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War of the Last Day #1
Army of the Cursed
Everybody knew the Cursed were coming.
Nobody knew how to defeat them.
The Goranians thought they were ready to face demons in battle. But when the foretold War of the Last Day begins, one fact becomes clear: the doom of Gorania is just a matter of time. Now its fate rests in the hands of a hapless trio.
By joining the mages’ guild, Leila cedes her title as the Crown Princess of Murase. But as she struggles with her lack of talent, the Army of the Cursed approaches her country. Leila will have to decide if she is ready to protect her loved ones, or she should abandon them and run for her life.
Nardine, the Crown Princess of Bermania, hears a rumor that her long-gone father was so close to finding a weapon against the immortal demons. While she investigates what has happened to his unfinished work, a rebellion threatens to tear apart her kingdom.
Far in the harsh northern lands of Skandivia, Halgrim starts a perilous journey to claim a birthright he has been denied because of a lie. If his journey goes according to plan, nothing will stand between him and his ultimate prize. Nothing, except the Army of the Cursed.
Can the three unite and put aside their differences before it is too late? The entire human race is already on the brink of extinction.
ARMY OF THE CURSED is a thrilling read for epic fantasy fans. Brace for a tale of magic, betrayals, and fear of the unknown, and lose yourself in the world of Gorania.
Nobody knew how to defeat them.
The Goranians thought they were ready to face demons in battle. But when the foretold War of the Last Day begins, one fact becomes clear: the doom of Gorania is just a matter of time. Now its fate rests in the hands of a hapless trio.
By joining the mages’ guild, Leila cedes her title as the Crown Princess of Murase. But as she struggles with her lack of talent, the Army of the Cursed approaches her country. Leila will have to decide if she is ready to protect her loved ones, or she should abandon them and run for her life.
Nardine, the Crown Princess of Bermania, hears a rumor that her long-gone father was so close to finding a weapon against the immortal demons. While she investigates what has happened to his unfinished work, a rebellion threatens to tear apart her kingdom.
Far in the harsh northern lands of Skandivia, Halgrim starts a perilous journey to claim a birthright he has been denied because of a lie. If his journey goes according to plan, nothing will stand between him and his ultimate prize. Nothing, except the Army of the Cursed.
Can the three unite and put aside their differences before it is too late? The entire human race is already on the brink of extinction.
ARMY OF THE CURSED is a thrilling read for epic fantasy fans. Brace for a tale of magic, betrayals, and fear of the unknown, and lose yourself in the world of Gorania.
415 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2021
32 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Karim Soliman
21 books140 followersكريم سليمان من مواليد القاهرة 1984، تخرج فى كلية الصيدلة بجامعة عين شمس، وحصل على ماجيستير إدارة الأعمال بالجامعة الأمريكية بالقاهرة. بدأ مشواره الروائى بقصة قصيرة كانت جزءا من الحملة الدعائية لـ
(Sony Pictures)
لفيلمهم
(The 5th Wave).
نشر العديد من روايات الخيال العلمى والفانتازى باللغة الإنجليزية، أبرزها
(The Warrior's Path)،
والتى كانت من الأكثر مبيعا على أمازون، وأيضًا
(Army of the Cursed)
والتى تأهلت إلى نصف نهائى مسابقة
SPFBO
السنوية التى تدار تحت إشراف الكاتب العالمى مارك لورنس.
Karim Soliman earned his first writing commission through his contribution to the first and last issue of his school magazine. Twenty years later, he earned his next commission from Sony Pictures.
While he holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s in business administration, Karim finds his groove in building worlds and messing with his characters. His debut “The Warrior’s Path” was a #1 bestseller on several fantasy subgenres on Amazon, and his book "Army of the Cursed" was an SPFBO Semi-finalist.
When Karim is away from writing, he struggles with his insomnia and continues his search for his next favorite dessert.
(Sony Pictures)
لفيلمهم
(The 5th Wave).
نشر العديد من روايات الخيال العلمى والفانتازى باللغة الإنجليزية، أبرزها
(The Warrior's Path)،
والتى كانت من الأكثر مبيعا على أمازون، وأيضًا
(Army of the Cursed)
والتى تأهلت إلى نصف نهائى مسابقة
SPFBO
السنوية التى تدار تحت إشراف الكاتب العالمى مارك لورنس.
Karim Soliman earned his first writing commission through his contribution to the first and last issue of his school magazine. Twenty years later, he earned his next commission from Sony Pictures.
While he holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s in business administration, Karim finds his groove in building worlds and messing with his characters. His debut “The Warrior’s Path” was a #1 bestseller on several fantasy subgenres on Amazon, and his book "Army of the Cursed" was an SPFBO Semi-finalist.
When Karim is away from writing, he struggles with his insomnia and continues his search for his next favorite dessert.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 21, 2021
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Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I read this book for SPFBO 7. I read this after finishing The Wisdom of Crowds which I really liked and so I was still on a book hangover when I did so I will be very objective here.
The writing is good and it flows well, I originally planned 4 days to read this book but finished it in 2 days. It is not fancy but I liked the simplicity of it. The story is told through multiple POVs in third person with focus on three main characters.
I think the characters were distinguishable which is important in this kind of narrative. However, I think Leila and Nardine’s POV were easier to get into initially. I ended up warming to Hilgrim’s chapters too but it took some chapters till I reached that point.
I think the plot is interesting yet some of the things happened fast and early in the book and it made things a bit convenient. Like you see that person A has an ability that is not that impressive but the narrative tells you that person B could really use that so you know the direction the story will follow easily.
The pacing is kind of fast which I like and the world building is not that complex. There were a bit of info dumps but the maps help in keeping things straight. I just expected to see more middle eastern representation specially that the author is Egyptian.
Summary: I think it is a good story with simple writing and an interesting story line. The way it is told make it a tad predictable and although it was good, I found myself wanting more!
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I read this book for SPFBO 7. I read this after finishing The Wisdom of Crowds which I really liked and so I was still on a book hangover when I did so I will be very objective here.
The writing is good and it flows well, I originally planned 4 days to read this book but finished it in 2 days. It is not fancy but I liked the simplicity of it. The story is told through multiple POVs in third person with focus on three main characters.
I think the characters were distinguishable which is important in this kind of narrative. However, I think Leila and Nardine’s POV were easier to get into initially. I ended up warming to Hilgrim’s chapters too but it took some chapters till I reached that point.
I think the plot is interesting yet some of the things happened fast and early in the book and it made things a bit convenient. Like you see that person A has an ability that is not that impressive but the narrative tells you that person B could really use that so you know the direction the story will follow easily.
The pacing is kind of fast which I like and the world building is not that complex. There were a bit of info dumps but the maps help in keeping things straight. I just expected to see more middle eastern representation specially that the author is Egyptian.
Summary: I think it is a good story with simple writing and an interesting story line. The way it is told make it a tad predictable and although it was good, I found myself wanting more!
May 4, 2022
3.5/5
I was provided a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a review. I mostly enjoyed this book. One of the things that isn’t the books fault was it was not made clear to me that this was a beginning of a sequel series. I felt this left me confused on some of the backstory and how some of the characters acted. At times they made decisions that didn’t make a whole lot of sense.
I am not the biggest fan of having random POV injected into the narrative. Those complaints aside the characters are interesting and engaging. Halgrims character decisions can be a bit jarring and give you whiplash with how fast he can change his mind. Even so he was still my favorite POV to read from.
The political machinations that are running through this book are well crafted and entertaining to watch them spin a web of deceit. I also want to point out the the battle sequences are fun and brutal.
Overall I enjoyed The Army of the Cursed and recommend giving it a try.
I was provided a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a review. I mostly enjoyed this book. One of the things that isn’t the books fault was it was not made clear to me that this was a beginning of a sequel series. I felt this left me confused on some of the backstory and how some of the characters acted. At times they made decisions that didn’t make a whole lot of sense.
I am not the biggest fan of having random POV injected into the narrative. Those complaints aside the characters are interesting and engaging. Halgrims character decisions can be a bit jarring and give you whiplash with how fast he can change his mind. Even so he was still my favorite POV to read from.
The political machinations that are running through this book are well crafted and entertaining to watch them spin a web of deceit. I also want to point out the the battle sequences are fun and brutal.
Overall I enjoyed The Army of the Cursed and recommend giving it a try.
July 21, 2023
I really enjoyed my time with this story.
It had really unique world building for me and a very interesting magic system. The magic of the mages gets enhanced by science which I thought was honestly quite epic.
I enjoyed the povs of the two princesses. However I struggled with our third pov and his motivations they did fall a little flat imo.
This also is a sequel series. The first is a five book long series. And I'm pretty sure this series spoils that one if you are wanting to read it. I never felt lost in the world building or magic system. However we do have a character who is obviously important in that first series. And I felt like at times this was just a continuation of his series. And not the story about the new generation.
But overall my thoughts are really positive about this one. I will be reading the prequel series and the rest in this one!
More thoughts here
https://youtu.be/rQLXS8FdJuw
It had really unique world building for me and a very interesting magic system. The magic of the mages gets enhanced by science which I thought was honestly quite epic.
I enjoyed the povs of the two princesses. However I struggled with our third pov and his motivations they did fall a little flat imo.
This also is a sequel series. The first is a five book long series. And I'm pretty sure this series spoils that one if you are wanting to read it. I never felt lost in the world building or magic system. However we do have a character who is obviously important in that first series. And I felt like at times this was just a continuation of his series. And not the story about the new generation.
But overall my thoughts are really positive about this one. I will be reading the prequel series and the rest in this one!
More thoughts here
https://youtu.be/rQLXS8FdJuw
February 8, 2021
Once again, Karim Soliman took me on an incredible journey and I am ALMOST speechless at his ability to make a bold leap from one series and spinoff another just as intense, involved and passionate.
ARMY OF THE CURSED builds on the past, the fallen heroes, the legends and the events that took place in the Tales of Gorania. Years have passed and an epic war is on the horizon, one that cannot be won, unless three teens can bring their armies together, discover the secrets of the past and try not to repeat the failures of their ancestors.
Boldly written, rich in detail and filled with characters that seem to actually breathe as they leap off the pages in a world where magic, betrayals and fear of the unknown loom ominously all around.
Karim Soliman introduces each main character, their backgrounds and their missions, bringing them together in a shocking conclusion that I really did NOT see coming! Fierce battles, loyalties and political machinations bring and edgy, urgent feel to this tale that is non-stop from start to finish!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Karim Soliman! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: War of the Last Day - Book 1
Publication date : February 23, 2021
Publisher: Karim Soliman
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Print length : 314 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
ARMY OF THE CURSED builds on the past, the fallen heroes, the legends and the events that took place in the Tales of Gorania. Years have passed and an epic war is on the horizon, one that cannot be won, unless three teens can bring their armies together, discover the secrets of the past and try not to repeat the failures of their ancestors.
Boldly written, rich in detail and filled with characters that seem to actually breathe as they leap off the pages in a world where magic, betrayals and fear of the unknown loom ominously all around.
Karim Soliman introduces each main character, their backgrounds and their missions, bringing them together in a shocking conclusion that I really did NOT see coming! Fierce battles, loyalties and political machinations bring and edgy, urgent feel to this tale that is non-stop from start to finish!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Karim Soliman! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: War of the Last Day - Book 1
Publication date : February 23, 2021
Publisher: Karim Soliman
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Print length : 314 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 30, 2023
The Goranian kingdom faces impending annihilation. The War of the Last Day has arrived. Humanity must unite or all will be lost to The Army of the Cursed.
Edit on Apr 30/23: Forgot to add my thoughts here! I do remember this being a pretty great read!
Edit on Apr 30/23: Forgot to add my thoughts here! I do remember this being a pretty great read!
March 10, 2023
If there were more stars to give, I'd give them. I give 5 stars to any book that I read that I would not change one single thing, ones I loved from the first page to the last and cannot think of one single solitary thing to nitpick.
This is my first piece to read by Karim Soliman, so I went in with zero expectations. I was hooked in the prologue and read the first third of the book in the first night. I would've stayed up to finish the second night, except my Kindle battery died! It was the kind of book that had me all jazzed up with excitement because of things that were happening with certain characters, learning something interesting about the magic system, watching pieces of the puzzle fall into place and the shock when things I never saw coming from a mile away landed on the page.
The story is told in multiple POVs. The majority of the story is given to us from Halgrim - a commoner who is uncommonly fast with a sword and combat - Leila, the daughter of a lord who is determined to become a mage...even though she failed her mage trial, and Nardine, the crown princess who is following in her father's footsteps to find a weapon that will defeat the demons of the Army of the Cursed. We do get a few other POVs sprinkled in to help provide a more well-rounded story, which I thought was very clever of the author.
After the characters, my most loved element in this one was the use of magic by the mages. It was equal parts magic and alchemy. The mages would manufacture different potions to help enhance magical abilities, strengthen, heal or revive them - but they could also poison themselves if not careful. I loved the added bonus of potions in addition to magic having a cost. My enjoyment could stem from the fact that I played a mage in World of Warcraft for 10 years, where I also made my own potions to drink, lol.
The world building is next. We visited the Great Desert, multiple kingdoms and also heard tales of the Frozen Forest. Of the many places I visited over the course of the book, my most favorite was the Accursed Fort...probably the horror lover in me is responsible for the haunted halls of this castle.
There are so many other things I would love to share that I loved, but these surprises are best left for you to discover for yourself - I hope you do!
This is my first piece to read by Karim Soliman, so I went in with zero expectations. I was hooked in the prologue and read the first third of the book in the first night. I would've stayed up to finish the second night, except my Kindle battery died! It was the kind of book that had me all jazzed up with excitement because of things that were happening with certain characters, learning something interesting about the magic system, watching pieces of the puzzle fall into place and the shock when things I never saw coming from a mile away landed on the page.
The story is told in multiple POVs. The majority of the story is given to us from Halgrim - a commoner who is uncommonly fast with a sword and combat - Leila, the daughter of a lord who is determined to become a mage...even though she failed her mage trial, and Nardine, the crown princess who is following in her father's footsteps to find a weapon that will defeat the demons of the Army of the Cursed. We do get a few other POVs sprinkled in to help provide a more well-rounded story, which I thought was very clever of the author.
After the characters, my most loved element in this one was the use of magic by the mages. It was equal parts magic and alchemy. The mages would manufacture different potions to help enhance magical abilities, strengthen, heal or revive them - but they could also poison themselves if not careful. I loved the added bonus of potions in addition to magic having a cost. My enjoyment could stem from the fact that I played a mage in World of Warcraft for 10 years, where I also made my own potions to drink, lol.
The world building is next. We visited the Great Desert, multiple kingdoms and also heard tales of the Frozen Forest. Of the many places I visited over the course of the book, my most favorite was the Accursed Fort...probably the horror lover in me is responsible for the haunted halls of this castle.
There are so many other things I would love to share that I loved, but these surprises are best left for you to discover for yourself - I hope you do!
February 14, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/army-of-...
Army of the Cursed is the initial book of the War of the Last Days series, by Karim Soliman. Despite it is technically a sequel series to the previous Tales of Gorania, it can be perfectly read without reading it previously.
This series takes place in Gorania, a world of several kingdoms and intricate politics. Humanity is preparing for the Last Days, when the Army of the Cursed will rise and destroy everything in its march. Most of the people are starting to consider this possibility just as a myth, but despite this, Mages are still dedicated to this purpose.
The story is going to follow three different characters, mostly: Leila, Nadine, and Hagrim. There are more points of view that appear alongside the novel, a total of five more, taking the place of also important characters for the development of the story, giving another layer of depth to the plot.
The plot of this book is quite interesting, but starts really slow, being the first half mostly an introduction to our world and the ambitions of our characters (also, Karim Soliman does an excellent job of giving small details of what happened in the prequel series in a really natural way, weaving it into dialogues).
Leila ambitions to become a mage, despite being unable to use the anerjy; but she manages to get enrolled into the order, due to her intelligence and her studies, renouncing at the same time her rank as a princess.
Nadine is the princess of Bermania, a little bit skeptical of the Last Days. Even in these circumstances, she and her mother, are in the search of a weapon, a secret project that was the cause of the loss of her father; this weapon might be the key to defeating the Cursed Army.
Halgrim is a formidable warrior, and part of a band of warriors that take care of the people on the road, but soon his past will make him the figure leading a rebellion to dethrone Bermania's queen.
While those three paths become integral parts of the plot, all suddenly explode when the Last Days come and the Army of the Cursed finally becomes a real threat (much more in the vibes of The Mummy (1999)). Our plot becomes much more epic, showing Soliman his ability to create battle scenes. Characters grow once the threat is a reality, and suddenly, most of the decisions start to make sense.
All is set for a second book, letting the stakes at a really high point. I enjoyed greatly reading Army of the Cursed, and I totally see why it became a semifinalist on SPFBO7. If you like epic fantasy, with multiple-POV, this book might be perfect for you!
Army of the Cursed is the initial book of the War of the Last Days series, by Karim Soliman. Despite it is technically a sequel series to the previous Tales of Gorania, it can be perfectly read without reading it previously.
This series takes place in Gorania, a world of several kingdoms and intricate politics. Humanity is preparing for the Last Days, when the Army of the Cursed will rise and destroy everything in its march. Most of the people are starting to consider this possibility just as a myth, but despite this, Mages are still dedicated to this purpose.
The story is going to follow three different characters, mostly: Leila, Nadine, and Hagrim. There are more points of view that appear alongside the novel, a total of five more, taking the place of also important characters for the development of the story, giving another layer of depth to the plot.
The plot of this book is quite interesting, but starts really slow, being the first half mostly an introduction to our world and the ambitions of our characters (also, Karim Soliman does an excellent job of giving small details of what happened in the prequel series in a really natural way, weaving it into dialogues).
Leila ambitions to become a mage, despite being unable to use the anerjy; but she manages to get enrolled into the order, due to her intelligence and her studies, renouncing at the same time her rank as a princess.
Nadine is the princess of Bermania, a little bit skeptical of the Last Days. Even in these circumstances, she and her mother, are in the search of a weapon, a secret project that was the cause of the loss of her father; this weapon might be the key to defeating the Cursed Army.
Halgrim is a formidable warrior, and part of a band of warriors that take care of the people on the road, but soon his past will make him the figure leading a rebellion to dethrone Bermania's queen.
While those three paths become integral parts of the plot, all suddenly explode when the Last Days come and the Army of the Cursed finally becomes a real threat (much more in the vibes of The Mummy (1999)). Our plot becomes much more epic, showing Soliman his ability to create battle scenes. Characters grow once the threat is a reality, and suddenly, most of the decisions start to make sense.
All is set for a second book, letting the stakes at a really high point. I enjoyed greatly reading Army of the Cursed, and I totally see why it became a semifinalist on SPFBO7. If you like epic fantasy, with multiple-POV, this book might be perfect for you!
November 30, 2022
Now, I have a blog website of my own. You can read this full spoiler free review there.
First of all, I want to give a big thank you to the author for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. And thanks to Storyoriginapp.com where I got this opportunity.
A very captivating, character-driven and fast-paced tale with a huge cast of characters, wonderfully written battle and fight scenes, rebels, mages and much more.
Army of the Cursed is a semi-finalist of SPFBO fantasy book award-2021. Considering my experience with it, I think it deserves more praise.
I saw its cover on Twitter. It is very beautiful. So I opened Goodreads and added this novel to my TBR pile. I knew I would read it one day. But when? I didn’t know that fact. Then, I saw it again on Twitter with a beautiful review written by Daniel T. Jackson, the author of Illborn. A few days passed, I made my account on Storyoriginapp.com to get some Advanced Reading Copies to read and review them. There, I found this, instantly requested for an eARC copy and next day it was on my Kindle app. Until then, I had finished reading Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan. All these signs were pointing me to read it. These were strange arrangements of my destiny, weren’t they? And now, we are here to review it.
There are three main POV characters- Leila, Nardine and Halgrim. Other than these three there are also minor POV characters, for example Frankil, Sania, Payton etc. I loved reading from every POV character.
Leila wants to be a mage but she cannot be because she does not have anerjy, a necessary thing to become a mage. However, thanks to gods, she has read many books and she has wits and great knowledge. Besides it, she will have a shocking surprise, which she does not want, from her aunt Queen Sania. Will this hinder her from pursuing her only passion, her only dream of becoming a mage? I encourage you to find it out.
Nardine is the only child of her mother and the Crown Princess of Bermania. Everyone believes the Last Day will come. But she is doubtful. Despite this, she and her mother are after a weapon, a project which killed her father. A weapon which can kill the immortals who can invade Gorania and are a grave threat to all the human race. But first they will have to overcome the civil war that is tearing their kingdom apart from inside.
Halgrim is a formidable warrior. Still, he is not a member of his father’s warrior band. He craves to be one of them so that he can hunt for food and save her family and village from the threat of bandits. These bandits raid there village and kill people. But his fate has its own arrangements and a secret that his parents are hiding from him. Soon, it will change the relationship between him and his parents as well as his destiny.
The development of the characters is good. From this novel, my three favourite characters are Leila, Nardine and Lady Ashlynn. I think these three characters are a little bit wise and the last one very kind. Halgrim didn’t impress me as much. Yes, he has battle prowess but sometimes he appeared to me like an arrogant, angry fool and sometimes he appeared wise. His characters development didn’t work for me. Except Halgrim’s, every other character’s motives were clear and reasonable. One more thing, these characters are not perfect. They make mistakes and bad decisions. For me, that is a plus point, because you know no one is perfect.
This book has a very wide range of characters. In the first chapter, there are too many to remember them. There are assassins, bandits, knights, enhanced-knights, mages and rebels in the novel. The assassins and bandits are not the main driving force of this novel and little is mentioned of them, though. Writing-style is very accessible and a little bit humorous. I loved it.
The plot of the novel is exciting. It kept me rooted to the book. I am a very slow reader and it takes me usually 7 to 8 days, sometimes even more than 8, to read a book of 500 pages long. But this book made me read it fast and I finished it in just 4 days. There were only two chapters and an epilogue left to read for the fourth day. It is really that fast-paced. It has good revelations and nearly every chapter left me wondering about what will happen next. So I kept turning the pages of this book. It has political machinations, betrayals, manipulations and rebellion or civil war. Prologue and epilogue are also amazing.
I am not going to say the world-building of the novel was immersive, because, from my experience, that was not the case. However, I cannot either say it was bad. In the world of Gorania, there is the Great Desert, very hot. There is Rusakia which is always frigid. You cannot survive the Frozen Frost in the north of Rusakia. You have to wear a piece of clothe made of (or made from?) a special kind of material which is so rare and so expensive. Then there is Bermania which is neither so-hot nor so-cold a kingdom. I think that’s why every other kingdom wants to sit on the throne of Bermania. It has just a perfect environment to comfortably live in.
There were minor issues, too. One of them is Halgrim’s character development and his motives behind his actions.
Overall, I enjoyed it very much. I have not read the Tales of Gorania series that is a prequel series and set in the same world, so I am not sure of this but I think this novel would have increased my reading experience much more if I had read The Warrior’s Path and its sequel novels. I have only read Oath of Blood, a prequel novella to the Warrior’s Path and I really enjoyed it. However, the Warrior’s Path is on my TBR.
In the end I don’t want to increase your expectations too much by saying that it felt a little bit like A Game of Thrones met Captain America met Fear the Walking Dead.
These quotes are taken from this novel and they can change after the publication of the book.
First of all, I want to give a big thank you to the author for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. And thanks to Storyoriginapp.com where I got this opportunity.
A very captivating, character-driven and fast-paced tale with a huge cast of characters, wonderfully written battle and fight scenes, rebels, mages and much more.
Army of the Cursed is a semi-finalist of SPFBO fantasy book award-2021. Considering my experience with it, I think it deserves more praise.
I saw its cover on Twitter. It is very beautiful. So I opened Goodreads and added this novel to my TBR pile. I knew I would read it one day. But when? I didn’t know that fact. Then, I saw it again on Twitter with a beautiful review written by Daniel T. Jackson, the author of Illborn. A few days passed, I made my account on Storyoriginapp.com to get some Advanced Reading Copies to read and review them. There, I found this, instantly requested for an eARC copy and next day it was on my Kindle app. Until then, I had finished reading Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan. All these signs were pointing me to read it. These were strange arrangements of my destiny, weren’t they? And now, we are here to review it.
“Sometimes the best thing you should do is wait.”
There are three main POV characters- Leila, Nardine and Halgrim. Other than these three there are also minor POV characters, for example Frankil, Sania, Payton etc. I loved reading from every POV character.
Leila wants to be a mage but she cannot be because she does not have anerjy, a necessary thing to become a mage. However, thanks to gods, she has read many books and she has wits and great knowledge. Besides it, she will have a shocking surprise, which she does not want, from her aunt Queen Sania. Will this hinder her from pursuing her only passion, her only dream of becoming a mage? I encourage you to find it out.
Nardine is the only child of her mother and the Crown Princess of Bermania. Everyone believes the Last Day will come. But she is doubtful. Despite this, she and her mother are after a weapon, a project which killed her father. A weapon which can kill the immortals who can invade Gorania and are a grave threat to all the human race. But first they will have to overcome the civil war that is tearing their kingdom apart from inside.
Halgrim is a formidable warrior. Still, he is not a member of his father’s warrior band. He craves to be one of them so that he can hunt for food and save her family and village from the threat of bandits. These bandits raid there village and kill people. But his fate has its own arrangements and a secret that his parents are hiding from him. Soon, it will change the relationship between him and his parents as well as his destiny.
“Knowing when to remain silent is wisdom.”
The development of the characters is good. From this novel, my three favourite characters are Leila, Nardine and Lady Ashlynn. I think these three characters are a little bit wise and the last one very kind. Halgrim didn’t impress me as much. Yes, he has battle prowess but sometimes he appeared to me like an arrogant, angry fool and sometimes he appeared wise. His characters development didn’t work for me. Except Halgrim’s, every other character’s motives were clear and reasonable. One more thing, these characters are not perfect. They make mistakes and bad decisions. For me, that is a plus point, because you know no one is perfect.
“Learning in childhood is like engraving on stone indeed; hard to obliterate.”
This book has a very wide range of characters. In the first chapter, there are too many to remember them. There are assassins, bandits, knights, enhanced-knights, mages and rebels in the novel. The assassins and bandits are not the main driving force of this novel and little is mentioned of them, though. Writing-style is very accessible and a little bit humorous. I loved it.
“Never judge an entire faction by the deeds of a few. In every house, every party, every profession; there will always be the honest and the corrupt.”
The plot of the novel is exciting. It kept me rooted to the book. I am a very slow reader and it takes me usually 7 to 8 days, sometimes even more than 8, to read a book of 500 pages long. But this book made me read it fast and I finished it in just 4 days. There were only two chapters and an epilogue left to read for the fourth day. It is really that fast-paced. It has good revelations and nearly every chapter left me wondering about what will happen next. So I kept turning the pages of this book. It has political machinations, betrayals, manipulations and rebellion or civil war. Prologue and epilogue are also amazing.
I am not going to say the world-building of the novel was immersive, because, from my experience, that was not the case. However, I cannot either say it was bad. In the world of Gorania, there is the Great Desert, very hot. There is Rusakia which is always frigid. You cannot survive the Frozen Frost in the north of Rusakia. You have to wear a piece of clothe made of (or made from?) a special kind of material which is so rare and so expensive. Then there is Bermania which is neither so-hot nor so-cold a kingdom. I think that’s why every other kingdom wants to sit on the throne of Bermania. It has just a perfect environment to comfortably live in.
There were minor issues, too. One of them is Halgrim’s character development and his motives behind his actions.
“You cannot defeat a monster unless you become one. Otherwise, it will be an unfair fight. A massacre.”
Overall, I enjoyed it very much. I have not read the Tales of Gorania series that is a prequel series and set in the same world, so I am not sure of this but I think this novel would have increased my reading experience much more if I had read The Warrior’s Path and its sequel novels. I have only read Oath of Blood, a prequel novella to the Warrior’s Path and I really enjoyed it. However, the Warrior’s Path is on my TBR.
“Sometimes grief and fear blind us from seeing the plain facts.”
In the end I don’t want to increase your expectations too much by saying that it felt a little bit like A Game of Thrones met Captain America met Fear the Walking Dead.
These quotes are taken from this novel and they can change after the publication of the book.
August 26, 2023
I received an ecopy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Army of the Cursed (War of the Last Day #1) by Karim Soliman is a fantasy series opener that I'm so glad I decided to take a chance on. I wasn't at all familiar with the author before going into this book, but this impressed me enough that I'm going to have to try more of his past works soon. His character work is excellent. I feel like everyone including the side characters are just about ready to walk right off the page. All of the cast are given their chance to shine. I also liked getting to know the world of Gorania. I know this book is the first installment of a spin-off which I've never read, but while reading this I never felt terribly out of the loop though I definitely wanted a little more detail that I've missed. I highly recommend this engaging and fast-paced fantasy even if, like me you aren't already familiar with the previous series. This definitely won't be my last read from this author. I can't wait to see what's more for this series, and more of Soliman's past work.
Army of the Cursed (War of the Last Day #1) by Karim Soliman is a fantasy series opener that I'm so glad I decided to take a chance on. I wasn't at all familiar with the author before going into this book, but this impressed me enough that I'm going to have to try more of his past works soon. His character work is excellent. I feel like everyone including the side characters are just about ready to walk right off the page. All of the cast are given their chance to shine. I also liked getting to know the world of Gorania. I know this book is the first installment of a spin-off which I've never read, but while reading this I never felt terribly out of the loop though I definitely wanted a little more detail that I've missed. I highly recommend this engaging and fast-paced fantasy even if, like me you aren't already familiar with the previous series. This definitely won't be my last read from this author. I can't wait to see what's more for this series, and more of Soliman's past work.
January 10, 2022
As the opening to a series, "Army of the Cursed" cannot be faulted. It has pretty much everything I want from a fantasy novel (I say "pretty much" because I can't think of a single thing missing from this book, and anything more may have spoiled it!). Karim Soliman writes with an ease that helps the story flow (and what a story!). There are great characters, perfect world-building, and I'm left with a yearning for more.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
August 8, 2022
4/5 Stars
I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
An action-packed fantasy as humanity faces extinction. Army of The Cursed an epic self-published novel. The first book in the War of the Last Day and a sequel series to the Tales of Gorania. It’s also a SPFBO 2021 Semi-finalist and I can certainly see why.
First, this takes place in the world of Gorania. An intricate world with various Kingdoms, a deep set history and varied terrain. Humanity is preparing for The Last Day, in which the Army of the Cursed has been foretold to arrive and lay waste to every human. The mages are dedicated to protecting humanity against this Cursed Army, despite any skepticism they may receive.
The story has multiple points of view, with three characters getting the most time; Leila, Nardine and Halgrim. Along with five other points of views that allow for an in depth look at the story. While not all five points of views may get reoccurring chapters, they are all from characters that have a strong presence and connection to the main three characters.
Prior to starting The Army of the Cursed, I had received feedback from other readers that it may not be the best place to start, since it’s a sequel series. Now, while I have not read the Tales of Gorania, I found Karim Soliman did an excellent job at keeping the reader informed about the previous series without info dumping.
Let me explain, our three main characters seem to be the younger generation from The Tales of Gorania. Notable events from the past are often detailed in scenes of the older generations explaining the younger ones about the history of the world, their families, etc. This gave the feeling that I was learning about the events from The Tales of Gorania as a child would from the tales of their parents. These scenes are woven into conversations between characters that impacted their present choices, and added mystery. As a result, I had no troubles jumping into the sequel series. However, this will end up being an individual choice for readers.
I also want to note, that there is a detailed outline at the back of the book with explanations of each of the kingdoms, and characters. This was really helpful while reading.
As the main three characters are in their teens, they do have a younger maturity to their characters. This can be hit or miss for some readers. For myself, it took me about 25% to get comfortable with these characters and at times their choices seemed sudden or random. By the time I finished the book though, I enjoyed each one and the developments they get.
I also found some word choices were a bit modern for the world and these did take me out of the reading experience from time to time.
The beginning of the book felt like a slow burn but once I hit the 50% mark, I couldn’t put it down. With action packed scenes, and high stakes, I quickly found myself lost in pages.
There was political intrigue, great action scenes, mystery, magic, interesting character work and engaging story lines. The story also sets up for book 2, Tattered Banners.
An epic fantasy I’d recommend you try, and I look forward to continuing with Tattered Banners.
I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
An action-packed fantasy as humanity faces extinction. Army of The Cursed an epic self-published novel. The first book in the War of the Last Day and a sequel series to the Tales of Gorania. It’s also a SPFBO 2021 Semi-finalist and I can certainly see why.
First, this takes place in the world of Gorania. An intricate world with various Kingdoms, a deep set history and varied terrain. Humanity is preparing for The Last Day, in which the Army of the Cursed has been foretold to arrive and lay waste to every human. The mages are dedicated to protecting humanity against this Cursed Army, despite any skepticism they may receive.
The story has multiple points of view, with three characters getting the most time; Leila, Nardine and Halgrim. Along with five other points of views that allow for an in depth look at the story. While not all five points of views may get reoccurring chapters, they are all from characters that have a strong presence and connection to the main three characters.
Prior to starting The Army of the Cursed, I had received feedback from other readers that it may not be the best place to start, since it’s a sequel series. Now, while I have not read the Tales of Gorania, I found Karim Soliman did an excellent job at keeping the reader informed about the previous series without info dumping.
Let me explain, our three main characters seem to be the younger generation from The Tales of Gorania. Notable events from the past are often detailed in scenes of the older generations explaining the younger ones about the history of the world, their families, etc. This gave the feeling that I was learning about the events from The Tales of Gorania as a child would from the tales of their parents. These scenes are woven into conversations between characters that impacted their present choices, and added mystery. As a result, I had no troubles jumping into the sequel series. However, this will end up being an individual choice for readers.
I also want to note, that there is a detailed outline at the back of the book with explanations of each of the kingdoms, and characters. This was really helpful while reading.
As the main three characters are in their teens, they do have a younger maturity to their characters. This can be hit or miss for some readers. For myself, it took me about 25% to get comfortable with these characters and at times their choices seemed sudden or random. By the time I finished the book though, I enjoyed each one and the developments they get.
I also found some word choices were a bit modern for the world and these did take me out of the reading experience from time to time.
The beginning of the book felt like a slow burn but once I hit the 50% mark, I couldn’t put it down. With action packed scenes, and high stakes, I quickly found myself lost in pages.
There was political intrigue, great action scenes, mystery, magic, interesting character work and engaging story lines. The story also sets up for book 2, Tattered Banners.
An epic fantasy I’d recommend you try, and I look forward to continuing with Tattered Banners.
November 19, 2022
I really love the cover of this one, it’s not necessarily my normal sort of pick, but I love the colours with the magic blue energy creating a focal point amid the more muted tones. The book though is another of those that didn’t quite work for me, despite it seeming like it should be a perfect fit.
We have three main characters and I think one of the issues for me in reading this is that two of these are princesses. They obviously had different names and were in different places doing different things, but I just couldn’t find enough to create some separation between the two. So each time we switched to one of these characters, I struggled a little and had to really think about who I was dealing with and what they were doing.
That clearly had an impact, and although I think the writing was fine, and there were some interesting concepts within the story, it just didn’t land for me overall.
We have three main characters and I think one of the issues for me in reading this is that two of these are princesses. They obviously had different names and were in different places doing different things, but I just couldn’t find enough to create some separation between the two. So each time we switched to one of these characters, I struggled a little and had to really think about who I was dealing with and what they were doing.
That clearly had an impact, and although I think the writing was fine, and there were some interesting concepts within the story, it just didn’t land for me overall.
February 13, 2022
This is the first book in the War of the last day series , and what a way to start the series it definitely has me hooked and wanting more! I don't read that many fantasy novels but this one drew me in so much with the cover and blurb that I couldn't say no too it.
If you are a fan of fantasy or wanting to start reading fantasy this is a great one to read, it has everything it needs to transport you into the book, characters that draw you in , setting that is painted vividly in the readers mind. The way the author has written this book is perfect , it isn't too complicated but has so much intrigue that it keeps you going back. I don't want to say much about the plot as I feel with fantasy books it is better to go on the journey yourself
If you are a fan of fantasy or wanting to start reading fantasy this is a great one to read, it has everything it needs to transport you into the book, characters that draw you in , setting that is painted vividly in the readers mind. The way the author has written this book is perfect , it isn't too complicated but has so much intrigue that it keeps you going back. I don't want to say much about the plot as I feel with fantasy books it is better to go on the journey yourself
June 21, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed Karim Soliman's other series (The Tales of Gorania) and was curious to see if this would live up to that series. And I'm happy to discover that it did! While you do not need to read the other series to understand this novel, I greatly appreciate the connections between the two. There are new characters in this novel but there are also familiar faces (which I love!). There are new plot points and story lines but there are familiar ones that carry on from the first series as well. I really enjoyed each of the viewpoints that are presented through the story and each provide a unique and enjoyable facet of the story. There were definitely some twists and turns that i did NOT see coming that were so fun to read about.
Overall, this was a fantastic start to a new series that I'm sure I will continue to enjoy more with each installment! I definitely recommend this and his other series to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced fantasy story with lots of action and interesting characters.
Overall, this was a fantastic start to a new series that I'm sure I will continue to enjoy more with each installment! I definitely recommend this and his other series to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced fantasy story with lots of action and interesting characters.
June 5, 2021
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
3.5/5 stars
Army of the Cursed tells the story of three young adults who have no knowledge of each other, but they must come together to save a kingdom. First, we meet Leila. Leila, the niece of the Murasen queen, wants nothing more than to be a mage. Sadly, she fails her trial to become one, and instead, she joins the fight as a mage's apprentice. Nardine, our second main character, is the crown princess of Bermania. Though she has a tough time truly embracing her role, she learns how the crown princess must act. Finally, Halgrim is the son of the Captain of the Guard and is extremely skilled with a sword. Though the three main protagonists have no idea of each other, they must come together to save the Goranian kingdom from total extinction.
Going into this book, I was very excited to see the story come to life. And while it was a good book, it just did not quite live up to my expectations. Let's start with what I did like. I loved the world that Soliman builds. It's unique and unlike anything that I have ever experienced before. His characters are also incredible, ad he truly brings them to life. The action and adventure was great, and the battle scenes really grasped my attention.
Now for what I did not like. The biggest issue I had while reading this is that it is told through multiple points of view. The story is mainly told through our three protagonists' points of view, with a few other ones thrown in. The POVs were interesting, but I wound up being overwhelmed and confused for the majority of the book. The amount of names and places that were presented in the first half made it very confusing to keep it all straight, and there were times I would have to go back and figure out who the character mentioned was.
Overall, this is a really good book. I just don't think it was really my "cup of tea". Would I still recommend it? Definitely. For fantasy lovers out there, this would be a great read. I just don't think it quite lived up to the expectations I had placed upon it.
3.5/5 stars
Army of the Cursed tells the story of three young adults who have no knowledge of each other, but they must come together to save a kingdom. First, we meet Leila. Leila, the niece of the Murasen queen, wants nothing more than to be a mage. Sadly, she fails her trial to become one, and instead, she joins the fight as a mage's apprentice. Nardine, our second main character, is the crown princess of Bermania. Though she has a tough time truly embracing her role, she learns how the crown princess must act. Finally, Halgrim is the son of the Captain of the Guard and is extremely skilled with a sword. Though the three main protagonists have no idea of each other, they must come together to save the Goranian kingdom from total extinction.
Going into this book, I was very excited to see the story come to life. And while it was a good book, it just did not quite live up to my expectations. Let's start with what I did like. I loved the world that Soliman builds. It's unique and unlike anything that I have ever experienced before. His characters are also incredible, ad he truly brings them to life. The action and adventure was great, and the battle scenes really grasped my attention.
Now for what I did not like. The biggest issue I had while reading this is that it is told through multiple points of view. The story is mainly told through our three protagonists' points of view, with a few other ones thrown in. The POVs were interesting, but I wound up being overwhelmed and confused for the majority of the book. The amount of names and places that were presented in the first half made it very confusing to keep it all straight, and there were times I would have to go back and figure out who the character mentioned was.
Overall, this is a really good book. I just don't think it was really my "cup of tea". Would I still recommend it? Definitely. For fantasy lovers out there, this would be a great read. I just don't think it quite lived up to the expectations I had placed upon it.
February 24, 2021
They had seventeen years to prepare for the war with the Army of the Cursed. Today, they discover they are doomed.
Will the young teenagers be of any help.
Can they all survive the war.
What will happen next.
Will Leila support her love ones or run away.
Great characters and lots of action.
You will have to read this to find out ,highly recommended.
Will the young teenagers be of any help.
Can they all survive the war.
What will happen next.
Will Leila support her love ones or run away.
Great characters and lots of action.
You will have to read this to find out ,highly recommended.
February 24, 2022
War of the last day - 1.
This book instantly attracted me to the multiple perspectives of each chapter, I loved the anticipation when I started a new chapter and was met with a different characters perspective. It wasn’t your usual rotation between two or three people. I adored the map at the beginning showing you the world you were going to be reading into.
When you read the prologue you get an insight into the different groups of people. You understand the strength of the ‘Korigaidi’. You learn about the ‘Mages’. Although by this point I may have been a little bit lost and confused I did my usual map alongside the read to remember who was who and why. I’m getting good at these fantasy style reads. I loved the cliffhanger on the prologue before the main plot even begun it excites me and I knew I would enjoy this read a lot.
This is quite an in-depth detailed read so be patient with every chapter. Give the author time to create the background and introduce you to the characters it all adds up and makes sense after a bit of time. I started to get really interested when first meeting Leila and learning about the trials, sorcery and gifts.
As the quest begins and the battles commence you do question of the cursed will be defeated. I loved how the three leaders came together. I loved how Leila was at first unsure about herself and had this vulnerable side. Play close attention to characters that are there in front of you and relate back to the prologue you’ll be like oooo I knew it when you realise. Although not my usual style of read I can see this being a popular hit with lots.
Where will the next book take us all?
This book instantly attracted me to the multiple perspectives of each chapter, I loved the anticipation when I started a new chapter and was met with a different characters perspective. It wasn’t your usual rotation between two or three people. I adored the map at the beginning showing you the world you were going to be reading into.
When you read the prologue you get an insight into the different groups of people. You understand the strength of the ‘Korigaidi’. You learn about the ‘Mages’. Although by this point I may have been a little bit lost and confused I did my usual map alongside the read to remember who was who and why. I’m getting good at these fantasy style reads. I loved the cliffhanger on the prologue before the main plot even begun it excites me and I knew I would enjoy this read a lot.
This is quite an in-depth detailed read so be patient with every chapter. Give the author time to create the background and introduce you to the characters it all adds up and makes sense after a bit of time. I started to get really interested when first meeting Leila and learning about the trials, sorcery and gifts.
As the quest begins and the battles commence you do question of the cursed will be defeated. I loved how the three leaders came together. I loved how Leila was at first unsure about herself and had this vulnerable side. Play close attention to characters that are there in front of you and relate back to the prologue you’ll be like oooo I knew it when you realise. Although not my usual style of read I can see this being a popular hit with lots.
Where will the next book take us all?
February 1, 2022
Army of the Cursed by Karim Soliman is the first book in an epic fantasy series titled War of the Last Day. I haven’t read any of Soliman’s books, but the cover and blurb were interesting so I decided to give it a try. Told through multiple POVs in third person we experience the story through the three main characters. At times when there are multiple POVs in books, authors have trouble keeping the characters’ voices distinct and unique, however, Soliman had no trouble with this.
This book is fast-paced and while the plot is very interesting, it was slightly predictable and I found myself wanting more after I had finished reading. The characters and their descriptions were very detailed and overall the book is very well-written. There was a point where so much information and so many other characters had been revealed that I was left slightly confused, but I still enjoyed this read.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is fast-paced and while the plot is very interesting, it was slightly predictable and I found myself wanting more after I had finished reading. The characters and their descriptions were very detailed and overall the book is very well-written. There was a point where so much information and so many other characters had been revealed that I was left slightly confused, but I still enjoyed this read.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read
July 28, 2021I received an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book has three perspectives: Leila, Nardine and Halgrim (the main characters).
All three of them have to prepare for an upcoming war.
So I liked how the author began with telling what the characters actually want to do and their developments, leading to how they have to face the war together.
All the war, Queen & Kings, mages, demon vibes were great!
Eagerly waiting to discover more.
And I was sold by encountering a Map in the beginning.
Great book and highly recommended!
This book has three perspectives: Leila, Nardine and Halgrim (the main characters).
All three of them have to prepare for an upcoming war.
So I liked how the author began with telling what the characters actually want to do and their developments, leading to how they have to face the war together.
All the war, Queen & Kings, mages, demon vibes were great!
Eagerly waiting to discover more.
And I was sold by encountering a Map in the beginning.
Great book and highly recommended!
February 4, 2022
It's clear from the way the author writes that he has mastered all the fundamental elements of fantasy world-building in this multi-point of view epic. I found myself getting lost in this very believable world, spending time with absorbing characters and plots.
I particularly enjoyed learning about the way magic works in this world, and how it has the power to shape events. The use of secondary characters enhanced the plot really well as they had fascinating backstories all of their own.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of fantasy stories, and to all aspiring authors in the genre.
I can't wait to read part two.
I particularly enjoyed learning about the way magic works in this world, and how it has the power to shape events. The use of secondary characters enhanced the plot really well as they had fascinating backstories all of their own.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of fantasy stories, and to all aspiring authors in the genre.
I can't wait to read part two.
March 21, 2021
The start of this new series is awesome ! The fact that Karim can jump so quickly from one to another and completely grab you and hold you hostage is truly exciting ! You won’t be able to put this one down either. A battle has been coming for years (good vs evil) it has finally arrived. With the buildup of characters, the twists/turns of the story and non stop action/mystery/intrigue you will be captivated from start to finish.
December 22, 2021
This is the first novel that I have read by Karim Soliman. I am most impressed. This book is very magical, bringing the reader to be transported to a whole new world of magic. The novel is told by a number of different people by their own specific agendas. While this may seem complicated Soliman was able to bring them all together in a very impressive manner. There was a real balance of darkness and realm of fantasy with lightness and a tinge of humor. Soliman brought the characters to life, as he penned this amazing story and created his characters. I was entranced by this story. The writing was fast-paced. This book is a real page-turner. You won’t want to put it down.
July 14, 2022
True 5.0/5.0 from my experience!
I've been blessed this year to have had so many books click with me as much as they have. Let alone the experience I've had with the indie or self published authors this year. I didn't consciously set out to read more of these authors this year, but it's happen. I credit this to a lot of the communities that I've attached myself to as I enjoy this reading adventure!
With that out of the way, I had heard there were a lot of characters and point of views in this book. I honestly didn't think it was that bad at all. We really only had about a half dozen main characters with a couple score supporting characters to learn about along the way. I think the only two I found myself getting confused throughout most of the books were Leila and Nardine. Not that they have any traits or attributes in common. I just had a hard time keeping their names straight between their two characters.
I honestly though both the character development and world building were done extremely well in this book! It's definitely easy to find yourself with some strong feelings with lots of the characters whether those are good or bad. We definitely get some caste vibes between the peasants and the royals throughout the book. Even if those lines to blur from time to time they do stay relevant throughout. We have some great fights and epic battle scenes in this one. The second to final battle and the final battle were both amazing from beginning to end.
The pacing never really dropped below second gear to me. We spend most of the book in third gear or higher for sure.
A couple of my favorite parts of this book other than what I've already pointed out is the epilogue which was a huge shocking moment for me that kind of turned so much of the book on its head and set things up for the next book(s) to come I hope. Also the author included a section covering the Kingdome and People of the world he's built. It was a very nice recap to remind myself not only of the characters we meet but where they were from and a bit of a description as to what people from that region are like.
I already have my hand on another standalone prequel to this book that I plan to get to between now and the end of the next month at the latest. And I have learned Karim has another series within the same world that I'm interested in checking out in the future as well.
Once again this book isn't very long. I'd consider it short to mid length but again a very easy read. The pages and chapters just seem to float as you start to get into the story.
I've been blessed this year to have had so many books click with me as much as they have. Let alone the experience I've had with the indie or self published authors this year. I didn't consciously set out to read more of these authors this year, but it's happen. I credit this to a lot of the communities that I've attached myself to as I enjoy this reading adventure!
With that out of the way, I had heard there were a lot of characters and point of views in this book. I honestly didn't think it was that bad at all. We really only had about a half dozen main characters with a couple score supporting characters to learn about along the way. I think the only two I found myself getting confused throughout most of the books were Leila and Nardine. Not that they have any traits or attributes in common. I just had a hard time keeping their names straight between their two characters.
I honestly though both the character development and world building were done extremely well in this book! It's definitely easy to find yourself with some strong feelings with lots of the characters whether those are good or bad. We definitely get some caste vibes between the peasants and the royals throughout the book. Even if those lines to blur from time to time they do stay relevant throughout. We have some great fights and epic battle scenes in this one. The second to final battle and the final battle were both amazing from beginning to end.
The pacing never really dropped below second gear to me. We spend most of the book in third gear or higher for sure.
A couple of my favorite parts of this book other than what I've already pointed out is the epilogue which was a huge shocking moment for me that kind of turned so much of the book on its head and set things up for the next book(s) to come I hope. Also the author included a section covering the Kingdome and People of the world he's built. It was a very nice recap to remind myself not only of the characters we meet but where they were from and a bit of a description as to what people from that region are like.
I already have my hand on another standalone prequel to this book that I plan to get to between now and the end of the next month at the latest. And I have learned Karim has another series within the same world that I'm interested in checking out in the future as well.
Once again this book isn't very long. I'd consider it short to mid length but again a very easy read. The pages and chapters just seem to float as you start to get into the story.
September 23, 2021
Army of the Cursed by Karim Soliman is the first book in his War of the Last Day series. As a Book Reviewer, I received a free ebook copy of this novel and this is my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor any review.
Though this is the first book in the War of the Last Day series by Karim Soliman, it is not his first book. He also wrote the Tales of Gorania series, which tell the story of Gorania, the world in which the Army of the Cursed takes place. Army of the Cursed by Karim Soliman is an epic fantasy novel with a complex world, lots of characters, and a battle that could end the human race and destroy Gorania.
Though their are many characters in the story, and all play an important role, three characters are key to the storyline. Leila, who gave up her right to be Crown Princess of Murase because she longed to be a mage and had been studying for it for years; Nardine, the Crown Princess of Bermania, who struggles to get along with her mother, Queen Rona. Nardine hears a rumor that her father was close to finding a weapon against the immortal demons and so begins to try to find out what happened to his unfinished work. Far away in the northlands of Skandivia, Halgrim is told of a lie that changes the path he had planned to take to a path that leads him to war with the Army of the Cursed.
Mr. Soliman did a great job creating a complex world with lots of interesting characters and intertwining their lives. His writing is easy to follow and the plotline is full of intrigue, action, and battles.
The only thing I struggled with was the pacing of the story. I think the plot dragged in the last third of the book and thought the war with the Army of the Cursed could’ve happened sooner and brought the story to its conclusion earlier. However, I liked the world and the characters enough to keep me reading to the end. And, as I have only begun reading fantasy stories in the past couple years, diehard fantasy readers may not have a problem with the pacing of this novel. It is my understanding that epic fantasy novels are lengthy.
I would definitely read the the next book in the War of the Last Day series when it becomes available because I am invested in the lives of the characters, especially Leila and Zahra.
I give Army of the Cursed by Karim Soliman 5 stars because of his talent with building the world and tying the characters from so many places altogether.
Though this is the first book in the War of the Last Day series by Karim Soliman, it is not his first book. He also wrote the Tales of Gorania series, which tell the story of Gorania, the world in which the Army of the Cursed takes place. Army of the Cursed by Karim Soliman is an epic fantasy novel with a complex world, lots of characters, and a battle that could end the human race and destroy Gorania.
Though their are many characters in the story, and all play an important role, three characters are key to the storyline. Leila, who gave up her right to be Crown Princess of Murase because she longed to be a mage and had been studying for it for years; Nardine, the Crown Princess of Bermania, who struggles to get along with her mother, Queen Rona. Nardine hears a rumor that her father was close to finding a weapon against the immortal demons and so begins to try to find out what happened to his unfinished work. Far away in the northlands of Skandivia, Halgrim is told of a lie that changes the path he had planned to take to a path that leads him to war with the Army of the Cursed.
Mr. Soliman did a great job creating a complex world with lots of interesting characters and intertwining their lives. His writing is easy to follow and the plotline is full of intrigue, action, and battles.
The only thing I struggled with was the pacing of the story. I think the plot dragged in the last third of the book and thought the war with the Army of the Cursed could’ve happened sooner and brought the story to its conclusion earlier. However, I liked the world and the characters enough to keep me reading to the end. And, as I have only begun reading fantasy stories in the past couple years, diehard fantasy readers may not have a problem with the pacing of this novel. It is my understanding that epic fantasy novels are lengthy.
I would definitely read the the next book in the War of the Last Day series when it becomes available because I am invested in the lives of the characters, especially Leila and Zahra.
I give Army of the Cursed by Karim Soliman 5 stars because of his talent with building the world and tying the characters from so many places altogether.
July 1, 2021
Army of the Cursed may be my first time reading Karim Soliman but it won't be my last. Having a fantasy series with a Last Battle against an army of the dead/cursed/demons isn't a new concept however the way this book goes about setting things up came across very fresh to me. There were so many different character perspectives that even though there were three main protagonists, other people were given just as big a chance to shine.
Nardine is the Crown Princess of Bermanian, she is stubborn, foolhardy and clever. She is also spoiled and thinks almost exclusively in terms of what she wants and how she can get it.
Leila is the Second Crown Princess of Murase, she is a bookworm and has zero aspersions of running a kingdom or bothering with politics. She wants to be a mage but it seems fate has a different plan for her. She is very book smart but naive in almost every other way.
Halgrim was just living a quiet life, aspiring to be useful and become a warrior. Fate also has a different destiny for him as he finds out everything he thought was a lie. He's a great fighter and is often underestimated which he uses more than once to his advantage.
These three are not friends, at times they may even be enemies but as we find out they may be their world's only chance at survival.
Army of the Cursed is a very fast-paced story. There isn't a huge political build-up although the groundwork is laid for there to be. I wouldn't have minded things being a bit more drawn out, but the non-stop flow did keep me fully engaged. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I received a free copy of this story and am leaving a voluntary honest review.
Nardine is the Crown Princess of Bermanian, she is stubborn, foolhardy and clever. She is also spoiled and thinks almost exclusively in terms of what she wants and how she can get it.
Leila is the Second Crown Princess of Murase, she is a bookworm and has zero aspersions of running a kingdom or bothering with politics. She wants to be a mage but it seems fate has a different plan for her. She is very book smart but naive in almost every other way.
Halgrim was just living a quiet life, aspiring to be useful and become a warrior. Fate also has a different destiny for him as he finds out everything he thought was a lie. He's a great fighter and is often underestimated which he uses more than once to his advantage.
These three are not friends, at times they may even be enemies but as we find out they may be their world's only chance at survival.
Army of the Cursed is a very fast-paced story. There isn't a huge political build-up although the groundwork is laid for there to be. I wouldn't have minded things being a bit more drawn out, but the non-stop flow did keep me fully engaged. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I received a free copy of this story and am leaving a voluntary honest review.
July 31, 2022
I just finished Army of the Cursed by Karim Soliman, a self-published fantasy book. I am finding myself reading more and more Indie fantasy and science-fiction these days, and this is an example of how good these writers can be.
The first half of Army of the Cursed is the set-up, the second half is the payoff, and what a payoff it is! I was a bit skeptical during the set-up when the world-building and plot were all being laid out, but once the action started really happening, it all came together for me and became a very fun and engrossing read.
The story revolves around several kingdoms and the younger generation preparing to take the mantle from those currently in power. I enjoyed seeing the youths come into their power and struggle with the responsibilities that entails. There were lots of twists and unexpected turns that kept me entertained. The various characters were well crafted and likeable, while being realistic and multi-faceted.
The main arc is about an army possessed by demons threatening just beyond the horizon. Various magic systems include elemental magic, potions, portals, incantations, demons and the undead. These came up naturally in the story. The fighting and battle scenes are well done, and a couple in particular stand out, but I won't give away any spoilers.
I had a bit of trouble keeping track of all the characters and places, but there are maps and info in the back to help with that. Also there were some spots where the English phrasing was a bit off, but the momentum of the story allowed me to gloss over any rough patches.
All in all, a well-crafted work of fantasy fiction with strong storytelling and a satisfying conclusion.
The first half of Army of the Cursed is the set-up, the second half is the payoff, and what a payoff it is! I was a bit skeptical during the set-up when the world-building and plot were all being laid out, but once the action started really happening, it all came together for me and became a very fun and engrossing read.
The story revolves around several kingdoms and the younger generation preparing to take the mantle from those currently in power. I enjoyed seeing the youths come into their power and struggle with the responsibilities that entails. There were lots of twists and unexpected turns that kept me entertained. The various characters were well crafted and likeable, while being realistic and multi-faceted.
The main arc is about an army possessed by demons threatening just beyond the horizon. Various magic systems include elemental magic, potions, portals, incantations, demons and the undead. These came up naturally in the story. The fighting and battle scenes are well done, and a couple in particular stand out, but I won't give away any spoilers.
I had a bit of trouble keeping track of all the characters and places, but there are maps and info in the back to help with that. Also there were some spots where the English phrasing was a bit off, but the momentum of the story allowed me to gloss over any rough patches.
All in all, a well-crafted work of fantasy fiction with strong storytelling and a satisfying conclusion.
May 22, 2022
ARC REVIEW
*I received a free digital copy. This does not affect my review, which I leave voluntarily
I really wanted to like this story and was convinced I would, but I ended up putting it down at about 25%
This is written quite well, but I just couldn't get into it. I was waiting for the kind of beautiful descriptions you expect in an epic fantasy but other than the prologue they never really came, and I lacked investment in the MCs which is a deal-breaker for me.
Content warnings up until 25% of this book
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild-moderate violence, no gore
If you like YA style epic fantasy with a lot of political maneuvring, then this might be your cup of tea mor than it was mine.
*I received a free digital copy. This does not affect my review, which I leave voluntarily
I really wanted to like this story and was convinced I would, but I ended up putting it down at about 25%
This is written quite well, but I just couldn't get into it. I was waiting for the kind of beautiful descriptions you expect in an epic fantasy but other than the prologue they never really came, and I lacked investment in the MCs which is a deal-breaker for me.
Content warnings up until 25% of this book
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild-moderate violence, no gore
If you like YA style epic fantasy with a lot of political maneuvring, then this might be your cup of tea mor than it was mine.
February 1, 2022
Told from multiple points of view, I didn't think I was going to like this book at first. I found it confusing. But before I knew it I had been drawn into the world of Gorania and was thoroughly enjoying the experience.
The three main characters, Crown Princess Leila of Murase, Crown Princess Nardine of Bermania and Halgrim a commoner from Skandivia who learns of the birthright denied him, are each threatened by the army of the cursed and the foretold War of the Last Day. After much intrigue and a rebe!lion that threatens Bermania, the paths of the three come together.
An epic fantasy, full of adventure, magic, battles and secrets uncovered, this is a real page turner, especially the last third. I really want to read the next in the series.
Thank you to @liabilities and the author, @kariem28 for my copy of this book given in return for a fair and honest review.
The three main characters, Crown Princess Leila of Murase, Crown Princess Nardine of Bermania and Halgrim a commoner from Skandivia who learns of the birthright denied him, are each threatened by the army of the cursed and the foretold War of the Last Day. After much intrigue and a rebe!lion that threatens Bermania, the paths of the three come together.
An epic fantasy, full of adventure, magic, battles and secrets uncovered, this is a real page turner, especially the last third. I really want to read the next in the series.
Thank you to @liabilities and the author, @kariem28 for my copy of this book given in return for a fair and honest review.
December 20, 2021
Leila, Crown Princess of Murase is interested in passing the test to join the Mages. Her Aunt, the current Queen of Murase, just named her Crown Princess and encourages her to try out for the test before it is scheduled. What is her reason?
Nardine, the Crown Princess of Bermania is a doer and hates standing by and letting things happen. She trains with the Military and will succeed her mother the current Queen when it is time. However, she will unravel a secret that will change her perspective on the rule of the Kingdom.
Halgrim the supposed son of Frankill discovers that his life is based on a lie and travels to Bermania in order to claim his supposed birthright.
The three will meet and will have to face a horde of 50,000 undead and their Mages in a battle that has been prophesized as being the Last Day.
The author has the rare gift to grip the reader, from the start, and to virtually take the reader to where the action takes place throughout the book with all the Twists and Turns that are thrown in. This makes this book a page-turner and deserves a 5 Stars Rating.
Nardine, the Crown Princess of Bermania is a doer and hates standing by and letting things happen. She trains with the Military and will succeed her mother the current Queen when it is time. However, she will unravel a secret that will change her perspective on the rule of the Kingdom.
Halgrim the supposed son of Frankill discovers that his life is based on a lie and travels to Bermania in order to claim his supposed birthright.
The three will meet and will have to face a horde of 50,000 undead and their Mages in a battle that has been prophesized as being the Last Day.
The author has the rare gift to grip the reader, from the start, and to virtually take the reader to where the action takes place throughout the book with all the Twists and Turns that are thrown in. This makes this book a page-turner and deserves a 5 Stars Rating.
December 27, 2021
A continent of several kingdoms is struggling to maintain order as the various monarchs vie for control and heirs dispute their claims to the throne.
At the same time, humanity prepares for an outside threat - demons that are patiently waiting for their chance to once again invade these lands.
Army Of The Cursed weaves together several main character narratives in a style and theme that closely resembles the Song Of Ice And Fire saga.
It’s always difficult to introduce an entire world of new geography and history into a story and keep it clear and understandable. Soliman does this in an innovative way, by giving his kingdoms names that immediately conjure up images of real-world cultures. Some readers might consider this derivative, but I found it creative and helpful.
The history is also well-constructed, but perhaps a little difficult to keep straight. There were a lot of names thrown into the first few chapters, with a lot of kings and queens and warriors and heroes.
The use of demons as an existential threat might seem a little cliche and trope-y, but I felt that these demons were unique and interesting. The magic and technology, so far, seem interesting and well-developed, and Soliman has dedicated a character for providing the necessary exposition on his magic system.
It’s very apparent that Soliman has been influence or inspired by ASOIAF. The political intrigue and supernatural background threats are very similar to Game of Thrones and I think this book will strongly appeal to those fans. I’m looking forward to checking out the rest of this series.
At the same time, humanity prepares for an outside threat - demons that are patiently waiting for their chance to once again invade these lands.
Army Of The Cursed weaves together several main character narratives in a style and theme that closely resembles the Song Of Ice And Fire saga.
It’s always difficult to introduce an entire world of new geography and history into a story and keep it clear and understandable. Soliman does this in an innovative way, by giving his kingdoms names that immediately conjure up images of real-world cultures. Some readers might consider this derivative, but I found it creative and helpful.
The history is also well-constructed, but perhaps a little difficult to keep straight. There were a lot of names thrown into the first few chapters, with a lot of kings and queens and warriors and heroes.
The use of demons as an existential threat might seem a little cliche and trope-y, but I felt that these demons were unique and interesting. The magic and technology, so far, seem interesting and well-developed, and Soliman has dedicated a character for providing the necessary exposition on his magic system.
It’s very apparent that Soliman has been influence or inspired by ASOIAF. The political intrigue and supernatural background threats are very similar to Game of Thrones and I think this book will strongly appeal to those fans. I’m looking forward to checking out the rest of this series.
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