#SPFBO Review : Shadow of a Dead God (Mennik Thorn #1) by Patrick Samphire

ShadowThe 1st of June marked the start of the sixth Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (details here.)  My Introductory post is here.  Stage 1 is now complete and the finalists can be found here.

Today I’m posting my review for the first SPFBO finalist that I’ve read and what a great start this turned out to be.  If this book sets the standard for the rest of the final then colour me happy.

On the face of it, and my early impressions, were that this didn’t bring much new to the table.  And, even upon completion, this feels familiar.  But, part of that ‘familiarity’ is what works so well here.  This is an easy book to read, it’s comfortable, like an old pair of slippers.  You can pick this up and pretty soon be swept away with the story, the setting seems to fall easily into place and the characters are confidently brought to mind.  This is a book that won’t hurt your brain and yet at the same time it provides a mystery that keeps you turning the pages into the early hours.

So, Mennik Thorn (Nik) is a second rate mage, however, he stands out because of his decision to run solo.  He’s a mage for hire and as the story begins he’s stuck in a pantry waiting for ghosts to appear so that he can banish them.  It’s a boring number, working for an overbearing client who treats him like something that sticks to the bottom of the shoe.  Worse still, there’s a real possibility that he’s going to lose the job if things don’t pick up very soon and he badly needs the money, rent and food not being free after all.

Now, enter the scene Nik’s lifelong buddy, and two bit thief, Benny.  Benny has a perfect job lined up and needs Nik’s help (and more to the point his magic abilities) in order to pull it off.  This is one of those jobs that can’t possibly go wrong so obviously things go to hell in a handcart, a vicious murder takes place and Nik and Benny are the only suspects.  Nik is hauled off in one direction by the ‘magical police’ (Ash Guards) and Benny is taken to ‘regular’ prison where the crime of theft will mean losing both his hands.  The prospects don’t look good so when Nik is released on a technicality he needs to investigate and clear both their names.

What did I really enjoy about Shadow of a Dead God?  I thought the world building was a winning combination of familiar and unique.  The setting, for example, felt like going down a well trodden path – and I mean that in a very positive way.  There are the segregations that occur between the rich and the poor that bring to us, on the one hand, palatial mansions, and in fact palaces with lush gardens, decadent decor and superfluous rooms, countered by the winding, rabbit warren style streets where the poorer inhabitants dwell. Then we have the Ash Guard.  I loved this aspect of the story.  The Ash Guard provide a counter to the Mages and prevent them running amok.  The ash they carry, wear and protect ferociously, nullifies magic often causing complete chaos when they run round the city wiping out charms and wards willy nilly.  I must say I think the Ash Guard are an inspired creation and I can’t wait to read more of one of their number in particular.

The magic is also really fascinating, powered by dead Gods – and speaking of Gods, some very unusual ones right here not to mention a plethora of ghosts.

The characters. Nik is a self deprecating, in a funny way, type of story teller.  He and Benny go back many years and although they can sometimes be a bit at odds with each other, when the chips are down the strength of their connection really comes through. The banter and dialogue between the two is well realised and quite refreshingly fun.  Benny’s daughter, Sereh, is something of an enigma. I’m not totally sure that I’ve bought into her very own brand of creepy and deadly just yet, particularly as she’s only 11, but, lets just say I’m prepared to be persuaded.

I also thought this was written really well and apart from a slight lag as I set off I suffered no hiccups, the pacing was good and there was a great mix of mystery and action.

In terms of criticisms.  I don’t have anything really strong to mention.  As the book set out I will admit that it felt perhaps a little too familiar but as I continued to read that feeling simply faded and I think that’s due to the winning combination of things that felt familiar coupled with those that felt refreshingly unique.  In terms of Nik, I would mention that he gave me strong Harry Dresden vibes.  He is a character that is basically a good egg but finds himself in dangerous predicaments as a result of being easy to manipulate.  He also got beaten up a lot and for the first (I would say) two thirds of the book he ran round like a headless chicken, his knee jerk reactions taking him from one dire situation to the next.  I have to hand it to the author though because he intuitively knew when that point would be reached and uncannily Nik seemed to realise that he needed to stop blundering around and use his brains at the very same time I did.

Overall, I thought this was a very entertaining read.  The writing was strong, the pacing and action kept me hooked, the central character is likable and I feel like I’ve found a series here that I would very much like to continue reading.

I received a copy courtesy of the author, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars (8 of 10 for Goodreads)

December Countdown, Day 13 : Feast

December book meme (details here).  Feast – a book that was magnificent: this is a feast for the mind and the eye.

TheTen

December Countdown, Day 12 : Holly and Ivy

December book meme (details here).  Holly and Ivy – a book with great world building :

Boneships

Friday Face Off : Lake – the mysterious lake

FFO

Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy .  This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers.  The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite.   Future week’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme.  I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.  This week’s theme:

Lake – the mysterious lake

This week I had one book specifically in mind.  I’ve only read the first in series but I really enjoyed it and I’m determined to catch up.  Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake #1by Rachel Caine.  And here are the covers:

 

I have more than one that I quite like for this in fact I have narrowed it down to 3:

The first cover I like because that’s the cover of the book I read.  The second I like the tone and the long boardwalk and the third I like the stark black and white and the reflection of the trees on the still lake.  My favourite:

Stillhouse6

Do you have a favourite?

I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year.  If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know.  Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions.  Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books.  If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:

Next week – Highly Stylised 

2020

18th December – Highly Stylised

25th December- Freebie – or day off

 

2021

January

Vintage Sci-Fi month – if you’re taking part you could try and find some vintage style covers

1st – Dressed in White – could be a person could be a landscape – or something else completely?

8th – Books with ‘Moon’ in the Title

15th – An Aerial encounter – spaceships and explosions

22nd – An Alien Encounter – ‘we come in peace’ or maybe not.

29th – A favourite classic or vintage sci-fi

February

5th – A Book with a romance that you enjoyed

12th – Furry – a beast, something cuddly, or a fur covering

19th – Serpentine – could be a snake, could be a snake-like font, could be a snakeskin style cover

26th – A book with ‘Magic’ in the Title

March

5th – March is named for the Roman God of War – a Roman style cover or a cover with a God or Gods or simply a book about war

12th – Middle Grade – choose whatever pleases you

19th – Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place

26th – A picture within a picture

April

2nd – A train or tram – travelling down the track, could be old style, futuristic, overhead, down below.

9th – Cartoonish or graphic

16th – I have to have it – a cover that gave you ‘grabby hands’

23rd – Your current read (if it has covers to compare) or any recent read

30th– A series that you love – highlight all the books in the series

May

Month of Wyrd and Wonder

7th – A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most

14th – The earliest fantasy you recall reading – or the first fantasy book you really loved, maybe the book that kickstarted your love of fantasy

21st – The Top Hat

28th – The Hood

June

4th – The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot.

11th – A cover that annoyed you and why

18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy

25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy

July

2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit

9th – A Wicked Grin

16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title

23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground

30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one

August

6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel

13th – A favourite holiday read

20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out

27th – Sunbathing or on the beach

September (RIP event)

3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective

10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers

17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title

24th – A favourite thriller

October

1st – A Halloween read

8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)

15th – Your favourite book of magic

22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title

29th – Must be gothic

November – Sci Fi Month

5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed

12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title

19th – Futuristic vista

26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground

December

3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way

10th – A fairytale retold

17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal

24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?

31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up

December Countdown, Day 11 : Mistletoe

December book meme (details here).  Mistletoe – A little bit of romance :

snowspelled

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