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Toothless
An ancient evil leads a rampaging army of demons and undead warriors across the countryside. Martin, a failed Templar, is slain on the field of battle only to be reanimated in service to the very evil he hoped to destroy. The Black Yew, the dark force that controls the undead army, considers him a gifted minion.
But life is not done with him yet.
But life is not done with him yet.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
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357 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 23, 2012
This book was...odd. I'm a fan of the zombie genre, so I picked it up at the library based on the stunning cover art that implied, well, zombies. Here's the plot description from the back of the book:
"An ancient evil leads a rampaging army of demons and undead warriors across the countryside. Martin, a failed Templar, is slain on the field of battle only to be reanimated in service to the very evil he hoped to destroy. The Black Yew, the dark force that controls the undead army, considers him a gifted minion. But life is not done with him yet."
The book is set in 1180 France/Britain and...yeah. It's strange. I liked it? I guess? No, I did. But I find it difficult to describe or review as the story was very unlike anything else I've read. Lots of stuff in here as to what makes us human, what makes us "good," and how choices define these qualities.
"An ancient evil leads a rampaging army of demons and undead warriors across the countryside. Martin, a failed Templar, is slain on the field of battle only to be reanimated in service to the very evil he hoped to destroy. The Black Yew, the dark force that controls the undead army, considers him a gifted minion. But life is not done with him yet."
The book is set in 1180 France/Britain and...yeah. It's strange. I liked it? I guess? No, I did. But I find it difficult to describe or review as the story was very unlike anything else I've read. Lots of stuff in here as to what makes us human, what makes us "good," and how choices define these qualities.
November 9, 2010
Whenever I recommend Toothless to people (which is often), I tell them that it's sort of like an alternate history. What if legions of undead flooded across Europe between the Second and Third Crusades, leaving devastation in their wake? The bleak landscape that J.P. Moore describes in Toothless is very believable, and in a way it mirrors the bleakness of the title character's situation. Yet despite being unable to speak and having been reborn as one of the undead, Toothless is surprisingly easy to identify with. There's a depth to him that becomes clear as the story progresses, and which can be seen in his eyes in the gorgeous cover painting by Scott Purdy.
November 9, 2010
I found this book to be a very unique take on the zombie genre. Thanks to high quality writing, the story moves along well while keeping the reader curious about how the lead character will overcome his physical limitations. The characters feel real and you can sympathize with their struggles. And the author makes you feel as if you're walking in the 12th century with the characters. This is a great read and I highly recommend it.
August 9, 2012
I usually don't like gory horror stories, especially if there's lots of hopelessness, zombies and evil magic. But Toothless is something else. I listened to the free audio book and cried some river's worth of tears. Everything fits, the plot is good as well as the narrator and the audio quality. In the end there was a light of hope on the horizon and Toothless was content.
November 14, 2011
Certainly a different kind of zombie story. The writing is good, the story keeps your interest, and it is not the same old zombie tropes.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
June 6, 2023
I really don't know what to say..⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 18, 2010
http://www.rantingdragon.com/toothles...
Toothless is a standalone novel set in a fictional France in 1180 A.D. The Black Yew leads an army of the unstoppable undead, indiscriminately killing all in its wake. A few select warriors who are cut down are brought back to life. Martin, a former Templar, is now “Toothless,” an undead soldier with a special connection to the Yew. He seems destined to lead the fallen, but just as paths in life can be circuitous, so wind the twisting paths of the afterlife.
On his path, Toothless collides with Lil, a young female seer whose deformities and visions lead locals to believe that she may be responsible for attracting recent attacks from the forces of evil. When Toothless arrives in town, his presence does little to dispel that belief, but together, Toothless and Lil will shape the fate of the nation.
A fresh take on the zombie genre
Toothless is not your typical zombie tale; quite a few facets set it apart. First, rather than being set in an apocalyptic future, this tale is solidly grounded in a distant, fictional past where battles were big and bloody. The undead inhabit this setting with so much ease that I foresee other genre authors following suit.
Second, this may not be the first tale told from the perspective of the undead, but it’s hard to imagine a better guide than Toothless. The change from human to zombie is a significant one, and we experience firsthand Toothless’s struggle to cling to any vestigial humanity.
Third, we’re offered Lil, an unconventional heroine who serves as the mortal foil to Toothless. She provides a much needed respite from the despair of the undead, though we witness the equally harsh realities of life through her.
Great pacing
Moore melds atmosphere and action with perfect momentum: Toothless starts off with shades of melancholy as palpable as that of Frankenstein’s monster, and explodes into holy warfare that calls into question the very meaning of life, and whether that meaning can subsist through death. While the ending may be a little predictable, the maxim that “it’s the journey, not the destination” holds true here—Toothless is a hell of a journey.
Why should you read this book?
In the words of Mr. Moore himself, “[i]f Toothless is about anything, it is about a wife who inspires, children whose love redeems, and the power of friendship.” I found that to be wholly accurate. I’d recommend this book to zombie lovers and haters alike, as Toothless can only redeem the latter.
Benni received a review copy of this book courtesy of the author.
Toothless is a standalone novel set in a fictional France in 1180 A.D. The Black Yew leads an army of the unstoppable undead, indiscriminately killing all in its wake. A few select warriors who are cut down are brought back to life. Martin, a former Templar, is now “Toothless,” an undead soldier with a special connection to the Yew. He seems destined to lead the fallen, but just as paths in life can be circuitous, so wind the twisting paths of the afterlife.
On his path, Toothless collides with Lil, a young female seer whose deformities and visions lead locals to believe that she may be responsible for attracting recent attacks from the forces of evil. When Toothless arrives in town, his presence does little to dispel that belief, but together, Toothless and Lil will shape the fate of the nation.
A fresh take on the zombie genre
Toothless is not your typical zombie tale; quite a few facets set it apart. First, rather than being set in an apocalyptic future, this tale is solidly grounded in a distant, fictional past where battles were big and bloody. The undead inhabit this setting with so much ease that I foresee other genre authors following suit.
Second, this may not be the first tale told from the perspective of the undead, but it’s hard to imagine a better guide than Toothless. The change from human to zombie is a significant one, and we experience firsthand Toothless’s struggle to cling to any vestigial humanity.
Third, we’re offered Lil, an unconventional heroine who serves as the mortal foil to Toothless. She provides a much needed respite from the despair of the undead, though we witness the equally harsh realities of life through her.
Great pacing
Moore melds atmosphere and action with perfect momentum: Toothless starts off with shades of melancholy as palpable as that of Frankenstein’s monster, and explodes into holy warfare that calls into question the very meaning of life, and whether that meaning can subsist through death. While the ending may be a little predictable, the maxim that “it’s the journey, not the destination” holds true here—Toothless is a hell of a journey.
Why should you read this book?
In the words of Mr. Moore himself, “[i]f Toothless is about anything, it is about a wife who inspires, children whose love redeems, and the power of friendship.” I found that to be wholly accurate. I’d recommend this book to zombie lovers and haters alike, as Toothless can only redeem the latter.
Benni received a review copy of this book courtesy of the author.
January 26, 2011
Toothless is a standalone novel set in a fictional France in 1180 A.D. The Black Yew leads an army of the unstoppable undead, indiscriminately killing all in its wake. A few select warriors who are cut down are brought back to life. Martin, a former Templar, is now “Toothless,” an undead soldier with a special connection to the Yew. He seems destined to lead the fallen, but just as paths in life can be circuitous, so wind the twisting paths of the afterlife.
On his path, Toothless collides with Lil, a young female seer whose deformities and visions lead locals to believe that she may be responsible for attracting recent attacks from the forces of evil. When Toothless arrives in town, his presence does little to dispel that belief, but together, Toothless and Lil will shape the fate of the nation.
A fresh take on the zombie genre
Toothless is not your typical zombie tale; quite a few facets set it apart. First, rather than being set in an apocalyptic future, this tale is solidly grounded in a distant, fictional past where battles were big and bloody. The undead inhabit this setting with so much ease that I foresee other genre authors following suit.
Second, this may not be the first tale told from the perspective of the undead, but it’s hard to imagine a better guide than Toothless. The change from human to zombie is a significant one, and we experience firsthand Toothless’s struggle to cling to any vestigial humanity.
Third, we’re offered Lil, an unconventional heroine who serves as the mortal foil to Toothless. She provides a much needed respite from the despair of the undead, though we witness the equally harsh realities of life through her.
Great pacing
Moore melds atmosphere and action with perfect momentum: Toothless starts off with shades of melancholy as palpable as that of Frankenstein’s monster, and explodes into holy warfare that calls into question the very meaning of life, and whether that meaning can subsist through death. While the ending may be a little predictable, the maxim that “it’s the journey, not the destination” holds true here—Toothless is a hell of a journey.
Why should you read this book?
In the words of Mr. Moore himself, “[i]f Toothless is about anything, it is about a wife who inspires, children whose love redeems, and the power of friendship.” I found that to be wholly accurate. I’d recommend this book to zombie lovers and haters alike, as Toothless can only redeem the latter.
http://www.rantingdragon.com/toothles...
On his path, Toothless collides with Lil, a young female seer whose deformities and visions lead locals to believe that she may be responsible for attracting recent attacks from the forces of evil. When Toothless arrives in town, his presence does little to dispel that belief, but together, Toothless and Lil will shape the fate of the nation.
A fresh take on the zombie genre
Toothless is not your typical zombie tale; quite a few facets set it apart. First, rather than being set in an apocalyptic future, this tale is solidly grounded in a distant, fictional past where battles were big and bloody. The undead inhabit this setting with so much ease that I foresee other genre authors following suit.
Second, this may not be the first tale told from the perspective of the undead, but it’s hard to imagine a better guide than Toothless. The change from human to zombie is a significant one, and we experience firsthand Toothless’s struggle to cling to any vestigial humanity.
Third, we’re offered Lil, an unconventional heroine who serves as the mortal foil to Toothless. She provides a much needed respite from the despair of the undead, though we witness the equally harsh realities of life through her.
Great pacing
Moore melds atmosphere and action with perfect momentum: Toothless starts off with shades of melancholy as palpable as that of Frankenstein’s monster, and explodes into holy warfare that calls into question the very meaning of life, and whether that meaning can subsist through death. While the ending may be a little predictable, the maxim that “it’s the journey, not the destination” holds true here—Toothless is a hell of a journey.
Why should you read this book?
In the words of Mr. Moore himself, “[i]f Toothless is about anything, it is about a wife who inspires, children whose love redeems, and the power of friendship.” I found that to be wholly accurate. I’d recommend this book to zombie lovers and haters alike, as Toothless can only redeem the latter.
http://www.rantingdragon.com/toothles...
April 4, 2016
One major caveat for this review-- I find that I am increasingly less interested in fantasy, and am very unlikely to be the target audience for this book.
I listened to the podcast available here, read by the author:
http://podiobooks.com/title/toothless/
The story begins innocently enough, but quickly descends into fantasy cliche after cliche after cliche. Much of the story felt contrived, and upon reaching the middle of the book I had forfeited any interest in the story, and the characters involved.
I enjoyed the darker aspects of character exploration and development when Toothless, the most interesting character, was torn between the fleeting memories of his past life and the call to battle by the evil Yew. Watching him struggle with his undead nature, and his actions while combating it were by far, the most vastly entertaining parts of the book. The other characters were stock fantasy, prototypical, one-dimensional plot providers as mustache twirling villains, or selfless supporting heroes and weren't interesting in any aspect.
I give high marks to the author for providing his work for free online, and for providing his own voice to the listener.
I listened to the podcast available here, read by the author:
http://podiobooks.com/title/toothless/
The story begins innocently enough, but quickly descends into fantasy cliche after cliche after cliche. Much of the story felt contrived, and upon reaching the middle of the book I had forfeited any interest in the story, and the characters involved.
I enjoyed the darker aspects of character exploration and development when Toothless, the most interesting character, was torn between the fleeting memories of his past life and the call to battle by the evil Yew. Watching him struggle with his undead nature, and his actions while combating it were by far, the most vastly entertaining parts of the book. The other characters were stock fantasy, prototypical, one-dimensional plot providers as mustache twirling villains, or selfless supporting heroes and weren't interesting in any aspect.
I give high marks to the author for providing his work for free online, and for providing his own voice to the listener.
May 29, 2011
What a wonderful book! The story is fresh, well thought out, and superbly told. JP's writing builds the tale and the characters with powerful, paced, and soulful skill. The characters are so well constructed that it wasn't until I read someone else's comments that I realized many of JP's characters were potentially stock figures, like zombies and werewolves. But JP creates his players so uniquely and individually that they are anything but off the shelf fantasy icons. Well done! His command of the 12th century genre is marvelous and there is absolutely no way to anticipate the plot turns. The only caveat I might offer to potential readers is that there are a considerable number of sword vs body interactions, so the faint-of-heart might take note. But I find the book intriguing, engrossing, and I look forward to whatever JP gifts us with in the future. Strong work!
July 29, 2011
Abandoned.
I couldn't like this as much as I wanted to. At times lyrical and wonderfully descriptive, the writing also suffers from over-use of filters and the occasional cliche. Oh look, a young fantasy heroine who suffers a near rape, never seen THAT before. :/ The story flags rather badly at the start of book 2, picks up briefly with one of Moore's splendid fight scenes, and sags again. A combination of packing, hunger, and growing boredom caused me to set this one aside.
I do plan to check out Moore's future work, though, as none of the flaws are unfixable and I quite enjoyed the earlier chunk of the book. tl;dr This one needed some tweaking and trimming but haven't given up on the writer.
I couldn't like this as much as I wanted to. At times lyrical and wonderfully descriptive, the writing also suffers from over-use of filters and the occasional cliche. Oh look, a young fantasy heroine who suffers a near rape, never seen THAT before. :/ The story flags rather badly at the start of book 2, picks up briefly with one of Moore's splendid fight scenes, and sags again. A combination of packing, hunger, and growing boredom caused me to set this one aside.
I do plan to check out Moore's future work, though, as none of the flaws are unfixable and I quite enjoyed the earlier chunk of the book. tl;dr This one needed some tweaking and trimming but haven't given up on the writer.
March 13, 2012
For the most part I enjoyed Toothless. Set in the middle ages, Toothless is an alternative history novel where demons, known as the Yew, are taking over humanity. Toothless was a former Templar Knight named Martin, who died at the hands of the Yew. At first he was working for them, killing people like a scythe going through wheat. But eventually after meeting a woman with mystical abilities, he has a change of heart and helps the Templars fight against the Yew. Although I enjoyed Toothless, parts of it were hard to get through. For one thing, Toothless is incapable of speaking, making for some awkward reading. Also, the novel seemed a little rough around the edges. All the same, I found it enjoyable.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
March 16, 2015
Reading Progress: Set Aside
03/15 marked as: currently-reading
03/16 25.0% "Audiobook read by author. Section 7 of 28 and I'm not liking this book so far. I'll give it a little longer since a main character mentioned in reviews hasn't entered yet but..."
03/16 29.0% "I finished Section 8 of 28. I have gotten to the end of Part/Book 1. The main character mentioned in reviews did enter but she hasn't played much of a role yet. I still don't like the book so I'm not going to finish it for now. I have it downloaded to my phone so I might find my way back to it but we shall see. It will be shelved as Set Aside for now."
03/15 marked as: currently-reading
03/16 25.0% "Audiobook read by author. Section 7 of 28 and I'm not liking this book so far. I'll give it a little longer since a main character mentioned in reviews hasn't entered yet but..."
03/16 29.0% "I finished Section 8 of 28. I have gotten to the end of Part/Book 1. The main character mentioned in reviews did enter but she hasn't played much of a role yet. I still don't like the book so I'm not going to finish it for now. I have it downloaded to my phone so I might find my way back to it but we shall see. It will be shelved as Set Aside for now."
November 26, 2011
Loved it! Slow at first getting into it because it wasn't what I was expecting. I loved the character development of Toothless. Poor guy, acting as his own antagonist at times. You want to see him succeed but there were times I thought he would give in to the evil inside him. He turned out to be a well-fleshed out (no pun intended) hero. Thoroughly enjoyed this read.
January 4, 2013
I enjoyed this up until the midpoint, but when the mystic was introduced, I began to lose interest. Still, I found the first 200 or so pages to be highly captivating, especially since I understood enough of the mythology (such as the character of Longinus) and the importance of symbolism with the Black Yew and its hunt for relics. Still, I felt that the story began to lag at the midpoint.
January 11, 2016
A lot more thoughtful than your average Gore fest and a great 12th century setting. Martin can't speak, so the author deals really well with illustrating Martin's internal monologue without resorting to quoting the inside of his head. Some great set pieces and characters. listened to the podcast version.
November 12, 2016
I got this audiobook free on librivox and it was actually really good! I am pleasantly surprised, as I wasn't expecting much from it. There were parts where the story felt rushed or slow, but all in all it was an excellent listen. The author was a fantastic narrator. It was certainly a different take on the zombie angle.
March 16, 2012
I found this by searching Werewolves and zombies in iTunes podcast. These are not zombies they are just undead. The subjects/characters are undead, knights Templar, black plague, and war. It was a good book despite that. It is a historical fiction according to a site.
September 28, 2015
Really great world and setting. Tremendously strong opening and great roles. That said, the plot loosens up in the second half of the book, and it gets confusing as to what the rules of the world are as we go forward. I would recommend and love to see more lore from this world. It's inspiring
February 25, 2016
Imagine, if you will, the zombie apocalypse arriving during the middle ages. Now throw in the view point from one of the infected and a slightly altered time line and you will have this excellently refreshing novel in a well known genre.
September 2, 2010
Interesting audiobook.
November 8, 2010
A cool mix of fantasy, horror, and history. Don't miss this one! I was a fan of the podcast. I love that authors like J. P. Moore can find success in the traditional publishing world, too!
November 10, 2010
5 stars, just read it!
Want to read
November 10, 2010I like Zombie stories and moves; but lately they all seem to be telling the same old story. I would like to find out if "Toothless"can put a new spin on a Zombie story.
November 19, 2010
It was a very intrigueing tale. I really liked it.
September 15, 2011
Good story. Couldn't put it down.
March 12, 2012
(Audiobook) interesting twist on the zombie story (zombies point of view). Giant red demons-zombies-sword&axes-knightsTemplar. Change of pace from the regular undead stories.
Want to read
September 17, 2014Recommended by Chris Lackey and Chad Fifer of the HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast.
November 5, 2015
Found on podiobooks.com Took me a long time to get into this book because of the slow pace of the reader. Weird and creeptastic. Was very sad though.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews