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Gurzil
WITH THE FALL AND SACK OF ROME, the barbarian hordes of the east claimed the lands of the Western Empire and brought forth an age of tyranny.
AGAINST THIS DARKNESS, TWO HEROES WILL RISE
THEY COME FROM WORLDS APART
BOUND TOGETHER BY MAGIC AND CURSED BY FATE
ON THE WAR-RAVAGED ISLAND of Britain, King Cedric of Wessex, launches a treacherous blitz attack against the kingdoms of the Romano Britons. Hopelessly outnumbered, the last descendent of King Lear, George of Bertilack must hold the Saxon advance long enough for his sworn enemy, Arthur Pendragon of Camelot, to unite the Britons in common cause.
FAR TO THE SOUTH, in the deserts of Libya, Princess Sabra of Saline fights against a more insidious foe. However, the shadowy cult that holds her people in bondage is more formidable than she realizes. For the god they worship is no idol of dead stone or gold.
HE IS THE LAST of his kind, an ancient evil, a relic of an age when fallen angels and nephilim ruled over mankind. For centuries, he has waited, but now the dragon Gurzil is ready to make his move.
FOR THIS HAS BEEN FORETOLD
AND THIS WILL COME TO PASS
AGAINST THIS DARKNESS, TWO HEROES WILL RISE
THEY COME FROM WORLDS APART
BOUND TOGETHER BY MAGIC AND CURSED BY FATE
ON THE WAR-RAVAGED ISLAND of Britain, King Cedric of Wessex, launches a treacherous blitz attack against the kingdoms of the Romano Britons. Hopelessly outnumbered, the last descendent of King Lear, George of Bertilack must hold the Saxon advance long enough for his sworn enemy, Arthur Pendragon of Camelot, to unite the Britons in common cause.
FAR TO THE SOUTH, in the deserts of Libya, Princess Sabra of Saline fights against a more insidious foe. However, the shadowy cult that holds her people in bondage is more formidable than she realizes. For the god they worship is no idol of dead stone or gold.
HE IS THE LAST of his kind, an ancient evil, a relic of an age when fallen angels and nephilim ruled over mankind. For centuries, he has waited, but now the dragon Gurzil is ready to make his move.
FOR THIS HAS BEEN FORETOLD
AND THIS WILL COME TO PASS
255 pages, ebook
Published March 2, 2022
9 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
I. Anonymous
2 books13 followersIt is the storyteller’s sacred charge to keep such legends alive.
For when the mighty seek to smudge the heroes out of history; When the chronicler and the journalist record more lies than truth. It falls to the jester, the poet, and the playwright to remind people of the honor of courageous knights, the cruelty of tyrants, and the existence of monsters.
I write to preserve the legends of yesterday in hopes that others to come will record the legends of today.
For tyrants are feared, then reviled, and soon forgotten. Yet, for as long as men and women tell stories, legends will never die!
I am Outis, I am No Man, I am Nemo.
I Anonymous,
For when the mighty seek to smudge the heroes out of history; When the chronicler and the journalist record more lies than truth. It falls to the jester, the poet, and the playwright to remind people of the honor of courageous knights, the cruelty of tyrants, and the existence of monsters.
I write to preserve the legends of yesterday in hopes that others to come will record the legends of today.
For tyrants are feared, then reviled, and soon forgotten. Yet, for as long as men and women tell stories, legends will never die!
I am Outis, I am No Man, I am Nemo.
I Anonymous,
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 22, 2022
Action-packed and in your face!
Gurzil is a dark Historical Fantasy/ Arthurian tale that is unapologetic in its delivery.
I am always a fan of Arthurian retellings and that is exactly what you get here. However, that is not all you are getting. There are warrior princesses, Puppet Kings, EVIL DRAGONS, and cults that do the bidding of GURZIL!
The biggest drawback I have with Gurzil is there are some anachronistic phrases that don't quite belong in Historical Fiction or Arthurian retellings. It is also very adult in its themes. If trigger warnings are a thing for you then there are a fair few within the story.
Overall I enjoyed this story and look forward to continuing onto Badon Hill! 4/5
Gurzil is a dark Historical Fantasy/ Arthurian tale that is unapologetic in its delivery.
I am always a fan of Arthurian retellings and that is exactly what you get here. However, that is not all you are getting. There are warrior princesses, Puppet Kings, EVIL DRAGONS, and cults that do the bidding of GURZIL!
The biggest drawback I have with Gurzil is there are some anachronistic phrases that don't quite belong in Historical Fiction or Arthurian retellings. It is also very adult in its themes. If trigger warnings are a thing for you then there are a fair few within the story.
Overall I enjoyed this story and look forward to continuing onto Badon Hill! 4/5
March 15, 2022
An excellent mix of super natual thriller and historical fiction.
November 11, 2022
GURZIL
by I, Anonymous is the first book in The Wars of Wrath series and is a historical fantasy fiction tale that makes full use of all 255 of its pages - there is no lack of action my friends!
The author did provide me with a copy of the audiobook narrated by Brian C. McKee as well as a physical hardback copy for immersion reading in consideration of a review. This review consists of my honest opinions based on my personal reading experience.
Readers are going to see familiar names and lands spoken of in this historical fiction story of events that occurred after the fall of Rome: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, Morgana, Tristan, Galahad, Gawain, King Lear, Solomon - Rome, Camelot, Britain, Africa - it's good that I had some knowledge of these legends because the book is very dense. It's short, but there is a lot going on that prevented from sitting down and reading it cover to cover.
I do feel that it was too short for the amount of character perspectives. The story moves rapidly from character to character, so I never got a good "feel" of one before we moved on to another. The way this narrative is structured is one in which readers are told the events, not shown. It feels like you're reading the diary of a historian who traveled around these lands, collecting the stories from these characters, then recorded them so that the overarching storyline is given to us in chronological order, which was Gurzil, the great red dragon preparing to make himself known to the realms again.
Sections of the story were given to us in dialogue between characters and there were a few things that we did get to see take place, rather than being told of them. Morgana and George's story I found to be the most interesting, followed closely by that of Sabra and Gurzil...okay, I really liked Una's too..lol. There were a few phrases used by characters that broke the theme of the time period, "Okay, that sucks", another character thought about it was time "to cut a bitch" that jumped off the page and pulled me out of the story.
The way its told makes for a wonderful audiobook, because it feels like you're sitting by a campfire, listening to someone tell you a story. Brian C. McKee was very passionate in his narration: he had so many voices and accents for the male characters that were excellent and his voice for the dragon Gurzil was SO GOOD! I loved the tone of his speaking voice. Unfortunately, the female voices and voices he gave to children were not good. I ended up skipping those on audio and reading that dialogue physically.
I think readers who adore Arthurian tales and legends would enjoy this one, those who love the history and events of the time period might enjoy reading them from the author's perspective. And let's not forget the dragon Gurzil! (though I'm sure he'd prefer we did whilst he gets into position..)
The author did provide me with a copy of the audiobook narrated by Brian C. McKee as well as a physical hardback copy for immersion reading in consideration of a review. This review consists of my honest opinions based on my personal reading experience.
Readers are going to see familiar names and lands spoken of in this historical fiction story of events that occurred after the fall of Rome: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, Morgana, Tristan, Galahad, Gawain, King Lear, Solomon - Rome, Camelot, Britain, Africa - it's good that I had some knowledge of these legends because the book is very dense. It's short, but there is a lot going on that prevented from sitting down and reading it cover to cover.
I do feel that it was too short for the amount of character perspectives. The story moves rapidly from character to character, so I never got a good "feel" of one before we moved on to another. The way this narrative is structured is one in which readers are told the events, not shown. It feels like you're reading the diary of a historian who traveled around these lands, collecting the stories from these characters, then recorded them so that the overarching storyline is given to us in chronological order, which was Gurzil, the great red dragon preparing to make himself known to the realms again.
Sections of the story were given to us in dialogue between characters and there were a few things that we did get to see take place, rather than being told of them. Morgana and George's story I found to be the most interesting, followed closely by that of Sabra and Gurzil...okay, I really liked Una's too..lol. There were a few phrases used by characters that broke the theme of the time period, "Okay, that sucks", another character thought about it was time "to cut a bitch" that jumped off the page and pulled me out of the story.
The way its told makes for a wonderful audiobook, because it feels like you're sitting by a campfire, listening to someone tell you a story. Brian C. McKee was very passionate in his narration: he had so many voices and accents for the male characters that were excellent and his voice for the dragon Gurzil was SO GOOD! I loved the tone of his speaking voice. Unfortunately, the female voices and voices he gave to children were not good. I ended up skipping those on audio and reading that dialogue physically.
I think readers who adore Arthurian tales and legends would enjoy this one, those who love the history and events of the time period might enjoy reading them from the author's perspective. And let's not forget the dragon Gurzil! (though I'm sure he'd prefer we did whilst he gets into position..)
July 8, 2022
Edit: I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, a nice way to refresh for Badon Hill. The audio is truly fantastic. It’s so angsty and terrifying at times. I almost felt like crying with Sabra at the end, for Gurzil is no fluffy puppy.
I haven’t been reading much lately, but I had to finish this, it was just too good. Gurzil was written when the author found my “list-of-things-that-would-make-a-book-awesome” list. Well that’s how it feels, this is heroic age historical fantasy. It blends Arthurian legend with the Germanic migrations after the fall of Rome, and connects it with the people in Northern Africa as they deals its Byzantines and remnant of Vandals. It’s fantastic.
The characters are great, many recognizable in some shape or form. It’s a nice modern take, lots of characters, none could be categorized as wholly good. It deals with magic, and politics, oh and a dragon in the tradition of Glaurung, which is to say it’s hard to top.
If you like Gildas, Gawain, Beowulf, Arthur, Procopius, and historical people of that ilk, than may I recommend this?
A few nitpicks would be: there are lot of flashbacks and this book feels like a setup, which it sort of is. Also the Vandals speak modern German as opposed to something like Gothic, this is understandable but sad, though the Saxon’s speak Old English, so + 1.
I haven’t been reading much lately, but I had to finish this, it was just too good. Gurzil was written when the author found my “list-of-things-that-would-make-a-book-awesome” list. Well that’s how it feels, this is heroic age historical fantasy. It blends Arthurian legend with the Germanic migrations after the fall of Rome, and connects it with the people in Northern Africa as they deals its Byzantines and remnant of Vandals. It’s fantastic.
The characters are great, many recognizable in some shape or form. It’s a nice modern take, lots of characters, none could be categorized as wholly good. It deals with magic, and politics, oh and a dragon in the tradition of Glaurung, which is to say it’s hard to top.
If you like Gildas, Gawain, Beowulf, Arthur, Procopius, and historical people of that ilk, than may I recommend this?
A few nitpicks would be: there are lot of flashbacks and this book feels like a setup, which it sort of is. Also the Vandals speak modern German as opposed to something like Gothic, this is understandable but sad, though the Saxon’s speak Old English, so + 1.
February 21, 2023
I received a free ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
A really cool, dark historical fantasy, weaving in Arthurian legend, evil dragons and a death cult!
I had the joy of listening to the audiobook which is fantastic!! The voice that Brian C. McKee does for Gurzil is frankly terrifying!!
I did get a little lost with some of the characters, so I think I would like to listen to the audiobook through again (oh such a hardship <- sarcasm) before I pick up Badon Hill!
A really cool, dark historical fantasy, weaving in Arthurian legend, evil dragons and a death cult!
I had the joy of listening to the audiobook which is fantastic!! The voice that Brian C. McKee does for Gurzil is frankly terrifying!!
I did get a little lost with some of the characters, so I think I would like to listen to the audiobook through again (oh such a hardship <- sarcasm) before I pick up Badon Hill!
March 5, 2022
I received an ARC from the author, and boy am I glad I did!
While not a perfect book, it was pretty great. A ton of stuff in it that I thoroughly enjoyed, and it just got better and better as the story continued. I’ll have a full review up on my YouTube channel on Monday, March 7. But for now, I’m extremely happy to have read it, and am looking forward to what happens from here on out.
While not a perfect book, it was pretty great. A ton of stuff in it that I thoroughly enjoyed, and it just got better and better as the story continued. I’ll have a full review up on my YouTube channel on Monday, March 7. But for now, I’m extremely happy to have read it, and am looking forward to what happens from here on out.
June 10, 2022
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
3.5/5 Stars rounded to 4 Stars
*Review video: https://youtu.be/A8IGQ2xm1Lo
Gurzil is a self-published historical fantasy by I.Anonymous. This is book 1 in The Wars of Wrath duology. This book is set in 543 AD, bringing together legends from Camelot, North Africa and many groups of people including, Vandals, Moors and Saxons, to name a few. There is also an evil, power hungry dragon.
Before the story starts, there is a beautifully written dedication, in theme with the book, to the authors daughter.
The story follows the events around multiple characters and how an evil dragon, Gurzil, is preparing to make his move after centuries of waiting. While this has multiple perspectives from 11 characters, the story seems to center around two in particular, George, Sabra, and of course Gurzil. Seeing so many perspectives give an in depth experience to the various sides of the story.
We see a mix of different religions, and how Christianity and its spread has affected the people of the world. With struggles for power and powerful people at play, the political intrigue in this had me turning the pages.
Gurzil kept a medium pace throughout and at 255 pages this is a denser read than I first expected. There are many details packed into this short book which builds the world, its histories, and character connections. There was not much dialogue but more internal character thoughts that help explain their situations and the world.
While I enjoyed many aspects of this book, there were two things that took away from the experience of the world. The first being some word choices that didn’t match the period of history. These instances did take me out of the world while reading.
Second, the jumps to so many points of views in a short book did make it a bit difficult stay immersed in the story. Instead, I found myself trying to keep track of character connections, their individual stories and how it all related. This isn’t a bad thing, but something that took me away from the story at times.
I read the physical copy, and it was a comfortable read. I’m a small person and I was easily able to hold this for the hours I sat down to read. There are also details and artworks in the chapter headings.
The tone of this book is dark, and dismal. With political intrigue, magical creatures, ancient legends, lore and high stakes, Gurzil is a good read for any fantasy and historical fiction reader.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2, Badon Hill.
*The audiobook will be releasing soon! I'll update this review with more information when available.
3.5/5 Stars rounded to 4 Stars
*Review video: https://youtu.be/A8IGQ2xm1Lo
Gurzil is a self-published historical fantasy by I.Anonymous. This is book 1 in The Wars of Wrath duology. This book is set in 543 AD, bringing together legends from Camelot, North Africa and many groups of people including, Vandals, Moors and Saxons, to name a few. There is also an evil, power hungry dragon.
Before the story starts, there is a beautifully written dedication, in theme with the book, to the authors daughter.
The story follows the events around multiple characters and how an evil dragon, Gurzil, is preparing to make his move after centuries of waiting. While this has multiple perspectives from 11 characters, the story seems to center around two in particular, George, Sabra, and of course Gurzil. Seeing so many perspectives give an in depth experience to the various sides of the story.
We see a mix of different religions, and how Christianity and its spread has affected the people of the world. With struggles for power and powerful people at play, the political intrigue in this had me turning the pages.
Gurzil kept a medium pace throughout and at 255 pages this is a denser read than I first expected. There are many details packed into this short book which builds the world, its histories, and character connections. There was not much dialogue but more internal character thoughts that help explain their situations and the world.
While I enjoyed many aspects of this book, there were two things that took away from the experience of the world. The first being some word choices that didn’t match the period of history. These instances did take me out of the world while reading.
Second, the jumps to so many points of views in a short book did make it a bit difficult stay immersed in the story. Instead, I found myself trying to keep track of character connections, their individual stories and how it all related. This isn’t a bad thing, but something that took me away from the story at times.
I read the physical copy, and it was a comfortable read. I’m a small person and I was easily able to hold this for the hours I sat down to read. There are also details and artworks in the chapter headings.
The tone of this book is dark, and dismal. With political intrigue, magical creatures, ancient legends, lore and high stakes, Gurzil is a good read for any fantasy and historical fiction reader.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2, Badon Hill.
*The audiobook will be releasing soon! I'll update this review with more information when available.
January 10, 2023
WOW… I have no words to describe this book. It was just pure storytelling magic. It felt and read like you were being told old myths and legends by your grandfather or something at bed time o.
The amount of hours the author must have researched and read up on things is beyond comparison, the legends and myths are mashed up so well with history that you believe this whole book is factual. Aided in this way is the fact that at each chapter beginning the author has snippets of historical books which when read with the chapter give a key insight in the goings on in the chapter.
Arthurian legend retold in an epic and refreshing new way. I have not read anything like this book before.
Whomever this author is, you have gained another must buy fan in myself.
This book is mighty impressive, read it!!!!!
Just completed a reread with the audiobook, just as good.
The amount of hours the author must have researched and read up on things is beyond comparison, the legends and myths are mashed up so well with history that you believe this whole book is factual. Aided in this way is the fact that at each chapter beginning the author has snippets of historical books which when read with the chapter give a key insight in the goings on in the chapter.
Arthurian legend retold in an epic and refreshing new way. I have not read anything like this book before.
Whomever this author is, you have gained another must buy fan in myself.
This book is mighty impressive, read it!!!!!
Just completed a reread with the audiobook, just as good.
February 3, 2022
I received a free ARC copy from the author to review.
I’m a sucker for a good historical fiction story. Gurzil is unlike anything I’ve read before. The author is a fantastic storyteller. He makes you feel like you’re sitting around a cozy campfire listening to the bards of olde retelling timeless tales. This wasn’t something I would normally choose to read on my own, but I’m so glad I did! It’s opened me up to this wonderful world of magic, a powerful dragon, and some incredibly complex characters. Some I’m rooting for, some I can’t wait to see perish. The ending leaves you wanting more. I cant wait to see what happens in book 2!
Well done author!
I’m a sucker for a good historical fiction story. Gurzil is unlike anything I’ve read before. The author is a fantastic storyteller. He makes you feel like you’re sitting around a cozy campfire listening to the bards of olde retelling timeless tales. This wasn’t something I would normally choose to read on my own, but I’m so glad I did! It’s opened me up to this wonderful world of magic, a powerful dragon, and some incredibly complex characters. Some I’m rooting for, some I can’t wait to see perish. The ending leaves you wanting more. I cant wait to see what happens in book 2!
Well done author!
August 2, 2022
Score: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Historical fantasy is one of my favourite genres, and the Arthurian myths have interested me since I was a child, so it was a no brainer to pick Gurzil as a book to read.
Gurzil fulfills both topics really well, and it is a really ambitious work that links several characters across a collapsed Roman Empire, as it is set on 543 AD. We meet different characters, Morgana and George, Britons at war with the invading Saxons; meanwhile, in Africa, we have Sabra, a princess of Saline (current Libya), whose uncle is trying to establish a kingdom after years of Roman and Vandal domination.
Meanwhile, the Empire's collapse leads to war everywhere for the crumbs, Gurzil is hidden in the ashes, an evil dragon with his own agenda and with a legion of followers.
We are going to follow the events around these characters and how Gurzil is trying to fulfill his ambitions, and take control of Sabra. The book has multiple POVs, counting a total of eleven, which can become a little bit confusing if you are not totally focused on it. Despite this, using this kind of narrative technique helps to get a rich novel, and to be able to describe all the chaos and madness that is part of the period after Rome's collapse.
The political and religious intrigue keeps you hooked marvelously. Not going to lie, I devoured the book in one afternoon, that's how much I was hooked by the plot.
An intensive research job is behind Gurzil, and this can be appreciated in each one of the pages, from obscures references to religion, to the Saxon-Briton wars, the rise of Byzantium and the Saline Kingdom.
I only have two complaints that are the reason why this book is not a 5-star read: I think pace-wise is weird, being maybe too slow at the start, setting the conditions, but accelerating as long as we advance; and personally, I think part of the expression used by the characters were too modern for the historical time.
In summary, I think Gurzil is a hidden gem of the historical fantasy genre, and it is a must for every lover of Arthurian myths. Can't wait for Badon Hill, the second book in this series.
More insight with I, Anonymous here: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Historical fantasy is one of my favourite genres, and the Arthurian myths have interested me since I was a child, so it was a no brainer to pick Gurzil as a book to read.
Gurzil fulfills both topics really well, and it is a really ambitious work that links several characters across a collapsed Roman Empire, as it is set on 543 AD. We meet different characters, Morgana and George, Britons at war with the invading Saxons; meanwhile, in Africa, we have Sabra, a princess of Saline (current Libya), whose uncle is trying to establish a kingdom after years of Roman and Vandal domination.
Meanwhile, the Empire's collapse leads to war everywhere for the crumbs, Gurzil is hidden in the ashes, an evil dragon with his own agenda and with a legion of followers.
We are going to follow the events around these characters and how Gurzil is trying to fulfill his ambitions, and take control of Sabra. The book has multiple POVs, counting a total of eleven, which can become a little bit confusing if you are not totally focused on it. Despite this, using this kind of narrative technique helps to get a rich novel, and to be able to describe all the chaos and madness that is part of the period after Rome's collapse.
The political and religious intrigue keeps you hooked marvelously. Not going to lie, I devoured the book in one afternoon, that's how much I was hooked by the plot.
An intensive research job is behind Gurzil, and this can be appreciated in each one of the pages, from obscures references to religion, to the Saxon-Briton wars, the rise of Byzantium and the Saline Kingdom.
I only have two complaints that are the reason why this book is not a 5-star read: I think pace-wise is weird, being maybe too slow at the start, setting the conditions, but accelerating as long as we advance; and personally, I think part of the expression used by the characters were too modern for the historical time.
In summary, I think Gurzil is a hidden gem of the historical fantasy genre, and it is a must for every lover of Arthurian myths. Can't wait for Badon Hill, the second book in this series.
More insight with I, Anonymous here: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
January 24, 2023
I was sent a copy in exchange for an honest review.
A very interesting alternate history, twisting together British history and fantasy elements in a way that is actually believable. Nothing screams fantasy like a villanious dragon who is the deity for a death cult. I think my favourite perspectives were George and Sabra, both of nobility and both tied together through threads of dreams. There are names within this book that are easily recognised and I am looking forward to seeing what book 2 has to offer.
A very interesting alternate history, twisting together British history and fantasy elements in a way that is actually believable. Nothing screams fantasy like a villanious dragon who is the deity for a death cult. I think my favourite perspectives were George and Sabra, both of nobility and both tied together through threads of dreams. There are names within this book that are easily recognised and I am looking forward to seeing what book 2 has to offer.
February 18, 2022
Historical fantasy is my favourite genre – and I’m seeing more and more books in this genre over the last couple of years.
Gurzil is both very ambitious and highly imaginative – linking characters from all over a collapsed Roman Empire.
Set in the 6th century, we meet Morgana and George, Britons at war with the invading Saxons. We also meet Sabra, a princess of Saline (a kingdom within modern day Libya), whose uncle is trying to establish his kingdom after years of Roman and Vandal dominance.
War is everywhere. An Empire is collapsing, new kingdoms and power structures are rising. The historical detail here is extremely interesting.
But hidden in the ashes is Gurzil, and evil dragon who has his own agenda and a legion of followers willing to do his bidding.
It’s an intriguing tale, deftly woven by the author. Using extracts of military records and taking inspiration from The Aenid and Beowulf, as well as Tolkien’s, The Fall of Arthur, the historical and fantastical are pulled together as Sabra and George try to help their people, and evade Gurzil, who is obsessed with capturing Sabra.
I must give a huge congratulations to the author regarding how well he has used established mythological/historical characters and made them their own. The chapters set in England in particular involves so many characters you will already know from Arthurian legends. We have Arthur, Morgana, Tristan, Iseult and George (the grandson of King Lear). But I also applaud how it doesn’t stay here. The fall of the Roman Empire throughout the rest of Europe and Africa is also examined. Sabra is a strong female protagonist and I enjoyed her chapters immensely.
The only issues were that sometimes a modern word or phrase would be used, which was a little jarring. And sometimes, especially at the start, perhaps a little too much history was given. However, neither issue stopped me from enjoying the story – and I will definitely be continuing with the series.
And so – I would recommend this book for readers who like this era of history, or are curious about it. The book takes a few chapters to set out the historical backdrop, but once this is established, the story moves quickly – and is a very enjoyable read. (Also – there is an evil dragon! 🐉 🐉 🐉)
Gurzil is both very ambitious and highly imaginative – linking characters from all over a collapsed Roman Empire.
Set in the 6th century, we meet Morgana and George, Britons at war with the invading Saxons. We also meet Sabra, a princess of Saline (a kingdom within modern day Libya), whose uncle is trying to establish his kingdom after years of Roman and Vandal dominance.
War is everywhere. An Empire is collapsing, new kingdoms and power structures are rising. The historical detail here is extremely interesting.
But hidden in the ashes is Gurzil, and evil dragon who has his own agenda and a legion of followers willing to do his bidding.
It’s an intriguing tale, deftly woven by the author. Using extracts of military records and taking inspiration from The Aenid and Beowulf, as well as Tolkien’s, The Fall of Arthur, the historical and fantastical are pulled together as Sabra and George try to help their people, and evade Gurzil, who is obsessed with capturing Sabra.
I must give a huge congratulations to the author regarding how well he has used established mythological/historical characters and made them their own. The chapters set in England in particular involves so many characters you will already know from Arthurian legends. We have Arthur, Morgana, Tristan, Iseult and George (the grandson of King Lear). But I also applaud how it doesn’t stay here. The fall of the Roman Empire throughout the rest of Europe and Africa is also examined. Sabra is a strong female protagonist and I enjoyed her chapters immensely.
The only issues were that sometimes a modern word or phrase would be used, which was a little jarring. And sometimes, especially at the start, perhaps a little too much history was given. However, neither issue stopped me from enjoying the story – and I will definitely be continuing with the series.
And so – I would recommend this book for readers who like this era of history, or are curious about it. The book takes a few chapters to set out the historical backdrop, but once this is established, the story moves quickly – and is a very enjoyable read. (Also – there is an evil dragon! 🐉 🐉 🐉)
March 4, 2022
3.5 Stars
I received an ARC of this book from the author.
Gurzil is an imaginative play on on many different legends and parts of history including Arthurian legend, legends from North Africa, and more. This story takes place in the wake of the fallen Roman Empire with war brewing and battles from Britain to Libya.
The core premise takes these figures and legends and centers them around a dark force, Gurzil the dragon. Gurzil is shown to have been involved in many of the world's trials and does not show to be stopping any time soon.
This story is definitely more on the historical fiction side than fantasy, but there are certainly fantastical elements woven in throughout. I certainly recognized some of these characters (especially those from Arthurian legend which I'm more familiar with) but also had a great time learning more about the actual history and legends behind some of the events form the book after reading. Those who are more well versed in history I think will especially enjoy this story (as it added to my enjoyment reading up on the real history after) but there's certainly plenty here even for those like me that were not aware of just how much history was present in the storytelling (including the Horned God himself which I must admit I thought was an invention for the story!).
My main complaints of the book came in the way of either some minor editing issues or word choice that sometimes felt a bit off for the time period being portrayed. Given that I read an ARC version I trust much of this will have been fixed in the final version.
Overall this was a very solid story and a setup of what seems to be quite a bit more to come. I'll certainly be interested to see where this goes!
I received an ARC of this book from the author.
Gurzil is an imaginative play on on many different legends and parts of history including Arthurian legend, legends from North Africa, and more. This story takes place in the wake of the fallen Roman Empire with war brewing and battles from Britain to Libya.
The core premise takes these figures and legends and centers them around a dark force, Gurzil the dragon. Gurzil is shown to have been involved in many of the world's trials and does not show to be stopping any time soon.
This story is definitely more on the historical fiction side than fantasy, but there are certainly fantastical elements woven in throughout. I certainly recognized some of these characters (especially those from Arthurian legend which I'm more familiar with) but also had a great time learning more about the actual history and legends behind some of the events form the book after reading. Those who are more well versed in history I think will especially enjoy this story (as it added to my enjoyment reading up on the real history after) but there's certainly plenty here even for those like me that were not aware of just how much history was present in the storytelling (including the Horned God himself which I must admit I thought was an invention for the story!).
My main complaints of the book came in the way of either some minor editing issues or word choice that sometimes felt a bit off for the time period being portrayed. Given that I read an ARC version I trust much of this will have been fixed in the final version.
Overall this was a very solid story and a setup of what seems to be quite a bit more to come. I'll certainly be interested to see where this goes!
February 1, 2023
I was offered a copy of the book and audio presentation for an honest opinion.
I must say that dipping into, Gurzil is like taking a sip from a fire hydrant. There is so much in this book that I didn’t realize about such legendary figures such as, Arthur, George, Galahad and more. I spent over half of the book trying to figure out where I’d been and where I was going, but when I realized where I’d arrived I was genuinely excited. Part of the appeal and at times difficulty of, Gurzil is that while there are many familiar characters, it is presented in such a broad stroke overview that I didn’t feel like I was able to settle in to any of them. I wanted more character development. I kept wanting more time with these people. As a result of the book I’ve begun a deeper dive into the Arthurian time period just to try and keep track of the legend. It is obvious to me that I. Anonymous is exceptionally bright, well versed in the legend and lore of not only King Aurthur but religion, battle, lore and myth. I am intrigued to see where this story goes under the careful pen of this author. It is a great start to the series and I was glad to enter into a world I haven’t deeply explored. I would say this is more 3.75 for me but because I keep thinking about the book the 4 stars is legit.
I must say that dipping into, Gurzil is like taking a sip from a fire hydrant. There is so much in this book that I didn’t realize about such legendary figures such as, Arthur, George, Galahad and more. I spent over half of the book trying to figure out where I’d been and where I was going, but when I realized where I’d arrived I was genuinely excited. Part of the appeal and at times difficulty of, Gurzil is that while there are many familiar characters, it is presented in such a broad stroke overview that I didn’t feel like I was able to settle in to any of them. I wanted more character development. I kept wanting more time with these people. As a result of the book I’ve begun a deeper dive into the Arthurian time period just to try and keep track of the legend. It is obvious to me that I. Anonymous is exceptionally bright, well versed in the legend and lore of not only King Aurthur but religion, battle, lore and myth. I am intrigued to see where this story goes under the careful pen of this author. It is a great start to the series and I was glad to enter into a world I haven’t deeply explored. I would say this is more 3.75 for me but because I keep thinking about the book the 4 stars is legit.
April 3, 2022
In short, this book as metal as all hell. 4.5/5
Gurzil manages to cram warring gods, cults, heroes, druids, witches, barbarians, empires and bloody war into a succinct 255 pages. It’s many compelling settings and characters are lifted straight out of the history books and legends of old and spliced with elements of dark magic and fantasy. It makes for a unique blend and cleverly uses the supernatural to explain ancient real-world events.
This book is incredibly dark, which I love. It shines a light on the fact that humans are capable of just as much horror and brutality as any fictional demon or monster. It also reminds us that we only need look to our own bloody history for the most grimdark content imaginable.
While I, Anonymous does a great job with so many character perspectives in so few pages, I only wish there was more time spent fleshing them out and allowing me to connect with them more.
All in all, an interesting and visceral read. I’ll be checking out book two later this year.
Gurzil manages to cram warring gods, cults, heroes, druids, witches, barbarians, empires and bloody war into a succinct 255 pages. It’s many compelling settings and characters are lifted straight out of the history books and legends of old and spliced with elements of dark magic and fantasy. It makes for a unique blend and cleverly uses the supernatural to explain ancient real-world events.
This book is incredibly dark, which I love. It shines a light on the fact that humans are capable of just as much horror and brutality as any fictional demon or monster. It also reminds us that we only need look to our own bloody history for the most grimdark content imaginable.
While I, Anonymous does a great job with so many character perspectives in so few pages, I only wish there was more time spent fleshing them out and allowing me to connect with them more.
All in all, an interesting and visceral read. I’ll be checking out book two later this year.
January 24, 2022
Beautifully written, enjoyable read that leaves you on edge and wanting more. The author has a way with words that transports you within the book and you feel apart of the adventure. Quotes are peppered in allowing you to get into the mindset of that time. Don’t want to give away any spoilers but readers will NOT be disappointed in choosing this book. Can’t wait to see what else this author comes up with in the future.
March 12, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I have a full video review for this book on my YouTube (https://youtu.be/hCmzNyhsuBI). It was fun but the short length really impacted my ability to connect with the characters and the huge emphasis on historical things just wasn’t totally my jam. That being said it WAS still fun and I’ll most likely still check out book 2 when it comes out later this year.
January 24, 2022
The book is really impressive. The mix of history and myth is blended wonderfully, and the historical characters and legendary ones are brought to life splendidly. I loved princess Sbara . The amount of work and research that went into developing such an amazing story is really commendable. I truly enjoyed reading the book, great job author :)
January 24, 2022
So far the best book published this year! At last, a book that both entertains and makes you rediscover history in a complete different angle; with magic and passion. Honestly, give me a dragon called Gurzil, an oriental princess called Sabra and a magical hyena and am having the best party of my life. Way to go, I bow to you who ever you may be.
January 25, 2022
I have to say that the subtle things that the author has clearly taken the time to learn and know, shines through.
The attention to detail in terms of history has provided an excellent base for the story to stand on.
This is an original take on the Arthurian trope.
The author has woven together the traditional Arthurian sources with a twist. Just when I think I have a grasp of where the plot is going, the little subtle things are twisted just slightly. Those changes cascade like an avalanche in displaying the authors vision creating a new world rather than rehashing the traditional Arthurian setting.
I do not want to go into detail because, it would involve spoilers.
It has Dragons!
It has evil, it has good, it has romance and tragedy.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this!
Now, if the author would only hurry up and write more
in this series, I want to read more.
The attention to detail in terms of history has provided an excellent base for the story to stand on.
This is an original take on the Arthurian trope.
The author has woven together the traditional Arthurian sources with a twist. Just when I think I have a grasp of where the plot is going, the little subtle things are twisted just slightly. Those changes cascade like an avalanche in displaying the authors vision creating a new world rather than rehashing the traditional Arthurian setting.
I do not want to go into detail because, it would involve spoilers.
It has Dragons!
It has evil, it has good, it has romance and tragedy.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this!
Now, if the author would only hurry up and write more
in this series, I want to read more.
March 12, 2022
Historical fantasy? Or hidden history? I’m not completely sure, but it was a great story! Gurzil left me impatiently waiting for the second book to see what happens.
March 31, 2022
Let me preface this review by expressing my sincere gratitude to I, Anonymous for sending me an ARC of Gurzil. I’ve been so happy to connect over the past few months and was honored to get an early look at this marvelous book.
Gurzil starts off in the aftermath of the fall of the Roman Empire. It’s 543 AD (or CE), and the dragon Gurzil has been dormant for years before seeking to gain power in northern Africa. In Libya, King Alba of Saline has lost control of his kingdom, now little more than a puppet ruler as a sordid new cult takes over. Gurzil wants Alba’s daughter Sabra for his bride, so Alba does what any good father would do: He sends Sabra to safety. Meanwhile, in Britain, George Bertilack engages in war and politics despite his strange dreams. But his fate my lay further south where a dragon wreaks havoc through his cult followers.
This book weaves in numerous sources of inspiration, offering a complex retelling of well-known legends, myths, and real history. If you’re well-versed in these, you’ll certainly recognize many names. Several characters come from Arthurian legends, like Morgana, Gawain, and Merlin. There are also numerous groups of people – like the Britons, Saxons, Vandals, and Amazigh – and their interrelated conflicts. Readers familiar with the legends and history may glean more in this book than I did; personally, I only know the basics and rarely read books set this far in the past. I thus had a bit of a learning curve, and it took me a few chapters to get situated, but once I got there, I was all in. Ultimately I found Gurzil to be thoroughly engrossing.
In all honesty, this is not a book I would have picked out for myself – it’s a bit of a different genre and style than I normally read, and I probably would have shied away from it at a bookstore. But this is why I’m so happy to be involved with different book communities: It gets me out of my comfort zone, and in cases like this one here, that can be a wonderful thing, because I often find that I like these other books! Gurzil is an example of a book that I wasn’t sure what to expect but ended up loving.
There are several point-of-view characters in Gurzil, and the author moves between them from chapter to chapter. Each time a new character is introduced, we also get a few pages of their backstory – their history, their motivations, their relationships with other characters. On the one hand, this can be rather helpful in fully understanding each character. As I went into this without much “working knowledge,” it was valuable for me. But on the other hand, it does also slow down the pace, especially in the first half of the book. Now that the introductions seem to have all been made, I expect future books in the series will be more to-the-point and focused on the action.
Indeed, in some ways, Gurzil does feel like a lot of setup for the rest of the series. It’s not a long book – under 250 pages – and with so much backstory and world-building here, it very much feels that it’s paving the way for something much bigger in the upcoming books. This makes me even more excited to keep reading the series.
What I liked most about Gurzil is the distinct characterization. The people here range from likable to rather unlikeable. For example, Gunthuris is a slave trafficker who, despite his own childhood, has little sympathy for enslaved peoples. At first I thought I’d like Unahild… but then learned how twisted she is now. King Alba is weak but has my sympathies. His daughter Sabra, though, is a strong and intelligent woman and easily one of my favorite characters. I also quite enjoy her uncle Kaboan. Up north in Britain, George seems set up as the perfect, classic hero, even if it’s as yet unclear how he’ll become connected with all that’s going on in Libya. Morgana is another woman who stands out, though I worry where her story arc will lead in the next book.
And big romance reader that I am, I confess that I was also particularly drawn to the potential relationships forming in Gurzil. Connected only by dreams so far, might George and Sabra have a romance awaiting them in book number two? And what will that mean for Morgana and her current situation with George? My curiosity is certainly piqued.
I also love the magic that is in display in Gurzil. Of course the titular dragon is an obvious example, but there is also witchcraft and an amazing dream sequence (one of my favorite scenes in the book!) and some shape-shifting hyenas that I find quite fascinating. The cult surrounding Gurzil is bolstered by their leader’s magic, insidious as that is.
The book ends on a cliffhanger with a surprising character at its center, and it will leave you ready for the next installment in the series. Badon Hill comes out in late August, and I believe there’s at least one more book to look forward to after that.
Gurzil is a complex and captivating story that weaves together legend and history. It offers magic and a wide cast of characters, and whether you’re well-versed in the genre or are a newcomer like me, it can appeal to anyone looking for a fantastical ride. Gurzil is a wonderful start and a book I fully recommend. It is also just the first in the Wars of Wrath series, with Badon Hill coming next this August. Stay tuned for my review of that this summer!
* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
Gurzil starts off in the aftermath of the fall of the Roman Empire. It’s 543 AD (or CE), and the dragon Gurzil has been dormant for years before seeking to gain power in northern Africa. In Libya, King Alba of Saline has lost control of his kingdom, now little more than a puppet ruler as a sordid new cult takes over. Gurzil wants Alba’s daughter Sabra for his bride, so Alba does what any good father would do: He sends Sabra to safety. Meanwhile, in Britain, George Bertilack engages in war and politics despite his strange dreams. But his fate my lay further south where a dragon wreaks havoc through his cult followers.
This book weaves in numerous sources of inspiration, offering a complex retelling of well-known legends, myths, and real history. If you’re well-versed in these, you’ll certainly recognize many names. Several characters come from Arthurian legends, like Morgana, Gawain, and Merlin. There are also numerous groups of people – like the Britons, Saxons, Vandals, and Amazigh – and their interrelated conflicts. Readers familiar with the legends and history may glean more in this book than I did; personally, I only know the basics and rarely read books set this far in the past. I thus had a bit of a learning curve, and it took me a few chapters to get situated, but once I got there, I was all in. Ultimately I found Gurzil to be thoroughly engrossing.
In all honesty, this is not a book I would have picked out for myself – it’s a bit of a different genre and style than I normally read, and I probably would have shied away from it at a bookstore. But this is why I’m so happy to be involved with different book communities: It gets me out of my comfort zone, and in cases like this one here, that can be a wonderful thing, because I often find that I like these other books! Gurzil is an example of a book that I wasn’t sure what to expect but ended up loving.
There are several point-of-view characters in Gurzil, and the author moves between them from chapter to chapter. Each time a new character is introduced, we also get a few pages of their backstory – their history, their motivations, their relationships with other characters. On the one hand, this can be rather helpful in fully understanding each character. As I went into this without much “working knowledge,” it was valuable for me. But on the other hand, it does also slow down the pace, especially in the first half of the book. Now that the introductions seem to have all been made, I expect future books in the series will be more to-the-point and focused on the action.
Indeed, in some ways, Gurzil does feel like a lot of setup for the rest of the series. It’s not a long book – under 250 pages – and with so much backstory and world-building here, it very much feels that it’s paving the way for something much bigger in the upcoming books. This makes me even more excited to keep reading the series.
What I liked most about Gurzil is the distinct characterization. The people here range from likable to rather unlikeable. For example, Gunthuris is a slave trafficker who, despite his own childhood, has little sympathy for enslaved peoples. At first I thought I’d like Unahild… but then learned how twisted she is now. King Alba is weak but has my sympathies. His daughter Sabra, though, is a strong and intelligent woman and easily one of my favorite characters. I also quite enjoy her uncle Kaboan. Up north in Britain, George seems set up as the perfect, classic hero, even if it’s as yet unclear how he’ll become connected with all that’s going on in Libya. Morgana is another woman who stands out, though I worry where her story arc will lead in the next book.
And big romance reader that I am, I confess that I was also particularly drawn to the potential relationships forming in Gurzil. Connected only by dreams so far, might George and Sabra have a romance awaiting them in book number two? And what will that mean for Morgana and her current situation with George? My curiosity is certainly piqued.
I also love the magic that is in display in Gurzil. Of course the titular dragon is an obvious example, but there is also witchcraft and an amazing dream sequence (one of my favorite scenes in the book!) and some shape-shifting hyenas that I find quite fascinating. The cult surrounding Gurzil is bolstered by their leader’s magic, insidious as that is.
The book ends on a cliffhanger with a surprising character at its center, and it will leave you ready for the next installment in the series. Badon Hill comes out in late August, and I believe there’s at least one more book to look forward to after that.
Gurzil is a complex and captivating story that weaves together legend and history. It offers magic and a wide cast of characters, and whether you’re well-versed in the genre or are a newcomer like me, it can appeal to anyone looking for a fantastical ride. Gurzil is a wonderful start and a book I fully recommend. It is also just the first in the Wars of Wrath series, with Badon Hill coming next this August. Stay tuned for my review of that this summer!
* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
April 16, 2022
Dropped at 15%
I'm sad to say that this book desperately needed intense structural editing. After a strong start, the book loses its way with far too many time jumps, perspective shifts, and history essays.
Ultimately, this book started way too early and covered unnecessary *centuries* of background. By the time I finally encountered the man who I think is supposed to be the main character around the 15% mark of the book, I couldn't bring myself to care.
I'm sad to say that this book desperately needed intense structural editing. After a strong start, the book loses its way with far too many time jumps, perspective shifts, and history essays.
Ultimately, this book started way too early and covered unnecessary *centuries* of background. By the time I finally encountered the man who I think is supposed to be the main character around the 15% mark of the book, I couldn't bring myself to care.
March 8, 2022
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’ll say from the get go, that historical fiction is not my cup of tea in most cases. I was fresh off of reading The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell, which wasn’t great for me, and I. Anonymous saw my review and recommended I try his book.
This is a book based around the histories of St. George (of dragon slayer fame), and Arthurian legend. Arthur has a minor cameo, at least in this first book, and Merlin does as well. George is one of the major players.
So let’s start with what I liked. This book promises a dragon, and it delivers. This is a world grounded in a reality that assumes dragons to be myths, but instead they exist. Or one does at least, and he is a terror. An amazing terror. While you do have the typical drakonic tropes, like maiden servants and hoarding gold, that is where the similarities end. This dragon has a pretty awesome origin backstory, and is the focus of a cult of worshippers, and I loved that take. There is magic as well, and while it’s very minimal as far as magic is concerned, it does play an interesting part in the story. There’s about as much magic use as you would expect from a George R. R. Martin novel; very little but important. I really enjoyed some of the characters too, especially Sabra and George. It’s a quick read as well, and the writing isn’t overly complex. The prose is very inviting and well written.
So, now on to the cons. With such potential for the great cast of characters, the character interactions and dialogue were very minor. The author goes to great lengths to “tell” the story of the characters, but the POV of the characters themselves are utilized sparingly, although there are exceptions. I’m a very character driven reader, and so I prefer to be “showed” how my characters got where they are. At times it felt like reading a history lesson, although it was an interesting history lesson to read. There were also a few instances of grammatical error, which can happen, and is understandable. Since this is an ARC, some of those may be fixed in the final copy. There were several words used, however, that were not part of the vernacular of the time in history that the story was portraying, so that took me out of the story a bit.
Overall, despite some of the cons mentioned, I thought the author did a good job for a debut novel.
This is a book based around the histories of St. George (of dragon slayer fame), and Arthurian legend. Arthur has a minor cameo, at least in this first book, and Merlin does as well. George is one of the major players.
So let’s start with what I liked. This book promises a dragon, and it delivers. This is a world grounded in a reality that assumes dragons to be myths, but instead they exist. Or one does at least, and he is a terror. An amazing terror. While you do have the typical drakonic tropes, like maiden servants and hoarding gold, that is where the similarities end. This dragon has a pretty awesome origin backstory, and is the focus of a cult of worshippers, and I loved that take. There is magic as well, and while it’s very minimal as far as magic is concerned, it does play an interesting part in the story. There’s about as much magic use as you would expect from a George R. R. Martin novel; very little but important. I really enjoyed some of the characters too, especially Sabra and George. It’s a quick read as well, and the writing isn’t overly complex. The prose is very inviting and well written.
So, now on to the cons. With such potential for the great cast of characters, the character interactions and dialogue were very minor. The author goes to great lengths to “tell” the story of the characters, but the POV of the characters themselves are utilized sparingly, although there are exceptions. I’m a very character driven reader, and so I prefer to be “showed” how my characters got where they are. At times it felt like reading a history lesson, although it was an interesting history lesson to read. There were also a few instances of grammatical error, which can happen, and is understandable. Since this is an ARC, some of those may be fixed in the final copy. There were several words used, however, that were not part of the vernacular of the time in history that the story was portraying, so that took me out of the story a bit.
Overall, despite some of the cons mentioned, I thought the author did a good job for a debut novel.
September 20, 2022
I'm obviously an outlier with my review of Gurzil but other than some interesting factual tidbits about ancient historical figures the book is a mis-mash of unreadable, and thinly cohesive, semi-tales that make very little sense . The result, in my experience at least, was a soporific reading experience that was painful to undergo. Although I usually find something in most books to keep my attention or pique my interest I had to force myself to continue to the end.
I rarely review books I've read unless they're exceptionally worthwhile -- this read was so bad that I felt I had to share my thoughts.
If you read this I sincerely hope that your experience is better than mine.
I rarely review books I've read unless they're exceptionally worthwhile -- this read was so bad that I felt I had to share my thoughts.
If you read this I sincerely hope that your experience is better than mine.
March 27, 2022
This book was sent to me bu the author for a review
Honestly I loved this read. Really my only complaint is that it is not long enough. Gods, dragons, priests, mysticism, myth, magic and legends all wrapped up in a mid evil historical england setting.
Well paced and entertaining read that I really enjoyed from start to finish.
At no point did I find myself bored, as it kept my interest all the way through.
My personal fav character is Morgana and of course Gurzil. This the the 1st book in a series and and I am lookong forward to the next book.
Honestly I loved this read. Really my only complaint is that it is not long enough. Gods, dragons, priests, mysticism, myth, magic and legends all wrapped up in a mid evil historical england setting.
Well paced and entertaining read that I really enjoyed from start to finish.
At no point did I find myself bored, as it kept my interest all the way through.
My personal fav character is Morgana and of course Gurzil. This the the 1st book in a series and and I am lookong forward to the next book.
February 13, 2023
I received a paperback and audiobook code from the author in return for an honest review.
Gurzil started out good, I was hooked and ready for more. However the prose, chapters and POV felt too rushed. It was hard to get to know any one of the characters enough to care about them. While I appreciated the short chapters, I needed more in each chapter to get a grasp of what was going on.
Gurzil the dragon to me seemed like a cookie cutter villain - evil for the sake of being evil. In conversation with the author, his background is a slow drawn out process and will be stretched throughout the 9 books. But to me, without any of that in the first book, he wasn't that scary.
The audiobook made this reading experience unenjoyable. The Narrator's voice for females was that of a comedian mocking women. It was offensive and put me off listening to anything he narrates again. He also included weird laughs where the text didn't call for them. And had random pauses in places that made no sense.
Gurzil started out good, I was hooked and ready for more. However the prose, chapters and POV felt too rushed. It was hard to get to know any one of the characters enough to care about them. While I appreciated the short chapters, I needed more in each chapter to get a grasp of what was going on.
Gurzil the dragon to me seemed like a cookie cutter villain - evil for the sake of being evil. In conversation with the author, his background is a slow drawn out process and will be stretched throughout the 9 books. But to me, without any of that in the first book, he wasn't that scary.
The audiobook made this reading experience unenjoyable. The Narrator's voice for females was that of a comedian mocking women. It was offensive and put me off listening to anything he narrates again. He also included weird laughs where the text didn't call for them. And had random pauses in places that made no sense.
Read
February 16, 2024A great pick if you're looking for a creative legend with rich historical context.
I've honestly never read a fantasy book with this much history pulled into it, and was impressed with the attention to detail and research I know the author must have put in to show us his world and the various cultural backdrops for our characters. There was also a lot of great humor injected into the dialogue that I really enjoyed as well. I really enjoyed Princess Sabra especially- she's got a great spirit.
It definitely gave me Game of Thrones vibes with the differing POVs occurring from vast distances, and could see that they were all threads in a bigger overarching story. There is a lot of groundwork laid in this book that I'm excited to see how it unfolds in its sequel, Badon Hill.
I've honestly never read a fantasy book with this much history pulled into it, and was impressed with the attention to detail and research I know the author must have put in to show us his world and the various cultural backdrops for our characters. There was also a lot of great humor injected into the dialogue that I really enjoyed as well. I really enjoyed Princess Sabra especially- she's got a great spirit.
It definitely gave me Game of Thrones vibes with the differing POVs occurring from vast distances, and could see that they were all threads in a bigger overarching story. There is a lot of groundwork laid in this book that I'm excited to see how it unfolds in its sequel, Badon Hill.
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