#SPFBO Review : By the Pact (Pacts Arcane and Otherwise #1) by Joanna Maciejewska
7 September 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: By the Pact, Joanna Maciejewska, Pacts Arcane and Otherwise #1, SPFBO
By the Pact by Joanna Maciejewska is the fourth book from my Third Batch of books. My update post will be up soon and I shall be posting further information about my final three books asap. My reviews so far are linked below and you can find feedback from my first and second batch of books here and here and further information on SPFBO here.
By the Pact is a tale of demons and mages, sand and sorcery, I confess that I liked the way the author turns certain tropes on their head a little and I also found myself connecting quite well with the central duo.
As the story begins we step into a sort of Indiana Jones type adventure with two characters searching the desert for an old ruin and a valuable artefact. Of course, you could be forgiven for immediately suspecting traps and trickery and you’d be spot on, up to a point – however, this particular trap has been laid by a demon. Imprisoned many years ago by archmages and believed to be dead by the majority of the world following a cataclysmic event, Veranesh is very much alive and not entirely happy at having spent the last few centuries entombed in crystal beneath the sand. The only way for the two to escape alive, albeit a temporary reprieve, is for one of them to make a pact. Ultimately Veranesh wants freedom but how can anyone justify releasing the very monster who caused such widespread death and destruction? Regardless, a pact is formed and the two main characters buy themselves a little time in which to think up a Plan B.
Now, I would point out that as I started this I felt a little overwhelmed at first, well, perhaps not overwhelmed so much as in the dark a little. There were lots of references about past events, mages, highmages, archmages, demons and their ranks not to mention arcanists and mage killers. So, yes, at first I was trying to figure out all the whys and wherefores at the same time as wondering if I was being incredibly dim witted. As it happens, I think that you simply have to run with this because the author does a great job in gradually bringing you up to speed with the world, the characters and the demons and their own hierarchy – so, be patient.
The two central characters are Kamira, who potentially gave up a promising career as a highmage following a dispute with one of her teachers and turned instead onto the path of the arcanist and her friend and adventuring partner Veelk who is a very capable warrior and mage killer. Alongside this there are a couple of other plotlines involving certain characters. A queen whose lands have been taken over by an army of demons following an unlikely pact between four stronger demons who has been forced to flee and seek refuge. Her people have become dependent on magic that they thought kept them protected, they’re also addicted to the essence of magic that has been constantly available to them through a structure or relic that is now destroyed. The other storyline involves one of the Archmages who seeks power and is constantly trying to manipulate those around him. As these three storylines develop the nature of the demons and the role they play is revealed and it definitely turns things on their head a little in a rather surprising way.
I found By the Pact very easy to read. I may have got off to a slightly hesitant start but as the story progressed I found myself forming attachments to the two central characters. They have clearly been on a lot of adventures together and obviously care about each other and this comes through in their banter. I also really appreciated the twist on the demon trope. Don’t get me wrong – the demons are still, well, demonic, but at the same time they have their reasons for behaving the way they do, the pacts they form are usually beneficial to both parties and there is a well thought out element to why humans really need them (probably more so than the reverse). That’s not to say I’d be rushing to make any pacts myself but I think what basically comes to light is that, as with any race there are elements of good and bad and so whilst I wouldn’t say that you’re going to get any soft and fluffy demons here you do encounter those that live by a certain code of conduct – (although even those might rip your arms and legs off if you annoy them too much). Just saying.
In terms of the pacing. Well, certainly this seemed to gather in strength as the story got underway. The author steadily adds layer by layer to the characters. We find a little more of their back stories and definitely in terms of Kamira her character arc was really quite pleasing as certain traits were teased out of her. Veelk was perhaps a little less well drawn. He came across like a Conan the Destroyer type warrior, hench, rushing into the fray with a smile on his face like a killing machine and womanising on his days off. I didn’t dislike him, I enjoyed the friendship he shared with Kamira but he was a little bit predictable. Veranesh? Well, I ‘m not going to say I liked him – he’s a demon, can you really trust him? I mean, your basic definition of ‘demon’ is ‘an evil spirit or devil’ – however, he definitely added a certain something here even if I don’t buy into his ‘nicey-nicey’ side.
Criticisms. Well, a slightly slow start whilst I was getting used to all the dynamics. One of the central characters could use a little more fleshing out, but, I think the only issue I really encountered was quite a number of mistakes or perhaps typos. I mentioned in a previous review that I don’t usually mention such things but this one felt like it needed another once over with a red pen and whilst it didn’t spoil the read I think it could very easily annoy other readers.
My thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.
- Deathborn by CE Page
- Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned by Ashley Capes
- Stranded by Rosalind Tate
- One of Us by ML Roberts
- Berserker by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris
- Stone Magus by Stephanie C Marks
- Book of Secrets by Claudia Blood
- Dragonbirth by Raina Nightingale
- Carrion by Alyson Tait
- Iarraindorn by Phil Dickens
- Rising Shadows (The Pillar of Creation, #1) by Phillip Blackwater
#SPFBO Review : Rising Shadows (The Pillar of Creation, #1) by Phillip Blackwater
6 September 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Phillip Blackwater, Rising Shadows, SPFBO, the Pillar of Creation #1
Rising Shadows by Phillip Blackwater is the third book that I picked up from my Third Batch of books. I’ve actually completed all four books now so will be posting my final review and update post very soon. I then have three books remaining to be read which I shall elaborate on very soon. My reviews so far are linked below and you can find feedback from my first and second batch of books here and here and further information on SPFBO here.
Rising Shadows is a return to old school fantasy in many respects. Set on the continent of Exitium the story centres on the ongoing war between North and South and the eventual pacts that will need to be forged between humans and elves in order to hold back the forces of Ethula. The world of Anteris has many different inhabitants (at least those we viewed from this first instalment, humans, elves and dwarves to mention a few. There are also some fantastical creatures such as griffins and wendigoes. The magic of this world is provided through the Shards of Creation – most of which seem to reside within the world of the elves who, to all intents and purposes, misuse them greatly relying on their magical qualities simply to live comfortably within a beautifully carved city.
As the story begins we make the acquaintance of Wariel Ritch, general of the human army. Summoned by the Queen, Dana Crystaloak, Wariel is sent on a mission to train the Elves in swordsmanship following an agreement reached by the Queen and the King of the Elves. It is hoped this sharing of knowledge will help to create a strong alliance between the two. At the same time, Medregal Tergrast, once the proud king of Ethula but dead these past thousand or so years, seeks to return to the land of the living. He needs five keys to unlock the realm of the dead and flood the world with his army of souls. Finally, during Wariel’s absence, the ruling Council seek to undermine the Queen’s rule, plotting to replace her with a more pliable alternative. Eventually, the quest to find the keys overrides all other instructions as Wariel and Medregal race to find the pieces.
In terms of the characters. Wariel is the main focus. He is joined on his journey by a number of others including two brothers who seem to share some genetic makeup with the tall warriors of the Northdran race and a woman fighter who joins the group for personal reasons, her identity remains hidden for a good portion of the story and so I shalln’t elaborate further at this point.
The setting will be familiar to fantasy readings. It has a typical mediaeval feel to it in terms of weapons, mode of travel etc. The author succeeds in showing readers quite a good portion of this particular continent as we follow the quest for the keys. We obviously travel to the main Elven city, we visit the dwarves in their mountain and risk the cold heights where the Northdran live.
For the most part I found this an easy read. It put me in mind of a strange mash up of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, but, I don’t think it shares the complexity of those novels. Not necessarily a bad thing as this could work as a gateway novel for some.
Personally, I had a couple of issues. Primarily relating to language. Firstly the dialogue which felt too modern. Without going into particular examples the word ‘sure’ is used a lot. And, I know it probably sounds a bit trivial but it actually pulled me out of my reading wormhole on a number of occasions. There were other modern terms used but ‘sure’ is the one that immediately springs to mind. The second element relates to some of the ‘naming’ elements, such as ‘the Human Army’ – I couldn’t help thinking that giving the army a name might have worked better somehow – but that’s obviously a very small personal preference. Perhaps the author is going for a very easy to access novel that won’t put off ‘new to fantasy’ readers.and I confess, I wasn’t expecting lots of olde worlde language – but this really struck a chord with me and unfortunately it wasn’t one that I really enjoyed. Now, on top of this, I have mentioned that this has an old school feel and that leads to my other issue. This felt too familiar. Sometimes that familiarity is a source of comfort and so it could be a ‘mood’ experience as much as anything else, but, I didn’t really feel like this tested some of the overused tropes or brought anything new to the fantasy scene.
Little quibbles aside, I had no problem reading through this one and I think it could appeal to new readers, plus, I don’t think there was any (that I can recall) profanity or other issues such as an overabundance of violence (although there were clearly a number of fight scenes) or sexual content (which I think occurred off page) making this quite a clean read (although, I could be wrong – such things don’t always jump out at me so check with the author first!)
My thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.
- Deathborn by CE Page
- Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned by Ashley Capes
- Stranded by Rosalind Tate
- One of Us by ML Roberts
- Berserker by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris
- Stone Magus by Stephanie C Marks
- Book of Secrets by Claudia Blood
- Dragonbirth by Raina Nightingale
- Carrion by Alyson Tait
- Iarraindorn by Phil Dickens
#SPFBO Review : Iarraindorn by Phil Dickens
Iarraindorn by Phil Dickens is the second book that I picked up from my Third Batch of books that I’m aiming to read and review this month which will then be followed by my update post. After this batch I will have three books remaining and will post my fourth and final batch of books during the following month. My reviews so far are linked below and you can find feedback from my first and second batch of books here and here and further information on SPFBO here.
Iarraindorn took me a little by surprise because I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this one and it fairly quickly managed to intrigue me with it’s unique style.
As the story begins three Druids, under the cover of night, make an animal sacrifice to the gods and watch for a sign. Unfortunately, what unfolds as the storm clouds gather is the last thing they expected. They are beset by demons like beasts with red eyes and sharp teeth who storm the village. At the same time, in an inconspicuous mud hut a man and wife (Caiside and Genovefa) await the birth of their first son (Nuadhu). The timing of these events is no coincidence and it soon becomes apparent that the attack on the village was driven by an enemy eventually known as the Great Adversary and his army, the Sons of Cain, who seek the newborn child. The warriors make a good stand and eventually, with some divine assistance the village succeeds against this deadly threat. The Archangel Anael came to their aid, her mission to protect Nuadhu who becomes known as the Champion of Man.
From there onwards we follow Nuadhu through the years and observe his training and relationships with his parents, his younger brother Pwyll and Anael. Eventually the villagers begin to resent what they see as a potential threat and Nuadhu’s position becomes a little more difficult until one day the King of the tribes visits the village. He has heard of Nuadhu and has made the decision that the risk he poses is to great and his life is forfeit. Anael manages to escape the village with Nuadhu and Pwyll after their parents are murdered and the brothers are determined to seek revenge.
I must admit that the early chapters were probably my favourite parts of the read with Nuadhu and his brother growing up and training – however, I would point out that these chapters move at a rapid pace with little time spent on descriptions and the like. To be honest this is another fairly short read at a little shy of 200 pages and so there’s a lot to get through and I guess it could have become quite wieldy if the author dwelled too long. As it is, we are fairly soon introduced to an adult Nuadhu – a young man who plans to bring down his enemies.
In terms of setting. The story takes place during the Iron Age, I think towards the latter years as we have the inclusion of the Roman army as the story unfolds. I’m certainly not an expert though so I could be wrong on that score.
Overall I found this an easy read, it went in a direction that I hadn’t seen coming at all and was a bit shocking but at the same time I have a little light bulb at the back of my head about where the story might go next and I am intrigued enough to want to see what actually happens.
In terms of criticisms. Well, I hate to sound like a broken record, but, I think that the length of this is perhaps my biggest issue. I think with a little extra the characters could have had a lot more impact and felt more rounded, the same really with the setting which was very thinly drawn with little detail about everyday life thrown into the mix. It is an interesting concept but I would have liked to have a better feel for the people and place is all. Obviously this is a personal preference and short and sweet works well for some readers.
I received a copy courtesy of the author for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
- Deathborn by CE Page
- Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned by Ashley Capes
- Stranded by Rosalind Tate
- One of Us by ML Roberts
- Berserker by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris
- Stone Magus by Stephanie C Marks
- Book of Secrets by Claudia Blood
- Dragonbirth by Raina Nightingale
- Carrion by Alyson Tait
#SPFBO Review : Carrion by Alyson Tait
Carrion by Alyson Tait is the first book that I picked up from my Third Batch of books that I’m aiming to read and review this month which will then be followed by my update post. After this batch I will have three books remaining and will post my fourth and final batch of books during the following month. My reviews so far are linked below and you can find feedback from my first and second batch of books here and here and further information on SPFBO here.
As the book begins we meet Riley Rook. Riley is the coven matriarch of the Rooks – basically a long line in witches who protect humanity against evil. Riley is in the process of observing a young witch who is not part of the coven and trying to decide whether this young woman can be persuaded to join the Rooks rather than facing the alternative, which is to control this youngster by any means necessary before her power runs out of control. Unfortunately, Riley meets with a dreadful accident which makes the decision a moot point.
Regina Rook is the first daughter of Riley, her sister Renee being slightly younger. As such she is expected to step up and serve the coven in her mother’s place. The problem is that Regina has rebelled against the nature of herself and her family and taken to living alone wanting no part of the magic. Unfortunately all of the family are unaware of the threat that looms. The young girl that Riley watched is more powerful than they suspected and another person of interest also seeks power.
To be honest I expected to enjoy Carrion much more than I did as stories of witches and covens are basically my catnip and, I must say that this gets off to a very good start with the opening chapter introducing us to Riley. However, with Riley’s death Regina takes the lead role and for some reason I found her a difficult character to connect with.
So, as mentioned, the Rooks are basically a coven of witches. They have worked their magic for many many years but unfortunately due to dwindling numbers they are less powerful and more vulnerable than ever as the story begins. The setting here is contemporary, easy to imagine without much description and we flit primarily between the family home, the morgue and the graveyard as ancient rituals must be observed following the death of a coven member.
The characters. Well, as I mentioned above the main pov is Regina and unfortunately I did find myself struggling to get on board with her. Don’t get me wrong, I can understand her rebelling against the family, it’s traditions and the responsibilities that are being put upon her shoulders, but, for me she came across a little unfeeling and somewhat difficult and I couldn’t really get a grasp on why that was the case. Her mother dies at the start of the story yet I never really got a sense of any emotion from her and this is something that persisted throughout even during times of stress and danger. The other characters only played a periphery role including Regina’s sister Renee – who I would have liked to spend more time with. In terms of the antagonist – Sasha is the rogue young witch with the excess of power, again, I didn’t really feel that her motivations came across – apart from one episode where she rails against the coven and the way they fail to use their power – I think I wanted something a little more in depth.
The writing is actually very easy to get along with although there were quite a lot of errors. I wouldn’t normally raise that as an issue but it did kind of stop me in my tracks quite often and probably contributed to my inability to really connect.
To be fair to the author this is a relatively short story with probably just over 100 pages and so a very quick read. I admit that short stories and novellas often fail to work their magic on me because I feel myself wanting more and I think that’s the case here. I feel like I came away from this not really understanding the nature of the coven or their magic, having very little understanding of their adversaries or really what they would eventually face if their magic failed and so whilst this could possibly work for others as a short introduction to this world I felt like I wanted more information (although I do appreciate that this might be forthcoming in future instalments).
I received a copy courtesy of the author for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
- Deathborn by CE Page
- Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned by Ashley Capes
- Stranded by Rosalind Tate
- One of Us by ML Roberts
- Berserker by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris
- Stone Magus by Stephanie C Marks
- Book of Secrets by Claudia Blood
- Dragonbirth by Raina Nightingale
#SPFBO 7 : My Third Batch of Books
SPFBO 7 is now into its third month and today I’m highlighting my next batch of four books. To date I’ve read and reviewed eight books and my updates for Batch 1 and 2 can be found here and here. All going to plan I should have only three books left to read, from my allocation of 15, come the end of this month.
For those of you unfamiliar with SPFBO here and here are two posts that might provide some enlightenment. Basically, SPFBO is the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off, brainchild of Mark Lawrence. 300 hopeful authors submit their word babies. 10 Judges are allocated 30 books each. Each judge chooses a finalist, the competition narrows to 10 hopeful candidates. Alas, there can be only one winner so following an intense reading session where all the judges read and score each others finalists a winner finally emerges.
The main change for myself this year is that I am joining up with the wonderful Critiquing Chemist and her lovely boffin. We are very excited to start reading our batch (at the moment equally divided between the two blogs). I love this part of the competition, it’s full of expectations and hope. As in previous years I will give a brief introduction to the books and authors that I’m picking up that month together with an update at the end of the month where I may roll some books forwards and cut others. I know! It’s a part of the competition that I’m not overly fond of but it is unavoidable. Personally, I like to think that as the competition begins we already have 300 winners who each took that bold step to throw their hat into the ring and join in. So, enjoy yourselves, take the opportunity to make friends and become part of the community.
This month the four books that I will be reading from my third batch are:
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Rising Shadows (The Pillar of Creation #1) by Phillip Blackwater
As tension rises between the southern and northern nations of the small continent of Exitium in the world of Anteris, the Elves turn to their eastern neighbors, the Humans, for help. They wish to learn the ways of combat, which they are not accustomed to, for they have always wielded a power far greater than forged steel. The Shards of Creation, mystical artifacts of great and virtually infinite power, have always been their prized weapon, but times have changed. They now face the same threat as the Humans: the southern nation known as the Ethula.
Wariel Ritch, general of the Human army, will take upon his shoulders this burden. But when a shadow of a past long forgotten threatens what little stability is left in the world, he will have to leave everything behind to stop it. Medregal Tergrast, an Ethulan king, dead for a thousand years, plans his return to the world of the living to gain back his former glory and finally fulfill his destiny by gaining control of the Shards of Creation. But is he really the threat people make him out to be?
In the meantime, in the bowels of the Human Kingdom, the reign of Dana Crystaloak is put into jeopardy when people around her start questioning her decisions. If she falls, war could break out across all lands.
About the Author
If you found your way here, then you must already know I love to write. I am a fan of fiction, mostly fantasy, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic (amongst others), and in all its forms, whether it is books, video games, movies, or tv-shows.
The first time I truly realized how much I loved fiction, was through The Lord of the Rings’ movies (like probably a lot of people). Since then, I traveled to so many different worlds: Halo, Mass Effect, Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, Witcher, and Fallout (to only name a few). It made me want to explore my own imagination and see what worlds I could create. This is what led me, among other things, to writing.
What can you expect from my books? I don’t bother myself trying to be a flowery writer, I want my writing to be available to everyone. And what I want above all when people read my books, is for them to have a good time and some fun. This is what truly matters to me.
When I’m not writing, I am: A husband. A father of three cats. Reading, gaming, or watching movies and tv shows. A big hockey fan. And when I’m done with all of that, I’m a big geek and collect a lot of stuff (No, I’m not a hoarder, I swear!).
You can follow my Twitter (@phil_blackwater) or my Instagram (@phil_blackwater), or register to the newsletter on my website, to know when new stories are available.
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By the Pact (Pacts Arcane and Otherwise 1) by Joanna Maciejewska
High mages lied: Veranesh, the demon who destroyed the continent is still alive. And it’s up to their former student to expose the truth—even if it means another Cataclysm.
When Kamira, a once high mage student turned arcanist, discovers an imprisoned demon in underground ruins, she is forced into a pact that grants her powerful magic, but also ties her to the very demon that once devastated the continent… and Veranesh wants his freedom.
With one friend by her side, Veelk, a mage killer bound on protecting her, Kamira will have to outwit the archmages, other demons, and possibly her own demonic benefactor to survive. Her chances are slim, but with Veelk’s ever-present sarcastic repartee, Kamira might just pull through.
Plots and schemes, power and means—sometimes the price for victory is choosing which friend will die, but when you only have one friend, the choice is… easy?
About the Author
Born in Poland, Joanna spent most of her childhood in Poznan, then moved to Dublin, Ireland, where she lived for over 8 years. In 2016 she moved to the US, where she hopes to finally settle.
She writes speculative fiction, so it goes without saying that she’s a fan of science-fiction and fantasy – mainly books, but also movies, comics and games (both video games and tabletop RPGs).
When she’s not busy writing, reading, or gaming, she enjoys crafts and drawing.
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Iarraindorn by Phil Dickens
ON THE NIGHT THAT HE WAS BORN, THE DEVIL CAME TO KILL HIM The son of a farmer in Iron Age Britain, Nuadhu finds himself thrust into a destiny he is ill-prepared for. After his king murders his parents, he and his brother are forced to flee into the Roman Empire under the protection of the archangel Anael. Meanwhile, a plague of the undead is sweeping across Europe from the east, raising their slain enemies as new allies. Their goal is not the conquest of one tribe or nation, but the subjugation of all humanity. Can one warrior-in-exile, hungry for vengeance, build a force to repel this existential threat? The riveting new historical fantasy adventure from the author of FROM THE HILL OF MEGIDDO and the ARMAGEDDON’S OFFSPRING series!
About the Author
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Carrion by Alyson Tait
The Rook legacy: duty at all Costs. Regina’s family are the last living members after a long line of magical families. Their heritage is a promise to the world; they can be trusted to keep magic from corrupting power hungry witches — In doing so they keep an unearthly evil from crushing humanity.
When Regina Rook’s mother dies a sudden, violent death, the living coven members come from around the world to attend the funeral, and begin breathing down her neck as next in line to lead. Trying to find a balance between her own goals and her family’s demands, all the while keeping her recent nightmares hidden where she becomes the very thing they fighting.
But when those things become intertwined, can she do anything but watch as the world around her crumbles to ancient horrors?
About the Author:
(I’m a little puzzled with the author info for Carrion. On Amazon the author shows as Alyson Tate, on Goodreads as Jamie Benson and Alyson Tait, and on the cover Alyson Tait – apologies if I have the wrong author information here).
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Good luck to this month’s authors.
Books and travelling with Lynn 