A badass monster in a fantasy world, where he isn’t some side character and the humans take center stage-but HE takes center stage? This really was what I was looking for. I read a short sample and I was hooked. I bought it that moment. I was in New York at the time and only had my phone, I read the first chapter on my phone, but I was that into it. The first book was really, really good.
The writing style was something I could really get into. No super long descriptions that go on and on and on, but an author who knew what to tell, just enough to get you used to the world but not so much that I found myself asking ‘when it stuff going to start happening?’ lots of action, blood and revenge. Themes that I love and try to emulate in my own writing.
The way Bryce handles Raz slicing through bad guys and taking vengeance is really for me, the heart of the character. Vengeance is such a big part of these stories, not in a formulaic way though. It’s always exciting to see what new obstacles Raz will come across. Seeing people who do horrible things let lessons dished out by a buff lizard (atherian) is amazing.
As for the other elements, I do enjoy them. Not as much as Raz’s journey, without him-I honestly wouldn’t have continued reading. But there’s Syrah Brahnt who is a strong female character who possess magic, she’s part of this whole religion, along with really her secondary family, the priests and numerous others at The High Citadel, we do get to learn about the priests a bit as they often bump into Raz. But Syrah is easily my second favorite character, she’s smart, a fighter, sassy and also has some interesting thoughts about Raz.
There is a deeper, dramatic message in all of this action and fantasy. That is the fact that Raz looks and acts like a monster, most revere him as such-but really, he is more heroic then a lot of the characters in the book. This message of discovering tolerance rings so true in society, this series does it without being over the top-but it’s a fact I think about every time I start reading.
Overall, I can’t say enough good things about this series, the world building is huge, the descriptions as I said just enough, the violence intense and totally r-rated (which is how I like it!) Bryce truly is a talented author and without him, I wouldn’t have found a fantasy series to latch onto. I thank him immensely.
Comments