What do you think?
Rate this book
Tragedy of Cedain #1
The Trials of Ashmount
Cedain is destined to collapse.
Across a world rife with blood, betrayal, and brutality, five people wade through unexpected tragedies.
An egotistical student, a fleeing refugee, a nomadic warrior, a fallen noble, and a criminal in hiding navigate the sinister dealings of politicians, two sudden wars, and nefarious lies that surface at Ashmount—a university dedicated to teaching the five branches of magic.
Survival means adapting or dying.
Across a world rife with blood, betrayal, and brutality, five people wade through unexpected tragedies.
An egotistical student, a fleeing refugee, a nomadic warrior, a fallen noble, and a criminal in hiding navigate the sinister dealings of politicians, two sudden wars, and nefarious lies that surface at Ashmount—a university dedicated to teaching the five branches of magic.
Survival means adapting or dying.
560 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2022
114 people are currently reading
2147 people want to read
About the author
John Palladino
3 books132 followersYou’ve stumbled upon somebody who takes nothing seriously, not even author bios. It’d be a good guess to say John Palladino was born in 1988, lives in Avoca, New York, has a bachelor’s degree in business management, and enjoys hibernating at home while writing. He might also lie and say he enjoys pets, long walks on the beach, and his hobbies include happiness and scuba diving. You’d see right through those lies, however, and notice he prefers the simpler things in life—reading, video games, and making ill-timed jokes. John also dislikes taking care of anything that excretes substances.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
August 25, 2024
My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.
The Trials of Ashmount is the debut grimdark fantasy from John Palladino and the first volume in his Tragedy of Cedain series. In creating this complex world, brimming with nefarious characters, political backstabbing, and personal deceit, the author proves himself to be a promising new voice in grimdark fiction.
Palladino’s worldbuilding is ambitious in scope and accomplished in execution. Cedain encompasses three continents with five different countries. The author pays keen attention to each land’s unique politics, economy, and culture, as driven by their varying geography and religion. The worldbuilding in The Trials of Ashmount occurs naturally through the various point-of-view characters hailing from each of those lands. None of the exposition feels forced and, with one exception, the author mercifully spares us any extended info dumps.
The Trials of Ashmount introduces a hard magic system with five branches: Enforcer, Glyphist, Collector, Healer, and Examiner. An intriguing aspect of Palladino’s magic system is the interdependence of these five branches. The practitioners of magic, the so-called Magicai, are centered at the University of Arcanical Arts, located adjacent to the great Ashmount volcano. New prospective Magicai must pass the Trials of Ashmount to receive formal training. Despite the nominally hard magic system, there is a soft element as well, predominantly coming from the Camel Clans of Vessia, who appear to have discovered a new form of magic outside the known branches at the University.
The Trials of Ashmount is primarily told from five point-of-view characters spanning the full world of Cedain. My favorite character is Demri Slarn, a sadistic rogue Magicus fixated on revenge against a former classmate and one of the most gleefully grimdark characters of the book. Demri is the Sand dan Glokta of the novel. Like Joe Abercrombie’s infamous character from The Blade Itself, Demri suffered grave injuries earlier in life and now lives in constant physical and emotional pain. Demri initially appears to be entirely villainous, but as we learn more about his background and motivation for revenge, he becomes a complex and even sympathetic figure.
My second favorite character is Kelden Stoole, the son of a baker who believes he is destined to escape his small-town life and become a powerful Magicus at the University of Arcanical Arts. Kelden travels to the University and dutifully follows their archaic and seemingly arbitrary rules to earn admission. His natural curiosity leads Kelden to discover some of the Magicai’s carefully guarded secrets.
Edelbrock Brendis is a fascinating point-of-view character, a minor nobleman who tries to scheme his way to greater fortune through a combination of lies, adultery, and murder. But the tables are turned on him rather quickly as he discovers a greater scheme at play. Although Edelbrock spends most of the novel as a rather shallow, pathetic figure, near the end he is given a fair amount of depth that helps earn sympathy.
I didn’t connect quite as well with the remaining two point-of-view characters. Sera Wintlock is an ordinary girl from the northern bird-farming continent of Cyrok who finds herself as an unlikely hero when her village is slaughtered during a surprise attack from the south. Sera suffers a lot during her plotline, but I don’t feel like the emotional trauma was fully conveyed. Finally, Villic is a nomadic warrior from the Camel Clans who hopes to leverage newfound magic to empower his people. Unfortunately, I never really connected with Villic as a character.
One of the joys of reading The Trials of Ashmount is seeing how the diverse storylines eventually intersect. This requires patience, since the connections don’t become apparent until the second half of the novel.
The plot is fast-paced and carefully constructed, full of unexpected twists, some of which left my mouth agape. My only criticism regarding the plot is that some of the major decisions occur too abruptly (for example, the discussions leading to war).
Palladino’s writing is straightforward and unadorned, with just the right level of snark to keep readers laughing but without becoming a parody of itself. Palladino has done an admirable job finding a balance between serious storytelling and irreverent commentary. Still, I was hoping that the prose could reach greater heights of eloquence, which would have helped deepen the emotional impact of many scenes and strengthen the reader’s personal connection to the characters. The characters suffer a multitude of tragedies throughout The Trials of Ashmount, and I feel that the impact of these situations could have had greater impact by slowing down and offering some more nuanced prose.
John Palladino shows great promise with his debut novel, which is also an entrant in Mark Lawrence’s 8th Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO8). Overall, Palladino has created a compelling grimdark world that has a lot of potential for future entries in his series. With a bit more attention to developing the emotional depth of the characters, Palladino will be able to bring his craft to new heights.
The Trials of Ashmount is the debut grimdark fantasy from John Palladino and the first volume in his Tragedy of Cedain series. In creating this complex world, brimming with nefarious characters, political backstabbing, and personal deceit, the author proves himself to be a promising new voice in grimdark fiction.
Palladino’s worldbuilding is ambitious in scope and accomplished in execution. Cedain encompasses three continents with five different countries. The author pays keen attention to each land’s unique politics, economy, and culture, as driven by their varying geography and religion. The worldbuilding in The Trials of Ashmount occurs naturally through the various point-of-view characters hailing from each of those lands. None of the exposition feels forced and, with one exception, the author mercifully spares us any extended info dumps.
The Trials of Ashmount introduces a hard magic system with five branches: Enforcer, Glyphist, Collector, Healer, and Examiner. An intriguing aspect of Palladino’s magic system is the interdependence of these five branches. The practitioners of magic, the so-called Magicai, are centered at the University of Arcanical Arts, located adjacent to the great Ashmount volcano. New prospective Magicai must pass the Trials of Ashmount to receive formal training. Despite the nominally hard magic system, there is a soft element as well, predominantly coming from the Camel Clans of Vessia, who appear to have discovered a new form of magic outside the known branches at the University.
The Trials of Ashmount is primarily told from five point-of-view characters spanning the full world of Cedain. My favorite character is Demri Slarn, a sadistic rogue Magicus fixated on revenge against a former classmate and one of the most gleefully grimdark characters of the book. Demri is the Sand dan Glokta of the novel. Like Joe Abercrombie’s infamous character from The Blade Itself, Demri suffered grave injuries earlier in life and now lives in constant physical and emotional pain. Demri initially appears to be entirely villainous, but as we learn more about his background and motivation for revenge, he becomes a complex and even sympathetic figure.
My second favorite character is Kelden Stoole, the son of a baker who believes he is destined to escape his small-town life and become a powerful Magicus at the University of Arcanical Arts. Kelden travels to the University and dutifully follows their archaic and seemingly arbitrary rules to earn admission. His natural curiosity leads Kelden to discover some of the Magicai’s carefully guarded secrets.
Edelbrock Brendis is a fascinating point-of-view character, a minor nobleman who tries to scheme his way to greater fortune through a combination of lies, adultery, and murder. But the tables are turned on him rather quickly as he discovers a greater scheme at play. Although Edelbrock spends most of the novel as a rather shallow, pathetic figure, near the end he is given a fair amount of depth that helps earn sympathy.
I didn’t connect quite as well with the remaining two point-of-view characters. Sera Wintlock is an ordinary girl from the northern bird-farming continent of Cyrok who finds herself as an unlikely hero when her village is slaughtered during a surprise attack from the south. Sera suffers a lot during her plotline, but I don’t feel like the emotional trauma was fully conveyed. Finally, Villic is a nomadic warrior from the Camel Clans who hopes to leverage newfound magic to empower his people. Unfortunately, I never really connected with Villic as a character.
One of the joys of reading The Trials of Ashmount is seeing how the diverse storylines eventually intersect. This requires patience, since the connections don’t become apparent until the second half of the novel.
The plot is fast-paced and carefully constructed, full of unexpected twists, some of which left my mouth agape. My only criticism regarding the plot is that some of the major decisions occur too abruptly (for example, the discussions leading to war).
Palladino’s writing is straightforward and unadorned, with just the right level of snark to keep readers laughing but without becoming a parody of itself. Palladino has done an admirable job finding a balance between serious storytelling and irreverent commentary. Still, I was hoping that the prose could reach greater heights of eloquence, which would have helped deepen the emotional impact of many scenes and strengthen the reader’s personal connection to the characters. The characters suffer a multitude of tragedies throughout The Trials of Ashmount, and I feel that the impact of these situations could have had greater impact by slowing down and offering some more nuanced prose.
John Palladino shows great promise with his debut novel, which is also an entrant in Mark Lawrence’s 8th Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO8). Overall, Palladino has created a compelling grimdark world that has a lot of potential for future entries in his series. With a bit more attention to developing the emotional depth of the characters, Palladino will be able to bring his craft to new heights.
April 21, 2023
Fun debut fantasy story with some very entertaining concepts.
Watch my video review by clicking here.
Watch my video review by clicking here.
June 25, 2024
Watch my video review for Trials Of Ashmount
4.5/5 One of the top 4 darkest books I have read and arguably one of the best. In full disclosure, I DNF this book around 20% due to a trigger warning involving child harm. Even after all that time the book never really left me so I decided to return. I AM SO GLAD I DID.
The way the author has woven together five separate narratives and made me care for all of them is spectacular. I was engaged, riveted, and emotional. Trials of Ashmount is a great reading experience for fans of Dark Fantasy.
Darkness 5/5
Pacing 4/5
Characterization 4/5
Inventiveness 4/5
Structure 5/5
Story 4/5
Overall a 4.5/5
4.5/5 One of the top 4 darkest books I have read and arguably one of the best. In full disclosure, I DNF this book around 20% due to a trigger warning involving child harm. Even after all that time the book never really left me so I decided to return. I AM SO GLAD I DID.
The way the author has woven together five separate narratives and made me care for all of them is spectacular. I was engaged, riveted, and emotional. Trials of Ashmount is a great reading experience for fans of Dark Fantasy.
Darkness 5/5
Pacing 4/5
Characterization 4/5
Inventiveness 4/5
Structure 5/5
Story 4/5
Overall a 4.5/5
April 28, 2023
There is not one single thing I would change about this book, hence the 5 star rating. It is the most grimdarkiest grimdark that ever grimdarked. This book has become my unit of measurement going forward for when I read my next grimdark book. A few folks have mentioned comparisons of John Palladino to Joe Abercrombie. I see why, but there are also a lot of differences - not to say one did anything better or worse than the other, but in the way that they are distinguishable from each other and stand firmly in their own right.
Several reviewers I trust have reviewed this book very favorably over the last few months, so when I randomly saw a tweet from the author about being 1 sale away from 500 copies sold, I made the snap decision to be the 5ooth patron. Yes, this is literally how I came to read this book, lol. It really paid off for me because once I started this book, it was all I thought and talked about when I wasn't actively reading it.
First and most importantly - THIS IS GRIMDARK. I don't mean there's just a touch of grimdark feel about it or one morally gray character, I mean there is a group of characters' points of views we spend time with that do not flinch from their natures, whether they be good, bad or flip flop between the two depending on which the direction the wind blows. I would go so far as to say if you do not absolutely LOVE the grimdark subgenre, don't read this book. At least not yet. Make sure this is a genre you enjoy, because if you're not certain, I don't believe you would enjoy your time spent here.
My little black soul LOVED every page. I took so much joy in that I never knew what these characters would do next - would they make the "right" decision as the reader saw it? If they did, what would the motivations be? Would it be because it was right or because, like me choosing to read it, they must made the snap decision to in the moment? I was constantly off balance and I THRIVED there. It was so refreshing to see everything play out on page - the actions taken were not implied or carried out off page - if a character decided to kill, mayhaps torture without compunction - the reader watched over the character's shoulder. I will say there was nothing grotesque or out of place - there was a war ongoing, political positions snatched through schemes, so the actions to obtain position, power, revenge and wealth were completely expected from those coveting them. In other words, it made perfect sense. What history books have you read or had to learn in school didn't have murder, death and betrayal? On the other side of that coin, there were many inspiring moments from characters which also brought joy, hope and anticipation for the future chapters. (And hopefully future books set in this world!!)
The chapters move between each of the POVs of the characters we follow in this book. I want to say off the top of my head there were 4 main ones that we follow, with a couple secondary ones and I loved each perspective SO MUCH that I cannot honestly pick a favorite. Even the one that I constantly wished would die - it was still interesting and had purpose for the overall plot of the book.
The world of Cedain is in a time of change and tribulation: neighboring areas have grown greedy and war breaks out. The Magicai of Ashmount make it widely known they will pay generous sums of coins to those who come to be tested for the Trace - the ability to use magic. (Convenient that they want more magic users with war on the horizon, is it not?) We meet Kelden, a young man who decides he should travel to Ashmount to see if he has the Trace (he knows he does, of course because no one deserves it more than him) Kelden wishes to attend the University of Arcanical Arts to be an Enforcer and will stop at nothing to get what he knows is his. Seradel, a young girl from a small village known for raising gryfalcons finds herself on the run with her people, caught in the middle of a nefarious plot that leads to war. Villic of the Camel Clans is given the rare ability to use magic without being a part of the hated Magicai...except he doesn't want it. Well, he doesn't want it because of what comes with it. A man who kept to himself, enjoyed his solitude because he had trouble interacting and communicating with others, Villic becomes so much more. Demri Slarn - a criminal Magicai on the run for the last two decades, single mindedly focused on revenge, he kills without a second thought...or even a first thought, lol. What he uncovers and learns will just knock the floor out from under you.
Have I convinced you yet? If you love characters who are unabashedly true to their inner nature, whether good or bad or both - you will enjoy this book. Do you love to hate well written villains? Or do you like to champion those fighting for good? Both of these AND MORE are in this tale! If you have ever wanted a villain to win the day once in a while - you will enjoy this book. If you like a fast paced plot that is unpredictable and keeps you turning those pages - YOU WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK!
Several reviewers I trust have reviewed this book very favorably over the last few months, so when I randomly saw a tweet from the author about being 1 sale away from 500 copies sold, I made the snap decision to be the 5ooth patron. Yes, this is literally how I came to read this book, lol. It really paid off for me because once I started this book, it was all I thought and talked about when I wasn't actively reading it.
First and most importantly - THIS IS GRIMDARK. I don't mean there's just a touch of grimdark feel about it or one morally gray character, I mean there is a group of characters' points of views we spend time with that do not flinch from their natures, whether they be good, bad or flip flop between the two depending on which the direction the wind blows. I would go so far as to say if you do not absolutely LOVE the grimdark subgenre, don't read this book. At least not yet. Make sure this is a genre you enjoy, because if you're not certain, I don't believe you would enjoy your time spent here.
My little black soul LOVED every page. I took so much joy in that I never knew what these characters would do next - would they make the "right" decision as the reader saw it? If they did, what would the motivations be? Would it be because it was right or because, like me choosing to read it, they must made the snap decision to in the moment? I was constantly off balance and I THRIVED there. It was so refreshing to see everything play out on page - the actions taken were not implied or carried out off page - if a character decided to kill, mayhaps torture without compunction - the reader watched over the character's shoulder. I will say there was nothing grotesque or out of place - there was a war ongoing, political positions snatched through schemes, so the actions to obtain position, power, revenge and wealth were completely expected from those coveting them. In other words, it made perfect sense. What history books have you read or had to learn in school didn't have murder, death and betrayal? On the other side of that coin, there were many inspiring moments from characters which also brought joy, hope and anticipation for the future chapters. (And hopefully future books set in this world!!)
The chapters move between each of the POVs of the characters we follow in this book. I want to say off the top of my head there were 4 main ones that we follow, with a couple secondary ones and I loved each perspective SO MUCH that I cannot honestly pick a favorite. Even the one that I constantly wished would die - it was still interesting and had purpose for the overall plot of the book.
The world of Cedain is in a time of change and tribulation: neighboring areas have grown greedy and war breaks out. The Magicai of Ashmount make it widely known they will pay generous sums of coins to those who come to be tested for the Trace - the ability to use magic. (Convenient that they want more magic users with war on the horizon, is it not?) We meet Kelden, a young man who decides he should travel to Ashmount to see if he has the Trace (he knows he does, of course because no one deserves it more than him) Kelden wishes to attend the University of Arcanical Arts to be an Enforcer and will stop at nothing to get what he knows is his. Seradel, a young girl from a small village known for raising gryfalcons finds herself on the run with her people, caught in the middle of a nefarious plot that leads to war. Villic of the Camel Clans is given the rare ability to use magic without being a part of the hated Magicai...except he doesn't want it. Well, he doesn't want it because of what comes with it. A man who kept to himself, enjoyed his solitude because he had trouble interacting and communicating with others, Villic becomes so much more. Demri Slarn - a criminal Magicai on the run for the last two decades, single mindedly focused on revenge, he kills without a second thought...or even a first thought, lol. What he uncovers and learns will just knock the floor out from under you.
Have I convinced you yet? If you love characters who are unabashedly true to their inner nature, whether good or bad or both - you will enjoy this book. Do you love to hate well written villains? Or do you like to champion those fighting for good? Both of these AND MORE are in this tale! If you have ever wanted a villain to win the day once in a while - you will enjoy this book. If you like a fast paced plot that is unpredictable and keeps you turning those pages - YOU WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK!
May 7, 2023
4.5 stars (rounded up)
The Trials of Ashmount is the start to a new epic grimdark series called The Tragedy of Cedain. And holy shit, what a promising and exciting start this is! I mean, when the character list at the start of the book is titled ‘People Who May Die’, you know you are going to be in for a wild ride.
This story introduces us to the world of Cedain, which consists of five countries spread over three continents. And through the eyes of our five main POV characters, who are scattered all throughout these lands, we get to experience this dark and brutal world in all its glory. Things are incredibly tense from the get-go, because there are two conflicts brewing that are rapidly starting to escalate. Firstly, we have an impending war between some of these countries that is threatening the safety of anyone that gets caught up in it. And secondly, some long-kept secrets about the history and magic of this world are coming to light, which could completely destroy the current world order. Needless to say, I was captivated from page one.
The character work was definitely the main highlight of the book for me, because these characters just stole the show and every single storyline was so damn compelling.
I mean, we have a young (slightly sociopathic) boy entering a magic school, a traumatised refugee, a nomadic warrior with a mysterious voice in his head, a slightly pathetic and very opportunistic fallen noble and a stuttering criminal Magicai on the run. Yeah, that’s quite the interesting and diverse cast, don't you think? ;)
And in true grimdark fashion, these characters are not exactly what you’d call heroic or likeable. In fact, most of the people in this world are pretty messed up and make some very… questionable decisions. But that moral complexity is exactly what made them so fascinating to follow.
Also, each of these characters has a very strong personality and I often found myself very amused by their inner monologues or their interactions with other characters. It’s true that this book has quite a dark tone, but just like in Abercrombie’s works, that bleakness is counterbalanced by some really good (though admittedly dark and disturbing) humour. There were so many moments that made me chuckle, because these messed up characters are just so weirdly entertaining to follow.
Now, as is to be expected from the first book in a sprawling, epic fantasy series, there is quite a lot of set-up going on here. Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a strong overarching plot, but it takes a while for all of the separate storylines to really start weaving together. I personally really loved that these characters’ individual journeys were the main driving force of the story here, because it allowed us to dive deep into their (messed up) psyches.
And honestly, I think it really pays off to just sit back and trust the author, because everything leads up to an extremely satisfying and thrilling conclusion. It was so impressive to me to see how certain decisions made by one character could cause ripple effects throughout the entire world and impact all the other characters’ lives in some way. Palladino truly is a masterful storyteller in my opinion!
The world building is also incredibly ambitious and impressive. The author has created a fascinating world that contains a multitude of rich and diverse cultures, deep history and lore, a tense political landscape, and a well-developed yet devastating magic system. And while the prose generally isn’t anything to write home about, I do have to say that I was very impressed with how well the author managed to evoke all the different settings that we encounter in this story. I tend to struggle with visualising while reading, but because the descriptions were so effective and vivid, I was completely immersed from start to finish.
Also, if you like magic that comes at a high cost, then look no further because the magic here is destructive and deadly. This book is just absolutely brutal on so many levels and I absolutely loved that none of the characters are ever truly safe. From page one, you will be filled with tension and anticipatory dread... and it’s a bloody brilliant feeling.
All in all, I am super impressed with this ambitious debut grimdark fantasy. If you are a fan of Abercrombie or George R.R. Martin and are desperately looking for something to fill the void while waiting for new works from them, then this is the perfect book to pick up. And, dare I say it, The Trials of Ashmount is what I was hoping The First Law would have been. They have similar vibes and the same excellent character work, but here you get an actual good plot and tons more intriguing magic.
So yeah, I highly recommend checking out this book, even if you are hesitant about grimdark, because I promise you don’t want to miss out on this exciting rollercoaster of a ride. I have now read this book twice and I can say with full confidence that this belongs on my list of all-time favourite books. I can’t wait to return to this world and characters in the future, because the capital C cliffhangers left me hungering for more in the best way possible! What a brilliant story.
The Trials of Ashmount is the start to a new epic grimdark series called The Tragedy of Cedain. And holy shit, what a promising and exciting start this is! I mean, when the character list at the start of the book is titled ‘People Who May Die’, you know you are going to be in for a wild ride.
This story introduces us to the world of Cedain, which consists of five countries spread over three continents. And through the eyes of our five main POV characters, who are scattered all throughout these lands, we get to experience this dark and brutal world in all its glory. Things are incredibly tense from the get-go, because there are two conflicts brewing that are rapidly starting to escalate. Firstly, we have an impending war between some of these countries that is threatening the safety of anyone that gets caught up in it. And secondly, some long-kept secrets about the history and magic of this world are coming to light, which could completely destroy the current world order. Needless to say, I was captivated from page one.
The character work was definitely the main highlight of the book for me, because these characters just stole the show and every single storyline was so damn compelling.
I mean, we have a young (slightly sociopathic) boy entering a magic school, a traumatised refugee, a nomadic warrior with a mysterious voice in his head, a slightly pathetic and very opportunistic fallen noble and a stuttering criminal Magicai on the run. Yeah, that’s quite the interesting and diverse cast, don't you think? ;)
And in true grimdark fashion, these characters are not exactly what you’d call heroic or likeable. In fact, most of the people in this world are pretty messed up and make some very… questionable decisions. But that moral complexity is exactly what made them so fascinating to follow.
Also, each of these characters has a very strong personality and I often found myself very amused by their inner monologues or their interactions with other characters. It’s true that this book has quite a dark tone, but just like in Abercrombie’s works, that bleakness is counterbalanced by some really good (though admittedly dark and disturbing) humour. There were so many moments that made me chuckle, because these messed up characters are just so weirdly entertaining to follow.
Now, as is to be expected from the first book in a sprawling, epic fantasy series, there is quite a lot of set-up going on here. Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a strong overarching plot, but it takes a while for all of the separate storylines to really start weaving together. I personally really loved that these characters’ individual journeys were the main driving force of the story here, because it allowed us to dive deep into their (messed up) psyches.
And honestly, I think it really pays off to just sit back and trust the author, because everything leads up to an extremely satisfying and thrilling conclusion. It was so impressive to me to see how certain decisions made by one character could cause ripple effects throughout the entire world and impact all the other characters’ lives in some way. Palladino truly is a masterful storyteller in my opinion!
The world building is also incredibly ambitious and impressive. The author has created a fascinating world that contains a multitude of rich and diverse cultures, deep history and lore, a tense political landscape, and a well-developed yet devastating magic system. And while the prose generally isn’t anything to write home about, I do have to say that I was very impressed with how well the author managed to evoke all the different settings that we encounter in this story. I tend to struggle with visualising while reading, but because the descriptions were so effective and vivid, I was completely immersed from start to finish.
Also, if you like magic that comes at a high cost, then look no further because the magic here is destructive and deadly. This book is just absolutely brutal on so many levels and I absolutely loved that none of the characters are ever truly safe. From page one, you will be filled with tension and anticipatory dread... and it’s a bloody brilliant feeling.
All in all, I am super impressed with this ambitious debut grimdark fantasy. If you are a fan of Abercrombie or George R.R. Martin and are desperately looking for something to fill the void while waiting for new works from them, then this is the perfect book to pick up. And, dare I say it, The Trials of Ashmount is what I was hoping The First Law would have been. They have similar vibes and the same excellent character work, but here you get an actual good plot and tons more intriguing magic.
So yeah, I highly recommend checking out this book, even if you are hesitant about grimdark, because I promise you don’t want to miss out on this exciting rollercoaster of a ride. I have now read this book twice and I can say with full confidence that this belongs on my list of all-time favourite books. I can’t wait to return to this world and characters in the future, because the capital C cliffhangers left me hungering for more in the best way possible! What a brilliant story.
September 19, 2022
truly an amazing debut fantasy novel
A book with a map and list of characters and descriptions made me a happy reader from the start. Cedain is the name of this world with vividly depicted lands presented in this story. Although it is a grimdark book, by the end it feels like an epic fantasy. I could shiver in the cold climates and thirst in the dry, desert lands.
Also the five main characters are strong individuals. Definitely after each one’s second chapter you know who he/she is and how he/she will react in a situation. One main person, Edelbrock, has the most growth and it’s great to observe. So many people die, that you aren’t sure if the main characters are safe from the axe.
The situations of all keep changing and you can see that slowly their paths will converge together. So that you are riveted to your seat until the very end to see what will happen to each one and to where is this journey taking them.
This brings me to the action and battles. The descriptions are very realistic when there is a fight scene. Even the time with Seradal on the ship, you can imagine the rough seas and seasickness. Although very few mild moments during this book, and you must pay attention as to what’s going on, so you don’t miss a single thing. And to be honest, you don’t want to because all the five characters have unique storylines and you want to know what will occur next.
Since this is the first novel in a series, there are a few cliffhangers and I cannot wait to see how they get resolved in the next book!
A book with a map and list of characters and descriptions made me a happy reader from the start. Cedain is the name of this world with vividly depicted lands presented in this story. Although it is a grimdark book, by the end it feels like an epic fantasy. I could shiver in the cold climates and thirst in the dry, desert lands.
Also the five main characters are strong individuals. Definitely after each one’s second chapter you know who he/she is and how he/she will react in a situation. One main person, Edelbrock, has the most growth and it’s great to observe. So many people die, that you aren’t sure if the main characters are safe from the axe.
The situations of all keep changing and you can see that slowly their paths will converge together. So that you are riveted to your seat until the very end to see what will happen to each one and to where is this journey taking them.
This brings me to the action and battles. The descriptions are very realistic when there is a fight scene. Even the time with Seradal on the ship, you can imagine the rough seas and seasickness. Although very few mild moments during this book, and you must pay attention as to what’s going on, so you don’t miss a single thing. And to be honest, you don’t want to because all the five characters have unique storylines and you want to know what will occur next.
Since this is the first novel in a series, there are a few cliffhangers and I cannot wait to see how they get resolved in the next book!
October 29, 2024
The story was good and there are many ideas, characters and story arcs flying around. They will eventually come together - hopefully in book 2 but we'll see.
As someone who loves grim-dark fantasy, I did not find the book too grim. it had some dark moments though.
overall a solid debut and I will continue to find out what happens next in the series.
September 14, 2022
deliciously grimdark
The promise of Ashmount. A gamble of a better life chances its sinister trials. A dirty world of armies & self serving politicians. Within lies opportunity. Of redemption, ambition & revenge. A gritty grimdark experience! Memorable characters. So good!
The promise of Ashmount. A gamble of a better life chances its sinister trials. A dirty world of armies & self serving politicians. Within lies opportunity. Of redemption, ambition & revenge. A gritty grimdark experience! Memorable characters. So good!
February 5, 2024
Actual rating: 4.5
January 18, 2023
I was very compelled by the characters, who were all so fun to follow and had their quirks. Each of them had a very distinct voice and personality, which I really enjoyed. It really made the book for me.
I was hoping for a tighter and more satisfying ending to the book, but I’m still definitely planning to read the next instalment in the series.
It’s grimdark fantasy. If you typically enjoy the subgenre, consider giving this a try.
I was hoping for a tighter and more satisfying ending to the book, but I’m still definitely planning to read the next instalment in the series.
It’s grimdark fantasy. If you typically enjoy the subgenre, consider giving this a try.
July 30, 2022
Score: 4,5 out of 5 stars
The Trials of Ashmount is the debut grimdark novel from John Palladino, and it starts the Tragedy of Cedain series. And honestly, for me, it marks the start of a promising career, as this book distills talent on each page.
Let’s start talking about worldbuilding, and how Cedain is an extraordinarily diverse world, which is shown through the eyes of the main characters, which is a detail I really appreciate, as it avoids long info-dumping sections. The story goes over three continents and five different countries. There are several interesting locations, which we will know as long as the story progresses.
Ashmount was probably the most interesting for me. This sort of magic school is shown through the eyes of my favourite character, Kelden Stoole, the son of a baker, who starts a journey to Ashmount to get tested and see if he has magical talents. The whole process of admission, the Trials itself, gives a really dark twist to Ashmount, and also helps as an introduction to the hard-magic system that is featured in this book. There are five classes of Magicai (magic practicioners), each one with a different use: Enforcer, Glyphist, Collector, Healer, and Examiner. The interrelation and how each one depends in the other classes is a really interesting twist.
Demri Slarn is a really interesting character, and probably one that will be hated/loved in the same proportion by readers. This sadistic Magicus travels seeking vengeance against an old schoolmate, Domri, leaving a trail of violence in each place he visits. If you could define Demri by one word, it would be self-confidence. With a similar past to Joe Abercrombie’s Glotka, it suffered injuries early in life, and due to that lives in constant pain and agony. Once we learnt more about his past, this character becomes really complex and even we can feel sympathy for him.
A second magic system, a soft one is introduced with the Camel Clans and Villic, the imbuyers. It also helps us to know a different region of the world, and particularly I empathized fastly with Villic, as being a person with problems socializing and who doesn’t feel comfortable with people around, it remembers me of my childhood.
Edelbrock is also an interesting character, a noble who fastly falls in disgrace, and which serves as a way to introduce us to the Buzzard’s Bowl. He stays most of the novel as a pathetic character, but who has one of the best redemption arcs in the whole plot.
Sadly, I think the subplot that I connected less with was the Sera Wintlock one. Despite starting really promising, and all the gyrfalcon stuff and how the city works, it is fastly stopped into a war plot, and Sera just became an archetypal hero. Still, I think the Falcon Knights are interesting, and the whole subplot of the city escape is really good, just I couldn’t get to Sera.
Plot in general is fast-paced, only slowing a bit during interludes, which I think it’s the function they are written for. Some decisions are taken too abruptly, such as the ones leading to wars.
John Palladino really nailed his debut into fantasy, and honestly, I can’t wait to read the second novel of Tragedy of Cedain. A really promising voice in the fantasy field, and a book that I recommend for any grimdark enjoyer, and even for people who likes extensive worlds and charismatic characters.
The Trials of Ashmount is the debut grimdark novel from John Palladino, and it starts the Tragedy of Cedain series. And honestly, for me, it marks the start of a promising career, as this book distills talent on each page.
Let’s start talking about worldbuilding, and how Cedain is an extraordinarily diverse world, which is shown through the eyes of the main characters, which is a detail I really appreciate, as it avoids long info-dumping sections. The story goes over three continents and five different countries. There are several interesting locations, which we will know as long as the story progresses.
Ashmount was probably the most interesting for me. This sort of magic school is shown through the eyes of my favourite character, Kelden Stoole, the son of a baker, who starts a journey to Ashmount to get tested and see if he has magical talents. The whole process of admission, the Trials itself, gives a really dark twist to Ashmount, and also helps as an introduction to the hard-magic system that is featured in this book. There are five classes of Magicai (magic practicioners), each one with a different use: Enforcer, Glyphist, Collector, Healer, and Examiner. The interrelation and how each one depends in the other classes is a really interesting twist.
Demri Slarn is a really interesting character, and probably one that will be hated/loved in the same proportion by readers. This sadistic Magicus travels seeking vengeance against an old schoolmate, Domri, leaving a trail of violence in each place he visits. If you could define Demri by one word, it would be self-confidence. With a similar past to Joe Abercrombie’s Glotka, it suffered injuries early in life, and due to that lives in constant pain and agony. Once we learnt more about his past, this character becomes really complex and even we can feel sympathy for him.
A second magic system, a soft one is introduced with the Camel Clans and Villic, the imbuyers. It also helps us to know a different region of the world, and particularly I empathized fastly with Villic, as being a person with problems socializing and who doesn’t feel comfortable with people around, it remembers me of my childhood.
Edelbrock is also an interesting character, a noble who fastly falls in disgrace, and which serves as a way to introduce us to the Buzzard’s Bowl. He stays most of the novel as a pathetic character, but who has one of the best redemption arcs in the whole plot.
Sadly, I think the subplot that I connected less with was the Sera Wintlock one. Despite starting really promising, and all the gyrfalcon stuff and how the city works, it is fastly stopped into a war plot, and Sera just became an archetypal hero. Still, I think the Falcon Knights are interesting, and the whole subplot of the city escape is really good, just I couldn’t get to Sera.
Plot in general is fast-paced, only slowing a bit during interludes, which I think it’s the function they are written for. Some decisions are taken too abruptly, such as the ones leading to wars.
John Palladino really nailed his debut into fantasy, and honestly, I can’t wait to read the second novel of Tragedy of Cedain. A really promising voice in the fantasy field, and a book that I recommend for any grimdark enjoyer, and even for people who likes extensive worlds and charismatic characters.
July 21, 2022
I have been reading many books produced by debut authors in recent days, and I am happy that I came across this thought-provoking one. “The Trials of Ashmount” is the first book in “Tragedy of Cedain Series” written by John Palladino. The most interesting part of this series is the basic set-up of the story which is unlikely different from any other fantasy book. While most fantasy books are about fighting the bad guys, restoring order to a kingdom, returning a rightful heir to the throne, or getting back to the good old days by defeating some dark power that threatens to unbalance society. “The Trials of Ashmount” has lots more to offer which would keep the reader hooked till the last page and makes him want for more.
This first book of the series introduces us to the beautiful world full of magic and the 5 main characters Edelbrock, Villic, Sera, Demri and Kelden. These young lads are on different paths in life but are destined to join together to fight against unsatisfied desire, egotism and a magic system that puts most of the people in the world into real danger. John has introduced a wide range of characters and detailed descriptions of the places where the story is based at. Initially, I had to look at the map and the cast of characters labelled as “People Who May Die, several times and later I got so comfortable as I memorised both. One of the most distinctive parts of this novel is that the narration is done from a different point of view which makes the reading very interesting.
After completing the novel, I can't quite see where else it might go except far away from the characters I've just enjoyed. I can’t wait how the story moves further and I am waiting to get hold of the next book in the series. I've been fortunate to read many fantastic novels recently, and this one stands tall and proud among them.
This first book of the series introduces us to the beautiful world full of magic and the 5 main characters Edelbrock, Villic, Sera, Demri and Kelden. These young lads are on different paths in life but are destined to join together to fight against unsatisfied desire, egotism and a magic system that puts most of the people in the world into real danger. John has introduced a wide range of characters and detailed descriptions of the places where the story is based at. Initially, I had to look at the map and the cast of characters labelled as “People Who May Die, several times and later I got so comfortable as I memorised both. One of the most distinctive parts of this novel is that the narration is done from a different point of view which makes the reading very interesting.
After completing the novel, I can't quite see where else it might go except far away from the characters I've just enjoyed. I can’t wait how the story moves further and I am waiting to get hold of the next book in the series. I've been fortunate to read many fantastic novels recently, and this one stands tall and proud among them.
October 21, 2022
The first thing I have to say is that this did not feel like an almost 600 page book at all. It’s extremely fast paced and alternates between five different major points of view that keep things fresh and moving right along at all times. There are also ‘interlude’ chapters that give insights from side characters. Each viewpoint is wildly different too so the book truly never gets dull.
Keeping on about the story: it’s definitely a dark fantasy. I was having thoughts about true grimdark vs. horror-shock elements, of which the author employs a bit of both. To avoid spoilers I won’t discuss anything specific but there is a lot of violent death of both children and adults, sometimes in vast quantities. I wouldn’t get too attached to anyone if I were a reader, as evidenced by the list of characters page which is bluntly and hilariously titled “people who may die”. From start to finish the book was rather hard to put down .
There is a lot to like in the different storylines, despite not exactly liking any of the characters. Some I certainly respected more than others and it was fun to learn their backstories and see their various forms of resilience despite their worlds falling apart in blood and mayhem. There are big spells, game like trials, a gladiator type storyline, a warrior, a new knight, wars developing, political alliances and intrigue, just to scratch the surface. It was also interesting to see the various storylines start to weave together by the end. None were fully intersected yet but he has the story well and truly set up for the sequel now! I think the book has something for almost every fantasy fan as long as they can stomach the dark parts.
My favorite aspect was probably the world build. For such drastically different storylines and climates and with so much going on, the author managed to create wildly different but fully realized regions as well as local flavors. Whether it’s a school set up on a volcano, a small village where falcons are raised, kids fishing without bait, or desert clans, it’s all there and pretty well realized in both climate and local flavour, as well as regional issues and larger political inner-connectedness. I love when setting affects the book and here it does in almost every climate, making things feel more real. There’s a lot of history too that ties into current mysteries and conflicts without bogging the story down.
Not that the book was ever slow, but holy cow the ending few chapters!!! I just can’t wait for book two to be released! I’ve got to know where all these threads are leading. This is a fast read with a bit too much repetition and simplicity at times to come in at a full five stars for me, but despite that I immensely enjoyed the read and would recommend it to any dark fantasy fan!
Stay tuned on October 30th for my book tour stop and author interview!
Keeping on about the story: it’s definitely a dark fantasy. I was having thoughts about true grimdark vs. horror-shock elements, of which the author employs a bit of both. To avoid spoilers I won’t discuss anything specific but there is a lot of violent death of both children and adults, sometimes in vast quantities. I wouldn’t get too attached to anyone if I were a reader, as evidenced by the list of characters page which is bluntly and hilariously titled “people who may die”. From start to finish the book was rather hard to put down .
There is a lot to like in the different storylines, despite not exactly liking any of the characters. Some I certainly respected more than others and it was fun to learn their backstories and see their various forms of resilience despite their worlds falling apart in blood and mayhem. There are big spells, game like trials, a gladiator type storyline, a warrior, a new knight, wars developing, political alliances and intrigue, just to scratch the surface. It was also interesting to see the various storylines start to weave together by the end. None were fully intersected yet but he has the story well and truly set up for the sequel now! I think the book has something for almost every fantasy fan as long as they can stomach the dark parts.
My favorite aspect was probably the world build. For such drastically different storylines and climates and with so much going on, the author managed to create wildly different but fully realized regions as well as local flavors. Whether it’s a school set up on a volcano, a small village where falcons are raised, kids fishing without bait, or desert clans, it’s all there and pretty well realized in both climate and local flavour, as well as regional issues and larger political inner-connectedness. I love when setting affects the book and here it does in almost every climate, making things feel more real. There’s a lot of history too that ties into current mysteries and conflicts without bogging the story down.
Not that the book was ever slow, but holy cow the ending few chapters!!! I just can’t wait for book two to be released! I’ve got to know where all these threads are leading. This is a fast read with a bit too much repetition and simplicity at times to come in at a full five stars for me, but despite that I immensely enjoyed the read and would recommend it to any dark fantasy fan!
Stay tuned on October 30th for my book tour stop and author interview!
August 17, 2022
(4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up)
Grimdark fantasy is a curious label. No one really agrees on what constitutes it – is it a brutal world? Amoral characters? Unhappy ending? Lots of death? All of the above? Some authors get labelled it and deny it, others happily embrace the label themselves.
One of the second kind is new fantasy kid on the block John Palladino, whose debut novel the Trials of Ashmount, the first in a trilogy, is a self-described grimdark fantasy in the style of Joe Abercrombie (grim but witty, essentially). If you’re wondering how much Palladino is leaning into the death count side of grimdark, then allow me to inform you that his list of characters at the front is headed “People who may die”.
With such a witty aside it’s hard to tell if the vast body count that follows is tongue-in-cheek or warranted, but I have a lot of time for grimdark and I have a lot of time for this book, not just for the entertaining variety of deaths in it but because it is, frankly, a brilliant debut which combines astute worldbuilding, pacy, addictive storytelling and, as we’ll see later, a frankly superb magic system which could elevate this trilogy to potentially great fantasy heights.
The setting is the world of Cedain, which is five countries spread over three continents. These are fairly standard epic fantasy environs: a cold north, a desert south, and some prosperous fertile middlelands which are an interesting mix of medieval and roman influences. Palladino does a good job of quickly making these lands comes alive; I was particularly intrigued by Cyrok, the North, who build their military around bird references (the vultures, the hawks, the falcons, etc.)
The plot essentially centres around two classic themes: the build up of war and (the corruption of) magic. The central country Calrym is agitating for war against its northern and eastern neighbours, while desert clans threaten from the South. Meanwhile in the East we have the University of Ashmount, a sort of incredibly dangerous Hogwarts which exists in a protective bubble next to a volcano. Here the magic professors dictate which of the students have “the trace” (ability to do magic) and then, after a series of frankly sadistic tests, some of them are inducted into the university. However, it becomes increasingly clear that the university might have its own corrupt agenda.
Into this world of war and magic we follow five POVS of characters spread across the five countries. The classic question of equally spaced multiple POVs is do they all work? And mostly here the answer is yes. Demri Slarn is an immediate standout; a powerful and morally dubious magicus who is also crippled and on a brutal revenge quest to find the one responsible. His quest is confusing at first, but once I discovered his fantastic backstory, he quickly became the stand out for me. Kelden Stoole is another satisfying POV; a student at the aforementioned university, he must get through a series of insane dangerous trials to be accepted wherein Palladino gets to rack up his body count to enjoyably obscene levels. Not all the POVs worked for me – the desert nomad’s storyline has a lot of promise but never really got going – but overall the general consistency of them meant I was never annoyed to move on to another character, a sure-fire sign of a strong story.
Speaking of story, this is a clear, simple, vanilla writing style that is about story over florid prose, and in this sense it reminded me of recent (and stunningly good) indie fantasy Illborn. The story never stops; that’s not to say there aren’t effective descriptions where there need to be, but this is a fantasy comfortable in breakneck pace and story over style, and when the story is this great I am completely fine with that. Palladino has a talent for making you engrossed in his world, and I found myself absolutely addicted at every twist and turn (and boy are there some great twists to be found here).
But let’s move on to the biggest selling point of this book, that magic system. And what a magic system. There are so many of these in epic fantasy these days that it’s tough to really make a standout one. But with this, Palladino hits the target and then brutally eviscerates said target. If you want to go in completely blind, then skip the paragraph to come and simply be assured it is amazing; but otherwise…
There are five kinds of magic. The essential genius is, first, the brutal nature of several of these kinds. An enforcer is the brute magic type, who has access to power thanks to soul glyphs inscribed on his body. Only problem? As the name suggests, using these glyphs ages the wearer unnaturally. Use too many and you’ll be old before your years. Then there’s the healers, who get it even worse; they heal people but the worse the wound the more they age, and a life-saving healing can age them decades. It's such a gloriously brutal system that creates so many dilemmas and moral choices that Palladino exploits to the max. The second genius idea is the interlinked nature of the magic types. Collectors can take magic out of people (killing them in the process) offering an intriguing alternative for enforcers rather than using their own body – but it’s a pricy market economy as you can imagine. The glyphists are the ones who inscribe the soul glyphs on enforcers – they have no power themselves but they offer the gift of power and thus can make a fortune. With this magic system Palladino deserves all the attention and praise I hope he’ll receive.
Not everything works, however. What is so far missing from this debut is the kind of standout, strong character that fans can rave about. Palladino himself references Joe Abercrombie as an influence, so it’s appropriate to say there’s as yet no applause-worthy character like Abercrombie fan-favourite Sand dan Glokta (although Demi Slarm comes closest, not least because they share a lot of characteristics). There is sometimes a feeling that the excellent storyline is going on around characters who don’t feel that deeply developed and are following standard character tropes (revenge, desire for power, protecting family etc.)
However, this wasn’t a major problem for me as this is only the first book of the trilogy and there’s plenty of time for this to be addressed and there is certainly enough potential for some of these characters to grow. Frankly I’ve never read a debut fantasy trilogy that doesn’t leap forward in bounds as it goes on due to the author growing in confidence, and so I fully expect given how much I enjoyed this novel that some of these characters will come into their own as the trilogy goes on. If they survive it, that is.
Overall, this debt offers that great feeling as a fantasy reader: seeing a new author come up with a great new world and finding yourself absolutely engrossed in it. I was seriously addicted to this book and the fast-paced rollicking, blood-soaked story. Palladino deserves major success for the barnstormingly creative magic system alone, but he’s got a cracking world and storyline to boot and I for one am firmly on board this corpse-strewn journey wherever it may be headed.
Grimdark fantasy is a curious label. No one really agrees on what constitutes it – is it a brutal world? Amoral characters? Unhappy ending? Lots of death? All of the above? Some authors get labelled it and deny it, others happily embrace the label themselves.
One of the second kind is new fantasy kid on the block John Palladino, whose debut novel the Trials of Ashmount, the first in a trilogy, is a self-described grimdark fantasy in the style of Joe Abercrombie (grim but witty, essentially). If you’re wondering how much Palladino is leaning into the death count side of grimdark, then allow me to inform you that his list of characters at the front is headed “People who may die”.
With such a witty aside it’s hard to tell if the vast body count that follows is tongue-in-cheek or warranted, but I have a lot of time for grimdark and I have a lot of time for this book, not just for the entertaining variety of deaths in it but because it is, frankly, a brilliant debut which combines astute worldbuilding, pacy, addictive storytelling and, as we’ll see later, a frankly superb magic system which could elevate this trilogy to potentially great fantasy heights.
The setting is the world of Cedain, which is five countries spread over three continents. These are fairly standard epic fantasy environs: a cold north, a desert south, and some prosperous fertile middlelands which are an interesting mix of medieval and roman influences. Palladino does a good job of quickly making these lands comes alive; I was particularly intrigued by Cyrok, the North, who build their military around bird references (the vultures, the hawks, the falcons, etc.)
The plot essentially centres around two classic themes: the build up of war and (the corruption of) magic. The central country Calrym is agitating for war against its northern and eastern neighbours, while desert clans threaten from the South. Meanwhile in the East we have the University of Ashmount, a sort of incredibly dangerous Hogwarts which exists in a protective bubble next to a volcano. Here the magic professors dictate which of the students have “the trace” (ability to do magic) and then, after a series of frankly sadistic tests, some of them are inducted into the university. However, it becomes increasingly clear that the university might have its own corrupt agenda.
Into this world of war and magic we follow five POVS of characters spread across the five countries. The classic question of equally spaced multiple POVs is do they all work? And mostly here the answer is yes. Demri Slarn is an immediate standout; a powerful and morally dubious magicus who is also crippled and on a brutal revenge quest to find the one responsible. His quest is confusing at first, but once I discovered his fantastic backstory, he quickly became the stand out for me. Kelden Stoole is another satisfying POV; a student at the aforementioned university, he must get through a series of insane dangerous trials to be accepted wherein Palladino gets to rack up his body count to enjoyably obscene levels. Not all the POVs worked for me – the desert nomad’s storyline has a lot of promise but never really got going – but overall the general consistency of them meant I was never annoyed to move on to another character, a sure-fire sign of a strong story.
Speaking of story, this is a clear, simple, vanilla writing style that is about story over florid prose, and in this sense it reminded me of recent (and stunningly good) indie fantasy Illborn. The story never stops; that’s not to say there aren’t effective descriptions where there need to be, but this is a fantasy comfortable in breakneck pace and story over style, and when the story is this great I am completely fine with that. Palladino has a talent for making you engrossed in his world, and I found myself absolutely addicted at every twist and turn (and boy are there some great twists to be found here).
But let’s move on to the biggest selling point of this book, that magic system. And what a magic system. There are so many of these in epic fantasy these days that it’s tough to really make a standout one. But with this, Palladino hits the target and then brutally eviscerates said target. If you want to go in completely blind, then skip the paragraph to come and simply be assured it is amazing; but otherwise…
There are five kinds of magic. The essential genius is, first, the brutal nature of several of these kinds. An enforcer is the brute magic type, who has access to power thanks to soul glyphs inscribed on his body. Only problem? As the name suggests, using these glyphs ages the wearer unnaturally. Use too many and you’ll be old before your years. Then there’s the healers, who get it even worse; they heal people but the worse the wound the more they age, and a life-saving healing can age them decades. It's such a gloriously brutal system that creates so many dilemmas and moral choices that Palladino exploits to the max. The second genius idea is the interlinked nature of the magic types. Collectors can take magic out of people (killing them in the process) offering an intriguing alternative for enforcers rather than using their own body – but it’s a pricy market economy as you can imagine. The glyphists are the ones who inscribe the soul glyphs on enforcers – they have no power themselves but they offer the gift of power and thus can make a fortune. With this magic system Palladino deserves all the attention and praise I hope he’ll receive.
Not everything works, however. What is so far missing from this debut is the kind of standout, strong character that fans can rave about. Palladino himself references Joe Abercrombie as an influence, so it’s appropriate to say there’s as yet no applause-worthy character like Abercrombie fan-favourite Sand dan Glokta (although Demi Slarm comes closest, not least because they share a lot of characteristics). There is sometimes a feeling that the excellent storyline is going on around characters who don’t feel that deeply developed and are following standard character tropes (revenge, desire for power, protecting family etc.)
However, this wasn’t a major problem for me as this is only the first book of the trilogy and there’s plenty of time for this to be addressed and there is certainly enough potential for some of these characters to grow. Frankly I’ve never read a debut fantasy trilogy that doesn’t leap forward in bounds as it goes on due to the author growing in confidence, and so I fully expect given how much I enjoyed this novel that some of these characters will come into their own as the trilogy goes on. If they survive it, that is.
Overall, this debt offers that great feeling as a fantasy reader: seeing a new author come up with a great new world and finding yourself absolutely engrossed in it. I was seriously addicted to this book and the fast-paced rollicking, blood-soaked story. Palladino deserves major success for the barnstormingly creative magic system alone, but he’s got a cracking world and storyline to boot and I for one am firmly on board this corpse-strewn journey wherever it may be headed.
October 28, 2022
Not a bad effort, but throws together a lot of elements without really grounding them in anything or bringing them to life. We're also squarely in the dark and gritty style of fantasy, which means that awful things abound on every page. Some of these are interesting, like a magical university lying to its students to control them, and the lengths to which they will go to maintain said control; others veer towards the comically cartoon-villainous, like a nobleman throwing a baby over a balcony. What's missing from a lot of the horrific occurances is backing- why are these things happening? What drove these characters to such lengths of villainy? What point is being made when it happens? The vast majority of the time these reasons are nowhere to be found, and as such it turns into One Bloody Thing After Another. It's tedious, its gratuitous, and its often unpleasant.
The world presented here is expansive but not always well-fleshed out. We see a continent that feels like it only has two places on it; we get a war that is launched for apparently no reason; names thrown at us but with no thought to the context in which these names sit. In both the worldbuilding and characterisation I wished that we had a smaller, tighter focus; the attempt at epic ultimately leaves the whole thing feeling hollow. We jump between five different POV characters, which only tangentially connect- although this is the first book in a planned series so presumably they'll come together at some point. The characters are across the board unsympathetic, and show varying degrees of characterisation. Traits are not always consistent, with the only really constant seeming to be selfishness, otherwise the characters seem to act however is necessary for the plot. The most interesting character was a simple-minded nomad who suddenly gains mystic powers- these sections I thought were the more interesting of the book, with the odd-couple voices in their head and experimenting with the new powers and what they meant. Unfortunately this was wildly outnumbered by the scences of other characters being buffeted from unpleasant event to unpleasant event with little to no agency.
In a lot of ways it feels like a watered-down Game of Thrones or First Law; there are all the requisite elements that make such a series interesting, but what's lacking is an understanding of what makes those elements interesting. We've got a bickering royal council, we've got multiple viewpoints, we've got a world-wide scale. But we don't know why the council is bickering, we don't get the context for the viewpoints or any explanation of how they relate, and we don't get real sense of the wider world as it's just not fleshed out enough. There are some nuggets of interesting ideas buried in here, but there's just not enough cohesion or interesting exploration of them to really keep this book afloat.
Reading more like a litany of unpleasantries than a novel, I wouldn't really recommend this one unless you're really starving for fantasy content.
The world presented here is expansive but not always well-fleshed out. We see a continent that feels like it only has two places on it; we get a war that is launched for apparently no reason; names thrown at us but with no thought to the context in which these names sit. In both the worldbuilding and characterisation I wished that we had a smaller, tighter focus; the attempt at epic ultimately leaves the whole thing feeling hollow. We jump between five different POV characters, which only tangentially connect- although this is the first book in a planned series so presumably they'll come together at some point. The characters are across the board unsympathetic, and show varying degrees of characterisation. Traits are not always consistent, with the only really constant seeming to be selfishness, otherwise the characters seem to act however is necessary for the plot. The most interesting character was a simple-minded nomad who suddenly gains mystic powers- these sections I thought were the more interesting of the book, with the odd-couple voices in their head and experimenting with the new powers and what they meant. Unfortunately this was wildly outnumbered by the scences of other characters being buffeted from unpleasant event to unpleasant event with little to no agency.
In a lot of ways it feels like a watered-down Game of Thrones or First Law; there are all the requisite elements that make such a series interesting, but what's lacking is an understanding of what makes those elements interesting. We've got a bickering royal council, we've got multiple viewpoints, we've got a world-wide scale. But we don't know why the council is bickering, we don't get the context for the viewpoints or any explanation of how they relate, and we don't get real sense of the wider world as it's just not fleshed out enough. There are some nuggets of interesting ideas buried in here, but there's just not enough cohesion or interesting exploration of them to really keep this book afloat.
Reading more like a litany of unpleasantries than a novel, I wouldn't really recommend this one unless you're really starving for fantasy content.
January 12, 2023
Aaaaand DONE! I thought John's wicked sense of humour was absolutely fantastic, and made this book what it was. I had several characters who i found simply juicy and loved to read their POVs. Whilst there were some pacing and emotional/character developments issues i had, John's strong authorial voice made this a series i will continue to read! With sarah chorn editing book two, i am confident Buzzard's Bowl will take things to the next level.
Be warned folks, John is BRUTAL!
Full review soon
3.75 stars rounded up
Be warned folks, John is BRUTAL!
Full review soon
3.75 stars rounded up
June 8, 2023
I picked up this book a couple weeks ago with zero expectations, but what a great debut for this series and for John Palladino. The world building is done just the way I like it with a consistent build up of ideas, places and cultures although there are happier moments this book is dark dark. So if that’s your thing, give this book a read. Excited to read the next one when it is released!
Edit: Now that the sequel Buzzard’s Bowl has released and having read the book a second time, my review should be even more glowing. I feel like could waffle on about these books forever but I think that the best I can do is just say, read this book.
Edit: Now that the sequel Buzzard’s Bowl has released and having read the book a second time, my review should be even more glowing. I feel like could waffle on about these books forever but I think that the best I can do is just say, read this book.
Want to read
May 19, 2023DNF’ed at 50% this is so not the book for me. If you like grimdark fantasy where every POV has the most out of left field and grotesque thing happen to them to kick off their plot-line, or murderous school bullies, then here you go. 💀 On a less irate note, I do hear people say “it’s all worth it” and “everything comes together at the end” so if you want an A Song of Ice and Fire style narrative with disparate POVs that one assumes converge into some meta plot along the way, and the idea of shocking violence/acts of cruelty are your jam then give this a go.
January 10, 2024
Other than the eye catching, glorious looking cover that incases this first entry in "The Tragedy of Cedain" series from John Palladino, why should you read this book "The Trials of Ashmount"?...well my friends, because Palladino has the base story to a dark, sprawling, tense and delicious epic that will grab your very soul and (quite possibly) either traumatize you or (as in my case) ensnare your every free moment to read right from the very opening scene! (Or both) 😈
In this first book, Palladino tells his story through the PoV of 5 main characters, each on vastly different paths and scattered across the sprawling landscape of Cedain. This is one of the selling points to entice readers giving this book a go! The character depth John manages to give each of these mains is phenomenal! Each is told with so much detail, emotion, creativity and passion that we as readers, are able to seamlessly lose ourselves in each PoV change and still be fully engaged. The characters we share this adventure with are quite the mix of troubled stories that keep seeing twist after dark twist. Welcome to the Grimdark tone of this entry! A brief rundown of our companions in tragedy:
Kelden, a young male that leaves his village and family to pursue his hopes at becoming a Magicai at the prestigious "Ashmount" academy for magic. After experiencing the "trials" that must be completed to achieve his goal...is Ashmount and the Magicai all that he grew up admiring?
Seradal, a young female refugee that survives the unimaginable torment and loss of family and friends, only to be enslaved with remaining family and friends...endure terrible treatment, escape, find hope and help...just to be thrown back into more loss and pain.
Villic, (one of the more intriguing story lines)a Nomadic warrior from the clans of the desert planes. These clans are full of religious faith in their own gods and include amongst them magic that is intriguing to say the least. Villic finds himself almost at a mental war within himself in the form of a mysterious voice attempting to guide and help him with unknown powers to our warrior...but a lack of belief in his gods has him developing trust issues with this inner battle.
Demri, (one of my top two favorite PoV) a previous Magicai at Ashmount, that allows his doubts and questions into the history of the academy and the way they teach, to push him onto a path of pain, vengeance, loss and possible redemption after terrible betrayal at the hands of his peers and the very institution he gave everything too.
Edelbrock, (my personal favorite PoV) a once highly revered war general and noble that has fallen from his previous station and has been set up, imprisoned, betrayed and made to bare witness to an unimaginable traumatic event that made me take a break for a bit before continuing. 🫣
A lot to digest, yes...but that's what impressed me about this book and John's ability in storytelling, because he effortlessly weaves these characters together from such different paths, in a vast world, with so many events changing everything...and still bring everything and everyone together into a single, growing story plot, moving forward by the end of this book...that I sat back and just smiled at the creative genius.
Speaking of a vast world...the world building and environment detail was top notch! Spanning 5 continents with very different landscapes, people, beliefs and problems, we have zero trouble letting our reading imaginations build this wonderfully dark and brutal landscape in our minds. Beauty meets brutality in magical harmony.
A beautifully grim start to a new epic! If "Trials of Ashmount" show us this much promise at the start of the series to come...I am climbing over all books in my way to get into the next installment! "Buzzards Bowl" here we come! 📚🔥
In this first book, Palladino tells his story through the PoV of 5 main characters, each on vastly different paths and scattered across the sprawling landscape of Cedain. This is one of the selling points to entice readers giving this book a go! The character depth John manages to give each of these mains is phenomenal! Each is told with so much detail, emotion, creativity and passion that we as readers, are able to seamlessly lose ourselves in each PoV change and still be fully engaged. The characters we share this adventure with are quite the mix of troubled stories that keep seeing twist after dark twist. Welcome to the Grimdark tone of this entry! A brief rundown of our companions in tragedy:
Kelden, a young male that leaves his village and family to pursue his hopes at becoming a Magicai at the prestigious "Ashmount" academy for magic. After experiencing the "trials" that must be completed to achieve his goal...is Ashmount and the Magicai all that he grew up admiring?
Seradal, a young female refugee that survives the unimaginable torment and loss of family and friends, only to be enslaved with remaining family and friends...endure terrible treatment, escape, find hope and help...just to be thrown back into more loss and pain.
Villic, (one of the more intriguing story lines)a Nomadic warrior from the clans of the desert planes. These clans are full of religious faith in their own gods and include amongst them magic that is intriguing to say the least. Villic finds himself almost at a mental war within himself in the form of a mysterious voice attempting to guide and help him with unknown powers to our warrior...but a lack of belief in his gods has him developing trust issues with this inner battle.
Demri, (one of my top two favorite PoV) a previous Magicai at Ashmount, that allows his doubts and questions into the history of the academy and the way they teach, to push him onto a path of pain, vengeance, loss and possible redemption after terrible betrayal at the hands of his peers and the very institution he gave everything too.
Edelbrock, (my personal favorite PoV) a once highly revered war general and noble that has fallen from his previous station and has been set up, imprisoned, betrayed and made to bare witness to an unimaginable traumatic event that made me take a break for a bit before continuing. 🫣
A lot to digest, yes...but that's what impressed me about this book and John's ability in storytelling, because he effortlessly weaves these characters together from such different paths, in a vast world, with so many events changing everything...and still bring everything and everyone together into a single, growing story plot, moving forward by the end of this book...that I sat back and just smiled at the creative genius.
Speaking of a vast world...the world building and environment detail was top notch! Spanning 5 continents with very different landscapes, people, beliefs and problems, we have zero trouble letting our reading imaginations build this wonderfully dark and brutal landscape in our minds. Beauty meets brutality in magical harmony.
A beautifully grim start to a new epic! If "Trials of Ashmount" show us this much promise at the start of the series to come...I am climbing over all books in my way to get into the next installment! "Buzzards Bowl" here we come! 📚🔥
November 21, 2022
This book is maddening to rate. I struggled with it for the better part of today. To me, it’s the conundrum of of a first round QB in their first few seasons in the NFL. There are a lot of “wow” moments, but every so often it also (just barely) misses the mark.
Let me start by saying that I had some trepidation in reading this book. It has a “reputation” for being one many DNF, and I keep finding myself being more and more soft-hearted the older I get.
I didn’t have any issues with the content of this book, though your mileage may vary. The matter-of-fact and tongue-in-cheek manner in which the atrocities are presented make them easier to stomach, but at the same time, the characters themselves sometimes lose a step because of their utter inhumanity and often indifference.
On the other hand, the sense of scale and scope of the story is brilliant. Very few writers could juggle that so well, let alone in their debut as an indie author. I found myself swept up in foreign lands and customs, and then shortly thereafter just as enthralled by another thread in the tale in a very different location.
It’s hard to say how much of this is personal taste and how much is objective, but that’s what makes this book so strange to rate. It sinks into you and forces you to look at it as it screams, “this is what I am!”
And in many ways, its characters show us what we all are: brutish, ignorant, and just a step too slow.
To continue my football analogy: if authors were quarterbacks and my team drafted John Palladino…I would be very very excited for the future. I can see so much potential and pieces that when put together will be nothing short of unstoppable.
**my full review will be available on my website later this week with a Q+A with the author
Let me start by saying that I had some trepidation in reading this book. It has a “reputation” for being one many DNF, and I keep finding myself being more and more soft-hearted the older I get.
I didn’t have any issues with the content of this book, though your mileage may vary. The matter-of-fact and tongue-in-cheek manner in which the atrocities are presented make them easier to stomach, but at the same time, the characters themselves sometimes lose a step because of their utter inhumanity and often indifference.
On the other hand, the sense of scale and scope of the story is brilliant. Very few writers could juggle that so well, let alone in their debut as an indie author. I found myself swept up in foreign lands and customs, and then shortly thereafter just as enthralled by another thread in the tale in a very different location.
It’s hard to say how much of this is personal taste and how much is objective, but that’s what makes this book so strange to rate. It sinks into you and forces you to look at it as it screams, “this is what I am!”
And in many ways, its characters show us what we all are: brutish, ignorant, and just a step too slow.
To continue my football analogy: if authors were quarterbacks and my team drafted John Palladino…I would be very very excited for the future. I can see so much potential and pieces that when put together will be nothing short of unstoppable.
**my full review will be available on my website later this week with a Q+A with the author
October 29, 2022
The Trials of Ashmount was a fast paced grimdark spanning over three continents. The readers were treated to morally grey characters, a rich history, sinister political machinations and magic that promises to expand ever onward.
Following five characters the reader is introduced to the world of Cedain. These brutal lands are shown through the eyes of an fleeing refugee whose world has been torn apart by war. She will have to step up to the fight, or die trying. A fallen noble, his get rich quick scheme turned disastrous. Fuelled with thoughts of revenge he will fight his way through the Buzzards Bowl. A nomadic warrior, blessed with the voice of a God granting countless powers, except one that will make his human interactions more comfortable. A dangerous criminal on the run, his broken body and one tracked mind could lead to his uprising or demise, only time will tell and an ambitious student, undertaking the Trials of Ashmount themselves.
The world history is rich, the characters are complex and grow in authentic ways and the Magic is expansive promising so much more in further entries.
If Cedain is destined to collapse. I for one, cannot wait, to watch it fall.
Full reviews to come out over on Epicindie.net and my YT channel in November!
Following five characters the reader is introduced to the world of Cedain. These brutal lands are shown through the eyes of an fleeing refugee whose world has been torn apart by war. She will have to step up to the fight, or die trying. A fallen noble, his get rich quick scheme turned disastrous. Fuelled with thoughts of revenge he will fight his way through the Buzzards Bowl. A nomadic warrior, blessed with the voice of a God granting countless powers, except one that will make his human interactions more comfortable. A dangerous criminal on the run, his broken body and one tracked mind could lead to his uprising or demise, only time will tell and an ambitious student, undertaking the Trials of Ashmount themselves.
The world history is rich, the characters are complex and grow in authentic ways and the Magic is expansive promising so much more in further entries.
If Cedain is destined to collapse. I for one, cannot wait, to watch it fall.
Full reviews to come out over on Epicindie.net and my YT channel in November!
Read
July 15, 2024TW: Misogyny, torture, viscera, organs, harassment, violence, self-harm, xenophobia, queerphobia, war, violent, sexual harassment, PTSD, bad language, totalitarianism, tyrannism, imperialism, mourning, emotional blackmail, itemized and unblocked wounds, threats, racism, classism, authoritarianism, visual representation of skin effects, drug abuse, pedophilia, Slut-shaming, victim-blaming, gaslighting, sexism, slavery, cannibalism. Geooming
Fantasy for adult Readers...DEFINETELY
Emm...okay. it hurts and....I'm done forever....
I guess I'm quite messed up for myself and completely unbalanced in terms of the dose I absorb certain things and the way I process them...but that's okay...Reread He who drowned the world and probably a new one a substitute and a powerful player in terms of the breadth and scope of world building as well as the way of forming and emphasizing certain elements of world building as a portrait of the overall circumstances of experiencing it all. In addition, the way of embodying the characters' desires and pain and how it strikes certain chords and how it leaves its mark on them and reflects their stories etc... We have a candidate for the best grand fantasy of this year
Fantasy for adult Readers...DEFINETELY
Emm...okay. it hurts and....I'm done forever....
I guess I'm quite messed up for myself and completely unbalanced in terms of the dose I absorb certain things and the way I process them...but that's okay...Reread He who drowned the world and probably a new one a substitute and a powerful player in terms of the breadth and scope of world building as well as the way of forming and emphasizing certain elements of world building as a portrait of the overall circumstances of experiencing it all. In addition, the way of embodying the characters' desires and pain and how it strikes certain chords and how it leaves its mark on them and reflects their stories etc... We have a candidate for the best grand fantasy of this year
October 27, 2022
4.5 stars!!
The trials of Ashmount by John Palladino is a grimdark self-published fantasy set in the sprawling world of Cedain. It is the first book in Tragedy Of Cedain and as the title of the series suggests it has a lot of tragedy and grim dark elements in it. From the beginning to the end of the book, the author doesn't shy away from writing darker scenes. Even though this is a debut from the author, John has definitely made his mark in the genre as a writer you should be on the lookout for.
Check out the full review on my Youtube Channel.CLICK HERE
Check out author interview on my website. CLICK HERE
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL : YOUTUBE
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
The trials of Ashmount by John Palladino is a grimdark self-published fantasy set in the sprawling world of Cedain. It is the first book in Tragedy Of Cedain and as the title of the series suggests it has a lot of tragedy and grim dark elements in it. From the beginning to the end of the book, the author doesn't shy away from writing darker scenes. Even though this is a debut from the author, John has definitely made his mark in the genre as a writer you should be on the lookout for.
Check out the full review on my Youtube Channel.CLICK HERE
Check out author interview on my website. CLICK HERE
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL : YOUTUBE
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
July 29, 2022
4.25 stars rounded down.
This was a really impressive debut, and I connected with quite a few of the characters (I connected with Villic, which another reviewer said he didn't, so, I guess you win some you lose some?). It didn't quite reach the depths of death and despair that I hoped it might for a "grimdark" book, but perhaps the sequel will follow it up even stronger. I'm invested in the world, and the author does a superb job of distinguishing the different places (and it feels suitably epic for it), and we never lose sight of the human and the mundane, which I love.
This was a really impressive debut, and I connected with quite a few of the characters (I connected with Villic, which another reviewer said he didn't, so, I guess you win some you lose some?). It didn't quite reach the depths of death and despair that I hoped it might for a "grimdark" book, but perhaps the sequel will follow it up even stronger. I'm invested in the world, and the author does a superb job of distinguishing the different places (and it feels suitably epic for it), and we never lose sight of the human and the mundane, which I love.
May 11, 2023
True to his Twitter handle, John Palladino is a grim bastard. But with The Trials of Ashmount, it absolutely pays off in spades. Dark, brutal, but enthralling throughout, this is a must-read for any fan of grimdark fantasy.
Set against the backdrop of a brewing war between two nations, the story follows primarily five different POV characters (including one-offs in the interludes) of differing backgrounds: a student attempting to attend a school for the arcane arts, a refugee fleeing the brutal sacking of her hometown, a warrior with an intrusive voice in his head, a disgraced nobleman, and a serial murderer on the run. Facing dangerous and brutal circumstances throughout their individual journeys, there is no shortage of pain, death, and bloodshed every step of the way.
The expectations are set right from the beginning of the book when Palladino's roll call of characters in the book is titled "People Who May Die." It was enough to elicit a chuckle, but holy shit, he wasn't kidding. A lot of people die: friends, family, young and old and everything in between. It's both to the benefit and detriment of the story at times, because just as there are several deaths which invoke a strong emotional reaction, there are also characters who are built up initially to be a relevant side character only to be snuffed out before I had a chance to know them. It's much more often the former than the latter, and several moments absolutely shocked me (a certain balcony scene in the first quarter of the book comes to mind).
That said, it's a credit to the author's talents that, despite the heavy subject material, he knows when not to pull punches and when to scale the dread back. A common pitfall with grimdark is when an author makes it TOO grim, to the point that certain scenarios are explored in excess simply for the sake of, rather than it serving a narrative purpose. The Trials of Ashmount doesn't fall victim to this at all. It's brutal, yes, but never in an excessive or cartoonish manner. The titular Trials of Ashmount are a great example of this: whenever there is a new "enrollment" period at this academy, prospective students are subjected to an incredibly violent initiation where only a handful survive to attend the school out of potential hundreds. And this plotline in particular was one I found incredibly fascinating, because it's such a great subversion of the "magical school" trope made popular by Earthsea and Harry Potter where there's much more nefarious secrets to be uncovered that bear greater implications for the world at large.
There are a couple shortcomings here and there, like deaths sometimes coming a bit too quickly - or in more than one case there just being a fake-out death - and in some spots the pacing ground a little too slowly, but these in no way impacted my overall enjoyment of the book.
With great character work, a fascinating mystery to unravel, and an oppressive atmosphere, The Trials of Ashmount is an easy pick for any grim bastard's shelf.
Set against the backdrop of a brewing war between two nations, the story follows primarily five different POV characters (including one-offs in the interludes) of differing backgrounds: a student attempting to attend a school for the arcane arts, a refugee fleeing the brutal sacking of her hometown, a warrior with an intrusive voice in his head, a disgraced nobleman, and a serial murderer on the run. Facing dangerous and brutal circumstances throughout their individual journeys, there is no shortage of pain, death, and bloodshed every step of the way.
The expectations are set right from the beginning of the book when Palladino's roll call of characters in the book is titled "People Who May Die." It was enough to elicit a chuckle, but holy shit, he wasn't kidding. A lot of people die: friends, family, young and old and everything in between. It's both to the benefit and detriment of the story at times, because just as there are several deaths which invoke a strong emotional reaction, there are also characters who are built up initially to be a relevant side character only to be snuffed out before I had a chance to know them. It's much more often the former than the latter, and several moments absolutely shocked me (a certain balcony scene in the first quarter of the book comes to mind).
That said, it's a credit to the author's talents that, despite the heavy subject material, he knows when not to pull punches and when to scale the dread back. A common pitfall with grimdark is when an author makes it TOO grim, to the point that certain scenarios are explored in excess simply for the sake of, rather than it serving a narrative purpose. The Trials of Ashmount doesn't fall victim to this at all. It's brutal, yes, but never in an excessive or cartoonish manner. The titular Trials of Ashmount are a great example of this: whenever there is a new "enrollment" period at this academy, prospective students are subjected to an incredibly violent initiation where only a handful survive to attend the school out of potential hundreds. And this plotline in particular was one I found incredibly fascinating, because it's such a great subversion of the "magical school" trope made popular by Earthsea and Harry Potter where there's much more nefarious secrets to be uncovered that bear greater implications for the world at large.
There are a couple shortcomings here and there, like deaths sometimes coming a bit too quickly - or in more than one case there just being a fake-out death - and in some spots the pacing ground a little too slowly, but these in no way impacted my overall enjoyment of the book.
With great character work, a fascinating mystery to unravel, and an oppressive atmosphere, The Trials of Ashmount is an easy pick for any grim bastard's shelf.
November 5, 2022
There's intrigue, adventure, and high stakes here. Some characters you grow tired of, some you grow fond of, and some you just can't help but root for because their entire world crumbles around them. The magic system is well defined and engaging. The world is primed for conflict, and John Palladino doesn't disappoint.
For a debut novel, I found this to be a very enjoyable read...and the ending keeps you hooked.
The one downside was that with so many characters, a few chapters felt more like placeholders than plot points. I.E. we sometimes needed a chapter to remind us where character A or B was rather than a chapter that kept the plot tight and focused. However, John keeps the stakes and interest raised for everyone, and you'll easily churn through these slower sections.
Definitely give this book a try!
For a debut novel, I found this to be a very enjoyable read...and the ending keeps you hooked.
The one downside was that with so many characters, a few chapters felt more like placeholders than plot points. I.E. we sometimes needed a chapter to remind us where character A or B was rather than a chapter that kept the plot tight and focused. However, John keeps the stakes and interest raised for everyone, and you'll easily churn through these slower sections.
Definitely give this book a try!
August 18, 2023
While the writing style was not my favorite (short sentences and repeats itself sometimes), I very much enjoyed this. I loved reading from all our main points of views. I loved the suspense in slowly seeing the development of the war and how each story line is slowly weaving together. Highly satisfying.
Fair warning, it was NOT kidding about this being a dark fantasy.
Will definitely be picking up book2 soon!
Fair warning, it was NOT kidding about this being a dark fantasy.
Will definitely be picking up book2 soon!
September 22, 2024
35 % DNF
May 11, 2023
4.25 stars
After 2 DNF's, finally a book I was able to finish !
This was so damn dark and so damn good.
Full RTC
After 2 DNF's, finally a book I was able to finish !
This was so damn dark and so damn good.
Full RTC
May 5, 2023
Perhaps the most "grim" grimdark book I've read since my last outing with Abercrombie, what Palladino has written here is a mean, bloody, brilliant book that oozes intrigue and ruin. The characterisation is excellent - the exploration of different cultures is thorough and well-defined - the academia side of it was very intriguing, as well as the Buzzard's Bowl (I mean, who doesn't love a gladiator arena?). There was so much to this book: Demri and Villick were by far my favourite characters, and I seriously appreciate the effort that went into giving them life. The dialogue and prose felt crisp and snappy, perfectly suited to an action-heavy, sweat and flesh plot of high stakes and bitter consequences.
The only reason that I didn't give the book the full five stars was that the introduction of the characters felt a bit messy at the start and it struggled to hold my attention properly. And, although being good characters, I couldn't really get behind Edelbrock or Kelden's storyline for some parts of the book: both characters had stale periods that just lost my interest, but it was never enough to make me actively loathe their perspectives in the slightest.
Overall, this book is a fantastic example of an indie grimdark book done right, with an expansive world and a sprawling plot and so many dynamic elements all seamlessly woven together.
The only reason that I didn't give the book the full five stars was that the introduction of the characters felt a bit messy at the start and it struggled to hold my attention properly. And, although being good characters, I couldn't really get behind Edelbrock or Kelden's storyline for some parts of the book: both characters had stale periods that just lost my interest, but it was never enough to make me actively loathe their perspectives in the slightest.
Overall, this book is a fantastic example of an indie grimdark book done right, with an expansive world and a sprawling plot and so many dynamic elements all seamlessly woven together.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews