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Lords of Order and Chaos #1
Fires That Forge: Book I of the Epic Fantasy Series Lords of Order and Chaos
Kingdom of Lethanor, 1648. Inquisitor Dunewell stands strong in a city scarred by corruption. A true warrior for justice, the newly assigned investigator jumps into the fray when a close physician friend is accused of murder. Vowing to find the real monster, he enters a deadly race against time and the tip of the executioner’s blade. Ordered by superiors to wrap up the case quickly, the honorable man-at-arms digs deeply into clues pointing to demons and forbidden powers. But as more aristocrats are found brutally slain and vampire attacks foment mayhem, Dunewell must hunt down a magical foe before his city falls into violent madness. Fires that Forge is the first book in the gripping Lords of Order & Chaos epic fantasy series, one of four series in the Bloodlines Reforged Saga. If you like thrilling mysteries, hidden enemies, and fast-paced action, then you’ll love R. J. Hanson’s sword and sorcery tale.
- GenresFantasy
229 pages, Hardcover
Published July 15, 2022
20 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Hanson
12 books58 followers Just a short Bio here. For more information about us and our stories check out our website at www.bloodlinesreforged.com and sign up for our newsletter for discounts, giveaways, and access to exclusive content.
RJ Hanson has two books on Amazon ranked #1 in epic fantasy and dark fantasy, Roland's Path and Fires that Forge. RJ began developing the epic sword and sorcery saga, Bloodlines Reforged, in 1996. However, it was 2019 before the first book was published. The Bloodlines Reforged Saga tells the tales of a warrior's courage, a scorned sorcerer's revenge, a corrupt church's perversion of faith, a grieving vampire dealing with loss, and a knight's struggle of breaking his oath in order to fulfill it. You will find plenty of magic, monsters, sword fights, and political intrigue in this multi-series adventure.
RJ Hanson began his love for all things fantasy at the age of 5. In 1978, when his mother bought him the Rankin & Bass production of The Hobbit, a 24 page read along with the record children's book, RJ's imagination was opened to a new world. Reading Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, Terry Brooks, and even Stephen King, RJ began constructing worlds and characters of his own.
RJ began his writing career at forty-five. During the course of his life he accumulated a number of real-world experiences that have served to give him a unique understanding of the human condition and a perspective that gives his writing an honest grit. He has also benefited from years of training ranging from interview and interrogation techniques to hand to hand combat to SWAT tactics. RJ is a certified Firearms Instructor and Linguistic Statement Analyst. He also enjoys the distinction of having scored a touch, or 'touche', against an Olympic fencer during a pickup match in college. He's really too proud of it.
In his youth he worked as a cowboy having grown up on a small ranch in north Texas. At the age of 16 he was selected for the TAMS (Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science) project at the University of North Texas. In his spare time, RJ has studied medieval combat and military tactics as well as arms and armaments of various cultures and times. RJ plays in a weekly pen and paper RPG game (Rolemaster) with some close family and friends and some of the characters played have been around since 1996! His adult children like to joke that some of the characters are older than they are.
RJ and his wife, Michelle, live on a small ranch where they maintain a modest heard of cattle, two dogs, a variety of barn cats, and a peahen named Margaret (aka Ferd).
"Hanson's very visceral writing style captures the breathtaking excitement, terror, and wonder of fantasy adventure that I've found in roleplaying, computer gaming, and classics of the genre...but is so often lacking in contemporary offerings. The mental world inhabited by his characters is very well developed. Combat scenes are invariably creative, well-thought, and realistic in a way that will please purists while remaining fast paced enough to satisfy others. And it is an intriguing blend of high and low fantasy: while inhabiting a gritty world and hardly infallible, the protagonists are high-minded people trying to do the right thing in an often complicated and confusing world. If you're uncertain about your next fantasy read ... just get this one." Award winning author Jon Black
If you enjoyed any of his works, please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or GoodReads.
For more information you can check his website www.bloodlinesreforged.com
You can learn more on Instagram @r.j.hanson or Twitter @rjhanson5
You can also follow him at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/r-j-h...
or
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
By doing so you will get an email notification when new books are released and details about promotional offers.
RJ Hanson has two books on Amazon ranked #1 in epic fantasy and dark fantasy, Roland's Path and Fires that Forge. RJ began developing the epic sword and sorcery saga, Bloodlines Reforged, in 1996. However, it was 2019 before the first book was published. The Bloodlines Reforged Saga tells the tales of a warrior's courage, a scorned sorcerer's revenge, a corrupt church's perversion of faith, a grieving vampire dealing with loss, and a knight's struggle of breaking his oath in order to fulfill it. You will find plenty of magic, monsters, sword fights, and political intrigue in this multi-series adventure.
RJ Hanson began his love for all things fantasy at the age of 5. In 1978, when his mother bought him the Rankin & Bass production of The Hobbit, a 24 page read along with the record children's book, RJ's imagination was opened to a new world. Reading Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, Terry Brooks, and even Stephen King, RJ began constructing worlds and characters of his own.
RJ began his writing career at forty-five. During the course of his life he accumulated a number of real-world experiences that have served to give him a unique understanding of the human condition and a perspective that gives his writing an honest grit. He has also benefited from years of training ranging from interview and interrogation techniques to hand to hand combat to SWAT tactics. RJ is a certified Firearms Instructor and Linguistic Statement Analyst. He also enjoys the distinction of having scored a touch, or 'touche', against an Olympic fencer during a pickup match in college. He's really too proud of it.
In his youth he worked as a cowboy having grown up on a small ranch in north Texas. At the age of 16 he was selected for the TAMS (Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science) project at the University of North Texas. In his spare time, RJ has studied medieval combat and military tactics as well as arms and armaments of various cultures and times. RJ plays in a weekly pen and paper RPG game (Rolemaster) with some close family and friends and some of the characters played have been around since 1996! His adult children like to joke that some of the characters are older than they are.
RJ and his wife, Michelle, live on a small ranch where they maintain a modest heard of cattle, two dogs, a variety of barn cats, and a peahen named Margaret (aka Ferd).
"Hanson's very visceral writing style captures the breathtaking excitement, terror, and wonder of fantasy adventure that I've found in roleplaying, computer gaming, and classics of the genre...but is so often lacking in contemporary offerings. The mental world inhabited by his characters is very well developed. Combat scenes are invariably creative, well-thought, and realistic in a way that will please purists while remaining fast paced enough to satisfy others. And it is an intriguing blend of high and low fantasy: while inhabiting a gritty world and hardly infallible, the protagonists are high-minded people trying to do the right thing in an often complicated and confusing world. If you're uncertain about your next fantasy read ... just get this one." Award winning author Jon Black
If you enjoyed any of his works, please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or GoodReads.
For more information you can check his website www.bloodlinesreforged.com
You can learn more on Instagram @r.j.hanson or Twitter @rjhanson5
You can also follow him at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/r-j-h...
or
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
By doing so you will get an email notification when new books are released and details about promotional offers.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 15, 2021
This book had its hooks in me early on. A Sherlock Holmesesque murder mystery set in a fleshed-out medieval fantasy world. That’s something I didn’t know existed and now I wish I had more.
There’s way too much “(character name) said” nonsense going on, but it’s not as bad as another book I reviewed recently. I’d name it, but I can’t remember names to save my life. And oh boy does this book love to throw names around.
While the prologue and first chapter are some brilliantly done exposition, I was lost. I tend not to read as much fantasy as I like, due to the fondness of fantasy authors to throw around names, titles, ranks, positions, bla bla bla, and whatever else that’s not relevant for 3 more books.
It does a bit of skipping around timeline-wise, which annoys the hell out of me and confuses me. I’ve mentioned it before in other reviews. I’m often multitasking while listening to audiobook reviews and if I have no indication that an event takes place in the past, or even if I do, I don’t pay attention to chapter headers. The name of a chapter or its number is completely irrelevant to me. Chapter numbers are a waste of my time and the name of a chapter is only relevant if you’ve already read the book and know its meaning. So I’m already ignoring them and any motto , saying, part number or extra bit of dialogue is likely going to be ignored as well.
The narrator is top-notch, one of the better narrators I’ve heard. At the time of writing this, I’ve not only grown tired of fantasy novels but narrators who say made-up words like “acrosst”. So having a well-spoken narrator and an interesting fantasy novel to listen to has been a real treat. As I often mention in my audiobook reviews, I listen at 2.55X speed or 1.75x minimum. The narrator speeds up during intense action scenes which I appreciate. But if you listen to increased speeds, it might be difficult to follow. So take this as a warning.
This story uses the (UK?) weight measurement of “stones”, which makes sense from a fantasy novel standpoint. As somebody not familiar with that form of weight measurement, I was lost. The author also uses the “feet” measurement for height and the narrator says “erbs” instead of herbs. So those aspects made it feel a little janky like it didn’t know which region it wanted to be from.
I realize this review likely sounds a little mixed. I often bitch the most about things I enjoy, for whatever reason. This book did its job. It introduced me to the world, sunk its claws into me and got me hooked, and left me wanting more. I enjoyed this book very much and if you like murder mysteries and or medieval fantasy worlds, then this book is probably for you.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
There’s way too much “(character name) said” nonsense going on, but it’s not as bad as another book I reviewed recently. I’d name it, but I can’t remember names to save my life. And oh boy does this book love to throw names around.
While the prologue and first chapter are some brilliantly done exposition, I was lost. I tend not to read as much fantasy as I like, due to the fondness of fantasy authors to throw around names, titles, ranks, positions, bla bla bla, and whatever else that’s not relevant for 3 more books.
It does a bit of skipping around timeline-wise, which annoys the hell out of me and confuses me. I’ve mentioned it before in other reviews. I’m often multitasking while listening to audiobook reviews and if I have no indication that an event takes place in the past, or even if I do, I don’t pay attention to chapter headers. The name of a chapter or its number is completely irrelevant to me. Chapter numbers are a waste of my time and the name of a chapter is only relevant if you’ve already read the book and know its meaning. So I’m already ignoring them and any motto , saying, part number or extra bit of dialogue is likely going to be ignored as well.
The narrator is top-notch, one of the better narrators I’ve heard. At the time of writing this, I’ve not only grown tired of fantasy novels but narrators who say made-up words like “acrosst”. So having a well-spoken narrator and an interesting fantasy novel to listen to has been a real treat. As I often mention in my audiobook reviews, I listen at 2.55X speed or 1.75x minimum. The narrator speeds up during intense action scenes which I appreciate. But if you listen to increased speeds, it might be difficult to follow. So take this as a warning.
This story uses the (UK?) weight measurement of “stones”, which makes sense from a fantasy novel standpoint. As somebody not familiar with that form of weight measurement, I was lost. The author also uses the “feet” measurement for height and the narrator says “erbs” instead of herbs. So those aspects made it feel a little janky like it didn’t know which region it wanted to be from.
I realize this review likely sounds a little mixed. I often bitch the most about things I enjoy, for whatever reason. This book did its job. It introduced me to the world, sunk its claws into me and got me hooked, and left me wanting more. I enjoyed this book very much and if you like murder mysteries and or medieval fantasy worlds, then this book is probably for you.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
March 7, 2021
•Firstly, Starting with the title of the book. I personally felt that the title of the book is a perfect one because it is easy to read, understand, remember and it gives a curiosity to first time viewer to read the book. The cover on the other hand completes the outer appearance of the book. The outer appearance of the book is really appealing, intense and grabs the viewers attention.
•There as some books which have a really different vibe. These books are just normal as other but the thing that makes it different from others is elements in the storyline.
•Fires That Forge is an intriguing fantasy murder mystery. There is vampire concept also in the story that made it more intense.
•Story is set in Lethanor kingdom in the city of Moras. Two murders happened (His mother and father) in the house of a physician, Silas of the House Morosse.
The first thought that came to his mind is to rush to Inquisitor Dunewell who is also his friend. He felt like there is something that Silas is hiding from him. Now, there are many evidences against Silas. With the murder investigation going on, Silas came under the suspects.
Will he be able to prove himself innocent?
You have to grab the book to know what happened next!
•The characters are well developed and strong. The book has a good and unique storyline which has kept my interest throughout the duration of reading.
•The author has used easy language throughout the book, which makes it a quick read. Beautiful narration makes it even more engaging.
•All the events throughout the course of the novel seem credible and the way their story sizzles is worth praise.
•Highly Recommended!!! If you love reading mystery stories and thrillers then this one is surely for you.
•There as some books which have a really different vibe. These books are just normal as other but the thing that makes it different from others is elements in the storyline.
•Fires That Forge is an intriguing fantasy murder mystery. There is vampire concept also in the story that made it more intense.
•Story is set in Lethanor kingdom in the city of Moras. Two murders happened (His mother and father) in the house of a physician, Silas of the House Morosse.
The first thought that came to his mind is to rush to Inquisitor Dunewell who is also his friend. He felt like there is something that Silas is hiding from him. Now, there are many evidences against Silas. With the murder investigation going on, Silas came under the suspects.
Will he be able to prove himself innocent?
You have to grab the book to know what happened next!
•The characters are well developed and strong. The book has a good and unique storyline which has kept my interest throughout the duration of reading.
•The author has used easy language throughout the book, which makes it a quick read. Beautiful narration makes it even more engaging.
•All the events throughout the course of the novel seem credible and the way their story sizzles is worth praise.
•Highly Recommended!!! If you love reading mystery stories and thrillers then this one is surely for you.
May 18, 2021
Fantasy Action Murder Mystery
***Parents: if this were made into a movie it would easily hit R mostly due to the level of violence and detail of the gore in the murders, fights and injuries. There's more of a vampire and a hack doctor element to this story which if you are squeamish with blood I would maybe look elsewhere. The language isn't a problem and I terms of sexual content there are some insinuations and some attractions but nothing major and it's not a big part of the book.
As for the story, it took me a bit to understand what was going on.... The story is shown from the two main characters perspectives. So you'd listen to a scene and then re-experience the same scene through the second character. It may have helped in audio form to have these separated/differentiated in some way between them. Once I got a handle on that it was fine although a bit repetitive towards the first half of the book, it was later really helpful in the last half of the book as you are trying to solve the mystery. The author does a great job of world building and really did enjoy the twists, turns, high action style that he creates. I don't want to give anything away so I will just say that I am looking forward to see where these two characters go next.
The narrator did a great job overall and I really enjoyed listening to him. I did find it was a bit tricky to hear the difference between the two main characters at first which again would have been helpful in the perspective hopping that takes place- maybe some sort of heading between them would be helpful.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
***Parents: if this were made into a movie it would easily hit R mostly due to the level of violence and detail of the gore in the murders, fights and injuries. There's more of a vampire and a hack doctor element to this story which if you are squeamish with blood I would maybe look elsewhere. The language isn't a problem and I terms of sexual content there are some insinuations and some attractions but nothing major and it's not a big part of the book.
As for the story, it took me a bit to understand what was going on.... The story is shown from the two main characters perspectives. So you'd listen to a scene and then re-experience the same scene through the second character. It may have helped in audio form to have these separated/differentiated in some way between them. Once I got a handle on that it was fine although a bit repetitive towards the first half of the book, it was later really helpful in the last half of the book as you are trying to solve the mystery. The author does a great job of world building and really did enjoy the twists, turns, high action style that he creates. I don't want to give anything away so I will just say that I am looking forward to see where these two characters go next.
The narrator did a great job overall and I really enjoyed listening to him. I did find it was a bit tricky to hear the difference between the two main characters at first which again would have been helpful in the perspective hopping that takes place- maybe some sort of heading between them would be helpful.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
September 21, 2021
This was an interesting story. It was a combination of knights, Lords, vampires & demons. A little something for everyone. In the Kingdom of Lethanor there were people being attacked by vampires. Inquisitor Dunewell had to try to solve these murders in a city full of corruption. His parents were among the murdered and slowly but surely he started to get a picture in his mind of what happened. He was eventually accused of murder and was being hunted by the guards. He managed to get away but what happened next blindsided me. A great story that kept me guessing. The pages were full of bravery, corruption, courage & betrayel. I look forward to book 2 in the series.
November 27, 2020
Fires That Forge is one awesome medieval fantasy! The world that the author created is amazing and innovative, described very well, and well-thought-out. The characters are well-developed and relatable.
Personally, I'm a fan of the genre and I can say that I was nicely surprised by this book - the suspense at times, the mysteries, and this amazing world made me want to read more and more.
I will definitely read the next books in the series!
I highly recommend Fires That Forge.
Julie
BooksShelf Reviewer
Personally, I'm a fan of the genre and I can say that I was nicely surprised by this book - the suspense at times, the mysteries, and this amazing world made me want to read more and more.
I will definitely read the next books in the series!
I highly recommend Fires That Forge.
Julie
BooksShelf Reviewer
April 10, 2020
One of the finest i have read.
April 30, 2020
An intriguing fantasy murder mystery. The identity of the murderer is not easily guessed, and the plot is nicely set up for the next books in the series.
October 12, 2020
This book is amazing. The beautiful, descriptive writing transported me to another world that I could visualize perfectly. A thrilling mystery with sorcery, so cool. Really well-done
August 1, 2022
RJ Hanson does a masterful job of presenting a massive original world through the eyes of a detective. Inquisitor Dunewell is Sherlock for his city, and gives the reader a unique view of the power players involved. I enjoyed hearing about the magic, monsters, and other fantasy elements from Dunewell as if they were normal everyday occupances.
A refreshingly original story that kept me guessing the entire time. I'm looking forward to continue the story in book 2.
A refreshingly original story that kept me guessing the entire time. I'm looking forward to continue the story in book 2.
March 22, 2022
Detective story, swords, magic and political shenanigans in one book.
Beautiful writing, interesting plot: a silid five star novel.
I must admit that i got this book free fron the Author, but that has no effect on my review. It only bumped it first on my to-read list.
Beautiful writing, interesting plot: a silid five star novel.
I must admit that i got this book free fron the Author, but that has no effect on my review. It only bumped it first on my to-read list.
March 15, 2022
This story is brilliant, very well written. The detail in the book is amazing. I can’t wait to listen to the next book in this series. The narrator did a fantastic job with all the voices. He kept you so in enthralled in the story you can’t stop listening.
October 4, 2023
What to say about Fires That Forges is an engaging fantasy mixed with murder. I was hooked from the first page to last page. The characters are rich, bold, flawed, and enchanting. I look forward to the next book in the series. Until next time Happy Reading!
April 13, 2020
Inventive, Creative, Thorough World-Building
This author has vision and is a master at building a world you do believe in as well as a mystery that keeps you guessing. As I mention in my upcoming blog review, I had a difficult time reading through, and I think a portion of it had to do with the lack of connection I felt to any of the main characters. The narrative and descriptions overshadowed the dialogue and action for me.
It was an interesting read which held promise, but it wasn't my cup of tea at this time. This is just my opinion; I hope others will give it a try if they enjoy historical content, fantasy, creative and elaborate world-building and background knowledge, pages of narrative and descriptive writing, a more fast-paced ending, and an entrenched plot full of extras.
Find more on my blog: https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blo...
This author has vision and is a master at building a world you do believe in as well as a mystery that keeps you guessing. As I mention in my upcoming blog review, I had a difficult time reading through, and I think a portion of it had to do with the lack of connection I felt to any of the main characters. The narrative and descriptions overshadowed the dialogue and action for me.
It was an interesting read which held promise, but it wasn't my cup of tea at this time. This is just my opinion; I hope others will give it a try if they enjoy historical content, fantasy, creative and elaborate world-building and background knowledge, pages of narrative and descriptive writing, a more fast-paced ending, and an entrenched plot full of extras.
Find more on my blog: https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blo...
September 14, 2020
𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆: Fires That Forge
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: RJ Hanson
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
Fires that Forge is the first book that I have read by the author RJ Hanson. Lords of Order and Chaos Series is one of the series in the Bloodlines Reforged Saga.
In the city of Moras, physician Silas of House Morosse found his father and mother dead in the house. The first thought that came to his mind is to rush to Inquisitor Dunewell who is also his friend.
Dunewell who is trained to Interview and do interrogation properly also has the capability to read people's face/brain. He felt like there is something that Silas is hiding from him. Now, there are many evidences against Silas. But Silas knew one thing that without proper evidence, Dunewell will not accuse anyone. As the investigation goes further, we see Silas being accused as there is political benefits also to people from all of this.
There is vampire concept also in the story that made it more intense. The writing of the author has more potential to be polished. With gripping storyline, I was unable to put this book down so I binge read it on weekend.
With eighteen chapters in total, the length of the book was fine. There are other books also that one can explore by this author. If you love reading mystery stories and thrillers then this one is for you.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4/5
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: RJ Hanson
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
Fires that Forge is the first book that I have read by the author RJ Hanson. Lords of Order and Chaos Series is one of the series in the Bloodlines Reforged Saga.
In the city of Moras, physician Silas of House Morosse found his father and mother dead in the house. The first thought that came to his mind is to rush to Inquisitor Dunewell who is also his friend.
Dunewell who is trained to Interview and do interrogation properly also has the capability to read people's face/brain. He felt like there is something that Silas is hiding from him. Now, there are many evidences against Silas. But Silas knew one thing that without proper evidence, Dunewell will not accuse anyone. As the investigation goes further, we see Silas being accused as there is political benefits also to people from all of this.
There is vampire concept also in the story that made it more intense. The writing of the author has more potential to be polished. With gripping storyline, I was unable to put this book down so I binge read it on weekend.
With eighteen chapters in total, the length of the book was fine. There are other books also that one can explore by this author. If you love reading mystery stories and thrillers then this one is for you.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4/5
September 29, 2021
This book is all you look for in a fantasy - world building, good, evil, magic, mystery, and darkness.
When this first book started, I was a little thrown off by the two character perspective. Sometimes pieces would repeat as it was told by the different view but, after I realized what was happening, I was able to get fully absorbed.
The book takes places in a medieval world where a murder has taken places and now it's up to Dunewell to find the culprit who killed his own mother.
I don't wish to give anything anyway but this book is a great read for anyone who loves true traditional plot-focused Fantasy.
I would say it falls into NA to Adult rather than YA. There are some violent scenes but nothing that is nightmare provoking. Romance is kept to attraction which is something I actually prefer in my books.
The Narrator does this book justice with a great array of voices for the whole cast. He's got a voice that makes you drawn into the story without realizing it.
Overall, Five stars!
**I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my fair and honest review.**
When this first book started, I was a little thrown off by the two character perspective. Sometimes pieces would repeat as it was told by the different view but, after I realized what was happening, I was able to get fully absorbed.
The book takes places in a medieval world where a murder has taken places and now it's up to Dunewell to find the culprit who killed his own mother.
I don't wish to give anything anyway but this book is a great read for anyone who loves true traditional plot-focused Fantasy.
I would say it falls into NA to Adult rather than YA. There are some violent scenes but nothing that is nightmare provoking. Romance is kept to attraction which is something I actually prefer in my books.
The Narrator does this book justice with a great array of voices for the whole cast. He's got a voice that makes you drawn into the story without realizing it.
Overall, Five stars!
**I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my fair and honest review.**
October 4, 2020
The Fires That Forge is the first part in 'The Lords of Order and Chaos' series. Story is set in Lethanor kingdom in the city of Moras. Two murders happened in the house of a physician, Silas of the House Morosse. The two people who were murdered were his parents. He immediately rushed to the house of Dunewell who is his friend.
With the murder investigation going on, Silas came under the suspects. Will he be able to prove himself innocent? The story changes direction sometimes and involved other themes also that were intriguing.
Fantastic story that I enjoyed a lot. Writing style of the author is nice. I always love to be lost in the world full of mysteries. Language is comfortable to read. Cover page of the book looks really decent. It's a promising book that will not fail to impress you.
With the murder investigation going on, Silas came under the suspects. Will he be able to prove himself innocent? The story changes direction sometimes and involved other themes also that were intriguing.
Fantastic story that I enjoyed a lot. Writing style of the author is nice. I always love to be lost in the world full of mysteries. Language is comfortable to read. Cover page of the book looks really decent. It's a promising book that will not fail to impress you.
October 8, 2021
Honest review in return for an ARC audiobook.
I was very impressed. The storyline was cohesive and flowed well. The only thing I didn't like was how fast the end of the book went. It felt rushed to get the "action" in but also left unanswered questions and me wondering how much more can you develop the storyline for a second or more books, as this is the first?
The narrator did an excellent job with the number of characters he voiced. His oration definitely made listening enjoyable.
I was very impressed. The storyline was cohesive and flowed well. The only thing I didn't like was how fast the end of the book went. It felt rushed to get the "action" in but also left unanswered questions and me wondering how much more can you develop the storyline for a second or more books, as this is the first?
The narrator did an excellent job with the number of characters he voiced. His oration definitely made listening enjoyable.
October 9, 2023
A fantasy murder mystery with a very strong start and an ending that felt scattered and rushed.
I liked this book. There were moments that I really enjoyed and moments that could've been better. The lack of introspection worked for the murder plot line but when the story escalated into the supernatural, it was jarring and made me feel detached from the characters. This felt like two separate books that were jaggedly sewn together.
Negatives:
- I'm a stickler for pacing. There was not enough foreshadowing, logical character development, and exposition in this book for me to easily follow the plot. I struggled to understand the character's motivations and some revelations felt thrown in for shock value. The big moment (the main characters selling their souls to demons) was anti-climactic and felt out of character (especially for Silas). I can't pinpoint when, but the book took a twist with its characters and they were suddenly strangers.
- I understand what the author was trying to do and I admire the ambitions that this book took. Definitely had a lot of potential and, at times, I found myself wishing I could write a fantasy book like this. I don't want to say that the potential was wasted but it definitely didn't go the way I wish it had.
- One of my main critiques was that the 'villain' seemed to change repeatedly throughout the book. I wish the vampire had been a character we had already met like Erin, that would've made the whole story more satisfying for me. Silas' turn to evil was so random, I couldn't follow the plot for nearly twenty pages. Like??? He said "fuck it, demonic possession time" and I said "HUH?? DEMONS??". World building doesn't always need to be expressly stated in a fantasy novel (especially a murder mystery) but because of the supernatural ending, I would say that this book suffered from a lack of backstory.
Positives:
-I realize my negative section is going to be a lot longer because of how recent the ending is in my mind, but I do want to restate that I loved the beginning of this book. I was seriously considering a five star read until I was about 60% of the way through.
-Silas, my boy, I love(d) his character! He's resilient, smart, and calculated. I'm tired of big muscled heroes in fantasy books (*cough* dunewell *cough, cough*). Silas was a breath of fresh air. I was so upset when he became the villain. I guess that's what I get for trusting a skinny intellectual in a fantasy book.
-The switching of POVs/repetition of scenes. I thought this was a clever idea for a murder mystery. Once I got used to the cadence of the story, I really enjoyed this style. Super unique and refreshing. I wish there was more introspection in some of the scenes but otherwise this was really well done.
-Vampires! Hell yeah.
Damn, I want to rewrite that ending.
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I liked this book. There were moments that I really enjoyed and moments that could've been better. The lack of introspection worked for the murder plot line but when the story escalated into the supernatural, it was jarring and made me feel detached from the characters. This felt like two separate books that were jaggedly sewn together.
Negatives:
- I'm a stickler for pacing. There was not enough foreshadowing, logical character development, and exposition in this book for me to easily follow the plot. I struggled to understand the character's motivations and some revelations felt thrown in for shock value. The big moment (the main characters selling their souls to demons) was anti-climactic and felt out of character (especially for Silas). I can't pinpoint when, but the book took a twist with its characters and they were suddenly strangers.
- I understand what the author was trying to do and I admire the ambitions that this book took. Definitely had a lot of potential and, at times, I found myself wishing I could write a fantasy book like this. I don't want to say that the potential was wasted but it definitely didn't go the way I wish it had.
- One of my main critiques was that the 'villain' seemed to change repeatedly throughout the book. I wish the vampire had been a character we had already met like Erin, that would've made the whole story more satisfying for me. Silas' turn to evil was so random, I couldn't follow the plot for nearly twenty pages. Like??? He said "fuck it, demonic possession time" and I said "HUH?? DEMONS??". World building doesn't always need to be expressly stated in a fantasy novel (especially a murder mystery) but because of the supernatural ending, I would say that this book suffered from a lack of backstory.
Positives:
-I realize my negative section is going to be a lot longer because of how recent the ending is in my mind, but I do want to restate that I loved the beginning of this book. I was seriously considering a five star read until I was about 60% of the way through.
-Silas, my boy, I love(d) his character! He's resilient, smart, and calculated. I'm tired of big muscled heroes in fantasy books (*cough* dunewell *cough, cough*). Silas was a breath of fresh air. I was so upset when he became the villain. I guess that's what I get for trusting a skinny intellectual in a fantasy book.
-The switching of POVs/repetition of scenes. I thought this was a clever idea for a murder mystery. Once I got used to the cadence of the story, I really enjoyed this style. Super unique and refreshing. I wish there was more introspection in some of the scenes but otherwise this was really well done.
-Vampires! Hell yeah.
Damn, I want to rewrite that ending.
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
Two brothers, one drawn to the chaos, the other to order. One searching for cures in his hospital and the other an Inquisitor. Silas, a brilliant healer and Dunewell the Inquisitor’s younger brother, arrives barefoot on Dunewell’s doorstep, wet with rain and blood, after finding their parents murdered in their bed. Dunewell, the Inquisitor, is charged to investigate the double murder. In the intricate dance for balance and truth, each brother follows his path. To find their destinies and become the Lord’s of Chaos and Order.
This is a good story once you get your bearings. The prologue sets up the story intense and draws you in. Then, however, I was lost. The Formatting made it challenging to follow and figure out exactly what is going on. But if you stick it out and go back more than once, you will realise that the story is told from both Silas and Dunewell’s viewpoints. It could have been clearer, and the audiobook especially is confusing in the beginning. But the story is good enough that I am willing to read the next one. Dunewell seems like an interesting and formidable character, and I would love to see what happens.
The audiobook was well narrated, sometimes it seems as if the narrator stumbles over his words, but he does a good job.
So if you like a good whodunit and love Fantasy, I would recommend it. With the caveat that the book can be confusing initially, once you figure out what is going on and what fits where it is a good read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a good story once you get your bearings. The prologue sets up the story intense and draws you in. Then, however, I was lost. The Formatting made it challenging to follow and figure out exactly what is going on. But if you stick it out and go back more than once, you will realise that the story is told from both Silas and Dunewell’s viewpoints. It could have been clearer, and the audiobook especially is confusing in the beginning. But the story is good enough that I am willing to read the next one. Dunewell seems like an interesting and formidable character, and I would love to see what happens.
The audiobook was well narrated, sometimes it seems as if the narrator stumbles over his words, but he does a good job.
So if you like a good whodunit and love Fantasy, I would recommend it. With the caveat that the book can be confusing initially, once you figure out what is going on and what fits where it is a good read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 11, 2023
Audiobook: I find R. J. Hanson's books incredible. He builds an intricate and creative world filled with diverse characters and unusual beings that remain within the reader's imagination once the tale is completed. In this story, he has created a world that includes mortals, vampires, demonic forces, and magic. Along with all the trails and tribulations that his characters must undergo, he has interwoven a convoluted mystery that must be resolved. I recommend this book to those who love epic fantasies but also to those who enjoy a good mystery. Terry F. Self's narration is great and suits the characters well. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.
July 26, 2025
I give this book 3.5 stars...this is a good fantasy mystery thriller, the first 30% is a bit slow but it's a lot of character development but once it picks up it runs. Twist and turns and makes you want to read book two asap.
sff-ok-bx
February 15, 2025Bx,Rok
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