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Dance of the Sibling Suns #1
An Ocean of Others
REMEMBER WHAT'S REAL OR YOUR HEAD WILL BE THEIRS
Survival is never easy, but it’s never been harder for Grim, the last bounty hunter in Liwokin. He survived the Great Riot that killed Liwo by the thousands, endured the bloody chaos that ruled the city in its aftermath, and avoided the crushing fist of the Agency created to quell the unrest. Rule of law returned, but following the rules doesn’t put food in your belly.
On a job gone wrong, Grim stumbles into a conspiracy that targets Ulken, the Head of the Agency, a man who has done more to ruin Grim’s life than any other. Struggling to earn honest coin, Grim plans to use this information to rise quickly through the ranks of the organization so an empty purse never worries him again. He becomes a Finger of the Agency, joining a sardonic ranger, two fugitive siblings, a stone-skinned Skardwarf, and a powerful dark mage—none of whom know any better than Grim what they’ve gotten themselves into.
Grim’s Hand soon discovers the Agency’s furtive work is far deadlier than hunting bounties. While fighting to save his home from monsters who once were men, Grim discovers the conspiracy runs deeper than just Ulken and the Agency—what was unleashed is spreading, and if Grim’s sanity doesn’t prevail, it will consume the minds of the Bright Empire and beyond.
Survival is never easy, but it’s never been harder for Grim, the last bounty hunter in Liwokin. He survived the Great Riot that killed Liwo by the thousands, endured the bloody chaos that ruled the city in its aftermath, and avoided the crushing fist of the Agency created to quell the unrest. Rule of law returned, but following the rules doesn’t put food in your belly.
On a job gone wrong, Grim stumbles into a conspiracy that targets Ulken, the Head of the Agency, a man who has done more to ruin Grim’s life than any other. Struggling to earn honest coin, Grim plans to use this information to rise quickly through the ranks of the organization so an empty purse never worries him again. He becomes a Finger of the Agency, joining a sardonic ranger, two fugitive siblings, a stone-skinned Skardwarf, and a powerful dark mage—none of whom know any better than Grim what they’ve gotten themselves into.
Grim’s Hand soon discovers the Agency’s furtive work is far deadlier than hunting bounties. While fighting to save his home from monsters who once were men, Grim discovers the conspiracy runs deeper than just Ulken and the Agency—what was unleashed is spreading, and if Grim’s sanity doesn’t prevail, it will consume the minds of the Bright Empire and beyond.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2022
40 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Scott Edwards
4 books41 followersJoshua Scott Edwards lives in Lansdale, PA with his wife, Rachel. He received an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rowan University, only afterward discovering that his true passion is for storytelling. Sadly, the topic was not covered in the engineering curriculum. By day, Joshua writes software to pay the bills. By night, he writes fantasy and science fiction stories, dreaming of a future in which he can do that by day as well.
You can find more of his writing at www.joshse.com, where you can sign up to receive monthly updates about ongoing projects, discounts for books and merch, and more.
You can find more of his writing at www.joshse.com, where you can sign up to receive monthly updates about ongoing projects, discounts for books and merch, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 15, 2024
4.5/5 Stars Rounded to 5
A genre blending debut at its finest. After sitting on my shelf for sometime, I finally opted to dive into An Ocean of Others and was pleasantly surprised to find a unique world with a balancing of both dark and fun tones throughout this conspiracy laden fantasy.
Now, throughout this story we follow the last bounty hunter in Liwokin, Grim. After surviving the Great Riot which killed thousands and left survivors in chaos, Grim’s livelihood was challenged when the Agency formed giving order to the recovering city. When Grim happens upon a conspiracy targeting the Head of the Agency, he plans to use this information to fill his empty coin purse for good. Only things don’t go as planned and Grim finds himself in something much deadlier than anticipated forcing him to face the monsters in the dark.
There are several aspects of this that I enjoyed but first and foremost is the cast of characters. Grim, the main character, is the POV we see this story through. Due to the circumstances of life his choices and morals are often at odds, giving his character work and arc intriguing depth. We also meet a variety of quirky side characters within a motley crew including paladins, mages, a ranger, and skardwarfs to name a few. My personal favourite was a skardwarf named Sentyx who I've no doubt will be a reader favourite among many. Each character has their own moment of depth and adds to the overarching plot, which I appreciated.There’s also plenty of fun banter adding a lighter tone to a dark story.
Second, the blending of genres and tones was a delight. While I knew this would be a dark fantasy, I wasn’t expecting the fun tones and fast paced nature of the story. We get a combination of great action, along with darker moments and even wholesome scenes. As for the genres, there were elements of dark, classic fantasy, sci-fi, along with mystery, horror and thriller. These all blended together seamlessly within a unique world setting, intriguing magic system and gripping plot.
Finally, the pacing and mystery were well done, leaving moments to breathe in between all the action, monsters, twists and character work allowing me to try and puzzle it out myself. With all of the foreshadowing along the way, and twists, the payoffs were incredibly satisfying.
I also enjoyed the thought provoking explorations of what makes a monster, a good or bad person, and the meaning of loyalty and trust.
All of these aspects made for a fun read that I didn’t want to put down. Best of all, while this has darker elements, the lighter moments and pacing made this a quick read. So while this looks deceptively chunky, at 489 pages, that didn’t stop me from binging it. It also reads well as a standalone, with potential for continuation as it’s book one in the Dance of the Sibling Suns series.
It’s also worth noting that I immersion read the physical book along with the audiobook and the narrator Danny Gavigan gave a fantastic performance with multiple voices for the characters.
So, if you enjoy a genre blended fantasy filled with monsters, a motley crew, conspiracy, fast pacing, an endearing main character, mystery and a unique world and magic system, this is your next read.
A genre blending debut at its finest. After sitting on my shelf for sometime, I finally opted to dive into An Ocean of Others and was pleasantly surprised to find a unique world with a balancing of both dark and fun tones throughout this conspiracy laden fantasy.
Now, throughout this story we follow the last bounty hunter in Liwokin, Grim. After surviving the Great Riot which killed thousands and left survivors in chaos, Grim’s livelihood was challenged when the Agency formed giving order to the recovering city. When Grim happens upon a conspiracy targeting the Head of the Agency, he plans to use this information to fill his empty coin purse for good. Only things don’t go as planned and Grim finds himself in something much deadlier than anticipated forcing him to face the monsters in the dark.
There are several aspects of this that I enjoyed but first and foremost is the cast of characters. Grim, the main character, is the POV we see this story through. Due to the circumstances of life his choices and morals are often at odds, giving his character work and arc intriguing depth. We also meet a variety of quirky side characters within a motley crew including paladins, mages, a ranger, and skardwarfs to name a few. My personal favourite was a skardwarf named Sentyx who I've no doubt will be a reader favourite among many. Each character has their own moment of depth and adds to the overarching plot, which I appreciated.There’s also plenty of fun banter adding a lighter tone to a dark story.
Second, the blending of genres and tones was a delight. While I knew this would be a dark fantasy, I wasn’t expecting the fun tones and fast paced nature of the story. We get a combination of great action, along with darker moments and even wholesome scenes. As for the genres, there were elements of dark, classic fantasy, sci-fi, along with mystery, horror and thriller. These all blended together seamlessly within a unique world setting, intriguing magic system and gripping plot.
Finally, the pacing and mystery were well done, leaving moments to breathe in between all the action, monsters, twists and character work allowing me to try and puzzle it out myself. With all of the foreshadowing along the way, and twists, the payoffs were incredibly satisfying.
I also enjoyed the thought provoking explorations of what makes a monster, a good or bad person, and the meaning of loyalty and trust.
All of these aspects made for a fun read that I didn’t want to put down. Best of all, while this has darker elements, the lighter moments and pacing made this a quick read. So while this looks deceptively chunky, at 489 pages, that didn’t stop me from binging it. It also reads well as a standalone, with potential for continuation as it’s book one in the Dance of the Sibling Suns series.
It’s also worth noting that I immersion read the physical book along with the audiobook and the narrator Danny Gavigan gave a fantastic performance with multiple voices for the characters.
So, if you enjoy a genre blended fantasy filled with monsters, a motley crew, conspiracy, fast pacing, an endearing main character, mystery and a unique world and magic system, this is your next read.
August 31, 2022
First thing is first this is a solid debut!!! The story has great bones and character relationships work within a fully realized world. The soft magic system of both fire and dark is both simple but also really engaging. As a reader, I tend to be a sucker for episodic adventure fantasy books as well.
I do want to mention one of my favorite scenes in this book is the opening chase scene. Action-packed and full of fun. A great way to just thrust you into a story with action.
That aside there are some issues. The start of the book is a bit rough and feels like it’s trying to do too much. Our main character Grim's journey from bounty hunter to finger is a bit haphazard. We also have a few throwaway characters who pop up in the story and never really get fleshed out. These characters either die and cause Grim unearned anguish or just vanish from the story altogether. I also had issues with our antagonist. His motives are never really made clear.
Additionally I found the actual structure and running of the agency itself to be a bit confusing. In the start of the book, the Agency seems to run like a well-oiled machine. But once we get close up it doesn’t seem to run at all. This confused me as we go on some missions with our group but even they don’t really get how the Agency works.
The Agency hierarchy seems to be the most fleshed out aspect of the organization. But the individuals running it don’t seem willing to give any direction or any information about what they do. Just go here and do as I say doesn’t seem enough for the Agency that saved the city from the never-really explained Riot…
Which as I mentioned we have a bit much going on in the story. The Riot is mentioned A LOT in this story and feels like it’s gonna be a bigger mystery than it was. It kind of just gets randomly addressed in a one off line and I felt like I’d either wanted more from that plot thread or just no had it at all. Same goes with the royalty sub plot. I hope that gets addressed in later entries because it just kind of fizzles out and vanished again leaving me wanting more.
That said it does have great bones. I’d just like to see some elements removed and streamlined. There is a great book here if it just got some more polish. I do look forward to the author's future work. I think if this is where he starts, I can’t wait to see where he goes!
I do want to mention one of my favorite scenes in this book is the opening chase scene. Action-packed and full of fun. A great way to just thrust you into a story with action.
That aside there are some issues. The start of the book is a bit rough and feels like it’s trying to do too much. Our main character Grim's journey from bounty hunter to finger is a bit haphazard. We also have a few throwaway characters who pop up in the story and never really get fleshed out. These characters either die and cause Grim unearned anguish or just vanish from the story altogether. I also had issues with our antagonist. His motives are never really made clear.
Additionally I found the actual structure and running of the agency itself to be a bit confusing. In the start of the book, the Agency seems to run like a well-oiled machine. But once we get close up it doesn’t seem to run at all. This confused me as we go on some missions with our group but even they don’t really get how the Agency works.
The Agency hierarchy seems to be the most fleshed out aspect of the organization. But the individuals running it don’t seem willing to give any direction or any information about what they do. Just go here and do as I say doesn’t seem enough for the Agency that saved the city from the never-really explained Riot…
Which as I mentioned we have a bit much going on in the story. The Riot is mentioned A LOT in this story and feels like it’s gonna be a bigger mystery than it was. It kind of just gets randomly addressed in a one off line and I felt like I’d either wanted more from that plot thread or just no had it at all. Same goes with the royalty sub plot. I hope that gets addressed in later entries because it just kind of fizzles out and vanished again leaving me wanting more.
That said it does have great bones. I’d just like to see some elements removed and streamlined. There is a great book here if it just got some more polish. I do look forward to the author's future work. I think if this is where he starts, I can’t wait to see where he goes!
August 9, 2022
Now, I am not gonna lie, the cover was the first thing that caught my attention about this book and I didn’t even read the synopsis before deciding that I wanted to give it a shot. So, did my gamble pay off and did the inside of this book live up to the gorgeous outside? Heck yes, I would say it did!
An Ocean of Others tells a very ambitious and layered story and I am honestly very impressed that this is a debut novel.
We follow Grim, a morally gray bounty hunter who has been struggling to get by after The Riot ravaged the city of Liwokin. After reluctantly joining The Agency and teaming up with a ranger, a mage, a skardwarf and an ex-paladin and his sister, Grim quickly finds himself wrapped up in a tangle of conspiracies and world-threatening plots.
I am not going to say anything else about the plot, because part of what I liked so much about this book was seeing all the mysteries of this world slowly unravel. All you need to know is that this is fast-paced, action-packed, chock-full of intrigue and has a good dose of intriguing magic.
This story is told in first person POV and while that tends to be very hit or miss for me, I think that was a very effective choice here. Grim is quite confused throughout this entire book and there are sequences dealing with illusions/memories (keeping it vague here), so you have a sort of unreliable narrator type of deal. I personally really liked that, because it added to the sense of mystery, confusion and intrigue. This story could so easily have become a jumbled, convoluted mess, but that never happened. I constantly found myself wanting to keep turning the pages, because I just needed to have answers.
The world building was very intriguing and felt very unique. Yes, this is a proper fantasy novel, but it also has elements of sci-fi, mystery and horror. And the setting hints to something akin to the Industrial Era, with mentions of flintlock weapons and steam-engines, but felt more like a grimy medieval setting for the most part.
I really liked that we are mainly set in the city of Liwokin, but also get a good sense of the rest of the world through the diversity of the city’s population. And we also go on various ‘quests’, which provide a nice look into the landscape outside of the city. Though, on the topic of these quests, I do have to say that they made the plot feel a bit repetitive after a while. But then I can also see why they were needed and how they contributed to the unravelling of the mystery, so it’s just a minor quibble.
The characters were an absolute delight. This main group that Grim joins up with was very entertaining to follow and their bantery attitude lightened up the mood of this overall dark story. That said, I never really got attached to any of the characters, including our main character, so that was a bit unfortunate seeing as I am a very character driven reader.
I think it might have been due to the fast pacing of this story. We are thrust right into the deep end along with Grim and there are very few ‘breaks’ in this story. Now, the action is top-notch and I enjoyed those scenes a lot, but I think it did hinder the character development and the relationship building a bit for me. This is all super subjective though, so there’s a good chance that a different reader will immediately latch onto this wonderful band of misfits.
I did really enjoy the writing in this book. As I said before, first person POV can be very hit or miss for me, but Edwards really pulled it off incredibly well here.
Also, there were some illusion/memory sequences that were extremely vivid and immersive. And though the prose was never flowery or overly descriptive, I did feel completely transported into this world and it read super easily.
So yeah, the great writing definitely made up for the lack of connection to the characters for me.
Overall I had a great time with this book and I think it was a very promising start to this new series. I am very interested to see how this story continues in the next books, because I have a feeling that we have only scratched the surface here.
Definitely check this one out if you are in the mood for a fast-paced fantasy with some very unique worldbuilding elements and a good dose of mystery. What a wild ride!
Thank you to the author for sending the physical ARC my way. All thoughts are my own.
An Ocean of Others tells a very ambitious and layered story and I am honestly very impressed that this is a debut novel.
We follow Grim, a morally gray bounty hunter who has been struggling to get by after The Riot ravaged the city of Liwokin. After reluctantly joining The Agency and teaming up with a ranger, a mage, a skardwarf and an ex-paladin and his sister, Grim quickly finds himself wrapped up in a tangle of conspiracies and world-threatening plots.
I am not going to say anything else about the plot, because part of what I liked so much about this book was seeing all the mysteries of this world slowly unravel. All you need to know is that this is fast-paced, action-packed, chock-full of intrigue and has a good dose of intriguing magic.
This story is told in first person POV and while that tends to be very hit or miss for me, I think that was a very effective choice here. Grim is quite confused throughout this entire book and there are sequences dealing with illusions/memories (keeping it vague here), so you have a sort of unreliable narrator type of deal. I personally really liked that, because it added to the sense of mystery, confusion and intrigue. This story could so easily have become a jumbled, convoluted mess, but that never happened. I constantly found myself wanting to keep turning the pages, because I just needed to have answers.
The world building was very intriguing and felt very unique. Yes, this is a proper fantasy novel, but it also has elements of sci-fi, mystery and horror. And the setting hints to something akin to the Industrial Era, with mentions of flintlock weapons and steam-engines, but felt more like a grimy medieval setting for the most part.
I really liked that we are mainly set in the city of Liwokin, but also get a good sense of the rest of the world through the diversity of the city’s population. And we also go on various ‘quests’, which provide a nice look into the landscape outside of the city. Though, on the topic of these quests, I do have to say that they made the plot feel a bit repetitive after a while. But then I can also see why they were needed and how they contributed to the unravelling of the mystery, so it’s just a minor quibble.
The characters were an absolute delight. This main group that Grim joins up with was very entertaining to follow and their bantery attitude lightened up the mood of this overall dark story. That said, I never really got attached to any of the characters, including our main character, so that was a bit unfortunate seeing as I am a very character driven reader.
I think it might have been due to the fast pacing of this story. We are thrust right into the deep end along with Grim and there are very few ‘breaks’ in this story. Now, the action is top-notch and I enjoyed those scenes a lot, but I think it did hinder the character development and the relationship building a bit for me. This is all super subjective though, so there’s a good chance that a different reader will immediately latch onto this wonderful band of misfits.
I did really enjoy the writing in this book. As I said before, first person POV can be very hit or miss for me, but Edwards really pulled it off incredibly well here.
Also, there were some illusion/memory sequences that were extremely vivid and immersive. And though the prose was never flowery or overly descriptive, I did feel completely transported into this world and it read super easily.
So yeah, the great writing definitely made up for the lack of connection to the characters for me.
Overall I had a great time with this book and I think it was a very promising start to this new series. I am very interested to see how this story continues in the next books, because I have a feeling that we have only scratched the surface here.
Definitely check this one out if you are in the mood for a fast-paced fantasy with some very unique worldbuilding elements and a good dose of mystery. What a wild ride!
Thank you to the author for sending the physical ARC my way. All thoughts are my own.
July 20, 2023
Once you start down a bloody path, the only thing to do is keep walking.
Dark Fantasy Horror is one of those genres that's difficult to define, but I think An Ocean of Others fits it perfectly. I heard this was a dark, confusing story, but I didn't really get that vibe. Everything (at first) is pretty straightforward. Joshua has said the book was inspired by D&D, and the story progression definitely feels that way. Its all mission based: go and kill X or go and retrieve X, then come back and await further instructions. There are plot building elements that are mentioned in passing but not really expanded upon (this is only the first book). The Riot is the culprit for the Agency and the entire dystopian setting, but I'm still confused on a lot of that (could just be my fault)
That probably doesn't sound all that exciting, but once the Benefactors (monsters) are introduced, the story becomes awesome. The horror sections are where this book really shines, and why I will recommend it at every opportunity. Think D&D campaign with Lovecraftian influences. The beasts mess with the character's heads, causing them to relive dramatic events. Obviously, this happening a few times is traumatizing, and our MC Grim struggles to keep everything together. Some people may criticize the heavy italics use, but it works extremely well here—we don't know if we're reading Grim's thoughts or someone else's thoughts forcing through.
The prose is excellent. While this book is technically single POV, the visions are written beautifully and its apparent immediately this is not Grim's narrative voice. Speaking of prose, one of the final chapters is really moving. I can't discuss it without spoilers, but it justifies the rather bizarre title of this book.
All in all, this is a great read, and I'm very excited for the next one (which the foreword mentions will have multiple POVs)
Dark Fantasy Horror is one of those genres that's difficult to define, but I think An Ocean of Others fits it perfectly. I heard this was a dark, confusing story, but I didn't really get that vibe. Everything (at first) is pretty straightforward. Joshua has said the book was inspired by D&D, and the story progression definitely feels that way. Its all mission based: go and kill X or go and retrieve X, then come back and await further instructions. There are plot building elements that are mentioned in passing but not really expanded upon (this is only the first book). The Riot is the culprit for the Agency and the entire dystopian setting, but I'm still confused on a lot of that (could just be my fault)
That probably doesn't sound all that exciting, but once the Benefactors (monsters) are introduced, the story becomes awesome. The horror sections are where this book really shines, and why I will recommend it at every opportunity. Think D&D campaign with Lovecraftian influences. The beasts mess with the character's heads, causing them to relive dramatic events. Obviously, this happening a few times is traumatizing, and our MC Grim struggles to keep everything together. Some people may criticize the heavy italics use, but it works extremely well here—we don't know if we're reading Grim's thoughts or someone else's thoughts forcing through.
The prose is excellent. While this book is technically single POV, the visions are written beautifully and its apparent immediately this is not Grim's narrative voice. Speaking of prose, one of the final chapters is really moving. I can't discuss it without spoilers, but it justifies the rather bizarre title of this book.
All in all, this is a great read, and I'm very excited for the next one (which the foreword mentions will have multiple POVs)
July 9, 2022
I want start by saying that I was drawn to this book by its eye catching cover, and the blurb piqued my interest further.
I would describe the book as dark fantasy, but placing any genre constraints would be unfair for a book that delivers so much more that its cover and blurb hint at.
The story had me hooked within the first couple of chapters. The world building is subtly done, with just enough information to get to know what kind of world we are in. I never felt overloaded with big info dumps. The author puts you straight into the action and the landscape with great skill.
Early on in the story there is mention of flintlock weapons, but these are only alluded to, and are not the main weapons of choice in the story. There's also mention of steam and coal, and use of metal in structural engineering.
The world is harsh and grim, it is going through a revolution of sorts. The City of Liweko is recovering from a riot, where the cause remains unknown. This riot saw the emergence of the Agency, which now battles a new threat. You get the feel of a society on the cusp of change, but teetering on the edge of chaos if not for the Agency.
The political landscape could be described as dystopian, with some Orwellian overtones, which I absolutely loved.
The Agency is intriguing and its hierarchy and designations are brilliantly named after body parts.
These naming conventions are just inspired and work so well.
There is also magic in this world with mages who weild archefire and archedark magic. The magic is secondary to the main plot, which revolves around the conspiracy linked to the Agency and the monsters they are fighting.
We are thrown straight into the action and the mystery with our main character, Grim, the last bounty hunter in the city, who is best described as a reluctant antihero. He decides to join the Agency to make ends meet, and to seek answers to a conspiracy that presented itself on his last job, which involves the head of the Agency.
Grim is thrown together with 4 others in Hand 64, from all corners of the Bright Empire. We have a snarky ranger, a former paladin Knight and his sister, and skardwarf (who is literally made from rock). Also, there's Grim's friend, who is a mage.
This unlikely group of strangers are thrown together and tested in battle against unbelievable monsters who can project images and memories into the minds of others.
This important element of the book (which I don't want to spoil by giving too much detail here) with the illusions and memories is brilliantly done. The author manages to make you experience the same confusion as the characters.
The banter and humour among the group is believable and helps the story move along at a great pace, and also lightens the mood when faced witj horrific monsters and images.
The found friendships are developed well throughout the story.
The pacing is superb, and there's never a dull moment between the characters and the mystery is maintained, and answers are revealed only to reveal more questions.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world building hints at a much larger world to explore, with interesting races and cultures. I'm excited to see where Grim's path takes us in the next book. This is definitely a series I will be continuing with, and an author to keep an eye on.
I was provided an eARC copy of this book from the author.
I would describe the book as dark fantasy, but placing any genre constraints would be unfair for a book that delivers so much more that its cover and blurb hint at.
The story had me hooked within the first couple of chapters. The world building is subtly done, with just enough information to get to know what kind of world we are in. I never felt overloaded with big info dumps. The author puts you straight into the action and the landscape with great skill.
Early on in the story there is mention of flintlock weapons, but these are only alluded to, and are not the main weapons of choice in the story. There's also mention of steam and coal, and use of metal in structural engineering.
The world is harsh and grim, it is going through a revolution of sorts. The City of Liweko is recovering from a riot, where the cause remains unknown. This riot saw the emergence of the Agency, which now battles a new threat. You get the feel of a society on the cusp of change, but teetering on the edge of chaos if not for the Agency.
The political landscape could be described as dystopian, with some Orwellian overtones, which I absolutely loved.
The Agency is intriguing and its hierarchy and designations are brilliantly named after body parts.
These naming conventions are just inspired and work so well.
There is also magic in this world with mages who weild archefire and archedark magic. The magic is secondary to the main plot, which revolves around the conspiracy linked to the Agency and the monsters they are fighting.
We are thrown straight into the action and the mystery with our main character, Grim, the last bounty hunter in the city, who is best described as a reluctant antihero. He decides to join the Agency to make ends meet, and to seek answers to a conspiracy that presented itself on his last job, which involves the head of the Agency.
Grim is thrown together with 4 others in Hand 64, from all corners of the Bright Empire. We have a snarky ranger, a former paladin Knight and his sister, and skardwarf (who is literally made from rock). Also, there's Grim's friend, who is a mage.
This unlikely group of strangers are thrown together and tested in battle against unbelievable monsters who can project images and memories into the minds of others.
This important element of the book (which I don't want to spoil by giving too much detail here) with the illusions and memories is brilliantly done. The author manages to make you experience the same confusion as the characters.
The banter and humour among the group is believable and helps the story move along at a great pace, and also lightens the mood when faced witj horrific monsters and images.
The found friendships are developed well throughout the story.
The pacing is superb, and there's never a dull moment between the characters and the mystery is maintained, and answers are revealed only to reveal more questions.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world building hints at a much larger world to explore, with interesting races and cultures. I'm excited to see where Grim's path takes us in the next book. This is definitely a series I will be continuing with, and an author to keep an eye on.
I was provided an eARC copy of this book from the author.
November 2, 2023
I was luckily sent an e-ARC of this, and I’m so glad I was, as I’ve definitely found another favorite. And what an awesome cover too!
First and foremost, I’m honestly just super impressed. The author’s writing is fantastic, his world is rich, the characters are believable and real, the pacing is perfect, and the action is top notch. Instead of just giving us his version of worlds we’ve seen before, he makes it his own with unique places and races of people.
This novel is first person and the main character is a bounty hunter. Both morally grey, while still aiming to be good. He loves his city and that drives him to want to improve it. His personality, motivations, abilities, and decisions all made sense to me, they tracked well. His main companions are an ex-paladin and his sister, a ranger, a mage, and a skardwarf. Each in turn had their own abilities and personalities that worked really well together. Don’t know what a skardwarf is?? I guess you’ll just have to read it…
This novel is fantasy, with touches of science fiction, mystery, horror, and thriller. The city of Liwokin (IMO) read as almost an industrial revolution or even Victorian Era London, with some enhanced technologies we rarely see in fantasies. There’s some political intrigue, but nothing super heavy or in depth like with GoT. The mystery certainly made this feel unique for me, and it most definitely has some body horror, which was very interesting to see for a fantasy. The twists and turns this novel takes are all fast and winding, so this was absolutely thrilling.
If you’ve followed any of my reviews than you most likely know that I am very anti-dream sequence in fantasy novels. I most often find them to be misleading, weird, and at worst, useless. But somehow this author makes use of them as memory sequences that play out mostly like dreams. These memory sequences at first really heighten the mystery, and later on they boost the pacing. Therefore, I found myself ultimately sold. The author doesn’t mislead or use them as a filler, they have meaning and direct the MCs discovery and understanding.
Most definitely a 5/5* for me. I will physically own one of these when they release in September!
First and foremost, I’m honestly just super impressed. The author’s writing is fantastic, his world is rich, the characters are believable and real, the pacing is perfect, and the action is top notch. Instead of just giving us his version of worlds we’ve seen before, he makes it his own with unique places and races of people.
This novel is first person and the main character is a bounty hunter. Both morally grey, while still aiming to be good. He loves his city and that drives him to want to improve it. His personality, motivations, abilities, and decisions all made sense to me, they tracked well. His main companions are an ex-paladin and his sister, a ranger, a mage, and a skardwarf. Each in turn had their own abilities and personalities that worked really well together. Don’t know what a skardwarf is?? I guess you’ll just have to read it…
This novel is fantasy, with touches of science fiction, mystery, horror, and thriller. The city of Liwokin (IMO) read as almost an industrial revolution or even Victorian Era London, with some enhanced technologies we rarely see in fantasies. There’s some political intrigue, but nothing super heavy or in depth like with GoT. The mystery certainly made this feel unique for me, and it most definitely has some body horror, which was very interesting to see for a fantasy. The twists and turns this novel takes are all fast and winding, so this was absolutely thrilling.
If you’ve followed any of my reviews than you most likely know that I am very anti-dream sequence in fantasy novels. I most often find them to be misleading, weird, and at worst, useless. But somehow this author makes use of them as memory sequences that play out mostly like dreams. These memory sequences at first really heighten the mystery, and later on they boost the pacing. Therefore, I found myself ultimately sold. The author doesn’t mislead or use them as a filler, they have meaning and direct the MCs discovery and understanding.
Most definitely a 5/5* for me. I will physically own one of these when they release in September!
July 14, 2023
As a disclaimer, I should mention that the author has entered this one in SPFBO but this review has nothing to do with the blog group that the book fell in to.
Of course, if it happens to be lucky enough to get to finals, then I will be happy because it will be one less book for me later, but for now, I have nothing to do with it's chances of getting to that point.
My review-
The combination of Joshua Scott Edwards’ promo-efforts on twitter and An Ocean of Others’ stunning cover really paid off because I pre-ordered this last spring, with every intention of dropping everything to read it as soon as it was released. That plan went well.
*
An Ocean of Others is an incredibly solid debut. Based on one of the authors own group of friends’ tabletop games, the book has that core D&D/Forgotten Realms feel with the setting, various races, magic, and a story that takes a dip into that darker-side of humanity.
The World-
The world, recovering from an event called the Great Riot has an early industrial feel to it. The story takes place mostly in the city of Liwokin, with travel to some of its surroundings. Some things were a bit loose feeling in the groundwork and outside of the Twin Suns, I didn’t find it much different than most of these sorts of settings. But I was fine with that, because I liked where the story focused the bulk of its attention way more than explaining to me all those parts that I was probably going to skim over anyway.
The Gathering of our Group-
Grimely (Grim) is a bounty hunter- one of the last in the city. Work is scarce for him now that The Agency was formed and things that Grim used to be paid to do- the agency does for free. Effectively pushing him out of a job.
When a piece of evidence hinting at a conspiracy within the Agency falls into Grim’s hands. He and Inac (the mage) decide to enter the ranks, and warn the Head of the Agency (Ulken) of the dangers. But their goals aren’t as pure as they sound, as they’ve chosen to withhold the information until a moment that will quicken their advancement up the ranks.
It’s at the Agency where we join-up with the rest of our team of adventurers. The usual D&D suspects- ranger, dwarf, paladin, mage- each with the author’s own spin on them. Called the 64th hand, all teams are made up of five members (fingers) with the occasional shifting of members as needed.
The Agency, works like a body, and the naming conventions were all body-parts that correspond to their jobs- with everything from the nerves, to the fingers and heels. Heels are the lowest, of course, and the organs keep the operations running. I thought they were all a lot of fun, while also being quite appropriate to their jobs.
*
We only have a single pov for this story- which I was rather surprised about since nearly all I’ve read in this d&d style, have had multiple.
Though I had a small complaint, that while we do get to know our main character Grim, pretty well, I found the rest of the team- other than the dwarf, and Inac, until around part three- were as interchangeable as some of the minor characters. Interestingly enough, the characters that really stood-out for me (outside of Grim) were the Benefactors. I’ll talk more about them in a bit.
Despite that complaint and wishing for a bit more build in the team-characters, I did think spov was an excellent choice for this story, considering the events and the way they affect the characters- it made them more impactful than they’d have been otherwise.
*
The story is told in parts- each sections’ mission or campaign, builds the events and broadens the world.
Part one is like a fun little sample of what to expect- introduces us to world, how it works, and its characters.
Part two reveals the clues- deepening the mystery and includes some very cool battles.
Part three rolls it all together. Everything we learn falls into place with an epic battle to make it all worth the while.
I have to say- the fight scenes were freaking awesome! They were probably some of the most creative and atmospheric scene-settings I’ve read in a while; managing to induce dread, sadness, a warped sense of reality (and not be confusing as heck) while still being fun. The number of emotions I went through while reading these- I can’t even explain. I liked these a lot. I’m torn on whether the battle with the Hunter was the coolest, or if it was, the whole sequence leading up to the finale, with the overlayed-illusion of the city and forest!
What helped to make these scenes extra-special (outside of that cool as heck scene-setting) was The Benefactors.
So, The Agency was formed to address these Benefactors. They are monsters/creatures that emit an Aura that force people to experience these strong emotions. Emotions that affect judgement and reality of those around them….and I had a big long enthusiastic explanation here, that I realised after- was just a bit spoilery so I had to rewrite, removing the bigger spoilers (and some of my excitement).
Anyway, there are items that help dampen the affects of the Aura’s influence on a person- stones or herbs that can be inhaled but they’re in short supply and must be used sparingly.
For reasons, I can’t tell you about, the memories/thoughts of the Benefactors that Grim meets, stay in his mind- making for those very cool moments in battle that I mentioned above. I am not one who cares to sympathise with the villains, I tend to just enjoy rooting for evil to be squashed, but this whole thing with the shared memories, really worked for me. It added this whole other level to the story, and the fight scenes, and I loved how the story fed those moments in bits and pieces; keeping me curious about the events, keeping me emotionally-attached, and also wondering how our team would survive.
I found it also helped in adding variety to each of the battles, so they didn’t feel as repetitive as they sometimes can, when there is a campaign factor in the base of the story.
*
I’ve read a few books that have been based off d&d campaigns and I find they generally are a lot of fun but not always as adept as I’d like, in certain areas of the writing as An Ocean of Others proved to be- especially when it came to those battle scenes. I’m very curious to see Edward’s next book because this one was just a great read.
TLDR: An Ocean of Others was a fantastic story- creative, fun, and with surprisingly emotional element. I enjoyed this one a lot.
Of course, if it happens to be lucky enough to get to finals, then I will be happy because it will be one less book for me later, but for now, I have nothing to do with it's chances of getting to that point.
My review-
The combination of Joshua Scott Edwards’ promo-efforts on twitter and An Ocean of Others’ stunning cover really paid off because I pre-ordered this last spring, with every intention of dropping everything to read it as soon as it was released. That plan went well.
*
An Ocean of Others is an incredibly solid debut. Based on one of the authors own group of friends’ tabletop games, the book has that core D&D/Forgotten Realms feel with the setting, various races, magic, and a story that takes a dip into that darker-side of humanity.
The World-
The world, recovering from an event called the Great Riot has an early industrial feel to it. The story takes place mostly in the city of Liwokin, with travel to some of its surroundings. Some things were a bit loose feeling in the groundwork and outside of the Twin Suns, I didn’t find it much different than most of these sorts of settings. But I was fine with that, because I liked where the story focused the bulk of its attention way more than explaining to me all those parts that I was probably going to skim over anyway.
The Gathering of our Group-
Grimely (Grim) is a bounty hunter- one of the last in the city. Work is scarce for him now that The Agency was formed and things that Grim used to be paid to do- the agency does for free. Effectively pushing him out of a job.
When a piece of evidence hinting at a conspiracy within the Agency falls into Grim’s hands. He and Inac (the mage) decide to enter the ranks, and warn the Head of the Agency (Ulken) of the dangers. But their goals aren’t as pure as they sound, as they’ve chosen to withhold the information until a moment that will quicken their advancement up the ranks.
It’s at the Agency where we join-up with the rest of our team of adventurers. The usual D&D suspects- ranger, dwarf, paladin, mage- each with the author’s own spin on them. Called the 64th hand, all teams are made up of five members (fingers) with the occasional shifting of members as needed.
The Agency, works like a body, and the naming conventions were all body-parts that correspond to their jobs- with everything from the nerves, to the fingers and heels. Heels are the lowest, of course, and the organs keep the operations running. I thought they were all a lot of fun, while also being quite appropriate to their jobs.
*
We only have a single pov for this story- which I was rather surprised about since nearly all I’ve read in this d&d style, have had multiple.
Though I had a small complaint, that while we do get to know our main character Grim, pretty well, I found the rest of the team- other than the dwarf, and Inac, until around part three- were as interchangeable as some of the minor characters. Interestingly enough, the characters that really stood-out for me (outside of Grim) were the Benefactors. I’ll talk more about them in a bit.
Despite that complaint and wishing for a bit more build in the team-characters, I did think spov was an excellent choice for this story, considering the events and the way they affect the characters- it made them more impactful than they’d have been otherwise.
*
The story is told in parts- each sections’ mission or campaign, builds the events and broadens the world.
Part one is like a fun little sample of what to expect- introduces us to world, how it works, and its characters.
Part two reveals the clues- deepening the mystery and includes some very cool battles.
Part three rolls it all together. Everything we learn falls into place with an epic battle to make it all worth the while.
I have to say- the fight scenes were freaking awesome! They were probably some of the most creative and atmospheric scene-settings I’ve read in a while; managing to induce dread, sadness, a warped sense of reality (and not be confusing as heck) while still being fun. The number of emotions I went through while reading these- I can’t even explain. I liked these a lot. I’m torn on whether the battle with the Hunter was the coolest, or if it was, the whole sequence leading up to the finale, with the overlayed-illusion of the city and forest!
What helped to make these scenes extra-special (outside of that cool as heck scene-setting) was The Benefactors.
So, The Agency was formed to address these Benefactors. They are monsters/creatures that emit an Aura that force people to experience these strong emotions. Emotions that affect judgement and reality of those around them….and I had a big long enthusiastic explanation here, that I realised after- was just a bit spoilery so I had to rewrite, removing the bigger spoilers (and some of my excitement).
Anyway, there are items that help dampen the affects of the Aura’s influence on a person- stones or herbs that can be inhaled but they’re in short supply and must be used sparingly.
For reasons, I can’t tell you about, the memories/thoughts of the Benefactors that Grim meets, stay in his mind- making for those very cool moments in battle that I mentioned above. I am not one who cares to sympathise with the villains, I tend to just enjoy rooting for evil to be squashed, but this whole thing with the shared memories, really worked for me. It added this whole other level to the story, and the fight scenes, and I loved how the story fed those moments in bits and pieces; keeping me curious about the events, keeping me emotionally-attached, and also wondering how our team would survive.
I found it also helped in adding variety to each of the battles, so they didn’t feel as repetitive as they sometimes can, when there is a campaign factor in the base of the story.
*
I’ve read a few books that have been based off d&d campaigns and I find they generally are a lot of fun but not always as adept as I’d like, in certain areas of the writing as An Ocean of Others proved to be- especially when it came to those battle scenes. I’m very curious to see Edward’s next book because this one was just a great read.
TLDR: An Ocean of Others was a fantastic story- creative, fun, and with surprisingly emotional element. I enjoyed this one a lot.
September 6, 2022
5 Stars all the way!! Can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in upcoming books. This was so freaking awesome!!
Check out the full review on my website. CLICK HERE
Check out my booktube review. CLICK HERE
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL : YOUTUBE
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
FR Review :
DISCLAIMER : Thank you so much Joshua for providing me an e-arc of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An Ocean Of Others by Joshua Scott Edwards is the first book in the new epic fantasy series Dance Of The Sibling Suns. This self-published fantasy book has exceeded my expectations in every way. This self-published fantasy book has exceeded my expectations in every way. When I saw this book’s cover on Twitter, I fell in love with it right away and was excited to read it. The synopsis is what sealed the deal for me. It sounded like everything I wanted in a fantasy story. Joshua is an amazing writer and has perfectly captured all the elements that make an incredible fantasy. From crafting a unique story with an atmospheric setting and well-established world to flawlessly capturing the very emotions the characters experience, this book has it all. Not just that, this book seamlessly blends fantasy, dystopian, mystery, sci-fi, and horror making it an incredible genre-blending union. An Ocean Of Others is an action-packed, cinematic fantasy that has the markings of an epic tale.
In this book, we follow our main protagonist Grim, the last bounty hunter in the City of Liwokin. He has struggled to make ends meet since the Agency started its rule in the Empire. During a job that goes awry, Grim learns about a conspiracy against the head of the Agency. He decided to capitalize on the information by joining the Agency and using the message to earn a few extra coins. But things don’t go according to plan, and he learns of dangerous schemes that could destroy his home and the Empire.
An Ocean Of Others is one of the strongest debuts in fantasy that I have read in a while and I know it is going to make some waves in the fantasy world. With a unique world that feels so real to memorable characters and an atmospheric setting, Joshua has done a fantastic job of crafting the perfect story to captivate the readers. It's a seamless blend of genres and will keep the readers hooked from the get-go. I gave the book 5 stars and I highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy fantasy stories on the darker side packed with adventure and intrigue.
**Considering it's Indie/Self-pub season now, y'all need to get this book on your reading list like right now!!
Check out the full review on my website. CLICK HERE
Check out my booktube review. CLICK HERE
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL : YOUTUBE
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
FR Review :
DISCLAIMER : Thank you so much Joshua for providing me an e-arc of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An Ocean Of Others by Joshua Scott Edwards is the first book in the new epic fantasy series Dance Of The Sibling Suns. This self-published fantasy book has exceeded my expectations in every way. This self-published fantasy book has exceeded my expectations in every way. When I saw this book’s cover on Twitter, I fell in love with it right away and was excited to read it. The synopsis is what sealed the deal for me. It sounded like everything I wanted in a fantasy story. Joshua is an amazing writer and has perfectly captured all the elements that make an incredible fantasy. From crafting a unique story with an atmospheric setting and well-established world to flawlessly capturing the very emotions the characters experience, this book has it all. Not just that, this book seamlessly blends fantasy, dystopian, mystery, sci-fi, and horror making it an incredible genre-blending union. An Ocean Of Others is an action-packed, cinematic fantasy that has the markings of an epic tale.
In this book, we follow our main protagonist Grim, the last bounty hunter in the City of Liwokin. He has struggled to make ends meet since the Agency started its rule in the Empire. During a job that goes awry, Grim learns about a conspiracy against the head of the Agency. He decided to capitalize on the information by joining the Agency and using the message to earn a few extra coins. But things don’t go according to plan, and he learns of dangerous schemes that could destroy his home and the Empire.
An Ocean Of Others is one of the strongest debuts in fantasy that I have read in a while and I know it is going to make some waves in the fantasy world. With a unique world that feels so real to memorable characters and an atmospheric setting, Joshua has done a fantastic job of crafting the perfect story to captivate the readers. It's a seamless blend of genres and will keep the readers hooked from the get-go. I gave the book 5 stars and I highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy fantasy stories on the darker side packed with adventure and intrigue.
**Considering it's Indie/Self-pub season now, y'all need to get this book on your reading list like right now!!
September 6, 2022
Disclaimer: ARC provided by the author in exchange for honest and fair review
I think like a lot of readers I was drawn to this book by its cover. Thankfully there's more to this debut novel than just a sweet cover.
An Ocean of Others is a fantasy story set in a first person POV set in the dark fantasy world of Lawiko told from the perspective of Grim, a rogue bounty hunter down on his luck in this harsh city still recovering from riot sparking revolution. An organization called “The Agency” has taken over the types of jobs he used to handle leaving him broke, hungry and frustrated.
As fate would have it Grim learns of some intel on his last job he believes he can use to his advantage to raise his status in society along with his bank account. So he joins The Agency to bring his plan to action and that's when the real fun begins.
After joining up Grim is assigned to a team made up of a ranger, a mage, a skardwarf and an ex-paladin and his sister. They are then tasked to go out and hunt and kill a monster referred to as a benefactor but just like there are two sides to a coin in this story there's two sides to every encounter and the trick to survival is to remember “what is real”. I can’t reveal too much more without risking giving away core aspects of the plot.
The personalities of the main characters are great and their interactions with each other at times reminded me of siblings fighting with one another, which can be a lot of fun. Although one criticism I have with them is I wish there was a little more focus on developing them and giving us a little more backstory to each of them. I feel like this was glossed over slightly compared to some other aspects/characters in the story so I never got fully invested into them as I had hoped I would.
The world building however was fantastic, I felt as if I was walking right beside them in the dirty, musty alleys of Lawiko as they made their way through the city and out into other parts of the world on each mission they accepted.
Lastly we have the story arc for the benefactors and this not only rivals that of the world building but honestly it's where Edwards writing shines the most. If anything my emotional attachment in the story was linked to them for better or worse.
Unlike some of the other reviews I’ve seen I did feel like this was a bit of a slow burn in the fact that there is a bit of a rinse and repeat element to the story line. The pay off in the end is worth it but it does take a little while to get there. I guess the best way I can describe it is if you have ever played an MMO you know what the grind is like to level up. I feel like the characters go through that kind of grind here as part of the story arc so if that is not your thing it could turn you off. I promise you though the pay off is there if you push through.
As Edwards debut novel I think he hit the ground running and I look forward to seeing what he releases in the future.
I think like a lot of readers I was drawn to this book by its cover. Thankfully there's more to this debut novel than just a sweet cover.
An Ocean of Others is a fantasy story set in a first person POV set in the dark fantasy world of Lawiko told from the perspective of Grim, a rogue bounty hunter down on his luck in this harsh city still recovering from riot sparking revolution. An organization called “The Agency” has taken over the types of jobs he used to handle leaving him broke, hungry and frustrated.
As fate would have it Grim learns of some intel on his last job he believes he can use to his advantage to raise his status in society along with his bank account. So he joins The Agency to bring his plan to action and that's when the real fun begins.
After joining up Grim is assigned to a team made up of a ranger, a mage, a skardwarf and an ex-paladin and his sister. They are then tasked to go out and hunt and kill a monster referred to as a benefactor but just like there are two sides to a coin in this story there's two sides to every encounter and the trick to survival is to remember “what is real”. I can’t reveal too much more without risking giving away core aspects of the plot.
The personalities of the main characters are great and their interactions with each other at times reminded me of siblings fighting with one another, which can be a lot of fun. Although one criticism I have with them is I wish there was a little more focus on developing them and giving us a little more backstory to each of them. I feel like this was glossed over slightly compared to some other aspects/characters in the story so I never got fully invested into them as I had hoped I would.
The world building however was fantastic, I felt as if I was walking right beside them in the dirty, musty alleys of Lawiko as they made their way through the city and out into other parts of the world on each mission they accepted.
Lastly we have the story arc for the benefactors and this not only rivals that of the world building but honestly it's where Edwards writing shines the most. If anything my emotional attachment in the story was linked to them for better or worse.
Unlike some of the other reviews I’ve seen I did feel like this was a bit of a slow burn in the fact that there is a bit of a rinse and repeat element to the story line. The pay off in the end is worth it but it does take a little while to get there. I guess the best way I can describe it is if you have ever played an MMO you know what the grind is like to level up. I feel like the characters go through that kind of grind here as part of the story arc so if that is not your thing it could turn you off. I promise you though the pay off is there if you push through.
As Edwards debut novel I think he hit the ground running and I look forward to seeing what he releases in the future.
December 7, 2022
Excellent start to series!
Welcome to shady streets of Liweko overseen by the Agency. An organization reeking of conspiracy. One bounty hunter will soon become entangled in the dangers within. Brisk action, mystery and wonderful character banter.
Welcome to shady streets of Liweko overseen by the Agency. An organization reeking of conspiracy. One bounty hunter will soon become entangled in the dangers within. Brisk action, mystery and wonderful character banter.
July 14, 2022
An exciting debut
Thanks to Joshua Scott Edwards for the eArc of this novel.
Let's take a look at it ;)
Worldbuilding
An Ocean of Others has an interesting and varied setting. The city, and the nation, which is the backdrop to the main events has a clear social and political structure. Often the motivations of the protagonist, or the events in which he is involved, are the result of the social context in which he lives.
The atmosphere in this novel is a cross between the comfort zone typical of the genre and some peculiar choices, above all aesthetic ones. Here you'll some of the epic fantasy chivalry that has been branded in our minds, but in certain moments it also recalls a frontier western and some of the typical vibes of any good tale of rebellion.
In some moments the French Revolution seemed to me just around the corner.
All of this is good and fair, but I got the impression that the "party of characters doing stuff around the world" was too much borrowed from a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
Yes, the author explicitly mentions that this novel is the result of a storyline born in for that role-playing game, but for me it is a double-edged sword.
I'm not convinced that the direction modern high fantasy literature is heading is still a good fit for that kind of approach.
Characters
Each cast member has their own voice that is clear and distinct from the others.
There are slang expressions, habits in the formulation of sentences and hints of internal dialogues (of the protagonist) that make the characterization effective.
Grim is a believable character. Not a hero but not too close to certain peaks of the grayness typical of modern grimdark, he has a personal arc that is captivating enough to make us cheer for him.
Sometimes I'd slap him.
He deserves it.
Plot
After an introductory part (about 20%) objectively difficult to follow from a worldbuilding point of view, the novel takes off towards a quest that has all the ups and downs you could wish for from a slightly dark high fantasy novel.
The storytelling is ambitious without getting convoluted, there's just the right amount of action and a couple of really effective twists.
Prose
Flowing beautifully, always clear, in some moments charged with a cutting irony and in others full of emotion: Edwards' prose is damn effective.
Stylistically it already shows signs of a maturity worthy of attention. I can't wait to find out how it will evolve in the next volumes.
My conclusions
Fresh, captivating and well written, An Ocean of Others is a promising debut. I will definitely be keeping an eye on Edwards' next work.
You should too.
Thanks to Joshua Scott Edwards for the eArc of this novel.
Let's take a look at it ;)
Worldbuilding
An Ocean of Others has an interesting and varied setting. The city, and the nation, which is the backdrop to the main events has a clear social and political structure. Often the motivations of the protagonist, or the events in which he is involved, are the result of the social context in which he lives.
The atmosphere in this novel is a cross between the comfort zone typical of the genre and some peculiar choices, above all aesthetic ones. Here you'll some of the epic fantasy chivalry that has been branded in our minds, but in certain moments it also recalls a frontier western and some of the typical vibes of any good tale of rebellion.
In some moments the French Revolution seemed to me just around the corner.
All of this is good and fair, but I got the impression that the "party of characters doing stuff around the world" was too much borrowed from a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
Yes, the author explicitly mentions that this novel is the result of a storyline born in for that role-playing game, but for me it is a double-edged sword.
I'm not convinced that the direction modern high fantasy literature is heading is still a good fit for that kind of approach.
Characters
Each cast member has their own voice that is clear and distinct from the others.
There are slang expressions, habits in the formulation of sentences and hints of internal dialogues (of the protagonist) that make the characterization effective.
Grim is a believable character. Not a hero but not too close to certain peaks of the grayness typical of modern grimdark, he has a personal arc that is captivating enough to make us cheer for him.
Sometimes I'd slap him.
He deserves it.
Plot
After an introductory part (about 20%) objectively difficult to follow from a worldbuilding point of view, the novel takes off towards a quest that has all the ups and downs you could wish for from a slightly dark high fantasy novel.
The storytelling is ambitious without getting convoluted, there's just the right amount of action and a couple of really effective twists.
Prose
Flowing beautifully, always clear, in some moments charged with a cutting irony and in others full of emotion: Edwards' prose is damn effective.
Stylistically it already shows signs of a maturity worthy of attention. I can't wait to find out how it will evolve in the next volumes.
My conclusions
Fresh, captivating and well written, An Ocean of Others is a promising debut. I will definitely be keeping an eye on Edwards' next work.
You should too.
December 30, 2022
4,5* round up
what a fantastic, fast-paced, intriguing and captivating debut! i could not stop reading.
Loved the questing-aspect and how we got the informations with the MC along the way.
Really likeable characters and the world-building was very good. there are hints on a greater world which I would love the author explore in the upcoming books.
Overall I very much enjoyed this book!
what a fantastic, fast-paced, intriguing and captivating debut! i could not stop reading.
Loved the questing-aspect and how we got the informations with the MC along the way.
Really likeable characters and the world-building was very good. there are hints on a greater world which I would love the author explore in the upcoming books.
Overall I very much enjoyed this book!
June 4, 2023
Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely! 💥
An Ocean of Others by Joshua Scott Edward is a fast paced story full of adventure, banter, monsters, mysteries and magic! It's on the darker side, but not a really grim read, but dark and entertaining.
The main character is a bounty hunter whose job is not paying the rent anymore, so he reluctantly signs up to "the agency", as he has some proof of a possible traitor.
There's a lot of snark from his perspective, so when he gets grouped up with 4 other "fingers" to form a fully functioning "hand" it quickly leads to plenty of banter and quibs. I really enjoyed the tone and voice of the story, as well as the way the characters interacted with each other. They are quite different from each other, so take some time to adjust to working together.
There's plenty of mysteries, layered on top of more mysteries, and I must say I'm not sure I really caught all the little breadcrumbs and information along the way. Not because it was so overly complex, but because the flow of the story was so fast and smooth, my brain went into popcorn mode, and didn't pay as much attention as it does with the slow and epic times. To carried away but the next monster, fight or situation to really digest all the little things.
All in all it was one hell of a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed my time with it, even though I had to backtrack a few times to catch up on things I missed due to the fast pace.
An Ocean of Others by Joshua Scott Edward is a fast paced story full of adventure, banter, monsters, mysteries and magic! It's on the darker side, but not a really grim read, but dark and entertaining.
The main character is a bounty hunter whose job is not paying the rent anymore, so he reluctantly signs up to "the agency", as he has some proof of a possible traitor.
There's a lot of snark from his perspective, so when he gets grouped up with 4 other "fingers" to form a fully functioning "hand" it quickly leads to plenty of banter and quibs. I really enjoyed the tone and voice of the story, as well as the way the characters interacted with each other. They are quite different from each other, so take some time to adjust to working together.
There's plenty of mysteries, layered on top of more mysteries, and I must say I'm not sure I really caught all the little breadcrumbs and information along the way. Not because it was so overly complex, but because the flow of the story was so fast and smooth, my brain went into popcorn mode, and didn't pay as much attention as it does with the slow and epic times. To carried away but the next monster, fight or situation to really digest all the little things.
All in all it was one hell of a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed my time with it, even though I had to backtrack a few times to catch up on things I missed due to the fast pace.
July 14, 2022
Review copy (eARC) provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
It is (I believe) the debut fantasy novel from the author's "Siblings Suns" series. The main character, Grim, is a bounty hunter living in a post-"Riot" world trying to survive. Based on an event at the beginning of the book (and its aftermath), Grim is led to make a series of decisions that lead to his joining an organization called "The Agency". The main Goodreads summary is a good summary of the plot, and I want to stay away from spoilers.
There are two reasons why this book was four, not five stars, for me:
1) while I don't expect characters to act exactly how people generally do in the real world, at times it was hard for me to accept that Grim so easily accepted his new circumstances, changing from an uncaring bounty hunter to what he became at the end of the novel (being vague for spoiler reasons).
2) there are various parts of the novel where the text describes memories/illusions or other events that the characters are thinking about or experiencing. At times, those passages were hard to connect with the plot (in other words, they were well written, but I had trouble connecting the substance to the movement of the plot). This may have been intentional, but for me, it was a bit distracting.
That said, I really enjoyed the book. The author did a great job of pacing the novel and, in particular, made passages where characters were just talking not move slowly. The characters are fleshed out and compelling.
The book does a great job of leaving certain questions unanswered, but not making you feel unsatisfied. I absolutely want to know what happens next with these characters, as there are unanswered questions I hope the author pursues with future stories in the series.
It is (I believe) the debut fantasy novel from the author's "Siblings Suns" series. The main character, Grim, is a bounty hunter living in a post-"Riot" world trying to survive. Based on an event at the beginning of the book (and its aftermath), Grim is led to make a series of decisions that lead to his joining an organization called "The Agency". The main Goodreads summary is a good summary of the plot, and I want to stay away from spoilers.
There are two reasons why this book was four, not five stars, for me:
1) while I don't expect characters to act exactly how people generally do in the real world, at times it was hard for me to accept that Grim so easily accepted his new circumstances, changing from an uncaring bounty hunter to what he became at the end of the novel (being vague for spoiler reasons).
2) there are various parts of the novel where the text describes memories/illusions or other events that the characters are thinking about or experiencing. At times, those passages were hard to connect with the plot (in other words, they were well written, but I had trouble connecting the substance to the movement of the plot). This may have been intentional, but for me, it was a bit distracting.
That said, I really enjoyed the book. The author did a great job of pacing the novel and, in particular, made passages where characters were just talking not move slowly. The characters are fleshed out and compelling.
The book does a great job of leaving certain questions unanswered, but not making you feel unsatisfied. I absolutely want to know what happens next with these characters, as there are unanswered questions I hope the author pursues with future stories in the series.
August 23, 2022
An Ocean of Others is the first book in The Sibling Suns series. The narrative centers around Grim, the last living bounty hunter struggling to make a living by completing bounties in the city devastated by the Riot. With the danger, even bigger than the Riot, looming and threatening to take control over the city would Grim be able to save Liwokin from its grasp?
It kept me turning pages day and night and I was able to finish the book in just 3 days! The author has done a wonderful job in telling a story that will surely grip the reader's attention until the very end. The fight sequences and world building are some of the strongest elements of this book.
The world is small but the world building has been handled pretty efficiently though I found myself craving to see more of the other cities which formed part of the Bright Empire.
The characters could have more depth in them in terms of back story, appearances and their emotions but given the story revolves around the main protagonist Grim, this aspect can be easily overlooked and never felt like a hindrance.
The only concern I had was at the climax when few major plot revelations could have been explained in a better way. After I finished the book, I had so many questions to which the answers hopefully find their way in the upcoming books.
This is a very impressive debut and I am definitely looking forward to what comes next in The Sibling Suns. I would strong recommend fantasy lovers to give this one a much deserved read.
It kept me turning pages day and night and I was able to finish the book in just 3 days! The author has done a wonderful job in telling a story that will surely grip the reader's attention until the very end. The fight sequences and world building are some of the strongest elements of this book.
The world is small but the world building has been handled pretty efficiently though I found myself craving to see more of the other cities which formed part of the Bright Empire.
The characters could have more depth in them in terms of back story, appearances and their emotions but given the story revolves around the main protagonist Grim, this aspect can be easily overlooked and never felt like a hindrance.
The only concern I had was at the climax when few major plot revelations could have been explained in a better way. After I finished the book, I had so many questions to which the answers hopefully find their way in the upcoming books.
This is a very impressive debut and I am definitely looking forward to what comes next in The Sibling Suns. I would strong recommend fantasy lovers to give this one a much deserved read.
November 11, 2022
While fantasy isn’t my usual genre, An Ocean of Others sucked me right in. I enjoyed the rich world the author created and the vivid descriptions of the monsters within it. Grim was a likable character with enough wit to keep me entertained throughout. I loved being inside his head as things got more and more twisted. And that action packed ending? Hooboy! Well, you’ll just have to read it for yourself. All in all a good read and one I’d recommend to fantasy lovers.
October 30, 2023
An Ocean of Others by Joshua Scott Edwards was another from my top 20 books I added to my personal SPFBO-9 TBR. This was a solid read. I'm going to offer some full disclosure on this one though as I actually listened to the audiobook in September and that month was insanely busy for me. Though I enjoyed the book I didn't take any notes, then a couple of weeks went by and I couldn't remember enough with confidence to put together a full review.
I didn't think that was fair so I queued up the audiobook again last week to refresh my memory and I'm glad I did. I think I even enjoyed it just a bit more the second time around as life has calmed down a bit and I was able to focus and enjoy the story a bit more.
This was another one of those stories where I started to question who I was supposed to trust, if anyone! The line of remember what is real became difficult for myself when reading. There is so much illusion and deceit that I struggled at times on which direction I was hoping Grim would pursue next.
The use of the body parts as ranks or divisions of the agency was a nice touch. The Hand and Fingers reminded me a lot of an old underrated movie Band of the Hand which was always a favorite.
The pacing was solid in An Ocean of Others. The narration was done very well by Danny Gavigan which I don't believe I've heard before this. He did a solid job with the various voices and expressing emotions when needed from the characters. I can't ask for much more when it comes to good narration.
The worldbuilding was also a lot of fun and unique. I enjoyed the magic system the author has built within this world and of course the intrigue between cultures and characters throughout book one. I felt like we've only just scratched the surface of this world. There is so much potential to expand on things and it's history still.
The character development was probably the strongest of the three aspects I focus on. Not only does our protagonist Grim go through a lot of growth throughout the book but many of the support characters and even potential antagonists. This of course contributed to me not always know who to trust or which way the story may go though. But this was in a good way!
All in all I did enjoy this read and I'm glad that I went ahead and gave it a second chance before putting together my full review. I will keep Joshua and this series on my radar to read future installments for sure.
I didn't think that was fair so I queued up the audiobook again last week to refresh my memory and I'm glad I did. I think I even enjoyed it just a bit more the second time around as life has calmed down a bit and I was able to focus and enjoy the story a bit more.
This was another one of those stories where I started to question who I was supposed to trust, if anyone! The line of remember what is real became difficult for myself when reading. There is so much illusion and deceit that I struggled at times on which direction I was hoping Grim would pursue next.
The use of the body parts as ranks or divisions of the agency was a nice touch. The Hand and Fingers reminded me a lot of an old underrated movie Band of the Hand which was always a favorite.
The pacing was solid in An Ocean of Others. The narration was done very well by Danny Gavigan which I don't believe I've heard before this. He did a solid job with the various voices and expressing emotions when needed from the characters. I can't ask for much more when it comes to good narration.
The worldbuilding was also a lot of fun and unique. I enjoyed the magic system the author has built within this world and of course the intrigue between cultures and characters throughout book one. I felt like we've only just scratched the surface of this world. There is so much potential to expand on things and it's history still.
The character development was probably the strongest of the three aspects I focus on. Not only does our protagonist Grim go through a lot of growth throughout the book but many of the support characters and even potential antagonists. This of course contributed to me not always know who to trust or which way the story may go though. But this was in a good way!
All in all I did enjoy this read and I'm glad that I went ahead and gave it a second chance before putting together my full review. I will keep Joshua and this series on my radar to read future installments for sure.
August 20, 2022
3.5 stars.
There were pros and cons, highs and lows. I’ll write up a full review later when I’ve had some time to mull over the ending.
There were pros and cons, highs and lows. I’ll write up a full review later when I’ve had some time to mull over the ending.
March 23, 2023
Not bad at all. Action from start to finish, with a likable cast if characters.
September 3, 2023
3.5
Beginning was bogged down and hard to get through. Literally thought it would be a DNF. However right around the 50% mark, the book takes off. Just wish the beginning was better. Still enjoyed it though!
Beginning was bogged down and hard to get through. Literally thought it would be a DNF. However right around the 50% mark, the book takes off. Just wish the beginning was better. Still enjoyed it though!
August 23, 2022
Full review soon. Fantastic D and D inspired debut with a very atmospheric world.
July 31, 2023
I went into this book expecting a quality, enjoyable read and it didn’t disappoint.
I'd been attracted by its brilliant cover and intriguing premise and then sampled the first chapter, which provided a compelling opening.
I’ve read books based on or inspired by role-playing settings and campaigns before and they can be hit and miss for me. However, with the reassurance of that first chapter, I was more than happy to roll the dice and fully dive into An Ocean Of Others.
I enjoy bounty hunters in stories and the main character certainly paid off for me. With a name like Grim, I knew he was likely to be morally grey and that I was likely to be in for a dark ride. I hadn’t appreciated how dark - indeed, horrific - it would be. Not that I’m complaining. It was a superb mash-up of genres, very cleverly executed by the author.
Grim’s story is told in a past tense, first person perspective, which had me really invested in the character. I felt his emotions and shared his confusion as he tried to piece the puzzles together, which I particularly enjoyed as I love intrigue and trying to solve mysteries.
Although I enjoyed Grim’s character, the rest of the cast didn’t feel as fully fleshed out, which is a pity as the motley crew aspect of the book worked well in terms of the diversity, banter and squabbling. It’s just that none of the other characters felt as rounded as Grim and we only get a two-dimensional feel for them.
I think it’s very much a plot-driven rather than character-driven story, which isn’t my particular preference. I like to get under the skin of side characters, so that I can feel emotionally involved.
They were all interesting and the inter-actions were fun but I’d have been more invested if I felt I knew them better and cared about them more.
Of the many plus points, the book is action-packed, with very good pacing. There is a repetitive element to the episodic quests, but they’re full of exciting combat and tension, and there is a purpose to each of them.
I particularly enjoyed this dangling carrot aspect of working through the challenges and obstacles to gradually unveil the layers of mystery.
That mystery is intriguing, the action scenes are fantastic, and the setting of Liwokin and its surroundings is interesting and well evoked.
Edwards’ prose is accessible, making for a reading experience in which the pages fly by, but with a healthy sprinkling of some really neat lines which I really appreciate in an accomplished writer.
All in all, it’s a fun, enjoyable romp which also delves into some dark places and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
I'd been attracted by its brilliant cover and intriguing premise and then sampled the first chapter, which provided a compelling opening.
I’ve read books based on or inspired by role-playing settings and campaigns before and they can be hit and miss for me. However, with the reassurance of that first chapter, I was more than happy to roll the dice and fully dive into An Ocean Of Others.
I enjoy bounty hunters in stories and the main character certainly paid off for me. With a name like Grim, I knew he was likely to be morally grey and that I was likely to be in for a dark ride. I hadn’t appreciated how dark - indeed, horrific - it would be. Not that I’m complaining. It was a superb mash-up of genres, very cleverly executed by the author.
Grim’s story is told in a past tense, first person perspective, which had me really invested in the character. I felt his emotions and shared his confusion as he tried to piece the puzzles together, which I particularly enjoyed as I love intrigue and trying to solve mysteries.
Although I enjoyed Grim’s character, the rest of the cast didn’t feel as fully fleshed out, which is a pity as the motley crew aspect of the book worked well in terms of the diversity, banter and squabbling. It’s just that none of the other characters felt as rounded as Grim and we only get a two-dimensional feel for them.
I think it’s very much a plot-driven rather than character-driven story, which isn’t my particular preference. I like to get under the skin of side characters, so that I can feel emotionally involved.
They were all interesting and the inter-actions were fun but I’d have been more invested if I felt I knew them better and cared about them more.
Of the many plus points, the book is action-packed, with very good pacing. There is a repetitive element to the episodic quests, but they’re full of exciting combat and tension, and there is a purpose to each of them.
I particularly enjoyed this dangling carrot aspect of working through the challenges and obstacles to gradually unveil the layers of mystery.
That mystery is intriguing, the action scenes are fantastic, and the setting of Liwokin and its surroundings is interesting and well evoked.
Edwards’ prose is accessible, making for a reading experience in which the pages fly by, but with a healthy sprinkling of some really neat lines which I really appreciate in an accomplished writer.
All in all, it’s a fun, enjoyable romp which also delves into some dark places and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
June 26, 2023
An Ocean of Others is a really interesting read. It's got a classic monster-of-the-week vibe and some hidden conspiracies, but splashes enough of a unique take on both that it still becomes a very refreshing read.
It follows Grim, the last bounty hunter in Liwokin, who follows a web of conspiracies to become a Finger - a hunter of a different sort - of the city-controlling Agency. When the conspiracy becomes far deeper than he could have imagined, Grim and his merry band become embroiled in a mysterious conflict that will have them questioning what is real.
Each section of the book has Grim's group - or Hand - hunting a different monster, and I absolutely loved how Edwards handled this aspect of the story. It goes well beyond the standard monster-of-the-week storytelling and gives an unexpected level of depth and background to each individual monster - and how they came to be in the first place. How each encounter unfolds, and how they're resolved, had me on the edge of my seat, always looking forward to the next conflict. These moments are tense and at times overwhelming, and though some later encounters get a little messy from a narrative perspective, it also fits in well with the first-person narrative and what Grim himself experiences. I kind of got Stranger Things vibes in some instances.
Parts of the pacing did feel a little rushed at times though. From the blurb, I think I went in with the wrong impression of Grim's background as a bounty hunter being a focus when it never quite felt relevant - not to mention he goes from bounty hunter to Finger within the first two or three chapters, which felt a bit jarring. Likewise, there are a couple other scenes, like when a member of Grim's Hand is reassigned and replaced, that felt like they should have had more of a narrative impact but ultimately didn't. On the whole though, these are more nitpicks than deal breakers and the plot is very well written throughout otherwise.
Overall, An Ocean of Others is a great read. If you're looking for a really unique take on a monster-hunting fantasy, this is definitely one to check out.
It follows Grim, the last bounty hunter in Liwokin, who follows a web of conspiracies to become a Finger - a hunter of a different sort - of the city-controlling Agency. When the conspiracy becomes far deeper than he could have imagined, Grim and his merry band become embroiled in a mysterious conflict that will have them questioning what is real.
Each section of the book has Grim's group - or Hand - hunting a different monster, and I absolutely loved how Edwards handled this aspect of the story. It goes well beyond the standard monster-of-the-week storytelling and gives an unexpected level of depth and background to each individual monster - and how they came to be in the first place. How each encounter unfolds, and how they're resolved, had me on the edge of my seat, always looking forward to the next conflict. These moments are tense and at times overwhelming, and though some later encounters get a little messy from a narrative perspective, it also fits in well with the first-person narrative and what Grim himself experiences. I kind of got Stranger Things vibes in some instances.
Parts of the pacing did feel a little rushed at times though. From the blurb, I think I went in with the wrong impression of Grim's background as a bounty hunter being a focus when it never quite felt relevant - not to mention he goes from bounty hunter to Finger within the first two or three chapters, which felt a bit jarring. Likewise, there are a couple other scenes, like when a member of Grim's Hand is reassigned and replaced, that felt like they should have had more of a narrative impact but ultimately didn't. On the whole though, these are more nitpicks than deal breakers and the plot is very well written throughout otherwise.
Overall, An Ocean of Others is a great read. If you're looking for a really unique take on a monster-hunting fantasy, this is definitely one to check out.
July 12, 2024
First thing I'd like to say is the performance on the audiobook is top notch. Danny Gavigan has a wide range of voices that he employs in the reading.
This is the story of Grim, who in the beginning of the story is forced to join a mercenary group and sent on a mission with very little information about what he's getting himself into.
It's a strong opening act with many enjoyable characters coming together to fight a very cool monster. The book also finishes strong with a battle against the final monster, the so-called Benefactor where all the mysteries of the story are brought into the light in an interesting way. It's the middle where the story drags a bit unfortunately. Never so much that I wanted to stop reading, but my interest did begin to wain.
Overall very enjoyable, and the twist at the end makes me wonder what the next installment might be like. Will add it to my Want to Read list.
This is the story of Grim, who in the beginning of the story is forced to join a mercenary group and sent on a mission with very little information about what he's getting himself into.
It's a strong opening act with many enjoyable characters coming together to fight a very cool monster. The book also finishes strong with a battle against the final monster, the so-called Benefactor where all the mysteries of the story are brought into the light in an interesting way. It's the middle where the story drags a bit unfortunately. Never so much that I wanted to stop reading, but my interest did begin to wain.
Overall very enjoyable, and the twist at the end makes me wonder what the next installment might be like. Will add it to my Want to Read list.
July 17, 2022
eARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Spoilers follow:
An exciting debut. There were moments I wish the writing could've captured my attention a bit more. The action was tight and well-paced, and brutally realistic, which I loved. The worldbuilding felt a little clumsy at times, and I wish we explored the Agency a little more naturally, but mostly it was done well, and each of the positions being named after body parts was interesting and well received.
The ending left me satisfied and interested in the next book. I'll be watching for Edwards' next work.
Spoilers follow:
An exciting debut. There were moments I wish the writing could've captured my attention a bit more. The action was tight and well-paced, and brutally realistic, which I loved. The worldbuilding felt a little clumsy at times, and I wish we explored the Agency a little more naturally, but mostly it was done well, and each of the positions being named after body parts was interesting and well received.
The ending left me satisfied and interested in the next book. I'll be watching for Edwards' next work.
did-not-finish
August 28, 2023DNF at 20%
DNF rating: 3.5
There is a lot of promise in this book so far. It's just that I find myself not caring all that much about what happens next. It's a bit dull, but I might have continued if I was more in the mood for this type of story.
DNF rating: 3.5
There is a lot of promise in this book so far. It's just that I find myself not caring all that much about what happens next. It's a bit dull, but I might have continued if I was more in the mood for this type of story.
October 18, 2022
This made for a perfect read for Halloween. I was not expecting the elements of Silent Hill-esque horror to interweave with elements of a fantasy mystery plot. JSE weaves a fantastic tale of dystopian fantasy laced with surreal and sometimes grotesque horror all seen from the perspective of its main character Grim.
The monsters (known as Benefactors) steal the show in ways I can’t spoil but if you’re into fantasy and want something to scratch that Halloween itch, I highly recommend this one.
And check out my video review of the book here: https://youtu.be/rkkzu-YYISo
The monsters (known as Benefactors) steal the show in ways I can’t spoil but if you’re into fantasy and want something to scratch that Halloween itch, I highly recommend this one.
And check out my video review of the book here: https://youtu.be/rkkzu-YYISo
October 6, 2023
Read as a Judge for SPFBO9. This is my personal opinion. Other Judge's opinions will may vary.
A large riot hits our protagonist Grim's home city of Liwoken; thousands of people die and houses and buildings destroyed. The problem is that no one has any idea how nor who began the riot (and Grim has annoyed plenty of people off for asking).
Because of this riot a form of police, called The Agency has been formed and thus Grim's work as a Bounty Hunter has all but dried up and he's finding it hard to make a living.
One night whilst chasing a thief Grim stumbles across a conspiracy that appears to involve Ulken; the head of the Agency. Together Grim and his friend Inac (a mage) join the Agency to see if they can discover what's going on (as well as earning a steady income) & maybe even attempt some blackmail.
The Agency is not at all what Grim and Inac expected; grouped together with other new recruits, Grim's team is sent out to fight both monsters and magic. Each time Grim kills he retains the memories and the magic of the monster; to his horror the monsters were once human and he remembers the torture and procedure that each went through. Grim's team now secretly work to find out who is creating these monsters (who are getting bigger and more dangerous on each mission they're sent on) as well as finding out what is really going on at the Agency with Ulken and his friend Reed who started the Agency with him. Which one of them is the enemy here and if Grim's team don't find out soon, his home city and it's inhabitants may once again be at risk.
This story actually began as a D & D game invented and played by the author and friends.
Scott Edwards has turned this game into a perfectly credible story and had done well with adding enough nuance and backstory to each character, the magic system, world building without info dumps. The plot feels fresh and it was a story I really enjoyed and read in one sitting.
The problems though because it's based on a game, even if you're not a gamer (like myself) but you've read plenty of fantasy you'll spot the tropes straightaway; the team consists of rogue, dwarf, mage, bard, paladin and ranger and of course there's the animosity between certain races, this wasn't really a problem for me but may pull people out of the story. I didn't have a problem with Grim "powering up" as it were, in this case it felt like a progression fantasy and was worked into the story fine.
I did have an issue with the 'side quests' (the bard and the Empress's son being one), they may be important in the coming sequels but for this story they felt like an unnecessary distraction.
I really enjoyed the ending of this story and especially the scene where the title of this novel comes into play.
For a debut author i think this book is quite commendable.
A large riot hits our protagonist Grim's home city of Liwoken; thousands of people die and houses and buildings destroyed. The problem is that no one has any idea how nor who began the riot (and Grim has annoyed plenty of people off for asking).
Because of this riot a form of police, called The Agency has been formed and thus Grim's work as a Bounty Hunter has all but dried up and he's finding it hard to make a living.
One night whilst chasing a thief Grim stumbles across a conspiracy that appears to involve Ulken; the head of the Agency. Together Grim and his friend Inac (a mage) join the Agency to see if they can discover what's going on (as well as earning a steady income) & maybe even attempt some blackmail.
The Agency is not at all what Grim and Inac expected; grouped together with other new recruits, Grim's team is sent out to fight both monsters and magic. Each time Grim kills he retains the memories and the magic of the monster; to his horror the monsters were once human and he remembers the torture and procedure that each went through. Grim's team now secretly work to find out who is creating these monsters (who are getting bigger and more dangerous on each mission they're sent on) as well as finding out what is really going on at the Agency with Ulken and his friend Reed who started the Agency with him. Which one of them is the enemy here and if Grim's team don't find out soon, his home city and it's inhabitants may once again be at risk.
This story actually began as a D & D game invented and played by the author and friends.
Scott Edwards has turned this game into a perfectly credible story and had done well with adding enough nuance and backstory to each character, the magic system, world building without info dumps. The plot feels fresh and it was a story I really enjoyed and read in one sitting.
The problems though because it's based on a game, even if you're not a gamer (like myself) but you've read plenty of fantasy you'll spot the tropes straightaway; the team consists of rogue, dwarf, mage, bard, paladin and ranger and of course there's the animosity between certain races, this wasn't really a problem for me but may pull people out of the story. I didn't have a problem with Grim "powering up" as it were, in this case it felt like a progression fantasy and was worked into the story fine.
I did have an issue with the 'side quests' (the bard and the Empress's son being one), they may be important in the coming sequels but for this story they felt like an unnecessary distraction.
I really enjoyed the ending of this story and especially the scene where the title of this novel comes into play.
For a debut author i think this book is quite commendable.
July 31, 2023
An Ocean of Others, book 1 of Dance of the Sibling Suns, is an exciting debut from Joshua Scott Edwards and worthy entry into the ranks of modern fantasy.
Edwards writes with a clear voice and has built a vibrant world and characters that burst off the page.
Fans of Joe Abercrombie, Ed McDonald and Daniel Polansky will find much to enjoy in this adventure.
Edwards writes with a clear voice and has built a vibrant world and characters that burst off the page.
Fans of Joe Abercrombie, Ed McDonald and Daniel Polansky will find much to enjoy in this adventure.
July 27, 2023
The plot of this book was wonderfully woven, giving information bit by bit in the way of a mystery novel, while never slowing down the pace of the action.
The story was small scale, involving mostly one city and the area around it, which made for a condensed and succinct story that was easy to digest and enjoy!
It started out dark, then shifted to sort of adventure/dnd vibes with a group of diverse fighters on a team: a mage, a paladin, a dwarf, a fighter, and a hunter/tracker. Then it shifted back to the dark vibes slowly for a wonderful crescendo at the arc.
The terminology of the book was fun and well thought out, with each of the five members of each team being called Fingers, and the teams themselves being called Hands, and every other part of the Agency having a similarly appropriate body name. It wasn’t spelled out, so it took a while to notice and appreciate the structure of the Agency, which seemed like a disorganized mess when first introduced. As the story went on it became apparent how intentional everything was.
The book had an exceptionally satisfying end, and all around it was cool to have everything tied together so neatly.
Other things to note: there was no romance, there was graphic violence, some horror vibes
The story was small scale, involving mostly one city and the area around it, which made for a condensed and succinct story that was easy to digest and enjoy!
It started out dark, then shifted to sort of adventure/dnd vibes with a group of diverse fighters on a team: a mage, a paladin, a dwarf, a fighter, and a hunter/tracker. Then it shifted back to the dark vibes slowly for a wonderful crescendo at the arc.
The terminology of the book was fun and well thought out, with each of the five members of each team being called Fingers, and the teams themselves being called Hands, and every other part of the Agency having a similarly appropriate body name. It wasn’t spelled out, so it took a while to notice and appreciate the structure of the Agency, which seemed like a disorganized mess when first introduced. As the story went on it became apparent how intentional everything was.
The book had an exceptionally satisfying end, and all around it was cool to have everything tied together so neatly.
Other things to note: there was no romance, there was graphic violence, some horror vibes
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