Charles McGarry

I was given an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an honest review, and honestly this book is phenomenal crime thriller. It really had me guessing at every turn. Just when I thought I had predicted things, I was instantly proven wrong. It was brutal at times, and deals with some horrific topics, such as grisly murders and severe PTSD, but it's handled brilliantly and vividly. I can't wait to read Chad's next book.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I'll say from the get go, that historical fiction is not my cup of tea in most cases. I was fresh off of reading The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell, which wasn't great for me, and I. Anonymous saw my review and recommended I try his book.

This is a book based around the histories of St. George (of dragon slayer fame), and Arthurian legend. Arthur has a minor cameo, at least in this first book, and Merlin does as well. George is one of the major players.

So let's start with what I liked. This book promises a dragon, and it delivers. This is a world grounded in a reality that assumes dragons to be myths, but instead they exist. Or one does at least, and he is a terror. An amazing terror. While you do have the typical drakonic tropes, like maiden servants and hoarding gold, that is where the similarities end. This dragon has a pretty awesome origin backstory, and is the focus of a cult of worshippers, and I loved that take. There is magic as well, and while it's very minimal as far as magic is concerned, it does play an interesting part in the story. There's about as much magic use as you would expect from a George R. R. Martin novel; very little but important. I really enjoyed some of the characters too, especially Sabra and George. It's a quick read as well, and the writing isn't overly complex. The prose is very inviting and well written.

So, now on to the cons. With such potential for the great cast of characters, the character interactions and dialogue were very minor. The author goes to great lengths to “tell” the story of the characters, but the POV of the characters themselves are utilized sparingly, although there are exceptions. I'm a very character driven reader, and so I prefer to be “showed” how my characters got where they are. At times it felt like reading a history lesson, although it was an interesting history lesson to read. There were also a few instances of grammatical error, which can happen, and is understandable. Since this is an ARC, some of those may be fixed in the final copy. There were several words used, however, that were not part of the vernacular of the time in history that the story was portraying, so that took me out of the story a bit.

Overall, despite some of the cons mentioned, I thought the author did a good job for a debut novel.

A masterpiece of storytelling! I couldn't put this book down. Being the huge fan of ancient myth that I am, this book captivated me. The story is based around classic Norse mythology, but with a strong fantasy element weaved into it involving a war between elven factions that spills over into the realms of human races. The twist is brilliantly done, and should not be missed. I give this book six stars!!

A Much Needed Adventure

This book is truly a brilliant tale! Teller's command of written prose is stunning. Every word drips meaning and description. The dark forces of wizardry and Fae are just as complex and captivating as that of the forces of goodness and light. The dark wizard Vrice is a fascinating character, and the Fae Mandrake is written with such emotion and cunning that he completely steals the show. The supporting characters are equally well written. Every description of the world and characters makes you feel like you are there. Jesse Teller is a wonderful new voice in Fantasy and a force tone reckoned with.

A Unique and Exciting Adventure

This book really is a unique tale. I've never read a fantasy novel so distinctly Oriental, and it is excellently done. The magic, strongly based in music and tonal vibrations, is captivating and believable. As far as the cultural portrayals, I truly felt like I was there. The ending was satisfying, and definitely makes me want to read more.

Absolutely thrilling!

I could not put this book down! If you're a fan of ancient history and myth, then you must read this book! Ashton has deftly crafted a tale reminiscent of American Gods, but aside from a similar subject, the book is completely unique and to itself. The author weaves together myths, tales, and religious pantheons in a way that is truly above par. The battles are breathtaking and exciting, the characters are well written and deep, and the myths behind them are extremely well researched. I can't recommend this book enough!

Intense and Engrossing!

Picture Law and Order Mixed with magic, and you can't help but be drawn to this tale. I'm not normally into Urban Fantasy, save for Dresden files, but this is easily as good and even better in some respects. Gladstone weaves visuals like an artist, painting the scene in your mind. Can't wait to read the next installment.

Fantastic Debut


Some of my favorite things in fantasy are great character building, and unique magic. This book has both, and then some. The ember magic is a fascinating power, and there is just enough description of how it works to keep you gripped every time its used, but just enough mystery to tell you there's more to be revealed. As far as characters go, the races are well thought out, and the central characters are engaging and full of back story. Every battle had me on edge too, which isn't always easy to accomplish. To this debut novel I applaud Kelliher for pulling off an exciting and refreshing tale. Bravo!