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The Ruined Gods #.5
Caduceus
Some lies cut deeper than any sword.
War has come to the fragile city-state of Carenos. A self-proclaimed ‘King of the South’ sows destruction among its outlying villages, cutting a bloody swathe towards the capital. As smoke from the burning wheat fields blackens the sky, Carenos beseeches its northern allies for aid.
Dexios, general of the Thenean phalanx, is one of those chosen to answer the call. After braving the tumultuous Sea of Scales, he arrives in Carenos at the head of three hundred hoplites, determined to put an end to the enemy incursion.
One threat, however, can often hide another.
Something is stirring in the shadows of the sun-drenched lowlands, an age-old legend, abandoned
and forgotten. Drawn from its den by the need to satiate its ravenous hunger.
And the enticing scent of blood.
War has come to the fragile city-state of Carenos. A self-proclaimed ‘King of the South’ sows destruction among its outlying villages, cutting a bloody swathe towards the capital. As smoke from the burning wheat fields blackens the sky, Carenos beseeches its northern allies for aid.
Dexios, general of the Thenean phalanx, is one of those chosen to answer the call. After braving the tumultuous Sea of Scales, he arrives in Carenos at the head of three hundred hoplites, determined to put an end to the enemy incursion.
One threat, however, can often hide another.
Something is stirring in the shadows of the sun-drenched lowlands, an age-old legend, abandoned
and forgotten. Drawn from its den by the need to satiate its ravenous hunger.
And the enticing scent of blood.
- GenresFantasy
99 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2023
4 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Alex Robins
12 books96 followersAlex Robins was born in Norwich, England back when it was still trendy to wear lycra tracksuits and bright pink headbands. Norwich School Library was where he first discovered his love of reading, an old converted undercroft packed to the rafters with books. The first fantasy series he read was The Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis & Tracey Hickman, quickly followed by The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and David Eddings' The Belgariad.
At the age of twelve Alex moved across the channel to Nantes in France. Speaking very little French, the first few years were difficult and sometimes lonely as he scrambled to get a grip on the intricate grammar and vocabulary of the French language. His taste in books branched out from epic fantasy to science-fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction, but he always came back to his favourite fantasy authors when looking to escape the outside world.
After degrees in agronomy, project management, and computer sciences, Alex founded his own company dedicated to online voting. He met his wife during a game of badminton and they spent several years getting trounced in various regional tournaments before getting married. Alex now lives in the sunny Loire Valley in western France, surrounded by imposing castles, sprawling vineyards, and two children. After reading fantasy books for the last thirty years he decided to write one. The Broken Heart of Arelium is his first novel, and the first in the War of the Twelve series.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 10, 2024
This was a fun novella. After reading Panacea, I was amazed by how Robins writes a battle scene. I am glad to say it wasn't a fluke and he captured the glorious and miserable side of war.
I also love all the details he includes in this series. I am grateful for the glossary since he does use a lot of Greek words, yet rather than find this distracting it helped me get immersed in this world. Plus, it's fun to google some of the words so I can properly visualize them in my head.
If you read Panacea, then you’ll be happy to follow Dexios. You will also gain a better understanding of Polydius’ and Dexios’ relationship. Another bonus is the story shows how Nambe and Dexios first meet.
In terms of reading order, you will be fine reading this as an introduction to the The Ruined Gods trilogy. On its own, it made a great short story. However, if you enjoy this then you will love Book 1. The battle scenes are even more epic, and you will be invested in the characters. For me, I already read Panacea so I enjoyed the easter eggs in this book and getting more background on Polydius' motivations. Either way, it's up to you, but I highly recommend reading this and Panacea.
I also love all the details he includes in this series. I am grateful for the glossary since he does use a lot of Greek words, yet rather than find this distracting it helped me get immersed in this world. Plus, it's fun to google some of the words so I can properly visualize them in my head.
If you read Panacea, then you’ll be happy to follow Dexios. You will also gain a better understanding of Polydius’ and Dexios’ relationship. Another bonus is the story shows how Nambe and Dexios first meet.
In terms of reading order, you will be fine reading this as an introduction to the The Ruined Gods trilogy. On its own, it made a great short story. However, if you enjoy this then you will love Book 1. The battle scenes are even more epic, and you will be invested in the characters. For me, I already read Panacea so I enjoyed the easter eggs in this book and getting more background on Polydius' motivations. Either way, it's up to you, but I highly recommend reading this and Panacea.
September 12, 2023
Read this today in preparation of Metonia coming out tomorrow. It’s a solid read but I strongly recommend reading Panacea first to have a grip on the characters and settings
June 5, 2023
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For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4/5
FORMAT: Kindle ebook
I enjoyed this novella/novelette quite a bit, though it was a bit shorter than I was expecting since it is at 99 pages, but actually around 76 with extra chapters for Panacea at the end. One thing to know about me is that I absolutely love Greek mythology, so to have a book set in a fantasy setting but use Greek mythology for a Mytho-fantasy story, made me feel at home. The tempo in the beginning was a little slower than the rest as we were introduced to the characters and world, which is to be expected, but also because I was a little overwhelmed by some of the wordage used as it is written with many Greek/Roman words and phrases, though I will say that the glossary at the beginning was helpful tool to understand most of those.
Once we got through the introduction of the characters and world, Robins ramped it up and was able to get in not just one exciting battle with an invading army to show what the main character Dexios is all about, but a second battle with a mythological beast as well, which you can see on the amazing cover done by the illustrious Felix Ortiz! With that said, I would’ve rather seen a single massive battle with either the invading army or just the manticore instead of two smaller ones because each one just left you wanting it to be more.
Robins made me like Dexios pretty quickly with his personality and the way he carries himself, so I was all in on seeing how the story unfolded. Despite the minor criticisms I mentioned earlier, it was a really good story that was exciting with an epilogue that got me even more excited to jump into Panacea to see how Dexios and Polydius relationship evolves into something electric.
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4/5
FORMAT: Kindle ebook
I enjoyed this novella/novelette quite a bit, though it was a bit shorter than I was expecting since it is at 99 pages, but actually around 76 with extra chapters for Panacea at the end. One thing to know about me is that I absolutely love Greek mythology, so to have a book set in a fantasy setting but use Greek mythology for a Mytho-fantasy story, made me feel at home. The tempo in the beginning was a little slower than the rest as we were introduced to the characters and world, which is to be expected, but also because I was a little overwhelmed by some of the wordage used as it is written with many Greek/Roman words and phrases, though I will say that the glossary at the beginning was helpful tool to understand most of those.
Once we got through the introduction of the characters and world, Robins ramped it up and was able to get in not just one exciting battle with an invading army to show what the main character Dexios is all about, but a second battle with a mythological beast as well, which you can see on the amazing cover done by the illustrious Felix Ortiz! With that said, I would’ve rather seen a single massive battle with either the invading army or just the manticore instead of two smaller ones because each one just left you wanting it to be more.
Robins made me like Dexios pretty quickly with his personality and the way he carries himself, so I was all in on seeing how the story unfolded. Despite the minor criticisms I mentioned earlier, it was a really good story that was exciting with an epilogue that got me even more excited to jump into Panacea to see how Dexios and Polydius relationship evolves into something electric.
October 19, 2023
Great little prequel
This was a fun quick prequel. It gives you more of an insight into the background of Dexios and Polydius and how the friends eventually became foes. Nambe is introduced as well so that was a neat little Easter egg.
This was a fun quick prequel. It gives you more of an insight into the background of Dexios and Polydius and how the friends eventually became foes. Nambe is introduced as well so that was a neat little Easter egg.
February 1, 2024
A neatly-wound and delightfully action-packed novella, that stays true to form on its Romanesque theme and establishes the warrior phalanx system very well. My only complaint is that I did not feel as connected to Dexios as I could have been, and felt that maybe a chapter or two actually meeting his family at the start would have made the stakes of his survival more intense in the main story. But, that being said, there is a richness to the world even in such a short novella, and a great narrative voice which I hope spreads into the main books too!
July 12, 2024
This was a fun short story that gave an origin to Dexios’s relationship with more characters than I anticipated and establishes the questionable nature of the oracle. The action is excellent and the emotional stakes are fantastic for such a short form story. I am glad I read this after reading the first novel in the series.
February 18, 2023
I'm mixed on this.
On the one hand reading this felt like homework—opening up to a glossary of Greek terms sets the tone for what you're in for because from chapter 1 you're bombarded with those words to test your knowledge. Also, in most cases setting the scene felt more like being slammed with historical facts. This level of detail might immerse some readers, but it took me out of the story. I can handle new terms here and there (because fantasy,) but this was too much for me with my limited knowledge of the Greek language. If the words were familiar, or at least intuitive, I would have had a better time.
On the other hand the story itself was good. It's mostly centred around a battle with some supernatural intrigue, and the action is exciting and visceral.
My overall rating may all have to do with the length of the novella; the first half was an absolute slog through the set-up and terms, whereas the second half was nice and juicy. If this is a taster for the writing style of Book 1 I'm conflicted on whether to continue—if it contains the same balance as the novella then I wouldn't be interested, but if it maintains the flow after a quick set-up then I'm keen.
On the one hand reading this felt like homework—opening up to a glossary of Greek terms sets the tone for what you're in for because from chapter 1 you're bombarded with those words to test your knowledge. Also, in most cases setting the scene felt more like being slammed with historical facts. This level of detail might immerse some readers, but it took me out of the story. I can handle new terms here and there (because fantasy,) but this was too much for me with my limited knowledge of the Greek language. If the words were familiar, or at least intuitive, I would have had a better time.
On the other hand the story itself was good. It's mostly centred around a battle with some supernatural intrigue, and the action is exciting and visceral.
My overall rating may all have to do with the length of the novella; the first half was an absolute slog through the set-up and terms, whereas the second half was nice and juicy. If this is a taster for the writing style of Book 1 I'm conflicted on whether to continue—if it contains the same balance as the novella then I wouldn't be interested, but if it maintains the flow after a quick set-up then I'm keen.
February 13, 2023
𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙅𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙮’𝙨 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙨. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 … 𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝.
🦁Caduceus is the prequel novella of The Ruined Gods series - set in the historical fictional world of Tyrris - heavily inspired by ancient Greece - divided into many city-states, it follows the origin story of stratego Dexio.
🦁When the southern city-state of Carenos faces the menaces of a self-proclaimed barbarian king, stratego Dexios of Thena come to its rescue with his phalanx of 300 hoplites. But in the southern desert of Carenos, he found he had bitten off more than he can chew. Entangled in a political machinate, he had to survive the searing heat of the south, defeat a vastly outnumbered barbarian army and kill a long-forgotten mythical monster roaming in the desert, in order to return safely to Thena.
🦁The plot of this novella takes place many years before the events of Book 1 and explores Dexios' backstory; his reasons for animosity with Polydius; how he came in contact with his future slave turn friend Nambe and lastly also leaves a hint of the emergence of the ruined god.
🦁Having already read Book 1, reading Caduceus was a nostalgic experience. Alex had beautifully crafted an enticing story within a few pages and also provide a detailed map of Tyrris and a glossary of greek words used in it. I'm totally hooked on the series.
𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
🦁Caduceus is the prequel novella of The Ruined Gods series - set in the historical fictional world of Tyrris - heavily inspired by ancient Greece - divided into many city-states, it follows the origin story of stratego Dexio.
🦁When the southern city-state of Carenos faces the menaces of a self-proclaimed barbarian king, stratego Dexios of Thena come to its rescue with his phalanx of 300 hoplites. But in the southern desert of Carenos, he found he had bitten off more than he can chew. Entangled in a political machinate, he had to survive the searing heat of the south, defeat a vastly outnumbered barbarian army and kill a long-forgotten mythical monster roaming in the desert, in order to return safely to Thena.
🦁The plot of this novella takes place many years before the events of Book 1 and explores Dexios' backstory; his reasons for animosity with Polydius; how he came in contact with his future slave turn friend Nambe and lastly also leaves a hint of the emergence of the ruined god.
🦁Having already read Book 1, reading Caduceus was a nostalgic experience. Alex had beautifully crafted an enticing story within a few pages and also provide a detailed map of Tyrris and a glossary of greek words used in it. I'm totally hooked on the series.
𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
March 1, 2023
This is a great companion piece to Panacea. There is the same careful attention to detail and deep-dive into Ancient Greece that I enjoyed.
For those who finished and enjoyed Panacea, I'd go as far to say that this is an essential read as we learn much more about two characters central to that series, almost twenty years before envy and jealously tore them apart.
Also worth adding that this novella is entirely free when you sign up for the author's newsletter.
For those who finished and enjoyed Panacea, I'd go as far to say that this is an essential read as we learn much more about two characters central to that series, almost twenty years before envy and jealously tore them apart.
Also worth adding that this novella is entirely free when you sign up for the author's newsletter.
December 13, 2025
A good story with a nice introduction to the characters and world. I really liked learning about Polydius and Dexios and their relationship. I think I will enjoy this series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews