy with plenty of magic and fantasy creatures as well as a likeable and fun cast of characters. I find Kel Kade’s writing pretty engaging and the story always holds my attention.

The story in this second book just continues on from what we got in the first book. Aaslo, Forrester of Golden Wood, has to continue his doomed quest to save all life on his world from extinction! A task made all the harder by the fact that the Chosen One prophesied to be the only hope, Aaslo’s best pal Matthias, is already dead. Dead but not completely gone since he is still a head in a bag and talking in Aaslo’s mind!

The whole story is a ton of fun. Aaslo presses on against all odds in his attempt to save the world in place of his friend all while having to deal with evil armies, monsters, villainous mages, deceptive Fey, and bickering Gods without any help from the mages (who fled the realm) and the armies (who gave up after the Chosen One died). All he has is a couple of thieves, an antagonistic healer, an unhelpful profit, a dead pal, and an otherworldly reaper for help!

It all made for an engaging tale. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Aaslo had to deal with changes due to the influence of all sorts of different magic! Aaslo is no Rezkin but he is a decent lead character. The twists at the end of the first book have helped give him the power boost he needed and made him more interesting. He was always easy enough to root for.

The secondary characters are a fun bunch. I was glad to see more story time for Myra, Peck, and Mory.

All in all I really enjoyed this one and look forward to the final instalment of the trilogy.

Rating: 4.5 stars.

Audio Note: As always Nick Podehl was excellent with the audio

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story picks up shortly after the events of Fate of the Fallen.

All of the excellent characters are here: Aaslo, Dolt, Mathias, or rather his head, (that sounds both funny AND gruesome!), Teza, Mory, Peck, the Marquess, Myra the Reaper and Ijen the Prophet. Oh, and I mustn't forget the zombies and discombobulated gods. There were also a few new characters thrown into the mix but to me the core characters are still the best.

I have found that this one caused me to have even more questions/suspicions than the last book. I really would like to know more about Dolt in particular. I love that horse! He's the smartest one of the bunch. Aside from Dolt, I'm hoping we'll learn more about Greylan and his fellow, um, sidekick, or the bickering & capricious gods. They are getting to be more mysterious as the series continues. Just when I have a character pegged as an SOB, something changes to make me question my assumption.

Speaking of assumptions... Myra. Hmm. I had thought that I had her figured out in the last book but now I am uncertain. Another character, or should I say body part, that I can't peg is Mathias. Sometimes his commentary is on the malicious side while other moments he speaks like his old/whole self. At this point I can't figure out if he's real or a figment of the imagination of someone not completely sane.

Speaking of Aaslo and his highly-questionable sanity: that poor guy! He gets the crap kicked out of him over and over but still tries to carry out Mathias' role. I really felt sympathy for him. He is another mystery, by the way, begging to be solved. Many new developments occur with Aaslo in this book.

It's no surprise that there will be a third book in the series. I'll be buying it as soon as it's available, because as an enquiring mind, I really need to know!

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my most anticipated read for March and I really loved Fate of the fallen and its so underrated I love the cover on this one I just liked the first book better the gods are okay but I wanted to explore other magic in this series I love mostly all the characters essp the horse Dolt there's something special about him! Im still looking forward to reading the next book people check this series out!

Update

I am so glad I give this book another chance book one was still better but I love this series so damn much and I cannot wait for book 3!!

[Allison Hurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just like a deep breath for me. We've got all the trappings of epic fantasy, but every step of the way, something not quite standard happens, keeping things fresh and interesting.

I don't quite know what to say about this one. It has a satisfying arc, and is obviously not complete. It's messy and skewed. Some great scenes with our unlikely hero and more likley heroes! Plus more things going wrong!

I can't wait for the third!

content warning: loss of a loved one, mild body horror, religion

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kel Kade was an author that came into my life in 2019 when I first read her King's Dark Tidings series and I loved it. She also had a new series starting that same year and Fate of the Fallen was book one and lord was it a brilliant book. So to say Destiny of the Dead is one of my most anticipated releases is an understatement. It has been a long wait for this sequel but that is alright, Kel Kade announced that she had some personal complications which caused the delay. Well guess what fellow readers, that wait was so worth it.

Destiny of the Dead picks up almost immediately after the events of Fate of the Fallen and then takes off at a break neck pace. The pacing of this series is wonderful. There is really never a moment to breath. When there is though the character development is on point. Once again we are following Aaslo and many more characters. Where Fate of the Fallen was tackling the themes of Fate and what comes of the fallen, see what the title did their. Destiny of the Dead digs deep into the themes of Destiny. Not just for the living but for the dead as well. Everyone has a Destiny. Aaslo continues to be a strong lead for this series while also being on the unstable side. With every turn of the page his sanity is slowly and slowly fading away. However Kel Kade is able to make this serious development seem so humorous with her writing style. Some other knockout performances came from Teza, Inej, Cherri, Myropa, Arayallen, Axus, and Pithor.

I truly love how chaotic this series is. There is nothing else like it out in the world today. The Shrouds of Prophecy series is shaping up to be one I will remember for years and years to come. I know we do not have a release date yet for book three, but we do have a title, Sanctum of the Souls. WHAT A GREAT TITLE! Honestly have no clue if book three will be the last. I don't think it will be because there is so much left to unpack, so I hope this series will continue past book three. Until then I have to bide my time with not one, but two King's Dark Tidings books being released this year! This page is about to be a Kel Kade stan page!

[Hank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it although the battles dragged a bit later on. Love the humor, love the characters, can't wait to see where the next one goes.

[Melissa Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had lots of fun reading this book. There was a great story, lots of action, and wonderful characters. It didn't quite live up to the first book but I think that was just me. I really didn't bond as well with our main character, Aaslo. His attitude kind of got on my nerves. While I know it was part of the dragon in him, it doesn't help my irritation. He constantly got short-tempered with everything and everyone it seemed like. Now, on the other hand, Dolt was superb. I just love that horse!
Looking forward to the next book in this series!

[Beth Tabler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destiny for the Dead, Kel Kade's newest addition to the Shroud of the Prophecy series, aims to beat the hero's journey trope with a hammer. For the most part, this series, and specifically this story, Destiny for the Dead, is very successful in that aim. But I think as the story progresses, it is settling into some more of the common writing patterns we see in fantasy.

"Aaslo rubbed his chest as he led the odd group of horses and undead toward the chamber where he was most likely going to meet his own death."

The story picks up directly where we left off in the first book, Fate of the Fallen. Aaslo and his merry band of thieves, prophets, drop-out wizards, and the undead are on the march from one spectacular fight to the next. This chapter is much more violent, and Aaslo starts to come into his powers a bit more thoroughly.

Fate of the Fallen aimed to subvert the chosen one trope, which it did well. However, now in book two, it feels like the story is moving towards a found-family quest-type fantasy. The subversion of the chosen one trope feels much less important than it did in Fate of the Fallen. I like how the story is progressing and maturing; I think if Kade kept hammering home how Shroud of the Prophecy was smashing the chosen one trope, it would feel hackneyed. Instead, it balances well.

Plot-wise, much of this story covers the political machinations of various gods and their minions. It is a bubbling brew of characters with different aims working against each other. My only slight qualm with this book is that it can be challenging to follow. There is so much going on that it is hard to latch onto any of the essential side characters. And there is no fluff; all side characters are purposeful to the driving narrative. But there are quite a few, and I got lost in them a few times. However, Aaslo's group, a found family, if you will, is fantastic. His group is peppered with distinctive voices that I knew and understood and followed.

For instance, Dolt, the weird horse who is more than just a ride, is hilarious. I am convinced that he is the reincarnation of Mathias; that is the sort of energy Dolt brings to the story. Teza is great, as is Mory, Peck, Myra the Reaper, and Ijen the not-so-helpful- Prophet. Ijen gets more fleshed out in this story, as does Myra. We have so much to learn about the two of them. Kade drops some profound tidbits that will be important in the third novel.

Aaslo, our protagonist, is such a refreshing character. Instead of an asshole, the antihero is philosophically an 80-year-old man yelling at folks to get off his lawn. I can picture Aaslo hitting some poor unsuspecting ten-year-old in the ass with a stick for stepping on his begonias. He wants none of this nonsense, but he will put up with it out of duty and love of humanity.

The actual chosen one, Mathias, who was preordained for greatness, resides in a bag that swings from Aslos hip. I love this little bit of macabre that Kade wrote into the story. Not only is the hero dead, but his head hangs from the hip of his best friend, and he talks to Aaslo. Mathias is super dead and an excellent comedic foil for Aaslo so that he might relax a little bit. It doesn't work, but Mathias tries.

Destiny for the Dead was one of the books I was looking forward to for 2022, and it didn't let me down. Unique voices, a moving plot, a bit of the macabre, and a unique narrative made this series a lot of fun. I can't wait for book 3.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was driving down Hwy 10, listening to this audiobook, and the narrator said "This concludes book 2" and out loud I screamed "WHAT! NO! NOOOOO!"
That's how good this book is.

[Michele M · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay only rating at 3 stars because it took so long for the book to get good. it started out strong but that ended quickly and it took to the last 1/3 of the book to get good again. I almost DNF but I'm glad I stuck it out. when it got good it got really good. I do love all the characters especially the horse Dolt. He makes the book i think. Now I have to read book 3 to see how the story ends.

[Clay Vermulm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite fantasy series out there, though Kade is doing some really cool and fun things where subverting genre tropes is concerned.

I love how he has created a party of misfit heroes. They have two thieves, a reaper, a prophet, a healer, a demonic horse, and a necromancer trying to save the world from the gods themselves, all while being actively meddled with by said gods. These unusual hero archetypes taking center stage makes for a rich and rewarding quest through the fantasy genre.

What I don't like about this series is that it can be a bit tough to follow, as the narrative tends to meander a bit. It was a bigger issue in the first book, but still, there are some traces of that here. I also think there are a few bits (such as the fact Aaslo is always talking to himself and other people always answer) that are funny a few times but I think definitely get overplayed throughout the narrative, as they happen over and over and over.

Overall, I still definitely recommend these stories. The characters are great, even if the world and story telling style are exactly my cup of tea.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoiler Free*

"Aaslo rubbed his chest as he led the odd group of horses and undead toward the chamber where he was most likely going to meet his own death.

Destiny of the Dead is a high fantasy written by Kel Kade featuring an antihero and a misfit gang of thieves, prophets, and dropout wizards. This is the sequel to Fate of the Fallen so if you haven't read that one, I highly recommend it ^o^ Aaslo, and his friends are starting off where we left off in book one. Along the way we get some new characters that add some more flair to the book. Book two would be the love child of Lord of the Rings meets a DND campaign where the GM is a dick. XD

I absolutely loved book two. Book one will probably remain my favorite of course but Destiny of the Dead brought a lot to the table and a lot more time with my favorite animal companion; Dolt. I loved how crazy this one became introducing new creatures with really creative designs. I love the inner fight Aaslo has with himself and his best friend (; The monologue is hilarious at times.

Some things that I wasn't a fan of.... 1. The storyline got pretty crazy introducing a bunch of new loopholes/plots that became pretty frustrating. It muddled the story. The other thing that drove me crazy was the fact that towards the end Aaslo started giving off morally grey vibes which isn't something his character has ever been about. There is also a chapter in the book where a weird sudden love interest thing happens. IT was very brief and didn't lead to anything. Honestly, I think it could have been left out.

Overall, I am very excited to see what happens in the third book. Will we get an ending?? Will it continue on to be a series? So many questions. I highly recommend these books. The writing is fantastic!

[Ayre · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the Shroud of Prophecy Series still follows Aaslo as he tries to save the world although the person prophesized to save the world is dead. We also meet another savior, the paladin Cherri, seeking vengeance for her clan in the name of her god. They have no chance to succeed, but thats not going to stop them from trying.

While I like the idea behind this story, and will continue reading it for the idea, I'm not so fond of the execution. I feel like Kel Kade writes too much dialogue and not enough world building. There is also way too much going on in the universe for the lack of world building. Everything is overly complicated and you're going to learn nothing about it. Also, all dialogue feels the same, all characters feel like they have the same basic personality. For the amount of dialogue, its very flat.

Every character feels like a side character .. and I honestly think that's the point. The MC is dead, the supporting cast is saving the world. But the lack of main character leaves a hole in the book.

Speaking of side characters. Dolt is the best character in the book, hands down.

As for recommendations. I like what this book is doing and I wouldn't tell anyone NOT to read it if it sounds interesting to you, but its not the best written thing I've read

[Reiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was promised a third book in 2022 and I have yet to read it😤 (don’t mind the fact that I JUST finished this because I want to read book 3 yesterday)

Ok look, for all the shit I talked about this book, it still was really really good and fun to read😭 and I’ll miss imagining the marquess as Michael Rosenbaum.

I don’t know what my problem in the updates was but let’s ignore Updates Me and focus on this review ok? So, we build upon the world and the plot even more (and I’m wondering if it’s even a trilogy. Seems like there’s a lot to cover in just one final book.) and we don’t see any of the world and plot building from book 1 come to fruition and I think that’s what pissed Updates Me.
I liked the zombies in fantasy aspect in book 1 but now I’m more intrigued about Aaslo’s powers and the gods’ war. I still absolutely ADORE Dolt the menacing horse.

I took my time reading this, what’s it been? A month?

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an absolutely wild ride. The stakes have exploded to entirely new levels as the fate of the world is left to those who can barely take care of themselves. But as chaos and death overtake the land and the scheming of the gods threatens a new form of conflict, our scruffy band of heroes continues to fight for the only home they have. Fate decrees that they all will die, and the struggle will change them in ways they cannot imagine--but grim determination and a healthy dose of luck certainly make a difference.

Kade's series marries grimdark fantasy with bantering, haywire characters. The plotting and pacing continue to be distinct, but The Shroud of Prophecy books are fresh, engaging, unexpected, and utterly delightful.

[Zach Castinado · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ability to continuously whip out surprises and unexpected turns is once again Kel Kade’s super power. I found myself constantly thinking the story would go one way or another and each time something will be brought out of nowhere while still making sense and connecting to multiple parts of the previous story. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series and will deeply miss learning more of how this battle will go on. So much was unveiled and brought into this book that normally would be overwhelming or unnecessary but this story makes even those tiny things have purpose. The way everything is slowly becoming more and more entangled really does make me excited for what’s next, I just have to get through the rest of this year and I will immediately jump into the next book.

[Cahir Mawr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nie wiem czy to przez zbyt długą przerwę między czytaniem pierwszego tomu czy z innych powodów,ale wogóle mnie ta książka nie interesuje . Wątek dziecinnych bogów z wielką mocą jest najgorszy ale inne wątki żniwiarki i jakiejś nowej plemiennej palladynki też mnie nudzą. Zostaje tylko Aslo i jego drużyna . Tu są ciekawe konwersacje zwłaszcza jak Aslo słyszy albo widzi coś czego inni nie widzą chociaż nie rozumiem czemu nie mówi swoim przyjaciołom wszystkiego prześli już tyle szaleńczych misji że spokojnie mógłby im powiedzieć że oszalał. . Profeta jeszcze jest zastanawiajacy,ale większość książki mnie nudzi i nie mam przywiązania do bohaterów. Do słuchałem do połowy i odpuszczam.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaslo is a perfectly imperfect hero. Always fighting for the greater good while trying to keep his humanity. I love the story and the main characters but there are so many other characters, places and terms that all have bizarre names it’s a struggle to get through.
Also, showing my age here, but the text in this book was really small- on top of all the gobbledygook names of people and places it made the book less enjoyable to read. Just saying.

[Melissa Drespling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so ready for SOP book #3. I have to wait until February of 2025. Which I find cruel. Remind me to only read completed series from now on.

But seriously, I'm obsessed with Kel Kade. She has become an auto-purchase for me. Her characters are fleshed out, funny and awkward. They range from lighthearted banter wielders to sociopathic warriors. The behavior of the Gods in the SOP series is disturbing to say the least.

[Cass Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. After reading the first book when it was first released, I found myself wondering is Aaslo was actually the villian in the world. (Can you imagine this being his villian orgin story?! Amazing.) But no, he's just a forester thrust into the role of a hero. Begrudgingly at best.

I really enjoyed learning more about Myropa and want to know all her secrets as well.

As for the Gods?? I have so many theories about what's going on with them.

Here I am again, just waiting for Kel Kade to write the next book. (Also waiting for King's Dark Tidings as well...)

[Abby Goldsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are good fun. They're sort of a literary equivalent to an Avengers movie. Not deep, lots of action, cute quips, powers everywhere. They're popcorn reading for me. But hey, we all need a break from ultra seriousness sometimes!

[Rana Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skipped all of Inner Dialog

Story is continued in a wonderful fashion but i just could not take anymore of the Mathis dialog. I just ended up skipping all of it and the book is still the same.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

My only nitpick is I'd much rather a lot more of Peck et. al than the new characters.

I did love more time with Myropa and the Gods

[Mike Nyberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 2nd book installment in the series, but I really thought the 1st book was much better.

[Perelaguna · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues to be a fun series. Prophecy says the world is doomed, but a stubborn man refuses to give up.

[Sly Zacharias · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Tropey this book is and yet it's not.

[Bartosz]

DNF 30%

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to be honest it took me a while to get into this read. I’m glad at the end I did. I really enjoyed the one liners and the epic adventures of the Forester and his companions.

[Sam Nixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still good, but not as good as the first.