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Iconoclasts #3
Idols Fall
“AT LONG LAST, EVEN GODS WILL KNOW REGRET…”
Agnes Manteo now bears her father’s sentient Djao sword, along with a terrible revelation—the gods are charlatans, ancient sorcerers who draw their strength from the suffering of humanity. She and her Syraeic companions have but one duty: to track down those pretenders and end their reign of cruelty and lies, no matter the cost. To that end, the magical blade—mighty, single-minded Szaa’da’shaela—won’t allow any wavering of their commitment.
But the empire is in turmoil with the sudden passing of its undying queen. Noble houses clash and threaten civil war, murderous barbarians mass on the frontier in preparation for a bloody invasion, and all feel the aching void left by the clergy, whose temples were devastated by a great fire. Can the kingdom survive should Agnes succeed in tearing away its very foundations?
And if she fails? What might sorcerers with nearly godlike powers do to exact their revenge?
Idols Fall is the thrilling conclusion to the compelling Iconoclasts trilogy.
Agnes Manteo now bears her father’s sentient Djao sword, along with a terrible revelation—the gods are charlatans, ancient sorcerers who draw their strength from the suffering of humanity. She and her Syraeic companions have but one duty: to track down those pretenders and end their reign of cruelty and lies, no matter the cost. To that end, the magical blade—mighty, single-minded Szaa’da’shaela—won’t allow any wavering of their commitment.
But the empire is in turmoil with the sudden passing of its undying queen. Noble houses clash and threaten civil war, murderous barbarians mass on the frontier in preparation for a bloody invasion, and all feel the aching void left by the clergy, whose temples were devastated by a great fire. Can the kingdom survive should Agnes succeed in tearing away its very foundations?
And if she fails? What might sorcerers with nearly godlike powers do to exact their revenge?
Idols Fall is the thrilling conclusion to the compelling Iconoclasts trilogy.
686 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2021
109 people are currently reading
866 people want to read
About the author
Mike Shel
36 books409 followersKickstarter Late Pledges for a deluxe version of Mike's debut novel: https://aching-god-deluxe-collectors-...
Mike was born in Detroit and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, oldest of three boys, the son of a firefighter and homemaker. He has practiced as a psychotherapist for nearly 30 years. He lives in central Indiana with his wife Tracy, son Leo, and dogs Tilly and Bobo. Mike began freelancing for Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder Roleplaying Game in 2010. He released his first novel, Aching God, in 2018. Its sequel, Sin Eater, followed in 2019. Idols Fall, released in 2021, is his third novel and completes the Iconoclasts trilogy. He is at work on his next novel, set in the same world, more than 200 years after the events of Iconoclasts.
Indie authors depend on word of mouth. If you enjoyed this novel and its predecessors, make the howling hellscapes that are Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook a force for good and chat them up. And as always—always—make sure to post ratings and/or reviews at Amazon, Goodreads, r/Fantasy, Audible, or on that SFF review blog you keep telling everyone you’re going to start.
Peace, love, and kindness to all.
Mike was born in Detroit and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, oldest of three boys, the son of a firefighter and homemaker. He has practiced as a psychotherapist for nearly 30 years. He lives in central Indiana with his wife Tracy, son Leo, and dogs Tilly and Bobo. Mike began freelancing for Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder Roleplaying Game in 2010. He released his first novel, Aching God, in 2018. Its sequel, Sin Eater, followed in 2019. Idols Fall, released in 2021, is his third novel and completes the Iconoclasts trilogy. He is at work on his next novel, set in the same world, more than 200 years after the events of Iconoclasts.
Indie authors depend on word of mouth. If you enjoyed this novel and its predecessors, make the howling hellscapes that are Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook a force for good and chat them up. And as always—always—make sure to post ratings and/or reviews at Amazon, Goodreads, r/Fantasy, Audible, or on that SFF review blog you keep telling everyone you’re going to start.
Peace, love, and kindness to all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
April 21, 2021
I knew that Mike Shel's Iconoclasts trilogy was going to be one of my all-time favorites immediately following my read of the first book, Aching God. It was such a different and refreshing dark fantasy story that shed every trope that you can think of and carved out new and exciting ground. So much so that the book advanced all the way to the finals of Mark Lawrence's Self-Published Fantasy Book-Off competition back in 2018. That feeling was only strengthened by the brilliant sequel, Sin Eater, which took an already fantastic story to even loftier heights. Almost exactly three years from the release of book one, and here we are at the end of the trilogy as IDOLS FALL is scheduled to be published on April 21st. I was fortunate enough to obtain an advance copy a few weeks ago and in short, it was even better than I could have envisioned the final chapter of this phenomenal series to be.
IDOLS FALL picks up some time after the events that culminated the middle book, Sin Eater. Agnes Manteo has suffered more than her share of loss and heartache but has also gained a hardened resolve that, along with her magical sentient sword Szaa'da'shaela, drives her toward her ultimate goal of putting an end to the charlatan gods' reign of terror and destruction. Only through supreme focus and the experience gained from her previous travails can she even be able to think of carrying out this near-impossible task.
As the story progresses, we also get to see another POV chapter storyline involving Ilanda Padivale, who herself has a major role to contribute in the journey that unfolds. Together with Agnes Manteo's thread, it really becomes a reading experience unlike any other where I felt the ferocity of the story never waned for a second. I liken the transition from chapter to chapter as going from a blazing inferno into a Category 5 hurricane. This book in particular really ramps up the action and intensity, but that was to be expected given the developments leading up to now.
What I didn't expect were many of the revelations that were enticingly hinted at in earlier books and then so skillfully delivered by Shel in this one. Oh and I also need to mention that IDOLS FALL contains one of the most mind-blowing reveals I've ever read in any fantasy book! This book is worth reading just to experience that one moment because it genuinely rocked me and left me stunned. Do yourself a favor though and read every book because the entire journey is what makes Iconoclasts one of the best fantasy series I've ever encountered.
I can't remember a final book in a series that satisfied and thrilled me this much. At over 600 pages, you would think IDOLS FALL would be a daunting read, but I devoured this book so quickly because I could never put it down for any significant amount of time. The action never takes a break, the sorcery is dark and brutal, the heroism is off the charts, and the world-building is among the best in the genre. Throw in the GOAT of all magical swords that can communicate telepathically with its bonded wielder, and I don't really know what else you could want as a fantasy reader.
IDOLS FALL is one of those magical books that don't come around very often. A thrilling conclusion that makes you walk away thinking wow, not only was that a more than satisfying end to a magnificent story, but it also created so many memorable and gripping moments that it did this series the justice that it so richly deserves. I'm somewhat frustrated that I can't even remotely come close to putting into words the emotions that I felt upon reading the words THE END. Because I wasn't nearly ready for it to end, not by a long shot.
To wrap things up I will just say this: Mike Shel is an author who you should be reading if you are looking for fantasy that takes chances, teems with incredibly suspenseful moments of impending dread, is rife with characters who are diverse and push themselves to the limit to overcome obstacles, and just flat out has some of the tightest and best writing around. Embark on the outstanding adventure that is Iconoclasts and I promise you that from beginning to end you will be sucked in 100%. A perfect end to a perfect series that I won't soon forget. I only hope that we get to revisit this world and these characters again sometime down the road. Until then I will look forward to the next Mike Shel book with eager anticipation!
IDOLS FALL picks up some time after the events that culminated the middle book, Sin Eater. Agnes Manteo has suffered more than her share of loss and heartache but has also gained a hardened resolve that, along with her magical sentient sword Szaa'da'shaela, drives her toward her ultimate goal of putting an end to the charlatan gods' reign of terror and destruction. Only through supreme focus and the experience gained from her previous travails can she even be able to think of carrying out this near-impossible task.
As the story progresses, we also get to see another POV chapter storyline involving Ilanda Padivale, who herself has a major role to contribute in the journey that unfolds. Together with Agnes Manteo's thread, it really becomes a reading experience unlike any other where I felt the ferocity of the story never waned for a second. I liken the transition from chapter to chapter as going from a blazing inferno into a Category 5 hurricane. This book in particular really ramps up the action and intensity, but that was to be expected given the developments leading up to now.
What I didn't expect were many of the revelations that were enticingly hinted at in earlier books and then so skillfully delivered by Shel in this one. Oh and I also need to mention that IDOLS FALL contains one of the most mind-blowing reveals I've ever read in any fantasy book! This book is worth reading just to experience that one moment because it genuinely rocked me and left me stunned. Do yourself a favor though and read every book because the entire journey is what makes Iconoclasts one of the best fantasy series I've ever encountered.
I can't remember a final book in a series that satisfied and thrilled me this much. At over 600 pages, you would think IDOLS FALL would be a daunting read, but I devoured this book so quickly because I could never put it down for any significant amount of time. The action never takes a break, the sorcery is dark and brutal, the heroism is off the charts, and the world-building is among the best in the genre. Throw in the GOAT of all magical swords that can communicate telepathically with its bonded wielder, and I don't really know what else you could want as a fantasy reader.
IDOLS FALL is one of those magical books that don't come around very often. A thrilling conclusion that makes you walk away thinking wow, not only was that a more than satisfying end to a magnificent story, but it also created so many memorable and gripping moments that it did this series the justice that it so richly deserves. I'm somewhat frustrated that I can't even remotely come close to putting into words the emotions that I felt upon reading the words THE END. Because I wasn't nearly ready for it to end, not by a long shot.
To wrap things up I will just say this: Mike Shel is an author who you should be reading if you are looking for fantasy that takes chances, teems with incredibly suspenseful moments of impending dread, is rife with characters who are diverse and push themselves to the limit to overcome obstacles, and just flat out has some of the tightest and best writing around. Embark on the outstanding adventure that is Iconoclasts and I promise you that from beginning to end you will be sucked in 100%. A perfect end to a perfect series that I won't soon forget. I only hope that we get to revisit this world and these characters again sometime down the road. Until then I will look forward to the next Mike Shel book with eager anticipation!
April 21, 2021
"We would wish you godspeed, but that seems ill-suited for your endeavor. So instead, we wish you success and a safe return, without appeal to any gods. We are all of us toppling idols. They have already fallen in the hearts and minds of those who are privy to your dark revelation. But you, you will bring them crashing down before you, in person. You will be the greatest revolutionary the world has ever known. But remember this, Sir Agnes Manteo: history remembers its iconoclasts, but not always fondly."
Mike Shel’s Iconoclasts series has undergone a dramatic metamorphosis over its three volumes. Aching God drew me in with its layered history, focused plot, terrific dungeons, and a well-developed cast of heroes and gods. Sin Eater shattered boundaries, introducing us to an expansive world with shifting environments, dangerous quests, new character focus and a bombshell ending that changed everything. If Aching God was a D&D module then Sin Eater was a full-fledged campaign. Idols Fall had some big shoes to fill. Well, it’s time to sharpen your swords and lather your horses, because Idols Fall is a god-murdering, throne-grabbing, dungeon crawling rip of a read. There is a balanced mix of heart and horror, and a nagging dread that anything could happen on any given page. And it often did.
While there are many stories that reference mad gods, this book leans further in by telling the story of humans on a path of vengeance to kill these devious deities. We rejoin Agnes Manteo and her talking Djao sword right where Sin Eater ended, returning from her long journey. Meanwhile, Ilanda, the rightful crown heiress, attempts to claim her throne after her kingdom descends into chaos following the fallout of the last book’s events. While Agnes aims to return to the Barrowlands for her mission of wrath with companions new and old, Ilanda and her distant, border-defending uncle try to quell a horror-infused rebellion from a meddlesome rival kingdom. There is also a new wild card sect of religious fanatics who are torching cities across the land, because why would anyone need a breather in all this chaos. Tough rookie season for Ilanda, no doubt.
"Agnes’ faith was in tatters, too, but how would she feel if she had dedicated her entire life to a god’s cause, knowing that it was all a deception, a sordid con?"
Welcome scenes of philosophy, humor, odd character moments, and sheer madness are spread throughout the story. A hilarious dinner party that was two parts Mad Hatter and one part Hannibal had me wide-eyed and grinning like a fool. There was some excellent political puppeteering from Ghallo, the Machiavellian jailer boy. I was surprised by an unexpected and lengthy battle filled with horrifying monsters and bloody twists. And there was a fist-pumping moment of fantasy FaceTime that I won’t soon forget.
Before writing Iconoclasts, Mike Shel has had a storied career writing adventures and scenarios for the Pathfinder RPG, and his experience shows. His polished, tight prose, precise tone, and excellent character work is quite frankly amazing – not just for a debut series, but for any trilogy of its kind. As an avid role player and lover of party-led quests, his first book roped me in; by the end of the Idols Fall, Shel managed to subvert my expectations and craft a story that combined the best of his first two books while adding new layers of politics, philosophy, and mayhem. Although I loved the end of Ilanda’s story, I thought Agnes’ ending was a bit jilted. There were a couple of questionable decisions that stood out about reasons for traveling to a certain area, as well as something spoilery at the very end that niggled at my brain, but that is all a drop in the bucket to what has proven itself to be a phenomenal series that any fan of dark fantasy will love. Whether you’re a fan of RPGs and want to immerse yourself in the crown jewel of an expert storyteller, or if you’re simply looking for a rousing adventure filled with ancient religions, dark beings, cursed ruins, land and sea battles, world-spanning crusades, shocking twists, horror, humor, and characters you’ll love and cry for, then you’ve found your series.
Mike Shel’s Iconoclasts series has undergone a dramatic metamorphosis over its three volumes. Aching God drew me in with its layered history, focused plot, terrific dungeons, and a well-developed cast of heroes and gods. Sin Eater shattered boundaries, introducing us to an expansive world with shifting environments, dangerous quests, new character focus and a bombshell ending that changed everything. If Aching God was a D&D module then Sin Eater was a full-fledged campaign. Idols Fall had some big shoes to fill. Well, it’s time to sharpen your swords and lather your horses, because Idols Fall is a god-murdering, throne-grabbing, dungeon crawling rip of a read. There is a balanced mix of heart and horror, and a nagging dread that anything could happen on any given page. And it often did.
While there are many stories that reference mad gods, this book leans further in by telling the story of humans on a path of vengeance to kill these devious deities. We rejoin Agnes Manteo and her talking Djao sword right where Sin Eater ended, returning from her long journey. Meanwhile, Ilanda, the rightful crown heiress, attempts to claim her throne after her kingdom descends into chaos following the fallout of the last book’s events. While Agnes aims to return to the Barrowlands for her mission of wrath with companions new and old, Ilanda and her distant, border-defending uncle try to quell a horror-infused rebellion from a meddlesome rival kingdom. There is also a new wild card sect of religious fanatics who are torching cities across the land, because why would anyone need a breather in all this chaos. Tough rookie season for Ilanda, no doubt.
"Agnes’ faith was in tatters, too, but how would she feel if she had dedicated her entire life to a god’s cause, knowing that it was all a deception, a sordid con?"
Welcome scenes of philosophy, humor, odd character moments, and sheer madness are spread throughout the story. A hilarious dinner party that was two parts Mad Hatter and one part Hannibal had me wide-eyed and grinning like a fool. There was some excellent political puppeteering from Ghallo, the Machiavellian jailer boy. I was surprised by an unexpected and lengthy battle filled with horrifying monsters and bloody twists. And there was a fist-pumping moment of fantasy FaceTime that I won’t soon forget.
Before writing Iconoclasts, Mike Shel has had a storied career writing adventures and scenarios for the Pathfinder RPG, and his experience shows. His polished, tight prose, precise tone, and excellent character work is quite frankly amazing – not just for a debut series, but for any trilogy of its kind. As an avid role player and lover of party-led quests, his first book roped me in; by the end of the Idols Fall, Shel managed to subvert my expectations and craft a story that combined the best of his first two books while adding new layers of politics, philosophy, and mayhem. Although I loved the end of Ilanda’s story, I thought Agnes’ ending was a bit jilted. There were a couple of questionable decisions that stood out about reasons for traveling to a certain area, as well as something spoilery at the very end that niggled at my brain, but that is all a drop in the bucket to what has proven itself to be a phenomenal series that any fan of dark fantasy will love. Whether you’re a fan of RPGs and want to immerse yourself in the crown jewel of an expert storyteller, or if you’re simply looking for a rousing adventure filled with ancient religions, dark beings, cursed ruins, land and sea battles, world-spanning crusades, shocking twists, horror, humor, and characters you’ll love and cry for, then you’ve found your series.
August 11, 2021
3.5 stars
It was a decently satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, but by far the weakest of the series. I absolutely adored the first 2 books because of the incredible use of horror elements, atmospheric writing and subtle character work, but this final entry had a few problems that really hindered the enjoyment of it for me. The biggest offender is the fact that large stretches of the narrative felt like filler and didn't add anything meaningful to the overall story with large sections of infodumps about things that where just plain uninteresting, something that never happened in the previous books. The characterizations and worldbuilding suffered a bit compared to the first 2 books, but the narrative itself was my biggest problem. I still enjoyed reading the book and will absolutely read everything the author puts out in the future, but compared to the first 2 books of the series, this was a slight letdown.
It was a decently satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, but by far the weakest of the series. I absolutely adored the first 2 books because of the incredible use of horror elements, atmospheric writing and subtle character work, but this final entry had a few problems that really hindered the enjoyment of it for me. The biggest offender is the fact that large stretches of the narrative felt like filler and didn't add anything meaningful to the overall story with large sections of infodumps about things that where just plain uninteresting, something that never happened in the previous books. The characterizations and worldbuilding suffered a bit compared to the first 2 books, but the narrative itself was my biggest problem. I still enjoyed reading the book and will absolutely read everything the author puts out in the future, but compared to the first 2 books of the series, this was a slight letdown.
April 26, 2022
https://www.bookwormblues.net/2022/04...
Idols Fall is the conclusion of the Iconoclasts series, which has truly become one of my favorite fantasy series out there. This book starts out with a bang and doesn’t really let up until the very end. Here, you see the true majesty of the series in its entirety.
Before going further, I will say to avoid spoilers, I’ll be pretty vague about specifics in this review. You do need to read the previous two books before you read this one, but they are all amazing so that news should really excite you more than anything else.
Part of the reason I have put off writing this review is because I don’t really know what to say. Sometimes you read a book, a series, that just wows you so much you’re left speechless. It took me a while to process the book, the series. Took me even longer to really grasp how much I enjoyed it.
Idols Fall really is the culmination of a sprawling masterpiece. The series itself took me places I didn’t expect, in just about every respect. What truly amazed me about the conclusion, however, was how many threads Shel managed to weave together, aspects of the plot that I didn’t even really realize needed a conclusion until Shel neatly braided them into the plot. Small details I noticed in passing in previous books ended up being huge, fundamental points of the plot. I had a lot of “Ah ha!” moments while reading this one.
I didn’t expect that kind of subversion, and I quickly realized that’s what I loved most about the book, about the series as a whole. Shel has managed to take nearly every fantasy trope and spin it so it was completely his own thing. He did this so masterfully, I didn’t even realize it was happening until I stopped reading and thought about the story itself, and all the elements of it. Shel is busy subverting throughout the series, but it really shows here in Idols Fall, and the book is so powerful for it.
I have never thought Shel’s writing anything but the best. He’s got tight prose, a knack for knowing when to lean into poetic description and when to use words like a hammer. His fight scenes are… I mean, amazing. I really struggle with fight scenes, both in editing and in writing. I have a hard time processing them if there’s too much battle-specific lingo. It sort of feels like I’m reading a math equation after a certain point. Shel’s fight scenes, his tense moments, the character arcs that require inner battles as well as outer, are all done with such poise, such mastery, it really blew me away. In fact, I’ve had a few edits since I’ve read this series, where the authors struggle with this sort of thing, and I’ve recommended all of them a few books to read for a good example of technique.
I’m more of a character reader than anything else, so let me focus on that for a minute.
Throughout this trilogy, we’ve followed characters who have spanned the gamut of the human condition. Ultimately, I think Shel’s characters are absolutely amazing. The way he’s managed to make them so real, and yet balanced their development with the plot itself makes this one of those Goldilocks Zone series that will appeal to plot-based readers and character-based readers alike. However, it’s the characters that really made the plot matter to me. Their struggles, emotional landscapes, the way they had to make impossible decisions, and then push, push, push through the fallout.
Here, in Idols Fall, we have the culmination of a long, fraught arc. Shel doesn’t shy away from showing both the emotional highs and lows of his characters. With a careful hand, he addresses pain, but there’s also moments of levity. What I enjoyed most, though, was seeing how much the characters evolved over three books. Somewhere in this journey, they stopped being random characters and turned into people I knew, worried about, and cared for. Throughout this series, Shel has unashamedly pushed his characters to the breaking point, and then let them break. Some of them pick up the pieces, some don’t. None of them are who they were in the first book. Everyone changes, evolves, and it’s these evolutions, sometimes subtle and sometimes overt, that really put the characters over the top for me. Just as dramatic as the plot themselves, Shel doesn’t overlook anything in their construction.
The balance between character development and plot was nothing short of masterful.
I have a really hard time finishing series, to be honest with you. Even when I edit, if I like the book I’m working on a lot, I will honestly delay editing it until I absolutely cannot delay it anymore. Why? I don’t want it to end. I’m the same way when I read. I have a really, really hard time driving myself toward “the end” because “the end” is almost physically painful. I don’t want it to end. I don’t want to leave these people behind, and I certainly don’t want to stop exploring this world, which is so rife with conflict, darkness and light. I felt that keenly with Iconoclasts. I just did not want it to end, and now that it has, I’m overjoyed that I read it, and also a little sad that I’ll never get that “first read” experience back again.
The fact of the matter is, this is less a review of a book and more a review of a series. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read this. I saw a lot of my friends reading these books and raving about them, but I just wasn’t sure. I decided to take a chance, and I think that’s one of the best decisions reader-me has made. Shel is an incredible author who knows how to tell a story, subvert tropes, layer in absolutely unforgettable atmosphere, and play tension like a fiddle.
I don’t really know what to say other than that. Idols Fall was the culmination of a journey that took me through some extreme highs and some unforgettable lows. Shel gave the world a gift with this series. If you’re a fantasy reader, do yourself a favor and read these books.
Idols Fall is the conclusion of the Iconoclasts series, which has truly become one of my favorite fantasy series out there. This book starts out with a bang and doesn’t really let up until the very end. Here, you see the true majesty of the series in its entirety.
Before going further, I will say to avoid spoilers, I’ll be pretty vague about specifics in this review. You do need to read the previous two books before you read this one, but they are all amazing so that news should really excite you more than anything else.
Part of the reason I have put off writing this review is because I don’t really know what to say. Sometimes you read a book, a series, that just wows you so much you’re left speechless. It took me a while to process the book, the series. Took me even longer to really grasp how much I enjoyed it.
Idols Fall really is the culmination of a sprawling masterpiece. The series itself took me places I didn’t expect, in just about every respect. What truly amazed me about the conclusion, however, was how many threads Shel managed to weave together, aspects of the plot that I didn’t even really realize needed a conclusion until Shel neatly braided them into the plot. Small details I noticed in passing in previous books ended up being huge, fundamental points of the plot. I had a lot of “Ah ha!” moments while reading this one.
I didn’t expect that kind of subversion, and I quickly realized that’s what I loved most about the book, about the series as a whole. Shel has managed to take nearly every fantasy trope and spin it so it was completely his own thing. He did this so masterfully, I didn’t even realize it was happening until I stopped reading and thought about the story itself, and all the elements of it. Shel is busy subverting throughout the series, but it really shows here in Idols Fall, and the book is so powerful for it.
I have never thought Shel’s writing anything but the best. He’s got tight prose, a knack for knowing when to lean into poetic description and when to use words like a hammer. His fight scenes are… I mean, amazing. I really struggle with fight scenes, both in editing and in writing. I have a hard time processing them if there’s too much battle-specific lingo. It sort of feels like I’m reading a math equation after a certain point. Shel’s fight scenes, his tense moments, the character arcs that require inner battles as well as outer, are all done with such poise, such mastery, it really blew me away. In fact, I’ve had a few edits since I’ve read this series, where the authors struggle with this sort of thing, and I’ve recommended all of them a few books to read for a good example of technique.
I’m more of a character reader than anything else, so let me focus on that for a minute.
Throughout this trilogy, we’ve followed characters who have spanned the gamut of the human condition. Ultimately, I think Shel’s characters are absolutely amazing. The way he’s managed to make them so real, and yet balanced their development with the plot itself makes this one of those Goldilocks Zone series that will appeal to plot-based readers and character-based readers alike. However, it’s the characters that really made the plot matter to me. Their struggles, emotional landscapes, the way they had to make impossible decisions, and then push, push, push through the fallout.
Here, in Idols Fall, we have the culmination of a long, fraught arc. Shel doesn’t shy away from showing both the emotional highs and lows of his characters. With a careful hand, he addresses pain, but there’s also moments of levity. What I enjoyed most, though, was seeing how much the characters evolved over three books. Somewhere in this journey, they stopped being random characters and turned into people I knew, worried about, and cared for. Throughout this series, Shel has unashamedly pushed his characters to the breaking point, and then let them break. Some of them pick up the pieces, some don’t. None of them are who they were in the first book. Everyone changes, evolves, and it’s these evolutions, sometimes subtle and sometimes overt, that really put the characters over the top for me. Just as dramatic as the plot themselves, Shel doesn’t overlook anything in their construction.
The balance between character development and plot was nothing short of masterful.
I have a really hard time finishing series, to be honest with you. Even when I edit, if I like the book I’m working on a lot, I will honestly delay editing it until I absolutely cannot delay it anymore. Why? I don’t want it to end. I’m the same way when I read. I have a really, really hard time driving myself toward “the end” because “the end” is almost physically painful. I don’t want it to end. I don’t want to leave these people behind, and I certainly don’t want to stop exploring this world, which is so rife with conflict, darkness and light. I felt that keenly with Iconoclasts. I just did not want it to end, and now that it has, I’m overjoyed that I read it, and also a little sad that I’ll never get that “first read” experience back again.
The fact of the matter is, this is less a review of a book and more a review of a series. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read this. I saw a lot of my friends reading these books and raving about them, but I just wasn’t sure. I decided to take a chance, and I think that’s one of the best decisions reader-me has made. Shel is an incredible author who knows how to tell a story, subvert tropes, layer in absolutely unforgettable atmosphere, and play tension like a fiddle.
I don’t really know what to say other than that. Idols Fall was the culmination of a journey that took me through some extreme highs and some unforgettable lows. Shel gave the world a gift with this series. If you’re a fantasy reader, do yourself a favor and read these books.
March 21, 2023
Their purpose clear. The extermination of an ancient evil. A sentient blade unwilling to waver. Sickening sacrifice & unflinching resolve will test even its most devoted.
One of the best series I’ve ever read. A disturbing fantasy horror masterpiece.
Amazing.🤩
One of the best series I’ve ever read. A disturbing fantasy horror masterpiece.
Amazing.🤩
June 1, 2021
4.5⭐️
Excellent trilogy. So glad I read them back to back to back. I feel that high from finishing a superb book and that let down that follows the end of a great series.
So many great characters that I barely knew while reading The Aching God who feel like old friends. So many amazing scenes and treacherous quests. So many gut wrenching moments.
I do feel like there is a ton of stories still to be told in this world. It’s frustrating to have a great character like the broken sorcerer Qeelb and not have lived his backstory. Or to ever really get the story of Lumari the Alchemist after The Aching God. I feel like Mike Shel must have material for at least a book of short stories on the characters of the Iconoclasts series.
Only complaint was the side plot with Benesh/Gallo defending the Harkeny border which seemed to mesh strangely with the rest of the story.
I have to say Mike Shel writes some of the most imaginative scenes I’ve read in fantasy. The whole time travel/tavern/bloodletting section near the end of the book pretty much blew my mind.
All in all, I loved Idols Fall and The Iconoclasts and will be waiting to snap up the next book by this talented author.
Excellent trilogy. So glad I read them back to back to back. I feel that high from finishing a superb book and that let down that follows the end of a great series.
So many great characters that I barely knew while reading The Aching God who feel like old friends. So many amazing scenes and treacherous quests. So many gut wrenching moments.
I do feel like there is a ton of stories still to be told in this world. It’s frustrating to have a great character like the broken sorcerer Qeelb and not have lived his backstory. Or to ever really get the story of Lumari the Alchemist after The Aching God. I feel like Mike Shel must have material for at least a book of short stories on the characters of the Iconoclasts series.
Only complaint was the side plot with Benesh/Gallo defending the Harkeny border which seemed to mesh strangely with the rest of the story.
I have to say Mike Shel writes some of the most imaginative scenes I’ve read in fantasy. The whole time travel/tavern/bloodletting section near the end of the book pretty much blew my mind.
All in all, I loved Idols Fall and The Iconoclasts and will be waiting to snap up the next book by this talented author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2021
Shel is a truly gifted storyteller and he’s woven a trilogy-capping book that is dark, twisty, funny, wholly satisfying, and bloody brilliant...major emphasis on the “bloody.”
Sometimes the third book in a series starts to feel stale if it’s not charting new ground, but Shel has injected enough fresh energy into this story and its characters to pay off this final adventure splendidly. There’s so much fantasy goodness packed into the pages here: demonic possession, talking swords, beasts from hell, false gods, geopolitical conflict, cults, and of course, a dangerous expedition into an ancient cursed ruin. It’s all rendered beautifully on the page by Shel’s delightful prose. Bump this trilogy up your TBRs folks. This is a masterful conclusion to an outstanding series.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
My thanks to the author for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes the third book in a series starts to feel stale if it’s not charting new ground, but Shel has injected enough fresh energy into this story and its characters to pay off this final adventure splendidly. There’s so much fantasy goodness packed into the pages here: demonic possession, talking swords, beasts from hell, false gods, geopolitical conflict, cults, and of course, a dangerous expedition into an ancient cursed ruin. It’s all rendered beautifully on the page by Shel’s delightful prose. Bump this trilogy up your TBRs folks. This is a masterful conclusion to an outstanding series.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
My thanks to the author for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
December 3, 2023So What's It About?
Agnes Manteo now bears her father’s sentient Djao sword, along with a terrible revelation—the gods are charlatans, ancient sorcerers who draw their strength from the suffering of humanity. She and her Syraeic companions have but one duty: to track down those pretenders and end their reign of cruelty and lies, no matter the cost. To that end, the magical blade—mighty, single-minded Szaa’da’shaela—won’t allow any wavering of their commitment.
But the empire is in turmoil with the sudden passing of its undying queen. Noble houses clash and threaten civil war, murderous barbarians mass on the frontier in preparation for a bloody invasion, and all feel the aching void left by the clergy, whose temples were devastated by a great fire. Can the kingdom survive should Agnes succeed in tearing away its very foundations?
And if she fails? What might sorcerers with nearly godlike powers do to exact their revenge?
Idols Fall is the thrilling conclusion to the compelling Iconoclasts trilogy.
What I Thought
I’m ultimately glad that I finished this series, but the last two books were pretty uneven reads for me. It’s clear that the author worked to incorporate new elements in each book, and some definitely ended up working better than others.
In Idols Fall, there is a lot of political scheming that wasn’t present in the other books. Barbarians are invading, and one part of the kingdom decides to rebel. We spend a lot of time on strategy meetings and political discussions where large numbers of place/people names are listed off without much context and uninteresting new characters are introduced to play very small roles throughout. One of the most egregious parts to me is a chapter that simply consists of a spy’s notes to the queen in order to infodump about all of this. I can appreciate trying to expand the story’s scope, but this element just didn’t feel incredibly effective, necessary, or interesting to me.
Something else that really stood out to me this time around was the in-world sexism. To be clear, I’m not a reader who automatically equates a book world’s violent/extreme misogyny with an author’s actual opinions; at the very most, I just think that some of Shel’s decisions were a bit misguided here. For example, there is a “comedy” “scene” where a man with a head injury just rambles on about breasts for FAR too long. Agnes faces a lot of gendered threats as well, getting called a cunt and encountering a man who threatens to “put her tits on [his] mantlepiece” (?). This series belongs to a fantasy subgenre I don’t read very often, so I guess I can’t really say whether stuff like this is just par for the course…regardless, though, it’s just really not for me.
It could be because she is being controlled by the sword throughout, but Agnes comes across as extremely erratic and belligerent here in a way that she didn’t in the previous books. I’m pretty sure that this was Shel’s intention because Auric similarly changed a lot when he found the sword; it just ended up feeling a lot more extreme and grating with Agnes.
With all this being said, though, I still enjoyed a lot of things here. I loved the horror, body horror, and disgusting creatures as much as ever, and I think the author has such a great talent for all of these elements. The actual dungeon trawling sections are always awesome in these books, as are the grim descriptions of the previous expeditions that have failed. I really appreciated the increasing tension over whether the ancient beings could be trusted, and I thought that the ultimate conclusion that Agnes and Ilanda came to about what to do with them was really satisfying and well-written (especially Ilanda’s section!). The section where the expedition travels back to Djao times was also a great choice. Best of all, my fave Chalca has the good sense to get far, far away from Agnes, and he’s therefore one of the only characters who actually survives all the way though the series. Good for Chalca! I hope he’s happy!
I started this series for my Trauma in SFF reading project and I’m not sure how relevant to that project the latter two books ended up being. Despite that, and despite my reservations, I am glad to have read them all and will be interested to see what Mike Shel does next.
Agnes Manteo now bears her father’s sentient Djao sword, along with a terrible revelation—the gods are charlatans, ancient sorcerers who draw their strength from the suffering of humanity. She and her Syraeic companions have but one duty: to track down those pretenders and end their reign of cruelty and lies, no matter the cost. To that end, the magical blade—mighty, single-minded Szaa’da’shaela—won’t allow any wavering of their commitment.
But the empire is in turmoil with the sudden passing of its undying queen. Noble houses clash and threaten civil war, murderous barbarians mass on the frontier in preparation for a bloody invasion, and all feel the aching void left by the clergy, whose temples were devastated by a great fire. Can the kingdom survive should Agnes succeed in tearing away its very foundations?
And if she fails? What might sorcerers with nearly godlike powers do to exact their revenge?
Idols Fall is the thrilling conclusion to the compelling Iconoclasts trilogy.
What I Thought
I’m ultimately glad that I finished this series, but the last two books were pretty uneven reads for me. It’s clear that the author worked to incorporate new elements in each book, and some definitely ended up working better than others.
In Idols Fall, there is a lot of political scheming that wasn’t present in the other books. Barbarians are invading, and one part of the kingdom decides to rebel. We spend a lot of time on strategy meetings and political discussions where large numbers of place/people names are listed off without much context and uninteresting new characters are introduced to play very small roles throughout. One of the most egregious parts to me is a chapter that simply consists of a spy’s notes to the queen in order to infodump about all of this. I can appreciate trying to expand the story’s scope, but this element just didn’t feel incredibly effective, necessary, or interesting to me.
Something else that really stood out to me this time around was the in-world sexism. To be clear, I’m not a reader who automatically equates a book world’s violent/extreme misogyny with an author’s actual opinions; at the very most, I just think that some of Shel’s decisions were a bit misguided here. For example, there is a “comedy” “scene” where a man with a head injury just rambles on about breasts for FAR too long. Agnes faces a lot of gendered threats as well, getting called a cunt and encountering a man who threatens to “put her tits on [his] mantlepiece” (?). This series belongs to a fantasy subgenre I don’t read very often, so I guess I can’t really say whether stuff like this is just par for the course…regardless, though, it’s just really not for me.
It could be because she is being controlled by the sword throughout, but Agnes comes across as extremely erratic and belligerent here in a way that she didn’t in the previous books. I’m pretty sure that this was Shel’s intention because Auric similarly changed a lot when he found the sword; it just ended up feeling a lot more extreme and grating with Agnes.
With all this being said, though, I still enjoyed a lot of things here. I loved the horror, body horror, and disgusting creatures as much as ever, and I think the author has such a great talent for all of these elements. The actual dungeon trawling sections are always awesome in these books, as are the grim descriptions of the previous expeditions that have failed. I really appreciated the increasing tension over whether the ancient beings could be trusted, and I thought that the ultimate conclusion that Agnes and Ilanda came to about what to do with them was really satisfying and well-written (especially Ilanda’s section!). The section where the expedition travels back to Djao times was also a great choice. Best of all, my fave Chalca has the good sense to get far, far away from Agnes, and he’s therefore one of the only characters who actually survives all the way though the series. Good for Chalca! I hope he’s happy!
I started this series for my Trauma in SFF reading project and I’m not sure how relevant to that project the latter two books ended up being. Despite that, and despite my reservations, I am glad to have read them all and will be interested to see what Mike Shel does next.
March 26, 2021
Fantastic finale to one of my favorite fantasy series. I'll keep this short and sweet to avoid any spoilers and also because if you're reading this you're probably already familiar with the series.
Idols Fall kicks off where Sin Eater ended, showing the far-reaching consequences of the party's actions at the end of that book. And man, those consequences are...not great. It's grim and horrifying, but...maybe it's worthwhile in the end? Maybe those hard choices and bleak short-term consequences are worth the long-term benefits for the world and its peoples?
That's the question that everyone in this book, especially its star Agnes Manteo, is wrestling with throughout the course of the novel. All the major POV characters here face incredibly difficult decisions at multiple points in the story and they must decide whether they truly can follow through with their plans, not knowing if--but hoping that--their sacrifices (and the sacrifices of others) will result in a better future, even if it's one they may not live to see.
It's an interesting and compelling conundrum, and it's one that often had me biting my nails wondering whether Agnes was going to follow through with certain decisions or not. Shel is great at throwing these characters into impossible circumstances and showing the human side of them, showing them wavering in their resolve and their reactions to the choices they must sometimes reluctantly make.
The worldbuilding in this final book is also extremely compelling. We get to dig into the history and lore of the Djao even more here, and it was fascinating getting a closer look at the society these ancient people lived in as well as gaining more knowledge about the divide between the Ush'oul and Besh'oul.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't touch on the dungeon-crawling, which is as excellent as it is in the previous books. The book really shines in these moments, having the characters work together to solve puzzles and face grisly, strange, terrifying beasts. This has always been my favorite part of the series, since I'm a sucker for really weird and gross creatures, and Shel certainly delivers on that front.
Fans of the series will no doubt love this book. Idols Fall is a satisfying and surprising conclusion to the Iconoclasts trilogy, while simultaneously setting up Shel's intricately-rendered world for whatever he writes in it next. I for one can't wait to see what it is.
Idols Fall kicks off where Sin Eater ended, showing the far-reaching consequences of the party's actions at the end of that book. And man, those consequences are...not great. It's grim and horrifying, but...maybe it's worthwhile in the end? Maybe those hard choices and bleak short-term consequences are worth the long-term benefits for the world and its peoples?
That's the question that everyone in this book, especially its star Agnes Manteo, is wrestling with throughout the course of the novel. All the major POV characters here face incredibly difficult decisions at multiple points in the story and they must decide whether they truly can follow through with their plans, not knowing if--but hoping that--their sacrifices (and the sacrifices of others) will result in a better future, even if it's one they may not live to see.
It's an interesting and compelling conundrum, and it's one that often had me biting my nails wondering whether Agnes was going to follow through with certain decisions or not. Shel is great at throwing these characters into impossible circumstances and showing the human side of them, showing them wavering in their resolve and their reactions to the choices they must sometimes reluctantly make.
The worldbuilding in this final book is also extremely compelling. We get to dig into the history and lore of the Djao even more here, and it was fascinating getting a closer look at the society these ancient people lived in as well as gaining more knowledge about the divide between the Ush'oul and Besh'oul.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't touch on the dungeon-crawling, which is as excellent as it is in the previous books. The book really shines in these moments, having the characters work together to solve puzzles and face grisly, strange, terrifying beasts. This has always been my favorite part of the series, since I'm a sucker for really weird and gross creatures, and Shel certainly delivers on that front.
Fans of the series will no doubt love this book. Idols Fall is a satisfying and surprising conclusion to the Iconoclasts trilogy, while simultaneously setting up Shel's intricately-rendered world for whatever he writes in it next. I for one can't wait to see what it is.
October 20, 2022
Took forever to get through this last book. I really enjoyed the first two, but this one not so much. Maybe the main character switch? Auric’s adventure is what captured my interest, Agnes not so much.
June 15, 2021
Right. This last book solidified this series for me - one of the better series I've ever read. Its a different feel, but ranks right up there with the Farseer Trilogy for me.
Awesome characters, great setting, fascinating lore.
So this book sticks the landing with aplomb. Agnew Manteo and the survivors return after killing the trickster god Timilis in the last book.. and the outcome of that is not pretty - priest going mad, arson and destruction all over human civilization. Added to the turmoil is the fact that the ancient queen is dead, and her successor is an untried young woman who does not have the confidence of the nobles.
It is fantastic. We see a number of PoV this time around, the author seems to be flexing his literary muscles a little more in this book, and it is better for it. We jump into the heads of a number of different characters, showing us different facets of this final "war". The added knowledge given to us readers makes the tension even more palpable, and calls into question the motives of many of the forces in this conflict.
I dont want to go into spoiler territory, but we get another expedition into the Barrowlands (my favorite bit of the setting) and the whole "collecting the team" scenes get added intrigue as the one doing the picking isn't sharing their reasons for selecting team members.
I am blown away by this book (and series).
Awesome characters, great setting, fascinating lore.
So this book sticks the landing with aplomb. Agnew Manteo and the survivors return after killing the trickster god Timilis in the last book.. and the outcome of that is not pretty - priest going mad, arson and destruction all over human civilization. Added to the turmoil is the fact that the ancient queen is dead, and her successor is an untried young woman who does not have the confidence of the nobles.
It is fantastic. We see a number of PoV this time around, the author seems to be flexing his literary muscles a little more in this book, and it is better for it. We jump into the heads of a number of different characters, showing us different facets of this final "war". The added knowledge given to us readers makes the tension even more palpable, and calls into question the motives of many of the forces in this conflict.
I dont want to go into spoiler territory, but we get another expedition into the Barrowlands (my favorite bit of the setting) and the whole "collecting the team" scenes get added intrigue as the one doing the picking isn't sharing their reasons for selecting team members.
I am blown away by this book (and series).
April 27, 2022
Okay, this review is going to be fairly spoiler laden. I'll disclaim up front that I did enjoy this book and the trilogy as a whole, but this book by far was the weakest of the three. I expected that we'd get all the answers and closure of this epic quest and... we did. Sort of. I don't really like some of the questions left unanswered though, and I don't feel I can really discuss it without spoilers, so most of this will be hidden. Up to you if you want to read it, but I'd recommend finishing the book first.
Major spoilers below:
All told, I feel like this was a pretty great story across the three books, but it kind of unraveled a bit in the telling of the third. Sad, but that's often the way of trilogies. Despite my complaints, I'd still recommend the series, and will be looking forward to future books by Mike Shel.
Major spoilers below:
All told, I feel like this was a pretty great story across the three books, but it kind of unraveled a bit in the telling of the third. Sad, but that's often the way of trilogies. Despite my complaints, I'd still recommend the series, and will be looking forward to future books by Mike Shel.
April 21, 2021
Thrilling book with plenty of twists and turns. Shel can draw the reader into a gruesome scene like few can. He is a mastercraftsman of world building. Characters are well fleshed out. If you read the first two in the series (and you should) you need to read this one!
February 21, 2022
The Iconoclasts Trilogy has everything you want in an epic tale: rich and textured world building, heroes you root for, and high-stakes adventure. Mike Shel weaves dark and brooding atmosphere, memorable villains, and merciless dungeons with a mastery that makes his books stand out among dark fantasy; yet it’s his deft handling of trauma and healing that make them some of the most memorable stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
I wrote a full appreciation of the trilogy here: https://www.jzacharypike.com/blog/202...
I wrote a full appreciation of the trilogy here: https://www.jzacharypike.com/blog/202...
February 5, 2022
Great conclusion to a great series
Iconoclasts is One of the better fantasy series to come out in the last few years and I’m genuinely surprised more people aren’t gushing about it.
Iconoclasts is One of the better fantasy series to come out in the last few years and I’m genuinely surprised more people aren’t gushing about it.
May 17, 2021
Absolutely fantastic! Idols Fall deftly wraps up one of my favorite fantasy series in a long time. Mike Shel keeps you engaged from start to finish, never letting up on high-stakes action, while simultaneously giving the characters the time and pages they need to breathe and be fully developed. I am very eager to see what Mr. Shel continues to do in this world.
January 8, 2024
The lengths men will go to to not go to therapy
That last 25% of the book was terrifying and horrific, so many moments I had to just drop the book and sit for a while. Halfway through the book, I thought it was the weakest of the trilogy, but my god, what a great finish to the epic. Still unsure if book 2 or 3 was better. Book 2 had such terrific messaging behind it, whereas this one was just a good old finish to a great build-up and a stellar lineup of a (nearly) all-female leading cast
Did wish they went a bit more into the whole "Just see to it your heart is your lantern, not your hate" mantra that was plastered throughout the book, but an amazing finish to an amazing series
That last 25% of the book was terrifying and horrific, so many moments I had to just drop the book and sit for a while. Halfway through the book, I thought it was the weakest of the trilogy, but my god, what a great finish to the epic. Still unsure if book 2 or 3 was better. Book 2 had such terrific messaging behind it, whereas this one was just a good old finish to a great build-up and a stellar lineup of a (nearly) all-female leading cast
Did wish they went a bit more into the whole "Just see to it your heart is your lantern, not your hate" mantra that was plastered throughout the book, but an amazing finish to an amazing series
July 19, 2021
Overall, I liked Idols Fall, but not as much Aching God or Sin Eater. It was a good finish to the series, but felt different from the first two in how the story telling and character building happened. Mike Shel is great at both, but I feel there was less character development in this book, which was the strentgh and core for his world building, dungeon crawling and strory telling in the previous books. It semed that way to me anyway and I'm sure some may feel the opposite. There was growth, but I feel the strides were not as far as in the previous books. But I also know you can't focus on everything equally and creative choices need to be made.
Although, the book was a satisfying finish to the series, I did have 2 things that bothered me.
Some minor spoilers follow..........
My main criticism is that Agnes never developed significantly through the story. I feel out of everyone, should have had more of a personal journey in this finale, since she was the new main POV after Auric's death in book 2. Her blade basically made all her decisions and stunted her character growth, in my opinion. She always seemed to be angry, as well and that became basically her personality. While she made a very important and clever decision at the end, it would have been nice if that was due her slowly growing into that decision and not just a sudden realiztion that got her there. She actually became my least favorite character of the book and the loss of Auric as the main POV was a void never really filled by any other character for me.
The other choice I wasn't happy with, was the dual storyline of Agnes on her quest and Illanda fighting for her throne. The storylines stayed paralell the whole time and never converged. Each had its own satisfying ending, but I personaly would have liked them connect at some point to make the ending of the book feel like it "stuck the landing" more strongly.
With all this said, I did like the series quite a bit and Aching God is one of my all time favorite books. My concerns may be in the minority with other readers, but I think they're valid observations. But these did not impact my overall enjoyment of the book and Mike Shel's great story telling and imaginative, exciting world he created. I look forward to what writes next and will keep reading whatever he puts out there.
Although, the book was a satisfying finish to the series, I did have 2 things that bothered me.
Some minor spoilers follow..........
My main criticism is that Agnes never developed significantly through the story. I feel out of everyone, should have had more of a personal journey in this finale, since she was the new main POV after Auric's death in book 2. Her blade basically made all her decisions and stunted her character growth, in my opinion. She always seemed to be angry, as well and that became basically her personality. While she made a very important and clever decision at the end, it would have been nice if that was due her slowly growing into that decision and not just a sudden realiztion that got her there. She actually became my least favorite character of the book and the loss of Auric as the main POV was a void never really filled by any other character for me.
The other choice I wasn't happy with, was the dual storyline of Agnes on her quest and Illanda fighting for her throne. The storylines stayed paralell the whole time and never converged. Each had its own satisfying ending, but I personaly would have liked them connect at some point to make the ending of the book feel like it "stuck the landing" more strongly.
With all this said, I did like the series quite a bit and Aching God is one of my all time favorite books. My concerns may be in the minority with other readers, but I think they're valid observations. But these did not impact my overall enjoyment of the book and Mike Shel's great story telling and imaginative, exciting world he created. I look forward to what writes next and will keep reading whatever he puts out there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2021
I thought book 1 was above average, book 2 was pretty good, but book 3 just didn't deliver. Maybe it was due to the fact I read all 3 near each other in time, but all I could think was "Enough with the gore, demons/demonic possession, and vast quantities of red shirt deaths." And this is coming from a hardcore grimdark fan. When a background character has his head smashed, I don't really need, or desire an in depth description of leaking fluids and the new shape of said head. Basically, by book 3, just about everything in and about this series was so, so very tired. Just my humble opinion. Take it as you will.
April 9, 2021
The thing is with trilogies, there is enormous pressure on the author to deliver a concluding story which exceeds the threat levels, the thrills and spills, that ratchets up the tension of the previous books. When you are Mike Shel and you’ve written Aching God and topped it with Sin Eater, that pressure must have been on a scale that can crush diamonds.
The thing is, he succeeds. There’s that old cliché about exciting books being a ‘roller coaster ride’, isn’t there? ‘Idols Fall’ would be the scariest ride ever and would probably fall foul of every health and safety regulation.
Quick plot summary: Agnes Manteo now bears her father’s sentient Djao sword, along with a terrible revelation—the gods are charlatans, ancient sorcerers who draw their strength from the suffering of humanity. She and her Syraeic companions have but one duty: to track down those pretenders and end their reign of cruelty and lies, no matter the cost. To that end, the magical blade—mighty, single-minded Szaa’da’shaela—won’t allow any wavering of their commitment.
But the empire is in turmoil with the sudden passing of its undying queen. Noble houses clash and threaten civil war, murderous barbarians mass on the frontier in preparation for a bloody invasion, and all feel the aching void left by the clergy, whose temples were devastated by a great fire. Can the kingdom survive should Agnes succeed in tearing away its very foundations?
So what makes it so good? I’ve spent almost 24 hours trying to decide if it’s the characterisations which stand out or the world building. Then it struck me, they have to be equally as powerful, one complements the other. Let me illustrate this point. Sira Edjani in the first two novels is a priest of Belu, the Healer god. Her loss of faith at the end of Sin Eater reflects the macro level of disillusionment which starts to permeate society. The world building is so complex and detailed the story explores what it means to lose faith, in almost everything you have ever believed. Sira has been a favourite character of mine from the outset, a woman of enormous courage and yet possessed of equally high levels of sensitivity and empathy. Watching her torment is as bad as seeing some of the awful things that happen to others (such as Colin Mastro, yikes!). But to return to the world building, you need to have established layers and layers of political, socio-economic, cultural and religious credibility to allow you to explore what happens when one thread pulls loose and the world dissolves into chaos. That is what happens in Idols Fall, it is epic writing handled with masterful skill.
I cannot recommend Idols Fall enough. It is speculative fiction to be savoured by people who appreciate amazing storytelling and exemplary writing.
The thing is, he succeeds. There’s that old cliché about exciting books being a ‘roller coaster ride’, isn’t there? ‘Idols Fall’ would be the scariest ride ever and would probably fall foul of every health and safety regulation.
Quick plot summary: Agnes Manteo now bears her father’s sentient Djao sword, along with a terrible revelation—the gods are charlatans, ancient sorcerers who draw their strength from the suffering of humanity. She and her Syraeic companions have but one duty: to track down those pretenders and end their reign of cruelty and lies, no matter the cost. To that end, the magical blade—mighty, single-minded Szaa’da’shaela—won’t allow any wavering of their commitment.
But the empire is in turmoil with the sudden passing of its undying queen. Noble houses clash and threaten civil war, murderous barbarians mass on the frontier in preparation for a bloody invasion, and all feel the aching void left by the clergy, whose temples were devastated by a great fire. Can the kingdom survive should Agnes succeed in tearing away its very foundations?
So what makes it so good? I’ve spent almost 24 hours trying to decide if it’s the characterisations which stand out or the world building. Then it struck me, they have to be equally as powerful, one complements the other. Let me illustrate this point. Sira Edjani in the first two novels is a priest of Belu, the Healer god. Her loss of faith at the end of Sin Eater reflects the macro level of disillusionment which starts to permeate society. The world building is so complex and detailed the story explores what it means to lose faith, in almost everything you have ever believed. Sira has been a favourite character of mine from the outset, a woman of enormous courage and yet possessed of equally high levels of sensitivity and empathy. Watching her torment is as bad as seeing some of the awful things that happen to others (such as Colin Mastro, yikes!). But to return to the world building, you need to have established layers and layers of political, socio-economic, cultural and religious credibility to allow you to explore what happens when one thread pulls loose and the world dissolves into chaos. That is what happens in Idols Fall, it is epic writing handled with masterful skill.
I cannot recommend Idols Fall enough. It is speculative fiction to be savoured by people who appreciate amazing storytelling and exemplary writing.
February 25, 2022
CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-7
W-6
P-5
I-5
L-4
E-5
TOTAL-5.57/10
What to think about this book. It was at least a little different from the first 2 books. I enjoyed the last 20% significantly more than the first 80%. Giving us more viewpoint characters was good.
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 02/272022 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
C-7
A-7
W-6
P-5
I-5
L-4
E-5
TOTAL-5.57/10
What to think about this book. It was at least a little different from the first 2 books. I enjoyed the last 20% significantly more than the first 80%. Giving us more viewpoint characters was good.
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 02/272022 https://libromancy.podbean.com/
February 20, 2022
I don't love how each book in this series shares so much of the same format. First, there's some preamble. Then it's off to the quest-giver, where the party is assembled. And then the quest begins: the party embarks on a long voyage across the ocean to the Barrowlands, they stay at the local inn, and then they venture down into a ruined underground temple.
It's not that I don't like the format. In fact, I love it. It's why I loved the first book so much. But the second and third books lose all of their momentum having to retread those very same steps. It also makes the series more repetitive than it needs to be.
With that said, everything else about this series is amazing. I love the lore, the mystery, the prose, the characters, and how those characters grow and change. Even with a bit of repetition, I still loved the books all the way through.
This series also excels at creating a sense of danger. The stakes start high and then climb ever higher. Characters are killed off and new ones are added with incredible skill. Instead of putting the book down when my favourite character dies, I'm driven deeper into its depths with the hopes they'll be avenged. And the new points of view are always interesting and refreshing. It's great.
It's always tough to write a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy. More often than not, even in the most critically acclaimed series, the ending is a letdown. I imagine it's even harder with a story like this—a story that's begging for a twist. Mike Shel pulled it off, though. I thought the book would end in one of two ways, but it ended in a third. And it didn't feel like a trick, either. It ended how it should.
My favourite part was the sudden introduction of a new location with its own unique culture. I don't want to spoil it, but you'll know it when you read it. It wasn't quite a twist, per se, but it gave me that sense of surprise I was hoping for, right when I was craving it. I loved it.
I've already gotten some friends starting this series. They're liking it, too.
And I'm totally stoked for the next book Mike Shel writes. I'm so happy to hear it's set in this same world.
It's not that I don't like the format. In fact, I love it. It's why I loved the first book so much. But the second and third books lose all of their momentum having to retread those very same steps. It also makes the series more repetitive than it needs to be.
With that said, everything else about this series is amazing. I love the lore, the mystery, the prose, the characters, and how those characters grow and change. Even with a bit of repetition, I still loved the books all the way through.
This series also excels at creating a sense of danger. The stakes start high and then climb ever higher. Characters are killed off and new ones are added with incredible skill. Instead of putting the book down when my favourite character dies, I'm driven deeper into its depths with the hopes they'll be avenged. And the new points of view are always interesting and refreshing. It's great.
It's always tough to write a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy. More often than not, even in the most critically acclaimed series, the ending is a letdown. I imagine it's even harder with a story like this—a story that's begging for a twist. Mike Shel pulled it off, though. I thought the book would end in one of two ways, but it ended in a third. And it didn't feel like a trick, either. It ended how it should.
My favourite part was the sudden introduction of a new location with its own unique culture. I don't want to spoil it, but you'll know it when you read it. It wasn't quite a twist, per se, but it gave me that sense of surprise I was hoping for, right when I was craving it. I loved it.
I've already gotten some friends starting this series. They're liking it, too.
And I'm totally stoked for the next book Mike Shel writes. I'm so happy to hear it's set in this same world.
April 23, 2021
For a reader, there are few things as satisfying as a great series that sticks the landing. I’m happy to say that Idols Fall, the final book in Shel’s Iconoclasts trilogy, is everything I wanted in a final volume. I’m a huge fan of the previous two books—Aching God and Sin Eater—so I had high expectations, and this book exceeded them.
I can’t say too much about the story without massive spoilers—and you’re going to want to avoid spoilers, as this series has some ridiculously cool plot reveals. Like the first two books, this one combines political machinations and enjoyable characters with an excellent dungeon crawl, and this time the stakes are cranked to eleven, befitting the conclusion of a trilogy.
Unsurprisingly to me, the book’s greatest strength is the evocation of a creepy, disturbing atmosphere, a sense of growing dread that’s perfectly punctuated with enough moments of hope and humor to keep me going. The writing itself is excellent, the prose smooth and polished and entertaining in a way that reminded me at times of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s prose in Empire in Black and Gold. And while fantasy can be written skillfully but still leave a plain taste behind, Idols Fall creates a gut-level vibe that’s fantastically compelling.
“Compelling,” you say. “Now there’s an overused word in book reviews.” Okay, fine, but in this case I mean it literally. I read plenty of great fantasy, but I have seldom felt the visceral need to keep turning pages that I did while reading Idols Fall.
If you’re looking for one of the best exemplars of quest fantasy out there, pick up Aching God and start this series ASAP.
I can’t say too much about the story without massive spoilers—and you’re going to want to avoid spoilers, as this series has some ridiculously cool plot reveals. Like the first two books, this one combines political machinations and enjoyable characters with an excellent dungeon crawl, and this time the stakes are cranked to eleven, befitting the conclusion of a trilogy.
Unsurprisingly to me, the book’s greatest strength is the evocation of a creepy, disturbing atmosphere, a sense of growing dread that’s perfectly punctuated with enough moments of hope and humor to keep me going. The writing itself is excellent, the prose smooth and polished and entertaining in a way that reminded me at times of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s prose in Empire in Black and Gold. And while fantasy can be written skillfully but still leave a plain taste behind, Idols Fall creates a gut-level vibe that’s fantastically compelling.
“Compelling,” you say. “Now there’s an overused word in book reviews.” Okay, fine, but in this case I mean it literally. I read plenty of great fantasy, but I have seldom felt the visceral need to keep turning pages that I did while reading Idols Fall.
If you’re looking for one of the best exemplars of quest fantasy out there, pick up Aching God and start this series ASAP.
June 10, 2022
This is one of the most satisfying conclusions to a series I've ever known. Idols Fall delivers on all fronts and meets all my expectations. Mike Shel keeps with the usual elements seen in the first two books: action, adventure, and political intrigue, and my personal favorites - artifact seeking, ancient language deciphering, and curse breaking. An even heavier use is made of the themes of sacrifice, vengeance, courage, and perseverance, and of mythology and legend as well. The creep factor did not disappoint. If anything, there were far more chilling scenes. The pulpy carnage and skin-crawling imagery were present in spades. My only complaint, albeit tiny, was the confusing allegiance of a minor character. I didn't factor that into my rating as it's something that could be better parsed out upon re-read. In other words, "it's me, not you, Mr. Shel."
After such an incredible experience reading this trilogy, I'm left aching for more. (Heh, see what I did there?) I have been left wanting more from this universe Shel has created and I couldn't have asked for a better feeling upon finishing a book series. After just three novels, Mike Shel has made it into my top 5 living authors (not an easy thing to do with this ruthless reader). All that means is I will be EAGERLY awaiting his next work.
After such an incredible experience reading this trilogy, I'm left aching for more. (Heh, see what I did there?) I have been left wanting more from this universe Shel has created and I couldn't have asked for a better feeling upon finishing a book series. After just three novels, Mike Shel has made it into my top 5 living authors (not an easy thing to do with this ruthless reader). All that means is I will be EAGERLY awaiting his next work.
May 31, 2021
Holy crap, what a finale!
I did miss Auric's presence - I didn't like Agnes nearly as much as I did him and didn't connect with her as well, but that being said, this story was fantastic. I had absolutely no idea how it would end - and the twists and turns it had were a source of delight. I was kept wondering until the very end!
The glimpse you get at the Djao civilization in particular was a real shock - at the risk of excessive spoilers, all I will say is I was truly impressed at how unique civilization he created - and perhaps, more than a little disturbed. :-P
Also, I want to know, will we ever here from Queelb again? That storyline felt like a thread that deserved more love.
I look forward to reading more of Shel's books, he is definitely on my short-list of auto-preorder authors.
I did miss Auric's presence - I didn't like Agnes nearly as much as I did him and didn't connect with her as well, but that being said, this story was fantastic. I had absolutely no idea how it would end - and the twists and turns it had were a source of delight. I was kept wondering until the very end!
The glimpse you get at the Djao civilization in particular was a real shock - at the risk of excessive spoilers, all I will say is I was truly impressed at how unique civilization he created - and perhaps, more than a little disturbed. :-P
Also, I want to know, will we ever here from Queelb again? That storyline felt like a thread that deserved more love.
I look forward to reading more of Shel's books, he is definitely on my short-list of auto-preorder authors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2021
I think this was the strongest of the three books in the series, which is not always how these things go!
There is a lot of the same stuff that made the previous two already very good: solid characters, real drama, gory action within reason, an intriguing background of world-building to explore. This adds a few layers of complexity to the storytelling, in a compelling mix of suspected trajectories and apparent inconsistencies which do not make sense until close to the end (but they do!). The mythology is a reasonably fresh twist on the classic "men became gods", which we had already learned in the previous book. Interesting questions can come of that concept and the crisis of faith are illustrated here in convincing tones.
Very solid read, will please anyone who's into serious Fantasy.
There is a lot of the same stuff that made the previous two already very good: solid characters, real drama, gory action within reason, an intriguing background of world-building to explore. This adds a few layers of complexity to the storytelling, in a compelling mix of suspected trajectories and apparent inconsistencies which do not make sense until close to the end (but they do!). The mythology is a reasonably fresh twist on the classic "men became gods", which we had already learned in the previous book. Interesting questions can come of that concept and the crisis of faith are illustrated here in convincing tones.
Very solid read, will please anyone who's into serious Fantasy.
August 28, 2024
"Idols Fall" by Mike Shel is a strong conclusion to an epic series. The setting is immersive, and the core story is filled with gripping twists that keep you hooked. The final book doesn't disappoint, delivering a satisfying ending with plenty of surprises. However, some subplots suffer from pacing issues, and a few minor characters lack the depth and relatability of the main cast. Despite these small flaws, it's a solid and enjoyable read for fans of the series.
April 19, 2021
I've loved the Iconoclasts series, but I think that Idols Fall is my favorite of the trilogy. Such intelligent writing of an exciting yet harrowing adventure. I hope Mike Shel continues to publish.
March 21, 2022
A great finale to the Trilogy!! gripping adventure to finish off the quest. World-building, characters and plot kept me up till the last strike.
September 17, 2025
Not at the same level as the first two. It felt rushed to me.
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