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The First Rule: The Blind Age
When the newly ordained Priestess of the Mind's Eye returns home to bury her mentor, she meets the seer, Temple. In his dreams of the near future, Temple sees her go to certain death facing a horror from the world below, a choir of the dead whose song enslaves the living.
Venalia's failure to protect the village is foretold, the village that has shunned her since childhood - but Venalia is sworn to an oath, bound by the first rule of the Priesthood to stand her ground against even the most hopeless of odds. Beset by corrupt leadership and an ungrateful flock, Venalia must decide what her life is really worth.
Perhaps it is better to die for something than to live for nothing.
The First Rule is a fantasy novel with elements of mystery, detective, progression and horror. It tells a story about redemption, forgiveness and duty in the face of overwhelming odds.
Venalia's failure to protect the village is foretold, the village that has shunned her since childhood - but Venalia is sworn to an oath, bound by the first rule of the Priesthood to stand her ground against even the most hopeless of odds. Beset by corrupt leadership and an ungrateful flock, Venalia must decide what her life is really worth.
Perhaps it is better to die for something than to live for nothing.
The First Rule is a fantasy novel with elements of mystery, detective, progression and horror. It tells a story about redemption, forgiveness and duty in the face of overwhelming odds.
- GenresFantasy
338 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2022
7 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 30, 2023
I went into this novel extremely blind. I knew it was a fantasy mystery, but it is so much more than that. The mystery is great and imaginative, but the stakes are a lot higher than I would have ever thought. The story is intriguing from the get go, giving me a lot of vibes from Stranger Things with the monsters and other type of goings on. I really enjoyed the variety of the characters that are introduced in such a short novel, immediately making me care about them within just a few short pages.
The strength of the novel was definitely the main characters of Temple and Venalia. There is an instant connection as I mentioned previously, but the growth shown with the characters kept me turning the pages faster and faster. I couldn't wait to see what more was discovered, especially as they used the powers and resources available to them. I also enjoyed the use of the magic with a consequence, making it a tool to be used sparingly rather than an all powerful hammer. The one thing that caught me a little bit was the pacing. The end of the novel had some good surprises, but did feel a little rushed to me. It was not bad, but I would have loved to have more information with everything that happened at the end.
All in all, this novel is one that deserves to be talked about and read by many. It does have a fantastic mystery element to it that will keep everyone guessing, but still maintains the classic feel of a solid fantasy novel through the entire thing. It sets the stage where many different types of stories could be told, with many more mysteries to unravel. If you are looking for a great read with a hint of horror, mystery, quest, and more, look no further. This is a read that you will definitely want to check out.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The strength of the novel was definitely the main characters of Temple and Venalia. There is an instant connection as I mentioned previously, but the growth shown with the characters kept me turning the pages faster and faster. I couldn't wait to see what more was discovered, especially as they used the powers and resources available to them. I also enjoyed the use of the magic with a consequence, making it a tool to be used sparingly rather than an all powerful hammer. The one thing that caught me a little bit was the pacing. The end of the novel had some good surprises, but did feel a little rushed to me. It was not bad, but I would have loved to have more information with everything that happened at the end.
All in all, this novel is one that deserves to be talked about and read by many. It does have a fantastic mystery element to it that will keep everyone guessing, but still maintains the classic feel of a solid fantasy novel through the entire thing. It sets the stage where many different types of stories could be told, with many more mysteries to unravel. If you are looking for a great read with a hint of horror, mystery, quest, and more, look no further. This is a read that you will definitely want to check out.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2024
The First Rule is another book that gave me a lot of things to think about, some that I enjoyed and some that I didn’t. I felt like it had a bit of a rough beginning that I struggled to connect with but eventually, I really got into the flow of the story and was glad that I continued nonetheless.
Something that really stood out was the formatting. The line break and poems added emphasis and breaks that I didn’t always quite feel in tune with but found interesting to explore nevertheless. I always say I like to see new things in books and that applies here as well. It’s cool to see what you can do with those things.
Something else that was a little above my head at times was the magic system and the way characters pray to their deities. I really struggled picturing how that worked but I did like the limitations that were put on those characters when using magic. I like consequences to using magic and like that this makes the characters approach their challenges differently than an unlimited supply of magic would allow for.
I won’t give away what it is but this book also uses a specific magic ability that I am not a big fan of and makes it work for me! I don’t see this very often and really enjoyed that part. This ability often allows for too much convenience in stories but here it did the exact opposite several times, which was a really neat thing to see.
This book had a really interesting cast of characters that mostly had good character growth and transformation. They also provided some really funny moments sometimes. I especially enjoyed the emotional gravity and dissonance between the MC and her childhood nemesis.
I loved that the MC was so scared at times. It felt relatable because, holy crap, would those creatures terrify me. It’s bad enough to read about them. The author really knows how to come up with creepy creatures. He was really good in general with building this feeling of dread that you’re regularly reminded of throughout this book. I think the present tense was an interesting choice that helped this narrative as well.
I did get really annoyed with the decision-making of the MC sometimes. I was internally yelling at her multiple times while reading this book. I also felt that the high stakes action started really early. I was thinking it would be hard to keep that excitement at a high through to the end and was worried about that flame burning out too soon. Despite what I’m about to say in the next section, this provided me with more frustration while reading than I would’ve liked.
The structure of this book did end up being very different from what I expected. I really liked how the final problems were solved and how the characters used their strengths and weaknesses in their favor. Also, the mystery that I thought was so out of place ended up having such a satisfying resolution. Wow.
I know this review is a little all over the place but as I said, I have a lot of feelings about this book. While it is a cut today for SPFBO, I do think the author did some really interesting things within this book and I’m looking forward to trying more of their writing in the future.
Something that really stood out was the formatting. The line break and poems added emphasis and breaks that I didn’t always quite feel in tune with but found interesting to explore nevertheless. I always say I like to see new things in books and that applies here as well. It’s cool to see what you can do with those things.
Something else that was a little above my head at times was the magic system and the way characters pray to their deities. I really struggled picturing how that worked but I did like the limitations that were put on those characters when using magic. I like consequences to using magic and like that this makes the characters approach their challenges differently than an unlimited supply of magic would allow for.
I won’t give away what it is but this book also uses a specific magic ability that I am not a big fan of and makes it work for me! I don’t see this very often and really enjoyed that part. This ability often allows for too much convenience in stories but here it did the exact opposite several times, which was a really neat thing to see.
This book had a really interesting cast of characters that mostly had good character growth and transformation. They also provided some really funny moments sometimes. I especially enjoyed the emotional gravity and dissonance between the MC and her childhood nemesis.
I loved that the MC was so scared at times. It felt relatable because, holy crap, would those creatures terrify me. It’s bad enough to read about them. The author really knows how to come up with creepy creatures. He was really good in general with building this feeling of dread that you’re regularly reminded of throughout this book. I think the present tense was an interesting choice that helped this narrative as well.
I did get really annoyed with the decision-making of the MC sometimes. I was internally yelling at her multiple times while reading this book. I also felt that the high stakes action started really early. I was thinking it would be hard to keep that excitement at a high through to the end and was worried about that flame burning out too soon. Despite what I’m about to say in the next section, this provided me with more frustration while reading than I would’ve liked.
The structure of this book did end up being very different from what I expected. I really liked how the final problems were solved and how the characters used their strengths and weaknesses in their favor. Also, the mystery that I thought was so out of place ended up having such a satisfying resolution. Wow.
I know this review is a little all over the place but as I said, I have a lot of feelings about this book. While it is a cut today for SPFBO, I do think the author did some really interesting things within this book and I’m looking forward to trying more of their writing in the future.
November 29, 2023
This review was originally posted on Before We Go Blog
Jumping into the Blind Age series completely blind was just about the best decision I could ever have made. Mixing all the best elements of fantasy, mystery, horror, and steampunk, The First Rule is a dark and entrancing genre-blendy gem of a book that completely surprised me and kept me on my toes the entire way through.
This is the story of Venalia, a newly ordained priestess of knowledge and secrets, and Temple, a half-giant seer who has just prophesied the priestess’ impending demise. A mysterious horror from below is coming for them, people are going missing, and now Venalia’s oaths give her no other option than to protect the village that has shunned her all her life. As The First Rule says: “A Priestess must never, under any circumstances, give up on her people.”, and that includes when faced with certain death. Together, these two must determine what their true purpose in life is, or else everyone’s doom will be certain.
“What path? Well. We aren’t so different to the forests, (…); we are not truly alive unless we’re growing.”
Right from the very first page, the author creates an enthralling air of mystery and intrigue that will keep you fully engaged from start to finish. The eerie horrors introduced in the first chapter immediately set the tone and add a continuous pulse-pounding sense of urgency to the story. This might be a very small-scope and intimate story, being set entirely in and around the little village of Llantry, but the stakes truly could not be higher.
Venalia’s inner turmoil especially takes centre stage, and I loved every single second of following her on this harrowing journey. The author has a true gift for writing raw and authentically messy human emotions, which makes all the complex interpersonal relationships shine and tug on your heartstrings in all the best ways.
Themes of redemption, fate, sacrifice, faith, courage, endurance, and, maybe surprisingly, the power of music are all seamlessly woven into the narrative, which gives this dark story so much heart.
“Music is a part of the soul. A part of creation that somehow contains all of creation.”
The world building is also just incredibly imaginative and immersive, with an unsettling Stranger Things-like mirror realm, a religion-based magic system that comes at a high cost, and extensive rich lore to completely lose yourself in. I absolutely loved exploring this intriguing world through the eyes of our two protagonists, as they both provide such a fresh perspective on all the mystifying events that are unfolding.
Hannah’s sharp prose also has a beautiful hypnotising quality to it, which only amplified all the heightened emotions and added a mesmerising fever dream-like vibe to the story that kept me fully entranced. I especially loved the eerie scenes in the Inverted World and moments of meditation/prayer to tap into the mystifying magic system, as those filled me with equal parts wonder and dread.
“Only when she is totally quiet and still can she feel her own soul, the silent watcher that resides in all mortals.”
The final resolution to the mystery plot did feel a bit rushed to me, but since I was mostly there for the characters’ personal journeys anyway, that didn’t end up hindering my enjoyment all too much. And with all the countless little teases to the wider world that were so tantalisingly dropped throughout this book, you better bet that I am coming back to explore this world further. This plot and mystery might feel quite self-contained, but I am just dying to see what these endearing characters are up to next.
This is the type of story that simply refuses to adhere to any genre boundaries and conventions, which makes it all the more exciting. If you like your fantasy to be bold, unconventional, mysterious, and intense, then you have come to the right place. The First Rule is a dark yet hopeful fantasy story unlike anything you’ve ever read before, I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ecopy in exhange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Jumping into the Blind Age series completely blind was just about the best decision I could ever have made. Mixing all the best elements of fantasy, mystery, horror, and steampunk, The First Rule is a dark and entrancing genre-blendy gem of a book that completely surprised me and kept me on my toes the entire way through.
This is the story of Venalia, a newly ordained priestess of knowledge and secrets, and Temple, a half-giant seer who has just prophesied the priestess’ impending demise. A mysterious horror from below is coming for them, people are going missing, and now Venalia’s oaths give her no other option than to protect the village that has shunned her all her life. As The First Rule says: “A Priestess must never, under any circumstances, give up on her people.”, and that includes when faced with certain death. Together, these two must determine what their true purpose in life is, or else everyone’s doom will be certain.
“What path? Well. We aren’t so different to the forests, (…); we are not truly alive unless we’re growing.”
Right from the very first page, the author creates an enthralling air of mystery and intrigue that will keep you fully engaged from start to finish. The eerie horrors introduced in the first chapter immediately set the tone and add a continuous pulse-pounding sense of urgency to the story. This might be a very small-scope and intimate story, being set entirely in and around the little village of Llantry, but the stakes truly could not be higher.
Venalia’s inner turmoil especially takes centre stage, and I loved every single second of following her on this harrowing journey. The author has a true gift for writing raw and authentically messy human emotions, which makes all the complex interpersonal relationships shine and tug on your heartstrings in all the best ways.
Themes of redemption, fate, sacrifice, faith, courage, endurance, and, maybe surprisingly, the power of music are all seamlessly woven into the narrative, which gives this dark story so much heart.
“Music is a part of the soul. A part of creation that somehow contains all of creation.”
The world building is also just incredibly imaginative and immersive, with an unsettling Stranger Things-like mirror realm, a religion-based magic system that comes at a high cost, and extensive rich lore to completely lose yourself in. I absolutely loved exploring this intriguing world through the eyes of our two protagonists, as they both provide such a fresh perspective on all the mystifying events that are unfolding.
Hannah’s sharp prose also has a beautiful hypnotising quality to it, which only amplified all the heightened emotions and added a mesmerising fever dream-like vibe to the story that kept me fully entranced. I especially loved the eerie scenes in the Inverted World and moments of meditation/prayer to tap into the mystifying magic system, as those filled me with equal parts wonder and dread.
“Only when she is totally quiet and still can she feel her own soul, the silent watcher that resides in all mortals.”
The final resolution to the mystery plot did feel a bit rushed to me, but since I was mostly there for the characters’ personal journeys anyway, that didn’t end up hindering my enjoyment all too much. And with all the countless little teases to the wider world that were so tantalisingly dropped throughout this book, you better bet that I am coming back to explore this world further. This plot and mystery might feel quite self-contained, but I am just dying to see what these endearing characters are up to next.
This is the type of story that simply refuses to adhere to any genre boundaries and conventions, which makes it all the more exciting. If you like your fantasy to be bold, unconventional, mysterious, and intense, then you have come to the right place. The First Rule is a dark yet hopeful fantasy story unlike anything you’ve ever read before, I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ecopy in exhange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 26, 2023
I received a free review copy from the author.
The First Rule is small-scale fantasy at its finest, using clever character writing and tight world-building to paint an intimate portrait of a village and its people. It’s selective focus really allowed it to dial in on the interpersonal relationships that play out in over the course of the story, which in turn enabled the book to pack a lot of depth into a relatively short page count.
One of the first moments that truly won me over came early on in the book, when the main character, Venalia, is speaking with a mentor figure from her childhood. After having seen her for the first time since she was a child, he comments “Tall. Skinny, too. Who did this to you?” - and I practically squealed with excitement and punched a fist into the air. It told me that her height gain was an unexpected surprise, that she was used to being well fed as a child, and in a humorous way, that her mentor finds it an affront that she wasn’t spoiled as much while away from the village. I just love it when authors are able to pack detail into dialogue in a way that tells us a lot about the characters history and relationships, without ever feeling forced or unnatural. Steven William Hannah really understands his characters in this book, and it made segments like this such a pleasure to read.
The world and the central mysteries were also fantastically handled. I was given enough to inspire my imagination without having to feel overwhelmed, and I was impressed by how well I was able to visualize the setting through the descriptions given. Everything just felt ‘lived-in’ and grounded, which made it easy for the magical elements to be carefully introduced, managing to blend right into the world and only making it more interesting as a result.
One big flaw that unfortunately kept cropping up is the authors repetition of certain phrases and terminology. For example the wording “[...]screams are cut short” is used twice within half a page, which is something that really should have been caught by editing. But one of the most egregious instances came when comparing the main character to a child:
...all being used within the span of 6 pages. And if I broadened my filter I could give you more examples, as I noticed these kind of descriptions still being used two-thirds of the way in - even towards the end of the book. I can understand if the author simply wanted to create familiarity with one of the themes of the book, that being Venalia’s transition from insecure and uncertain to resolute and self-assured, but in that case I would have appreciated more trust in the reader to remember such details rather than being beaten over the head with it.
Ultimately my philosophy when it comes to reading books is that you can fix errors in the writing, but you can’t fix someone who fundamentally doesn’t understand people and how to convey emotion in a story, and Steven William Hannah most certainly does not struggle in that department. If I was rating this book purely on its strengths alone, it would be an immediate five stars, and it has done more than enough to earn a permanent place on my bookshelf. So while I had some misgivings that prevented me from giving The First Rule top marks, I absolutely did enjoy my time with it, and will happily be reading the sequel once it releases.
The First Rule is small-scale fantasy at its finest, using clever character writing and tight world-building to paint an intimate portrait of a village and its people. It’s selective focus really allowed it to dial in on the interpersonal relationships that play out in over the course of the story, which in turn enabled the book to pack a lot of depth into a relatively short page count.
One of the first moments that truly won me over came early on in the book, when the main character, Venalia, is speaking with a mentor figure from her childhood. After having seen her for the first time since she was a child, he comments “Tall. Skinny, too. Who did this to you?” - and I practically squealed with excitement and punched a fist into the air. It told me that her height gain was an unexpected surprise, that she was used to being well fed as a child, and in a humorous way, that her mentor finds it an affront that she wasn’t spoiled as much while away from the village. I just love it when authors are able to pack detail into dialogue in a way that tells us a lot about the characters history and relationships, without ever feeling forced or unnatural. Steven William Hannah really understands his characters in this book, and it made segments like this such a pleasure to read.
The world and the central mysteries were also fantastically handled. I was given enough to inspire my imagination without having to feel overwhelmed, and I was impressed by how well I was able to visualize the setting through the descriptions given. Everything just felt ‘lived-in’ and grounded, which made it easy for the magical elements to be carefully introduced, managing to blend right into the world and only making it more interesting as a result.
One big flaw that unfortunately kept cropping up is the authors repetition of certain phrases and terminology. For example the wording “[...]screams are cut short” is used twice within half a page, which is something that really should have been caught by editing. But one of the most egregious instances came when comparing the main character to a child:
“she is an embarrassed, ashamed child again…”
“Venalia looks at her wringing hands like a scolded child”
“the child in her wants to burst into tears”
“The laughter is too familiar. She is a child again, mocked for her red hair”
...all being used within the span of 6 pages. And if I broadened my filter I could give you more examples, as I noticed these kind of descriptions still being used two-thirds of the way in - even towards the end of the book. I can understand if the author simply wanted to create familiarity with one of the themes of the book, that being Venalia’s transition from insecure and uncertain to resolute and self-assured, but in that case I would have appreciated more trust in the reader to remember such details rather than being beaten over the head with it.
Ultimately my philosophy when it comes to reading books is that you can fix errors in the writing, but you can’t fix someone who fundamentally doesn’t understand people and how to convey emotion in a story, and Steven William Hannah most certainly does not struggle in that department. If I was rating this book purely on its strengths alone, it would be an immediate five stars, and it has done more than enough to earn a permanent place on my bookshelf. So while I had some misgivings that prevented me from giving The First Rule top marks, I absolutely did enjoy my time with it, and will happily be reading the sequel once it releases.
Read
October 27, 2025Why I Read This:
I’ve followed Steven William Hannah on Twitter/X for a number of years and think he is a great guy. When his latest book The Rain that Makes the River came out, I was completely blown away by the cover (go look at it!). Steven kindly provided me with e-copies of that book and the first instalment in the series: The First Rule.
My Impression:
The opening scene was wonderfully weird and gripping, introducing a world of dwarves, half-giants and humans that contend with a magically charged and malevolent dimension known as The Inverted World.
The cast in this novel is small, and with a mystery to solve and boss to kill, it felt like a ‘light’ read in some ways. Normally, my taste is for dense, super-complex writing that requires symbolic interpretation to figure out. For me, this was a good holiday read, as it was not weighed down by world building, names, and places.
Because I am unduly interested in mystical states of consciousness, I was most impressed with the novel’s descriptions of meditation and prayer used by the priestess to connect with The Mind’s Eye. Two weeks after finishing the book, it is those scenes (and the memorable opening scene) that stay with me.
Craft Related Notes:
- The three main characters have clear roles and each has a meaningful arc but I was hungry for more inner conflict when coming up against the challenges that they face. Sometimes emotional reflection was verbalised a little too much, and I felt this dissipated tension because people were too up front about their feelings, motives, and intended transformations. In and amongst the action, thoughts, and verbalised commentary, I wanted to see more body language and unconscious signs of tension and intention (that I–the reader–could interpret for myself).
- World building in The First Rule felt completely effortless but upon reflection, there was a huge amount of magic, history, and lore that was somehow downloaded into my brain. This part was really well done. I like the way Hannah incorporated the fresh and familiar in the creation of his world. It means you can step right in and know what’s going on but there are interesting new details that make it unique on the whole.
-This short read includes two ‘big bads’ and the second one was quite the unexpected twist.
I’ve followed Steven William Hannah on Twitter/X for a number of years and think he is a great guy. When his latest book The Rain that Makes the River came out, I was completely blown away by the cover (go look at it!). Steven kindly provided me with e-copies of that book and the first instalment in the series: The First Rule.
My Impression:
The opening scene was wonderfully weird and gripping, introducing a world of dwarves, half-giants and humans that contend with a magically charged and malevolent dimension known as The Inverted World.
The cast in this novel is small, and with a mystery to solve and boss to kill, it felt like a ‘light’ read in some ways. Normally, my taste is for dense, super-complex writing that requires symbolic interpretation to figure out. For me, this was a good holiday read, as it was not weighed down by world building, names, and places.
Because I am unduly interested in mystical states of consciousness, I was most impressed with the novel’s descriptions of meditation and prayer used by the priestess to connect with The Mind’s Eye. Two weeks after finishing the book, it is those scenes (and the memorable opening scene) that stay with me.
Craft Related Notes:
- The three main characters have clear roles and each has a meaningful arc but I was hungry for more inner conflict when coming up against the challenges that they face. Sometimes emotional reflection was verbalised a little too much, and I felt this dissipated tension because people were too up front about their feelings, motives, and intended transformations. In and amongst the action, thoughts, and verbalised commentary, I wanted to see more body language and unconscious signs of tension and intention (that I–the reader–could interpret for myself).
- World building in The First Rule felt completely effortless but upon reflection, there was a huge amount of magic, history, and lore that was somehow downloaded into my brain. This part was really well done. I like the way Hannah incorporated the fresh and familiar in the creation of his world. It means you can step right in and know what’s going on but there are interesting new details that make it unique on the whole.
-This short read includes two ‘big bads’ and the second one was quite the unexpected twist.
September 21, 2025
Excellent fantasy adventure mystery
Wow! This is such a great book. It’s a fantasy, with strong world building and characters, but it is also a mystery and it has lots of scary elements that verge on horror. I loved it! It’s the perfect blend of different genres into an exciting new whole.
Venalia is a great character. I loved that she had to tell the truth. She was brave and noble.
Temple is another great character. I loved his story and how he factored into the plot.
There are elements to this story that are terrifying. I really loved the dark horror scenes.
The magic system is wonderful. It’s funny how Venalia has to drink alcohol to fuel her magic power. I loved how magic use drained the user and they needed calories to replenish their energy.
I also loved the depiction of prayer in this book. The scene when Venalia prays is so powerful. One of the best depictions of prayer and religious connection I’ve read in a novel.
I can’t wait for the sequel.
Wow! This is such a great book. It’s a fantasy, with strong world building and characters, but it is also a mystery and it has lots of scary elements that verge on horror. I loved it! It’s the perfect blend of different genres into an exciting new whole.
Venalia is a great character. I loved that she had to tell the truth. She was brave and noble.
Temple is another great character. I loved his story and how he factored into the plot.
There are elements to this story that are terrifying. I really loved the dark horror scenes.
The magic system is wonderful. It’s funny how Venalia has to drink alcohol to fuel her magic power. I loved how magic use drained the user and they needed calories to replenish their energy.
I also loved the depiction of prayer in this book. The scene when Venalia prays is so powerful. One of the best depictions of prayer and religious connection I’ve read in a novel.
I can’t wait for the sequel.
March 24, 2023
This is superb.
I didn't expect any less from this author as I have read one of his other books but he really has done it again. This is a whopper of a story, a dark fantasy yet with elements of science, technology, and with such flawed characters- you don't see that often in this genre.
I LOVED Temple. I loved his horse. And I really came to root for our heroine too.
Great pace, fantastic dialogue, wonderful plot. I just wish he wouldn't do present tense... but I will tolerate it for this author!
I'm strapped in for Book 2. Let's do this.
I didn't expect any less from this author as I have read one of his other books but he really has done it again. This is a whopper of a story, a dark fantasy yet with elements of science, technology, and with such flawed characters- you don't see that often in this genre.
I LOVED Temple. I loved his horse. And I really came to root for our heroine too.
Great pace, fantastic dialogue, wonderful plot. I just wish he wouldn't do present tense... but I will tolerate it for this author!
I'm strapped in for Book 2. Let's do this.
March 7, 2023
An amazing journey
I literally just finished this story and wow. Steven William Hannah has created an entire universe filled with magic, mystery, creatures, and surprises that keep you flipping pages forward. The First Rule is a long read, but I never felt the story drag. I am excited to see where book two takes us.
I literally just finished this story and wow. Steven William Hannah has created an entire universe filled with magic, mystery, creatures, and surprises that keep you flipping pages forward. The First Rule is a long read, but I never felt the story drag. I am excited to see where book two takes us.
February 25, 2023
The First Rule is the first entry in Steven William Hannah’s new series The Blind Age. This story blends conventional fantasy elements with new twists on familiar tropes with a laser-focused story that lets readers know exactly what they’re in for.
In this foundational volume, readers are introduced to main character Venalia, a brand-spankin’-new mint condition Priestess in the land of Altheim. In this world, Priests and Priestesses are called to specific gods based on their personality and talents, and can take multiple career paths that make use of their particular magical abilities. Venalia serves the Mind’s Eye, a god of knowledge and secrets but has yet to choose a path in life. She has returned to her home village of Llantry to perform the funeral rites for the man who raised her, and encounters old grudges stemming from her childhood. If this wasn’t hard enough, a fleeing soldier named Temple arrives in town warning of the approach of the deadly entity known as the Choir, a relic of the old days when dragons tormented humanity. Venalia must decide whether to flee or stay out of duty, even though Temple’s visions tell of her going to certain death to fight the enemy.
The story here is refreshingly non-epic, and I mean that in the classical sense. The plot takes place over a relatively short period of time in a single defined location. This is a great choice for the first book in a series, since it allows readers to get comfortable with the basic aspects of the world without being overwhelmed by lore, as well as focus on the main characters. Here the world-building is built into the story, and the info-dumps are few and brief. The story is much more character-driven than many modern fantasy novels of this length. Sometimes this leads to a bit of navel-gazing and repetition of lines several times, but it’s not too bad. It is told in present tense, which might take some readers a bit of getting used to. However, I found it not much of a chore after a couple chapters. The cover is rather reminiscent of a comic book, but rest assured it’s not. This is in most respects a classic prose novel set firmly in the fantasy genre.
The characters in The First Rule are vivid and multi-faceted, and every character has an arc. Venalia’s establishing incident in her relationship to Llantry is an unfortunate but understandable act committed in childhood, and at the beginning of the story she’s not happy to be back. As someone who left the little hometown long ago and never went back, this was familiar ground for me. Her initial nemesis is a petulant, petty politician on a power trip (alliteration neither intended nor avoided), and the soldier Temple seems brave, but only thanks to his visions telling him he survives, and he’s quite willing to leave others behind when necessary. Even the main villain, which at first seems to be just a monster, develops into something woven into the world and its past. So we’re not quite at Joe Abercrombie levels of moral ambiguity, but the characters are multi-dimensional. The monster is made scarier in that it’s not something that just takes you and eats you but in fact, Pennywise-like, makes its victims want to go with it with a hypnotizing song. So while there’s a good amount of action, much of the conflict is within the mind. Good thing they have a Priestess of the Mind’s Eye. One character’s change is a bit sudden and convenient, but it’s not too jarring.
I’m not sure what the word count is, but it’s definitely not a doorstop. One can finish it in a weekend, so the pacing is brisk without feeling rushed. In fact, there’s one part where Venalia is tarrying at a location and Temple is begging her to hurry up so they can get back, and I felt the same sense of urgency, so that was quite well done.
The book also plays with the idea of irrevocable fate and visions, and I was slightly reminded of Dune, which raises the question of whether seeing the future locks one into it, and whether uncertainty is a valuable weapon in its own right. It also disrupts the default medieval fantasy setting with mention of airships (mentioned but not seen, meaning they’d better show up in later books!) and descriptions of magic in very scientific-sounding terms. The magic system is coherent, and utilizes familiar terms in new ways. Praying to a god is actually a traumatic act that results in momentary catatonia and vomiting, and performing magic physically drains the mind and body. Amusingly, it seems that the “restore mana” potion in this world is a really strong tiki cocktail, made of equal parts fruit juice and rum!
I really enjoyed this first book, and it follows the modern prescription of “stand-alone with series potential” very well. The story is wrapped up satisfyingly with several surprise twists along the way, and sets up the next books, whatever they end up being. It appears well-positioned for an episodic format, leaving the exact plot wide open but with an established world that can then focus on the story going forward. It seems particularly amenable to a kind of fantasy-mystery genre blend, which I’ve enjoyed in the past. The next book in the series is titled The Rain That Makes The River and should be out this year.
In this foundational volume, readers are introduced to main character Venalia, a brand-spankin’-new mint condition Priestess in the land of Altheim. In this world, Priests and Priestesses are called to specific gods based on their personality and talents, and can take multiple career paths that make use of their particular magical abilities. Venalia serves the Mind’s Eye, a god of knowledge and secrets but has yet to choose a path in life. She has returned to her home village of Llantry to perform the funeral rites for the man who raised her, and encounters old grudges stemming from her childhood. If this wasn’t hard enough, a fleeing soldier named Temple arrives in town warning of the approach of the deadly entity known as the Choir, a relic of the old days when dragons tormented humanity. Venalia must decide whether to flee or stay out of duty, even though Temple’s visions tell of her going to certain death to fight the enemy.
The story here is refreshingly non-epic, and I mean that in the classical sense. The plot takes place over a relatively short period of time in a single defined location. This is a great choice for the first book in a series, since it allows readers to get comfortable with the basic aspects of the world without being overwhelmed by lore, as well as focus on the main characters. Here the world-building is built into the story, and the info-dumps are few and brief. The story is much more character-driven than many modern fantasy novels of this length. Sometimes this leads to a bit of navel-gazing and repetition of lines several times, but it’s not too bad. It is told in present tense, which might take some readers a bit of getting used to. However, I found it not much of a chore after a couple chapters. The cover is rather reminiscent of a comic book, but rest assured it’s not. This is in most respects a classic prose novel set firmly in the fantasy genre.
The characters in The First Rule are vivid and multi-faceted, and every character has an arc. Venalia’s establishing incident in her relationship to Llantry is an unfortunate but understandable act committed in childhood, and at the beginning of the story she’s not happy to be back. As someone who left the little hometown long ago and never went back, this was familiar ground for me. Her initial nemesis is a petulant, petty politician on a power trip (alliteration neither intended nor avoided), and the soldier Temple seems brave, but only thanks to his visions telling him he survives, and he’s quite willing to leave others behind when necessary. Even the main villain, which at first seems to be just a monster, develops into something woven into the world and its past. So we’re not quite at Joe Abercrombie levels of moral ambiguity, but the characters are multi-dimensional. The monster is made scarier in that it’s not something that just takes you and eats you but in fact, Pennywise-like, makes its victims want to go with it with a hypnotizing song. So while there’s a good amount of action, much of the conflict is within the mind. Good thing they have a Priestess of the Mind’s Eye. One character’s change is a bit sudden and convenient, but it’s not too jarring.
I’m not sure what the word count is, but it’s definitely not a doorstop. One can finish it in a weekend, so the pacing is brisk without feeling rushed. In fact, there’s one part where Venalia is tarrying at a location and Temple is begging her to hurry up so they can get back, and I felt the same sense of urgency, so that was quite well done.
The book also plays with the idea of irrevocable fate and visions, and I was slightly reminded of Dune, which raises the question of whether seeing the future locks one into it, and whether uncertainty is a valuable weapon in its own right. It also disrupts the default medieval fantasy setting with mention of airships (mentioned but not seen, meaning they’d better show up in later books!) and descriptions of magic in very scientific-sounding terms. The magic system is coherent, and utilizes familiar terms in new ways. Praying to a god is actually a traumatic act that results in momentary catatonia and vomiting, and performing magic physically drains the mind and body. Amusingly, it seems that the “restore mana” potion in this world is a really strong tiki cocktail, made of equal parts fruit juice and rum!
I really enjoyed this first book, and it follows the modern prescription of “stand-alone with series potential” very well. The story is wrapped up satisfyingly with several surprise twists along the way, and sets up the next books, whatever they end up being. It appears well-positioned for an episodic format, leaving the exact plot wide open but with an established world that can then focus on the story going forward. It seems particularly amenable to a kind of fantasy-mystery genre blend, which I’ve enjoyed in the past. The next book in the series is titled The Rain That Makes The River and should be out this year.
June 27, 2023
The First Rule is a well-crafted and delightful read I whole-heartedly recommend.
I was hooked right from the start, the action-filled 'in medias res' introduction immediately setting the stakes high: In an otherwordly domain called the Inverted World, Temple, a half-giant warrior, is on the run from something called the Choir, an old, powerful and very evil entity that traps its victims and their souls in an eerie group sing-along.
With the threat of the Choir entering the 'real world' in mind, the reader is then introduced to the village of Llantry and the main character Venalia. Having just finished her training as a Priestess of the Mind's Eye, Venalia has returned to her home town in order to bury her former mentor. Having always been an outsider, the memories attached to this place are mainly unpleasant, and she meets former allies and enemies alike, all the while contemplating what to do with her life as a priestess and hiding an ugly secret. When Temple arrives at Llantry, the plotlines collide and Venalia has to decide whether to flee this unloved place and its people or to stay and fight, even though according to Temple's visions this might mean 'certain death'.
Beside the main plot, there are several side plots and mysteries, not to forget a great twist which, although there was something that struck me odd, I did not see coming. Hannah plays fair and offers several hints, yet does an excellent job at hiding them while in hindsight everything makes sense.
The First Rule is a well-paced, elegantly-written and character-driven dark fantasy tale. It is part mystery, part detective novel, part bildungsroman; a kind of 'fantasy chamber play', its story enfolding in a rather short period of time, taking place in only a few locations (Inverted World, Llantry, the woods and a mysterious building therein) and concentrating on only a handful of characters.
The characters, first of all Venalia, are overall believable and understandable, with strengths and flaws alike, and we also have character development/redemption. I particularly liked the contrast between the soon-becoming comrades-in-arms, the young, inexperienced but 'firm in her beliefs' Venalia and the experienced but 'perhaps too heavily relying on his visions' warrior Temple. By concentrating on only a few plotlines and characters, Hannah allows the story to breathe with the characters' interactions between each other and a rather unusual high amount of dialogue. I especially liked these more quiet moments, e.g. the introduction of Venalia and her goodbye to her former mentor; it is a gift to make the reader feel the loss of a character who is already dead when the story begins.
The worldbuilding is organically woven into the narration, the same applies for what I see as D&D references.
There was only one thing that did not convince me: At one point, Venalia and Temple are investigating a certain mystery and Venalia makes the decision to linger and continue exploring while time was certainly on the essence and it would have been common sense to head back, as Temple strongly advises. I here agree with Temple and Venalia's behaviour appears to me as a bit implausible even though I understand that her decision is plot-relevant. Apart from this, I really enjoyed the story from start to end and would certainly have read it in one go if I had not been busy in real life.
Lastly, some rather personal delights:
The author loves semicolons and it shows.
Hurray for a main character who values personal hygiene. I've read too many books where the heroes accumulate dirt after dirt, get covered in blood and whatever, and not once it is mentioned they take a bath, not even when they stay in town or have otherwise the opportunity to do so. Venalia bathes at least three times if I counted correctly; in addition, while taking a bath, Venalia sings and enjoys a drink. I really appreciate those details that bring a character to life.
The same applies to her physical condition. Praying and performing spells consume a lot of energy and we see her replenish it with very interesting energy cocktails.
I liked the approach on the different 'disciplines' for the priestesses and priests.
The healing powers in this world are amazing; as a side effect, even old acne scars are removed.
Precious Pretzia, a character on her own, definitely wins the prize for the most loyal steed.
Tip for life: If you ever need to set a funeral pyre on fire, make sure you hire someone who knows how to do it right.
I was hooked right from the start, the action-filled 'in medias res' introduction immediately setting the stakes high: In an otherwordly domain called the Inverted World, Temple, a half-giant warrior, is on the run from something called the Choir, an old, powerful and very evil entity that traps its victims and their souls in an eerie group sing-along.
With the threat of the Choir entering the 'real world' in mind, the reader is then introduced to the village of Llantry and the main character Venalia. Having just finished her training as a Priestess of the Mind's Eye, Venalia has returned to her home town in order to bury her former mentor. Having always been an outsider, the memories attached to this place are mainly unpleasant, and she meets former allies and enemies alike, all the while contemplating what to do with her life as a priestess and hiding an ugly secret. When Temple arrives at Llantry, the plotlines collide and Venalia has to decide whether to flee this unloved place and its people or to stay and fight, even though according to Temple's visions this might mean 'certain death'.
Beside the main plot, there are several side plots and mysteries, not to forget a great twist which, although there was something that struck me odd, I did not see coming. Hannah plays fair and offers several hints, yet does an excellent job at hiding them while in hindsight everything makes sense.
The First Rule is a well-paced, elegantly-written and character-driven dark fantasy tale. It is part mystery, part detective novel, part bildungsroman; a kind of 'fantasy chamber play', its story enfolding in a rather short period of time, taking place in only a few locations (Inverted World, Llantry, the woods and a mysterious building therein) and concentrating on only a handful of characters.
The characters, first of all Venalia, are overall believable and understandable, with strengths and flaws alike, and we also have character development/redemption. I particularly liked the contrast between the soon-becoming comrades-in-arms, the young, inexperienced but 'firm in her beliefs' Venalia and the experienced but 'perhaps too heavily relying on his visions' warrior Temple. By concentrating on only a few plotlines and characters, Hannah allows the story to breathe with the characters' interactions between each other and a rather unusual high amount of dialogue. I especially liked these more quiet moments, e.g. the introduction of Venalia and her goodbye to her former mentor; it is a gift to make the reader feel the loss of a character who is already dead when the story begins.
The worldbuilding is organically woven into the narration, the same applies for what I see as D&D references.
There was only one thing that did not convince me: At one point, Venalia and Temple are investigating a certain mystery and Venalia makes the decision to linger and continue exploring while time was certainly on the essence and it would have been common sense to head back, as Temple strongly advises. I here agree with Temple and Venalia's behaviour appears to me as a bit implausible even though I understand that her decision is plot-relevant. Apart from this, I really enjoyed the story from start to end and would certainly have read it in one go if I had not been busy in real life.
Lastly, some rather personal delights:
The author loves semicolons and it shows.
Hurray for a main character who values personal hygiene. I've read too many books where the heroes accumulate dirt after dirt, get covered in blood and whatever, and not once it is mentioned they take a bath, not even when they stay in town or have otherwise the opportunity to do so. Venalia bathes at least three times if I counted correctly; in addition, while taking a bath, Venalia sings and enjoys a drink. I really appreciate those details that bring a character to life.
The same applies to her physical condition. Praying and performing spells consume a lot of energy and we see her replenish it with very interesting energy cocktails.
I liked the approach on the different 'disciplines' for the priestesses and priests.
The healing powers in this world are amazing; as a side effect, even old acne scars are removed.
Precious Pretzia, a character on her own, definitely wins the prize for the most loyal steed.
Tip for life: If you ever need to set a funeral pyre on fire, make sure you hire someone who knows how to do it right.
January 30, 2023
One of the most enjoyable and thrilling dark fantasy stories I have ever read. EDIT – *The Most!
Wow – where to start? I mean I had no expectations. Just a hope really that this book by Indie author Steven William Hannah (SWH) would at least be fun. The premise of the story sounded intriguing but sometimes with a book the best work of fiction is the blurb (oops, did I write that out loud?). Not so here, I mean I was hooked from the first page until the last and boy was it a great read. Have you ever had a book that you so wanted to reach the end to find out what happens but at the same time, don’t want it to end? That is The First Rule. (Actually, that is not the First Rule, you’ll have to read the book to find that out).
The story centres around a newly minted priestess (of the Mind’s Eye – a god of knowledge and secrets) called Venalia who returns to her childhood home to conduct the funeral rites for her adoptive father and village priest, Marius. Venalia had hoped to talk to Marius about her future before his untimely death. To seek guidance on which path she should take. Now it is too late and she is unsure, the only thing she knows is that the village on the edge of the Steppes is not where she wants to be. For she does not belong in Lantry, it holds painful memories and the villagers don’t want her either. She is an outsider no matter if she grew up among them and some want her gone, something she is more than happy to oblige them with. But something has happened in the Darkwood, deep in the forest and beneath the earth, where a portal to the inverted world has been found and something sinister and malign lurks within, hungry for souls and now the way is open it has come out to find them.
That is just the start of a wonderfully written, deftly plotted tale that kept me up late turning the pages. It is full of dark mystery and intrigue and the way it is written was very engaging, almost artistic I felt at times. The story contains so much, certain death, redemption (who doesn’t like a redemption story?), hidden secrets, more than one mystery to uncover and oh did I mention certain death? The story is dark, the evil that is coming insidious, the world inhabited truly terrifying with Scarlings in the Darkwood and worse horrors in the Inverted World. The world-building is truly unique and subtle and full of depth.
Interestingly, for a dark fantasy with strong elements of horror to it, this book is in my view suitable for YA as well as adult readers. It is gruesome but not morbidly so, not gratuitously wanton for the sake of it but compelling and descriptive to convey what SWH must. In fact, there is a lot to like outside of those elements, growth, bonds of friendship, redemption, self-worth, broken characters, people learning not who they think they are but who they can be. It really is a smorgasbord of delight….and horror…..and certain death….but I mentioned that already…twice.
This is book one in the Blind Age series but the story is fully self-contained, no cliffhanger waiting for the next book although I will without a doubt be picking up the next as soon as it is out. Now I have another wonderful new author to follow, what an end to 2022 and start to 2023. Some truly stunning creative talents I have stumbled upon. If this all sounds wonderful then honestly, you should give this book a read. SWH is a talent.
Wow – where to start? I mean I had no expectations. Just a hope really that this book by Indie author Steven William Hannah (SWH) would at least be fun. The premise of the story sounded intriguing but sometimes with a book the best work of fiction is the blurb (oops, did I write that out loud?). Not so here, I mean I was hooked from the first page until the last and boy was it a great read. Have you ever had a book that you so wanted to reach the end to find out what happens but at the same time, don’t want it to end? That is The First Rule. (Actually, that is not the First Rule, you’ll have to read the book to find that out).
The story centres around a newly minted priestess (of the Mind’s Eye – a god of knowledge and secrets) called Venalia who returns to her childhood home to conduct the funeral rites for her adoptive father and village priest, Marius. Venalia had hoped to talk to Marius about her future before his untimely death. To seek guidance on which path she should take. Now it is too late and she is unsure, the only thing she knows is that the village on the edge of the Steppes is not where she wants to be. For she does not belong in Lantry, it holds painful memories and the villagers don’t want her either. She is an outsider no matter if she grew up among them and some want her gone, something she is more than happy to oblige them with. But something has happened in the Darkwood, deep in the forest and beneath the earth, where a portal to the inverted world has been found and something sinister and malign lurks within, hungry for souls and now the way is open it has come out to find them.
That is just the start of a wonderfully written, deftly plotted tale that kept me up late turning the pages. It is full of dark mystery and intrigue and the way it is written was very engaging, almost artistic I felt at times. The story contains so much, certain death, redemption (who doesn’t like a redemption story?), hidden secrets, more than one mystery to uncover and oh did I mention certain death? The story is dark, the evil that is coming insidious, the world inhabited truly terrifying with Scarlings in the Darkwood and worse horrors in the Inverted World. The world-building is truly unique and subtle and full of depth.
Interestingly, for a dark fantasy with strong elements of horror to it, this book is in my view suitable for YA as well as adult readers. It is gruesome but not morbidly so, not gratuitously wanton for the sake of it but compelling and descriptive to convey what SWH must. In fact, there is a lot to like outside of those elements, growth, bonds of friendship, redemption, self-worth, broken characters, people learning not who they think they are but who they can be. It really is a smorgasbord of delight….and horror…..and certain death….but I mentioned that already…twice.
This is book one in the Blind Age series but the story is fully self-contained, no cliffhanger waiting for the next book although I will without a doubt be picking up the next as soon as it is out. Now I have another wonderful new author to follow, what an end to 2022 and start to 2023. Some truly stunning creative talents I have stumbled upon. If this all sounds wonderful then honestly, you should give this book a read. SWH is a talent.
September 20, 2025
This is a bewildering read - and definitely in a good way, if you're prepared for some real shocks along the way! From the very start ("Ten descended into the Inverted World") you know that Hannah is taking you to a disconcerting and disorientating place. And you're plunged right in, in a bright and vivid present tense - which can be difficult to pull off, but which functions perfectly here to drag you into a relentless narrative. Sometimes the disorientating word-magic becomes kinetic, with words becoming physically scattered across the page. Again, very difficult to pull off, but it's used carefully here and for me it really worked.
I won't say too much about the plot, because it would be difficult to avoid spoilers - not least when there's a whodunnit element, woven into the dark rural fantasy with streaks of horror. We follow Venalia, a newly ordained Priestess (somewhat sorceress-esque, in this world) returning to her home village of Llantry - supposedly for a brief and poignant visit, but in fact (as it rapidly transpires) for a terrifying reckoning with both her past and a genuinely horrific and voracious monster from the deep. Venalia is superbly drawn - a conflicted young woman, clever and increasingly strong, with the existential unease of a new graduate, occasionally (relatably!) naive and groping to find a place in the world.
Although the priestly role in this world involves some violence and kind-of-magic, it's definitely embedded in something mystical. We get insights into the gods, sometimes with a real spiritual colour. These are some of the most beautifully written passages of all, especially when the phrasing is musical or otherwise sensual: "Venalia feels akin to a single particle of air in the mouth of a trumpet... she sings in the Celestial harmonic... she finds a place in her mind, a temple of cool running water, and bathes her soul in it..." - I could go on, but you should read it for yourself. There's a touch of genius to the concept of divinity developed in this book.
So what kind of world are we in? At times there are definite elements of classic fantasy - dwarven chainmail, "smallfolk", "Aelven names" - but there are also flashes of a more modern world, perhaps disconcertingly close to our own: wet matches, airships, crosswords, "midnight runs to the fridge"... and even a fun bit about passwords. It's all kept in a fine balance to make a convincing world.
When there's dialect, it's fairly light-touch and works the better for it ("Sure, I couldnae tell ye..."). And allusions to weird ancient lore (e.g. the Draconic script) and a monstrous ancient history are scattered through the plot, their mysteries gradually unfurled - certainly no lore-dumping here.
So, I found this a hugely compelling read. As I say, there are some horror-like parts, which aren't normally my thing, but they're fully part of the fantastical plot here - never gratuitous, and reliably very capably written. Above all, my favourite parts are when we get glimpses of the harmonic divinity/spirituality - they really are beautifully written, and I've highlighted so many delightful phrases in my Kindle that I couldn't quote them all here. Give it a try - you'll find yourself drawn right in, and you won't regret it!
I won't say too much about the plot, because it would be difficult to avoid spoilers - not least when there's a whodunnit element, woven into the dark rural fantasy with streaks of horror. We follow Venalia, a newly ordained Priestess (somewhat sorceress-esque, in this world) returning to her home village of Llantry - supposedly for a brief and poignant visit, but in fact (as it rapidly transpires) for a terrifying reckoning with both her past and a genuinely horrific and voracious monster from the deep. Venalia is superbly drawn - a conflicted young woman, clever and increasingly strong, with the existential unease of a new graduate, occasionally (relatably!) naive and groping to find a place in the world.
Although the priestly role in this world involves some violence and kind-of-magic, it's definitely embedded in something mystical. We get insights into the gods, sometimes with a real spiritual colour. These are some of the most beautifully written passages of all, especially when the phrasing is musical or otherwise sensual: "Venalia feels akin to a single particle of air in the mouth of a trumpet... she sings in the Celestial harmonic... she finds a place in her mind, a temple of cool running water, and bathes her soul in it..." - I could go on, but you should read it for yourself. There's a touch of genius to the concept of divinity developed in this book.
So what kind of world are we in? At times there are definite elements of classic fantasy - dwarven chainmail, "smallfolk", "Aelven names" - but there are also flashes of a more modern world, perhaps disconcertingly close to our own: wet matches, airships, crosswords, "midnight runs to the fridge"... and even a fun bit about passwords. It's all kept in a fine balance to make a convincing world.
When there's dialect, it's fairly light-touch and works the better for it ("Sure, I couldnae tell ye..."). And allusions to weird ancient lore (e.g. the Draconic script) and a monstrous ancient history are scattered through the plot, their mysteries gradually unfurled - certainly no lore-dumping here.
So, I found this a hugely compelling read. As I say, there are some horror-like parts, which aren't normally my thing, but they're fully part of the fantastical plot here - never gratuitous, and reliably very capably written. Above all, my favourite parts are when we get glimpses of the harmonic divinity/spirituality - they really are beautifully written, and I've highlighted so many delightful phrases in my Kindle that I couldn't quote them all here. Give it a try - you'll find yourself drawn right in, and you won't regret it!
March 2, 2023
Having read a lot of indie authors over the past couple of years, a frequent experience is having to decide at the outset that you’re going to be ‘kind’ in your assessment. By contrast, Steven William Hannah is the kind of author who tells a story with such confidence and competence that the reader is set entirely at liberty to lose themselves in the story. And in my view, The First Rule establishes itself as a great story quite independently of being a great fantasy.
The writing is effortless and smooth. The characters are incredibly well put together, especially Temple who is so much more fleshed out as a character than the barbarian warrior you might first expect him to be. Venalia is a marvelously and believably complex character who I appreciated best when I thought of her as representing the kind of fun and freedom you can have with a low-level D&D character. I love a character whose weaknesses and limitations drive their story as much as their strength, and who have to overcome internal obstacles as much as the ones set in front of them.
I also really liked that this story focused on one place – the village of Llantry (which, being Welsh myself, I kept pronouncing with a very raspy Welsh double-L, I can’t be sure if that is intended!) – rather that sending the reader on a vast tour of a fantasy world the author just can’t wait to share. Here, the worldbuilding exists to enrichen the story, not the story to showcase the worldbuilding.
Numerous elements throughout the book will ring familiar if you’re acquainted with Dungeons and Dragons, but in almost every case this was prevented from becoming problematic with a refreshing narrative application. There was even a little stretch of the book which had the feel of a classic D&D mini dungeon crawl, and although that wasn’t my favourite part personally, I think any enthusiastic proponent of the game will really appreciate it. (In the same sort of way that lovers of Doom really enjoyed the first-person sequence at the end of the Dayne Johnson and Karl Urban movie, even though it broke cinematic quality norms).
I especially loved what Venalia has to do to recover her magical energy resource. But what really knocked my socks off was the final battle blind-side, where clues that have been hanging in front of you the whole time suddenly come together. The twist at the end…wow.
And if there’s one thing this book has in common with Hannah’s fantastic Interloper series, it’s the nod towards higher questions: in this case, free will and predetermination. And it’s handled beautifully.
Not for the first time, I recommend Hannah’s books, not just to fans of any one genre, but to anyone who appreciated a solidly and competently constructed story with rich, sympathetic characters.
The writing is effortless and smooth. The characters are incredibly well put together, especially Temple who is so much more fleshed out as a character than the barbarian warrior you might first expect him to be. Venalia is a marvelously and believably complex character who I appreciated best when I thought of her as representing the kind of fun and freedom you can have with a low-level D&D character. I love a character whose weaknesses and limitations drive their story as much as their strength, and who have to overcome internal obstacles as much as the ones set in front of them.
I also really liked that this story focused on one place – the village of Llantry (which, being Welsh myself, I kept pronouncing with a very raspy Welsh double-L, I can’t be sure if that is intended!) – rather that sending the reader on a vast tour of a fantasy world the author just can’t wait to share. Here, the worldbuilding exists to enrichen the story, not the story to showcase the worldbuilding.
Numerous elements throughout the book will ring familiar if you’re acquainted with Dungeons and Dragons, but in almost every case this was prevented from becoming problematic with a refreshing narrative application. There was even a little stretch of the book which had the feel of a classic D&D mini dungeon crawl, and although that wasn’t my favourite part personally, I think any enthusiastic proponent of the game will really appreciate it. (In the same sort of way that lovers of Doom really enjoyed the first-person sequence at the end of the Dayne Johnson and Karl Urban movie, even though it broke cinematic quality norms).
I especially loved what Venalia has to do to recover her magical energy resource. But what really knocked my socks off was the final battle blind-side, where clues that have been hanging in front of you the whole time suddenly come together. The twist at the end…wow.
And if there’s one thing this book has in common with Hannah’s fantastic Interloper series, it’s the nod towards higher questions: in this case, free will and predetermination. And it’s handled beautifully.
Not for the first time, I recommend Hannah’s books, not just to fans of any one genre, but to anyone who appreciated a solidly and competently constructed story with rich, sympathetic characters.
May 11, 2023
I smelled Dungeons and Dragons the moment I opened this book, in a very good way. An eldritch monster rises from the underworld to attack a lonely village, defended only by a massive warrior and a novice priestess? Sign me right up. And Steven William Hannah does not disappoint. The First Rule takes us on a tightly-plotted journey through a very interesting world, with just the right amount of detail and mystery.
Venalia, our main protagonist, is excellent: a priestess of knowledge sworn never to lie but hiding some juicy secrets is a great start, and her trial by fire takes her from total novice to the start of some great heights.
Her counterpart, Temple the prescient half-giant warrior, is likewise great to read - in particular for his visions of the future, which Hannah handles very nicely throughout the book, with just the right amount of uncertainty over what exactly these visions mean to keep things very interesting indeed.
It's tempting in fantasy to either drown the reader in exposition or keep things far too light, but Hannah balances things well again here. There's plenty of grand backstory, but having such a focused plot keeps things moving without ever getting bogged down in ancient history. The story moves along nicely, taking us through some very inventive settings - though I would have liked to see more of the Inverted World for certain. Some plot developments come a little too late in the game for my taste as Hannah sets up the Big Twists and Turns of the endgame - but said twists and turns caught me by surprise beautifully.
All in all, a cracking little adventure and a series I'll definitely be following in the future.
Venalia, our main protagonist, is excellent: a priestess of knowledge sworn never to lie but hiding some juicy secrets is a great start, and her trial by fire takes her from total novice to the start of some great heights.
Her counterpart, Temple the prescient half-giant warrior, is likewise great to read - in particular for his visions of the future, which Hannah handles very nicely throughout the book, with just the right amount of uncertainty over what exactly these visions mean to keep things very interesting indeed.
It's tempting in fantasy to either drown the reader in exposition or keep things far too light, but Hannah balances things well again here. There's plenty of grand backstory, but having such a focused plot keeps things moving without ever getting bogged down in ancient history. The story moves along nicely, taking us through some very inventive settings - though I would have liked to see more of the Inverted World for certain. Some plot developments come a little too late in the game for my taste as Hannah sets up the Big Twists and Turns of the endgame - but said twists and turns caught me by surprise beautifully.
All in all, a cracking little adventure and a series I'll definitely be following in the future.
October 15, 2025
An odd mix for certain, but definitely intriguing and engaging enough to keep me flipping to the next page. Self-described as having a low-level D&D vibes is a rather accurate way to code this offering. The story—likewise—could have fallen straight out of a Forgotten Realms setting, and I wouldn't have batted an eye, but as an eternal Dungeon Master, I've experienced different shades of this story already, which is not to its detriment, but it is a factor in my own assessment of the work.
The themes of the book were dark enough, but never crossed the line to being straight-up gross or off-putting, which might have been a missed opportunity, honestly. The population, ranging from country bumbkins to a haunting aberration, was enjoyable in their depictions and bumbling or incompetent ways. The main cast felt real enough if a little predictable, due to the story's structure. The plot was easy to follow, which is the correct choice for this kind of cozy, not super high-stakes adventure, I think.
I found the present tense rare and refreshing. It added to the immediacy of the town's/characters' woes. While I appreciate experimenting in my reading, there were moments where I've gotten tripped up by the style and format rather than it adding to the suspense or narrative. The portentous, divinatory, or deterministic aspect of the storyline was a little heavy-handed at times, but I understand its inclusion and believe that by the end, these choices are well justified.
Nevertheless, I've had fun reading this nifty litrpg over the weekend, and in the end, that's all that really matters. I'd be curious to pick up the sequel down the line with quite high expectations and hopes that the story goes off the rails even more, because that is where the writing shines the most. Well done, Steven, keep writing.
The themes of the book were dark enough, but never crossed the line to being straight-up gross or off-putting, which might have been a missed opportunity, honestly. The population, ranging from country bumbkins to a haunting aberration, was enjoyable in their depictions and bumbling or incompetent ways. The main cast felt real enough if a little predictable, due to the story's structure. The plot was easy to follow, which is the correct choice for this kind of cozy, not super high-stakes adventure, I think.
I found the present tense rare and refreshing. It added to the immediacy of the town's/characters' woes. While I appreciate experimenting in my reading, there were moments where I've gotten tripped up by the style and format rather than it adding to the suspense or narrative. The portentous, divinatory, or deterministic aspect of the storyline was a little heavy-handed at times, but I understand its inclusion and believe that by the end, these choices are well justified.
Nevertheless, I've had fun reading this nifty litrpg over the weekend, and in the end, that's all that really matters. I'd be curious to pick up the sequel down the line with quite high expectations and hopes that the story goes off the rails even more, because that is where the writing shines the most. Well done, Steven, keep writing.
Want to read
January 5, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
An expedition goes terribly wrong. A half-giant and a dwarf flee a maddening evil released from the inverted, underground world.
Ripping good d&d inspired fantasy. Classic sword and sorcery evil. This is as cool as it gets. And who doesn’t love a giant protagonist who dreams foretelling?
This is a prologue done right. It has an active, immediate start. Our characters are running for their lives, or maybe something even deeper and more precious than that as a maddening Choir hounds their steps.
Their companions are lost. But these survivors have not escaped unscathed. The prose is a punchy 3rd person present tense. It is descriptive, fast, and effective.
The dialogue comes from distinct characters and is the primary device for exposition. It works well and gives the opening a sense of pace.
The world details that drift through the narrative are exciting, and serve to ground me in the world bit by bit.
Though the very beginning of this was awkward - I struggled with tense & sense - and I thought this prologue could have been a little tighter, it surprised and excited me wonderfully by the end.
My interest mounts the more I read of this. I feel like the author is going all in on their ideas, and they aren’t shorting me on the story. Truly thrilling stuff. I can’t wait to see what comes next. Sold! I’m in.
An expedition goes terribly wrong. A half-giant and a dwarf flee a maddening evil released from the inverted, underground world.
Ripping good d&d inspired fantasy. Classic sword and sorcery evil. This is as cool as it gets. And who doesn’t love a giant protagonist who dreams foretelling?
This is a prologue done right. It has an active, immediate start. Our characters are running for their lives, or maybe something even deeper and more precious than that as a maddening Choir hounds their steps.
Their companions are lost. But these survivors have not escaped unscathed. The prose is a punchy 3rd person present tense. It is descriptive, fast, and effective.
The dialogue comes from distinct characters and is the primary device for exposition. It works well and gives the opening a sense of pace.
The world details that drift through the narrative are exciting, and serve to ground me in the world bit by bit.
Though the very beginning of this was awkward - I struggled with tense & sense - and I thought this prologue could have been a little tighter, it surprised and excited me wonderfully by the end.
My interest mounts the more I read of this. I feel like the author is going all in on their ideas, and they aren’t shorting me on the story. Truly thrilling stuff. I can’t wait to see what comes next. Sold! I’m in.
May 18, 2024
A fantasy novel I could not put down!
First of all, I must commend Steven Hannah on his superb world building and breakneck pace, it kept me hooked throughout!
The story focuses around Venelia and Temple; Venelia, a newly ordained priestess of The Minds Eye and Temple, a fierce half-giant warrior. The setting takes place in the larger world of Altheim but the story is central around the smaller village of Llantry.
I won't spoil any of the story, however, a brief introductory of the plot is key to illustrate and to entice potential readers. Temple is part of a mercenary group on the hunt for a grotesque otherworldly creature which inhabits The Inverted World. The contract goes awry and many of his fellow mercenaries are slain. Venalia has been shunned by the people of Llantry, mainly because of the disappearance of Anabel De Llantry, however, she is determined to protect Llantry and its people. These two protagonists tie together when the threat from The Inverted World threatens Llantry. What happens from here is a truly engaging read.
Steven crafts his tale superbly, every page I read hooked me and I wanted to read more. The history of Altheim sounds very intriguing and I am hoping to learn more in Book 2. The story focusing around a small village in the vast world made it more personal; a perfect symbiosis of a personal, relatable story but also with vivid descriptions of a larger world.
I highly recommend The First Rule! 5*
First of all, I must commend Steven Hannah on his superb world building and breakneck pace, it kept me hooked throughout!
The story focuses around Venelia and Temple; Venelia, a newly ordained priestess of The Minds Eye and Temple, a fierce half-giant warrior. The setting takes place in the larger world of Altheim but the story is central around the smaller village of Llantry.
I won't spoil any of the story, however, a brief introductory of the plot is key to illustrate and to entice potential readers. Temple is part of a mercenary group on the hunt for a grotesque otherworldly creature which inhabits The Inverted World. The contract goes awry and many of his fellow mercenaries are slain. Venalia has been shunned by the people of Llantry, mainly because of the disappearance of Anabel De Llantry, however, she is determined to protect Llantry and its people. These two protagonists tie together when the threat from The Inverted World threatens Llantry. What happens from here is a truly engaging read.
Steven crafts his tale superbly, every page I read hooked me and I wanted to read more. The history of Altheim sounds very intriguing and I am hoping to learn more in Book 2. The story focusing around a small village in the vast world made it more personal; a perfect symbiosis of a personal, relatable story but also with vivid descriptions of a larger world.
I highly recommend The First Rule! 5*
February 22, 2023
Make A Rule To Read This Superb Novel
I read three books on my recent fortnight's holiday: two by prolific author James Patterson, who has sold more than 400 million books worldwide, and The First Rule, by Steven William Hannah.
Patterson's were good. But for me, The First Rule stands head and shoulders above them.
I was intrigued from the very start, and hooked right to the end.
This book has absolutely everything I look for to be entertained in my reading: superb world-building, powerful and evocative descriptions, truly likeable characters with realistic dialogue which moves the story along, treachery with a wicked twist that I didn't see coming, and fantastic false and real climaxes.
Totally loved it.
We meet our main character, Venalia, the newly ordained Priestess of the Mind's Eye, shortly after she's returned home for her mentor's funeral. She immediately clashes with the village Burroughmaster, Gregor de Llantry, and we quickly realise there's long-standing bad blood between them - which grows ever larger as the fast-paced plot develops.
Tension, both between characters, and by the pending threat of the village's destruction from supernatural forces, keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last.
If you only read one book this year, make sure it's The First Rule.
I read three books on my recent fortnight's holiday: two by prolific author James Patterson, who has sold more than 400 million books worldwide, and The First Rule, by Steven William Hannah.
Patterson's were good. But for me, The First Rule stands head and shoulders above them.
I was intrigued from the very start, and hooked right to the end.
This book has absolutely everything I look for to be entertained in my reading: superb world-building, powerful and evocative descriptions, truly likeable characters with realistic dialogue which moves the story along, treachery with a wicked twist that I didn't see coming, and fantastic false and real climaxes.
Totally loved it.
We meet our main character, Venalia, the newly ordained Priestess of the Mind's Eye, shortly after she's returned home for her mentor's funeral. She immediately clashes with the village Burroughmaster, Gregor de Llantry, and we quickly realise there's long-standing bad blood between them - which grows ever larger as the fast-paced plot develops.
Tension, both between characters, and by the pending threat of the village's destruction from supernatural forces, keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last.
If you only read one book this year, make sure it's The First Rule.
June 20, 2023
I wasn't sure at first if I'd enjoy this as the MC seemed to be a morally upstanding young woman, but it was soon revealed that she has plenty of gray and a few chapters in I was thrilled to continue to see what choices she would make. This was character driven without being bogged down by backstory or infodumps about the world.
The conflict is reminiscent of Dragon Age's Darkspawn/Deep Roads plotline, fit with dwarves and a dark power that lures men to her army. This conflict was established right from the start, and the threat/suspense was carried through the story with elegant snippets even as another conflict rose up. Real consequences and character growth made the story immersive.
As usual, SWH managed to shock me with the unexpected twist near the end of the book. To have been given so many hints, but not have a guessed it was wonderfully frustrating. I love to have the string of hints flash before my eyes as the big reveal hits, and this does that.
It's also a relaxing read in that the whole plot essentially takes place in a small area and with a small cast of main and side characters. The narrow focus and efficient writing allows for a lot to be done in fewer pages.
The conflict is reminiscent of Dragon Age's Darkspawn/Deep Roads plotline, fit with dwarves and a dark power that lures men to her army. This conflict was established right from the start, and the threat/suspense was carried through the story with elegant snippets even as another conflict rose up. Real consequences and character growth made the story immersive.
As usual, SWH managed to shock me with the unexpected twist near the end of the book. To have been given so many hints, but not have a guessed it was wonderfully frustrating. I love to have the string of hints flash before my eyes as the big reveal hits, and this does that.
It's also a relaxing read in that the whole plot essentially takes place in a small area and with a small cast of main and side characters. The narrow focus and efficient writing allows for a lot to be done in fewer pages.
March 13, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
The characters were fantastic, well-rounded, three-dimensional, and evolved as the plot progressed. The writing was brilliant, clear, precise, and easily constructed the world and characters for me to follow. The setting was immersive and I loved the descriptions of the environment and places.
The plot was really intriguing, especially with the edition of moral quandary. Loved the main plot and the antagonist of it was honestly very terrifying. The way that the sub-plot is weaved throughout was enjoyable. The only holdback that I had was that the conclusion to the sub-plot seemed to take place at break-neck speed and while I loved how it happened and the way it concluded I hadn't changed gears quickly enough. This is why the actual rating was *4.5 but I thoroughly enjoyed and will absolutely read any more stories within this world.
Additionally, I was put onto this book through an 'Indie SFF Author Showcase - December 2022' by Dom at dominsh_books on YouTube. The premise of this novel interested me but the artwork on the cover was the first pull for me and is absolutely stunning.
The characters were fantastic, well-rounded, three-dimensional, and evolved as the plot progressed. The writing was brilliant, clear, precise, and easily constructed the world and characters for me to follow. The setting was immersive and I loved the descriptions of the environment and places.
The plot was really intriguing, especially with the edition of moral quandary. Loved the main plot and the antagonist of it was honestly very terrifying. The way that the sub-plot is weaved throughout was enjoyable. The only holdback that I had was that the conclusion to the sub-plot seemed to take place at break-neck speed and while I loved how it happened and the way it concluded I hadn't changed gears quickly enough. This is why the actual rating was *4.5 but I thoroughly enjoyed and will absolutely read any more stories within this world.
Additionally, I was put onto this book through an 'Indie SFF Author Showcase - December 2022' by Dom at dominsh_books on YouTube. The premise of this novel interested me but the artwork on the cover was the first pull for me and is absolutely stunning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2023
4.5 out of 5 stars
The First Rule by Steven William Hannah is a fascinating dark fantasy mystery.
I found it very character driven as well as including plenty of action. I also thought the character development was brilliant. I was drawn to Venalia especially and I thought she was such a great character to bring the story along.
I found it to be surprisingly approachable and easy to read compared to other fantasies I’ve read that are similar. The storyline and characters were well-crafted, everything was so fluent, and it was a pleasure to read. I was totally whisked up into the great worldbuilding!
I’m not sure what it was, but unfortunately, I didn’t find myself really rooting for the characters as much as I wanted to. I just couldn’t quite connect to the story. I don’t know why that was, but that was the only thing that lacked for me in this brilliant book. I still enjoyed it regardless.
Also, just wanted to say that the plot twist 300 pages in was incredible!
Overall, I really enjoyed this fascinating story and look forward to the next instalment in the series.
Thank you Steven for my copy.
The First Rule by Steven William Hannah is a fascinating dark fantasy mystery.
I found it very character driven as well as including plenty of action. I also thought the character development was brilliant. I was drawn to Venalia especially and I thought she was such a great character to bring the story along.
I found it to be surprisingly approachable and easy to read compared to other fantasies I’ve read that are similar. The storyline and characters were well-crafted, everything was so fluent, and it was a pleasure to read. I was totally whisked up into the great worldbuilding!
I’m not sure what it was, but unfortunately, I didn’t find myself really rooting for the characters as much as I wanted to. I just couldn’t quite connect to the story. I don’t know why that was, but that was the only thing that lacked for me in this brilliant book. I still enjoyed it regardless.
Also, just wanted to say that the plot twist 300 pages in was incredible!
Overall, I really enjoyed this fascinating story and look forward to the next instalment in the series.
Thank you Steven for my copy.
May 4, 2023
In short, "The First Rule" is a fantasy novel that follows the journey of Venalia, a Priestess of the Mind's Eye, who faces the daunting task of protecting her village from a terrifying threat. Despite being shunned by her community, Venalia is bound by the first rule of the Priesthood to stand her ground against overwhelming odds. The story explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the value of one's life. The novel combines elements of mystery, detective work, progression, and horror, and its world-building should be praised for its exemplary detail.
Overall, "The First Rule" is a captivating and thought-provoking read.
Overall, "The First Rule" is a captivating and thought-provoking read.
December 27, 2022
I received an advanced reader copy of this one a few months back. I loved every page of it. I had not read Steven Hannah’s work before this and I was blown away by the imagination on display. The world building is terrific and the set-pieces sing. There is a lot mentioned here, past events and other parts of the land, that are mentioned in passing that could be an epic fantasy series in their own right. I look forward to exploring these in future works!
Absolutely eager to read the next book in the series. In the meantime, absolutely grab a copy of this and get lost in its mystic land.
Absolutely eager to read the next book in the series. In the meantime, absolutely grab a copy of this and get lost in its mystic land.
January 20, 2024
a sharp novel with perfect balance of action and feeling
I am not normally a fantasy reader, but it was my quest to find fantasy novels I love this year. Lucky for me, I stuck gold with my second try. The First Rule is one of the best fantasy novels and one of the best indie novels I’ve ever read. The story starts off with a blast and never looks back. The characters all have clear motivations and the backstory and world building are introduced naturally without ever slowing the pace. This is a great novel!
I am not normally a fantasy reader, but it was my quest to find fantasy novels I love this year. Lucky for me, I stuck gold with my second try. The First Rule is one of the best fantasy novels and one of the best indie novels I’ve ever read. The story starts off with a blast and never looks back. The characters all have clear motivations and the backstory and world building are introduced naturally without ever slowing the pace. This is a great novel!
September 27, 2025
fantastic horror fantasy with some incredible world building
can't wait for the next book!
can't wait for the next book!
July 5, 2023
I read First Rule as part of my SPFBO9 readalong (I'm not a judge!).
First Rule was a delight from start to finish. For anyone in doubt that indie and/or self-published books aren't well-written, Hannah's work should be enough to disabuse you of that notion. The prose flowed beautifully, and I was particularly struck by the poetic feel of its opening pages. As we move on and meet more characters, Hannah likewise delivers snappy, easily readable prose that keeps the narrative moving at a fast pace.
Although the book has been marketed as quite dark (and does include some plot points that deal with heavy topics), fans of adventure fantasy and readers looking to have fun in a fantasy setting will find much to love here. Fans of K. A. Doore's Chronicles of Ghadid series, and Ed McDonald's work will also appreciate the focus on smaller scale, more intimate stakes, and a plot that explores a contained, specific setting rather than relying on quests and location-hopping.
The environment has a D&D-esque feel in terms of worldbuilding, with a nod to darker settings such as Ravenloft (more in terms of vibe than specific references). There's certainly a Gothic quality to some of the later chapters, and there is a mystery sub-plot that will keep you guessing till First Rule's explosive conclusion. As a small nitpick, I was hoping for a little more context in terms of the world, which I felt would have helped enrich the mystery elements of both the main storyline and a key sub-plot, but it's very possible belaboring the book with worldbuilding would have ruined the style and pace Hannah was going for, so it's a very soft criticism.
Anyone looking for tight, plot-focused adventure fantasy should definitely pick this up. Although it does contain some spooky moments later in the book, I hazard a guess that those looking for modern fantasy in a epic-style setting, but who are worn out on grimdark will find much to love here. The characters and setting are fun, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book (though this could absolutely be read as a standalone).
First Rule was a delight from start to finish. For anyone in doubt that indie and/or self-published books aren't well-written, Hannah's work should be enough to disabuse you of that notion. The prose flowed beautifully, and I was particularly struck by the poetic feel of its opening pages. As we move on and meet more characters, Hannah likewise delivers snappy, easily readable prose that keeps the narrative moving at a fast pace.
Although the book has been marketed as quite dark (and does include some plot points that deal with heavy topics), fans of adventure fantasy and readers looking to have fun in a fantasy setting will find much to love here. Fans of K. A. Doore's Chronicles of Ghadid series, and Ed McDonald's work will also appreciate the focus on smaller scale, more intimate stakes, and a plot that explores a contained, specific setting rather than relying on quests and location-hopping.
The environment has a D&D-esque feel in terms of worldbuilding, with a nod to darker settings such as Ravenloft (more in terms of vibe than specific references). There's certainly a Gothic quality to some of the later chapters, and there is a mystery sub-plot that will keep you guessing till First Rule's explosive conclusion. As a small nitpick, I was hoping for a little more context in terms of the world, which I felt would have helped enrich the mystery elements of both the main storyline and a key sub-plot, but it's very possible belaboring the book with worldbuilding would have ruined the style and pace Hannah was going for, so it's a very soft criticism.
Anyone looking for tight, plot-focused adventure fantasy should definitely pick this up. Although it does contain some spooky moments later in the book, I hazard a guess that those looking for modern fantasy in a epic-style setting, but who are worn out on grimdark will find much to love here. The characters and setting are fun, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book (though this could absolutely be read as a standalone).
September 5, 2023
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when going into The First Rule. I've been going into a lot of books blind these days, which can be either a good or a bad thing. I feel like it was a great decision with The First Rule. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found in the pages.
Our two main characters both have their own plights that they have to work through and I really enjoyed the way these characters were brought to life. Hannah absolutely feels like he has been writing in depth characters for years.
The horror elements of this story were such a welcome surprise. It definitely leans more horror than fantasy, and I ended up really enjoying that part of the story. Deadly singing spirits? Come on, who wouldn't love that?
I think that this story definitely had some warm heartfelt moments despite the horror elements as we learn that the past does not always define us. So, with that I will say I recommend this for any horror fan with the knowledge that you will definitely get a more in depth study of characters than just your run of the mill horror novel. This sets The First Rule apart and makes it a great read!
Our two main characters both have their own plights that they have to work through and I really enjoyed the way these characters were brought to life. Hannah absolutely feels like he has been writing in depth characters for years.
The horror elements of this story were such a welcome surprise. It definitely leans more horror than fantasy, and I ended up really enjoying that part of the story. Deadly singing spirits? Come on, who wouldn't love that?
I think that this story definitely had some warm heartfelt moments despite the horror elements as we learn that the past does not always define us. So, with that I will say I recommend this for any horror fan with the knowledge that you will definitely get a more in depth study of characters than just your run of the mill horror novel. This sets The First Rule apart and makes it a great read!
September 6, 2023
A half-giant warrior with a mission to complete after his colleagues are all killed.
A neophyte priestess with a dark secret returning home to cremate her adoptive father.
Together, they have to find a way to destroy an abominable evil.
That’s basically the premise of the story, and it grips you from the beginning. On the surface, it’s a fantasy, but it freely crosses genres as it progresses. Philosophically, it’s also about fate versus free will. I counted three layers:
The first layer is a fantasy with a D&D dungeon-crawling vibe.
The second layer is a homecoming tale.
The third layer is a suspense mystery.
The story would work using any one of these layers, but when they are overlayed on top of each other, it makes for one compelling story!
The writing itself is to be commended. It’s lean and direct but also poetic in places. It’s written in a way that feels like a visual experience (I can easily imagine this as a movie) and visceral when it needs to be. There are also interludes of poetic prose that gravitate towards poetry. I had a few laugh-out-loud moments too.
The characters and characterisations are rich and varied. It was very easy to like the priestess MC, Venalia. The author writes in close third-person present tense, but it sometimes almost feels like first-person with the thoughts inside Venalia’s mind. It’s very much weighted in her favour. Temple, the half-giant, and the other characters come to life too.
The magic system is well-thought out. I liked the way that it was presented and how it was explained (magic is what usually puts me off reading fantasy because authors have a tendency to over-explain and over-complicate everything, which doesn’t happen here).
The world-building is lightly sprinkled throughout. It’s never laid on too thick that it becomes a history lesson. We can peek through when the narrative allows until it’s laid on thick later on. It is well-built world where there is A LOT of very bad history.
It’s an intense book, with most of the story condensed into a 3-day period. I like books that happen in a short space of time. There is plenty of action and intrigue. There are also many ‘calm before the storm’ moments that builds the relationships between the characters, which is thoughtfully done. The way everything comes together is quite expertly done (also, the formatting is actually very pleasing on the eye).
One thing that confused me slightly was the time-period. At first, I thought it was medieval, but then there were mentions of airships and rifles. I kept having to update my idea of the world. There was a real advanced technology vibe to it with words like photographic, cinematic, and napalm, which took me out of it slightly, (this was only a minor issue I had with wording), but the story is taut, mysterious, and ultimately a rewarding read.
Really, if you enjoy fantasy with a bit of suspense and mystery, then I would highly recommend this. I finished it in under 2 days, which isn’t normal for me! I loved it and can’t wait for book 2!
A neophyte priestess with a dark secret returning home to cremate her adoptive father.
Together, they have to find a way to destroy an abominable evil.
That’s basically the premise of the story, and it grips you from the beginning. On the surface, it’s a fantasy, but it freely crosses genres as it progresses. Philosophically, it’s also about fate versus free will. I counted three layers:
The first layer is a fantasy with a D&D dungeon-crawling vibe.
The second layer is a homecoming tale.
The third layer is a suspense mystery.
The story would work using any one of these layers, but when they are overlayed on top of each other, it makes for one compelling story!
The writing itself is to be commended. It’s lean and direct but also poetic in places. It’s written in a way that feels like a visual experience (I can easily imagine this as a movie) and visceral when it needs to be. There are also interludes of poetic prose that gravitate towards poetry. I had a few laugh-out-loud moments too.
The characters and characterisations are rich and varied. It was very easy to like the priestess MC, Venalia. The author writes in close third-person present tense, but it sometimes almost feels like first-person with the thoughts inside Venalia’s mind. It’s very much weighted in her favour. Temple, the half-giant, and the other characters come to life too.
The magic system is well-thought out. I liked the way that it was presented and how it was explained (magic is what usually puts me off reading fantasy because authors have a tendency to over-explain and over-complicate everything, which doesn’t happen here).
The world-building is lightly sprinkled throughout. It’s never laid on too thick that it becomes a history lesson. We can peek through when the narrative allows until it’s laid on thick later on. It is well-built world where there is A LOT of very bad history.
It’s an intense book, with most of the story condensed into a 3-day period. I like books that happen in a short space of time. There is plenty of action and intrigue. There are also many ‘calm before the storm’ moments that builds the relationships between the characters, which is thoughtfully done. The way everything comes together is quite expertly done (also, the formatting is actually very pleasing on the eye).
One thing that confused me slightly was the time-period. At first, I thought it was medieval, but then there were mentions of airships and rifles. I kept having to update my idea of the world. There was a real advanced technology vibe to it with words like photographic, cinematic, and napalm, which took me out of it slightly, (this was only a minor issue I had with wording), but the story is taut, mysterious, and ultimately a rewarding read.
Really, if you enjoy fantasy with a bit of suspense and mystery, then I would highly recommend this. I finished it in under 2 days, which isn’t normal for me! I loved it and can’t wait for book 2!
July 18, 2023
Great read
Read this because of a recommendation from another indie author. Was entertaining and fun with enough suspense and surprises to keep me reading. Will have to check out the next book in the series.
Read this because of a recommendation from another indie author. Was entertaining and fun with enough suspense and surprises to keep me reading. Will have to check out the next book in the series.
August 30, 2023
Action Packed and Kept me guessing
I loved this book and can’t wait for the second one! Hannah is a fantastic author and this book is the 4th I’ve read from him.
I really enjoyed the scene and the overall story. The magic, the characters and detail were a perfect combination.
I loved this book and can’t wait for the second one! Hannah is a fantastic author and this book is the 4th I’ve read from him.
I really enjoyed the scene and the overall story. The magic, the characters and detail were a perfect combination.
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