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Greatshadow (Dragon Apocalypse #1)

by James Maxey (Goodreads Author)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 106 ratings · 38 reviews

Greatshadow is the primal dragon of fire, an elemental evil whose malign intelligence spies upon mankind through every candle flame, waiting to devour any careless victim he can claim. The Church of the Book has assembled a team of twelve battle-hardened adventurers to slay the dragon once and for all. But tensions run high between the leaders of the team who view the miss...more

Paperback, 363 pages

Published February 2nd 2012 by Solaris (first published January 29th 2012)

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Jan 31, 2012 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Between the set-up information and the slightly clipped prose style, it took me some time to get into this book. I totally loved the middle third, about high-powered heroes making their way through a hostile landscape while dealing with the tensions among their group. The ending wrapped things up very neatly, but felt a bit overcomplicated to me.

I liked the heroine, Infidel, though I wish she'd been a little less objectified. All of the secondary characters were really interesting, and I wanted...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Luc Reid rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sword and sorcery superheroes

Narrated by the ghost of a deceased drunkard, Greatshadow shows off the strengths I've come to expect in James Maxey's writing: it gushes with cool ideas brought to life; it moves at speed through unexpected and intriguing plot turns; and it features sympathetic characters who are larger than life and twice as flawed.

Some of the phenomena in this book rank with the most fascinating I've seen in any story anywhere: a chamber constructed of false matter, invulnerable a...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Robert Slaven rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, first-reads

As a slight variation to a usual theme, I received this book as a result of a GoodReads giveaway but somewhat indirectly. I won the third book in the series but the author was exuberantly kind enough to send the entire series. Despite this wonderfully kind consideration, my candid opinions follow below.

It is difficult to begin without resorting to cliche, assuming that the opening about winning a book in a GoodReads giveaway is not already cliche. Maxey's work, to sum it up, has a touch of every...more As a slight variation to a usual theme, I received this book as a result of a GoodReads giveaway but somewhat indirectly. I won the third book in the series but the author was exuberantly kind enough to send the entire series. Despite this wonderfully kind consideration, my candid opinions follow below.

It is difficult to begin without resorting to cliche, assuming that the opening about winning a book in a GoodReads giveaway is not already cliche. Maxey's work, to sum it up, has a touch of everything. There's a slight thread of testosterone. A twinge of adventure. A modicum of adventure. A dollop of humor (the long accepted standard unit of humor has long been acknowledged to be the dollop, I will point out). Unlike the vast majority of novels which try to walk such a wending and tormented path, Maxey's work actually manages to make it all function together in a pleasing way. The humor isn't tortured. The testosterone isn't fetid. The adventure isn't overwrought. It all balances well together and through the whole thing he manages to introduce fresh new ideas. He takes the standard orc/ogre/dwarf/elf milieu and stretches it into something that has the and pleasing aroma of originality.

To back up moderately, Maxey's plotline is nothing fancy or innovative. Boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy-girl somewhat happy though ironically and comically star-crossed, boy-girl set out to slay terrible beast. There's nothing shocking about any of that but the brush that Maxey paints with is one of almost dizzying originality.

Furthering the positive commentary, Maxey isn’t afraid to make a broader statement with his work. His villains aren’t mere pasteboard with no analogous relative in real life, no simple shadows upon a puppeteer’s screen. Like Tolkien before him he has a sociological statement to make and he’s not afraid to put it front and center.

In summary, and resorting completely to cliché, this book is one of the most entertaining things I’ve read in a long time. While it is fairly narrow in scope to the fantasy genre, among those players I think it ranks rather highly. Greatshadow is great “mind cake” with a thin thread of substance for those who wish to partake of it. To put it even more summarily, I’m impressed. I’ve read quite a lot of trite and worthless drivel and this quite nicely makes up for it. Highly recommended.
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Nov 14, 2012 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: spec-fic

c2012: FWFTB: mercenary, superhuman, dragon, quest, fire. Ok, so with the words picked out of the blurb, it would be so easy to dismiss the book out of hand thinking that it was one of the tired sword-sorcery-quest type stories. It is quite different, a different sort of POV, a different sort of heroine and a really great story to boot. Gail Z Martin has once again managed to encapsulate my own thoughts with her recommendation "Non stop action, memorable characters and a cleverly imagined workd...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Mo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the best book I've read in a while. Perhaps because I was hungry for some good old fashioned sword and sorcery, perhaps because this book does sword and sorcery in a unique way. The characters are drawn perfectly for my tastes, without too much told or too much left out. The unique narrative perspective is well done. I personally enjoyed the religious undertones (and overtones), from the Zen-like grandfather to the overbearing, ridiculous religious zealots. Maxey is deft with the religio...more

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May 20, 2012 Ranting Dragon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: janea

Greatshadow is the newest offering from James Maxey, best known for Nobody Gets the Girl and The Dragon Age Trilogy. It’s the first installment in The Dragon Apocalypse, with book two, Hush, scheduled for June of 2012.

Our protagonist is Infidel, a magically overpowered woman working as a mercenary and occasional thief. She has super strength and is impervious to most damage. When her closest friend dies, she decides to take one last big job so she can retire in style. Her best chance is to join...more Greatshadow is the newest offering from James Maxey, best known for Nobody Gets the Girl and The Dragon Age Trilogy. It’s the first installment in The Dragon Apocalypse, with book two, Hush, scheduled for June of 2012.

Our protagonist is Infidel, a magically overpowered woman working as a mercenary and occasional thief. She has super strength and is impervious to most damage. When her closest friend dies, she decides to take one last big job so she can retire in style. Her best chance is to join a team of heroes heading out to kill the primal dragon of fire, known as Greatshadow. His horde is legendary, and it’ll take everything Infidel and her companions have to get it.

Pure and unabashed sword and sorcery
On the surface, this is a tale about stereotypical heroes straight out of 1980s fantasy pulps. You’ve got a group of inhumanely talented people, some of whom have never really been challenged in their adult lives. I’d expect a book like this to be rather dull and emotionally uninteresting. Where’s the challenge, after all? However, Maxey does a fantastic job with this. First, the book is told from the point of view of Infidel’s dead companion Stagger. He’s a relatively average guy, for a ghost, and is a far more relatable as a narrator than Infidel would have been. Additionally, for all their super powers, this is a group of deeply flawed people. The paladin archetype is a fanatic who can’t see the forest for the trees. The strong man isn’t as dumb as you might think, but his deformities (which cause a speech impediment) limit his ability to interact with the other characters. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. For all their powers, they aren’t gods.

The other thing that saves this book is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Infidel is the type of girl you don’t touch in a bar. She might take exception, rip off the arm that’s groping her, and beat the offender with his own severed limb. There’s a part of me that appreciates the dark humor in that image. On the other hand, this isn’t an innately humorous book. It’s more what would happen if you had a group of people role playing these twelve characters: stupid, crazy stuff. Every once in awhile I’d read something that would make me giggle, and then I’d move on to the rest of the action feeling reinvigorated.

Not terribly predictable
Okay, so it’s a sword and sorcery book. You have a group of heroes, they go out to slay the dragon, some of them die. After all, what would be the fun if they all walked away without a scratch? What made this fun for me were the twists and turns Maxey took to get there. Dead didn’t mean dead, right from chapter one when Stagger dies only to haunt his knife for the rest of the book. I was entertained to see just how some of these characters died and how some of them managed to survive. And with so many characters there for different reasons, whose ultimate goal is going to the one that is fulfilled?

This book also has a secondary plot line (which you could argue may actually be the main plot line), which is the relationship between Infidel and Stagger. They both have a lot of thinking to do on what their relationship was, and what it could have been. This is made more complicated by Stagger struggling to come to grips with the fact that he’s a ghost, and his inability to affect anything in the physical realm. It’s Stagger’s growth as a character that really fleshes this book out, and keeps it from becoming just another sword and sorcery tale of dragons and heroes.

Why you should read this book?
Two words: it’s fun. In fact, I think this is the most fun book I’ve read in months. It plays with archetypes, it’s intense with just a bit of silly, and there’s a nice romantic arc. In short: win. Lots of win. Can it be June so I can read the next book now?(less)

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Mar 04, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

DISCLAIMER: After seeing a post on Mr Maxey’s blog, I volunteered to provide a review and was sent a preview copy.

Greatshadow is a very ambitious book that aims high and, for the most part, gets there. When I read the premise of the novel I was intrigued and penciled it in as something to keep an eye out for, hence why I leapt at the chance to get an advance reading. I had read one of Mr Maxey’s earlier books and, while I had found it a bit rough around the edges, I had really enjoyed the fast p...more DISCLAIMER: After seeing a post on Mr Maxey’s blog, I volunteered to provide a review and was sent a preview copy.

Greatshadow is a very ambitious book that aims high and, for the most part, gets there. When I read the premise of the novel I was intrigued and penciled it in as something to keep an eye out for, hence why I leapt at the chance to get an advance reading. I had read one of Mr Maxey’s earlier books and, while I had found it a bit rough around the edges, I had really enjoyed the fast pace and frenetic action. I was hoping for more of the same in Greatshadow, and I was most definitely not disappointed.

Greatshadow starts with action, and doesn’t really let up for the rest of the book. I loved the narrator, who is unreliable in the true sense of the world, and I had to admire Mr Maxey’s ingenious solution to the problem of how a narrator sees things that are going on in places other than his physical location. While the narrator is far from perfect, we do find ourselves on his side, hoping for a happy ending. This “everyman” character gives us a point of engagement as we see the other characters through his eyes.

And, the real strength of Greatshadow truly does lie with its ensemble of super powered warriors, each of whom has a unique set of gifts. I won’t go into details as discovering them is half the fun for the reader, but Mr Maxey really has done an exceptional job of taking the standard fantasy archetypes (the paladin, the warrior princess, the mysterious eastern warrior and so one) and giving them his own, special twist. There was one hero in particular whose powers really impressed me as a fresh idea, and whose downfall was incredibly ingenious (if I say it’s to do with prayer you will find out who I mean!).

The only real problems I had with the book were some sloppy editing (changes of tense that seemed odd, for example) and the sometimes sophomoric humour and attitudes to women. The humourous shortcomings may just be to do with my taste, but I thought that some of the sexual references were a bit juvenile and that, while there are some very strong female characters, women too often fell into wish fulfilment territory.

Imagine David Gemmell crossed with “Grunts” by Mary Gentle, and it might give you an idea of what to expect. If you are after a book that is action packed, has some incredibly imaginative heroes, monsters and villains and can handle a bit of blood and guts then this is well worth your while. I know I would have been happy to have paid for a book that was this entertaining, and I will most definitely be buying the next one.(less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, my-favorites

This book has made it onto my favorites bookshelf, something that is happening less and less often these days. I loved this.

This is probably best classified as a "quirky" book. Though it involves many staples from the fantasy genre, they are all given a fresh, new, light. Maxey writes in an engaging way and one that drew me in instantly. Just the right amount of humor, questing, action, plot building, backstory, and intrigue to keep every page engaging and interesting. Even a little romance that...more

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Sep 20, 2011 James Marsh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

James Maxey, author of Nobody Gets the Girl and the Dragon Age Trilogy (Bitterwood, Dragonforge and Dragonseed) makes his triumphant return to the world of fantasy publishing with his own unique spin on the classic fantasy trope: a team of a dozen adventurers join forces to slay a mighty dragon.

But being James Maxey, he has plenty of surprises and twists along the way.

Greatshadow is the primal dragon of fire, a giant lizard big enough to show up on a map. Over the course of thousands of years
He...more James Maxey, author of Nobody Gets the Girl and the Dragon Age Trilogy (Bitterwood, Dragonforge and Dragonseed) makes his triumphant return to the world of fantasy publishing with his own unique spin on the classic fantasy trope: a team of a dozen adventurers join forces to slay a mighty dragon.

But being James Maxey, he has plenty of surprises and twists along the way.

Greatshadow is the primal dragon of fire, a giant lizard big enough to show up on a map. Over the course of thousands of years
He has been collecting the greatest treasures the world has known and honing his mastery of elemental magic.

The expedition is being lead by Lord Tower , a knight so valiant he wields a weapon forged from part of the sun and wears armor prayed into existence by hundreds of monks. He is joined by a priest whose very words become truth, a High Priestess of the Ice Ogres, a man who has weaponized stink, a powerful thug with no face, a Deceiver who can use any power he can trick someone into believing he possesses, a shape-shifter who can take the form of any animal he is tattooed with, the world’s most well known spy, his invisible lover and the mysterious psychic known only as Relic.

A dozen set out to face the beast. Only two will return.

It’s a story filled with fun, adventure, danger, not to mention Maxey’s trade-mark humor and thoughtful exploration of differing philosophies and beliefs, but ultimately it is a deeply personal love story full of devotion, passion, regret and seconded chances. Infidel, the invulnerable beauty who has had to deny herself all hope of love has to choose between a man who can give her almost everything she could wish for, and her love for her constant companion Stagger whose untimely loss (and ghost) haunts her to this day.

It is hard to give this review the full force it deserves without a little context. Before receiving the advanced reading copy of Greatshadow, I first had the privilege to be a Wise-Reader for an early draft of its sequel, Hush. So I came into this knowing almost all of the major plot points, including who lives, who dies, how, when and what the ultimate resolution of the story is.

Yet even given that, I could not put this story down. The execution of the twists and turns took me completely by surprise and still left me guessing many times. I may have had the cliff notes before, but the entertaining experience of the narrative was not to be denied by mere spoilers.

This book is a not only a fully realized, self contained novel, but it’s also the first book in a rich world that promises to be an epic series worthy of the appellation: The Dragon Apocalypse.(less)

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Feb 28, 2012 Rosina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book through Goodreads First Reads.

I'm really happy I won this book, as honestly, it probably would have taken me forever to get round to it otherwise. That would have been a shame, as I really enjoyed this! From the cover and description, I was expecting an epic, high-fantasy novel. This wasn't what I got, but I'm actually kind of glad. Instead, this was a fun, quirky fantasy that separated itself from the norm. I haven't read any Terry Pratchett (shame on me) but from what I know,...more I won this book through Goodreads First Reads.

I'm really happy I won this book, as honestly, it probably would have taken me forever to get round to it otherwise. That would have been a shame, as I really enjoyed this! From the cover and description, I was expecting an epic, high-fantasy novel. This wasn't what I got, but I'm actually kind of glad. Instead, this was a fun, quirky fantasy that separated itself from the norm. I haven't read any Terry Pratchett (shame on me) but from what I know, I'd say this book is in the same vein. Original, humorous, sometimes crude and silly but filled to the brim with likable characters and non-stop adventure. From the very first page, this was a joy to read. There were enough typical fantasy elements to satisfy me, and lots of original new ideas and creatures. I LOVED the world building. James Maxey did a brilliant job at creating a whole new world that was vivid in my mind and really fleshed out. He tells you more about the world and characters gradually throughout the book. No page long info dumps that made me want to fall asleep here!

The story of the book was so much fun. It could have ended up being a typical quest, but the cast of weird and wonderful characters and all the original ideas kept it fresh and exciting. I was so excited to read this when I learnt there'd be Dragons. They were one of my favourite aspects of the book. Dragons are amazing anyway, but James Maxey gave them his own creative spin and their lore was great. I also loved learning about the history of the different characters. They were such a mixed bunch, and I liked them all. Even the characters who weren't particularly likable at face value had some facet to their personality that made them interesting. I don't want to spoil anything about the characters as part of the fun is being introduced to them, but I will say Infidel, our leading lady, is great. She's strong and totally bad ass, but deceptively sweet and vulnerable. She is definite friend material. I only wish her looks weren't emphasised so much throughout the book, making her a bit of a male fantasy at times. Why can't she be awesome without being stunning as well?

I thought Maxey's writing style was great. Fluid and descriptive, perfect for the story. He's really good at writing dialogue as well. The conversations between characters had me totally sucked in. I must say though, I found the humour could fall a little flat at times. There were a lot of moments that had me chuckling internally, or smiling to myself, but not actually laughing out loud. Sometimes it could border a little on cheesy, but not enough to annoy me. There were times I wished the book would take itself a little more seriously, but overall, I enjoyed the tone.

I'd highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers who don't mind a little silliness, especially dragon fans. I'm counting down the days until the sequel. I give this a 4.5/5.(less)

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Feb 12, 2012 CluckingBell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I received a copy for free through GoodReads’ First Reads.

It was a pretty fun read, and there was a lot that I admired about it. I appreciated that the descriptions of place and people were vivid without being florid. The author gave enough information that I could visualize a person, place, or thing while leaving enough room for interpretation that my imagination never got tripped up by unnecessary and trivial details. Personally, I think that makes for a much richer reading experience.

Maxey’s...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Thimbleberry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this from a giveaway at The Ranting Dragon for their June book club. I say 'lucky' both in winning the drawing, and because I might not have read it otherwise. I won't tell you how long my backlog of books-to-read is, but since this was sitting on top of the pile I was able to actually get to it :)
While this isn't a book that will change you world, is was vastly entertaining. Take your usual cast of quest characters in a world with some interesting non-h...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Ambereen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, first-read, romance

Infidel is a warrior who (after the death of her only companion) opts to take part in a dragon hunt against one of the most-feared dragons that inhabits the land. The people that makes up the rest of the dragon hunting party are a colorful crew, each with his or her own unique ability.

Although this is supposed to be a romantic fantasy (which it is), the book also contains some rather philosophical content as to the reason for existence and where people originated from. The book was exciting and...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Abhinav rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, rebellion-solaris, dragons, ghosts

You can find the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/08/...

Shadowhawk reviews the first novel of the Dragon Apocalypse series by James Maxey.

“It’s very rare to find a novel packed to the brim with heart-pumping action, laugh out loud humour, and a protagonist who wants cake. Greatshadow is a brilliant book.“ ~The Founding Fields

Its not often I come across a novel that makes me giddy with laughter in the middle of some tense scenes between characters, when ev...more You can find the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/08/...

Shadowhawk reviews the first novel of the Dragon Apocalypse series by James Maxey.

“It’s very rare to find a novel packed to the brim with heart-pumping action, laugh out loud humour, and a protagonist who wants cake. Greatshadow is a brilliant book.“ ~The Founding Fields

Its not often I come across a novel that makes me giddy with laughter in the middle of some tense scenes between characters, when everything depends on what one of these characters will say. Pharaun Mizzrym in the War of the Spider Queen novels comes close but doesn’t quite hit that mark. Same for Matt Forbeck’s cast in his Brave New World trilogy. James Maxey hits that right note perfectly in Greatshadow though, and it is highly entertaining when he does it. He handles both action and humour with an experienced, natural hand that makes you wonder at how good he is. This novel was my experience of his work and in a nutshell, I really want more.

The novel starts off with a scene that wouldn’t be out of place in an Indiana Jones movie: Stagger and Infidel escaping a tribe of pygmies that have made a (somewhat) dormant volcano their home, poison darts flying all around the two of them. It is a great beginning that sets the tone for the rest of the novel, as every crest in the pacing is marked by action scenes and every trough is marked with sadness and pain. Stagger dies of his injuries during the escape and it falls to Infidel to carry on his memory. But there’s a catch: Stagger survives as a ghost who haunts the knife, his knife, that killed him and which Infidel now carries as a token of him. From there on, Greatshadow is all about dragon hunts, knights in shining armour, religious fanatics, sorcerers, ogres, time-travelers, shape-shifters, ghosts, and dragons. I went in with some reservations but the novel put me at ease from the beginning itself and then continued to hold me until I turned the last page.

The characterisation is where I was ultimately sold on with Greatshadow. Infidel, Stagger, and the three Goons are wonderfully realised three-dimensional characters who make the narrative their own, as if they are grabbing a bull by its horns. The novel is all from Stagger’s point of view, often in first person, so we don’t get to spend much time directly exploring the other characters, but his unique position as a ghost allows him to see a lot that goes on regardless. Infidel, a woman with an uncertain and mysterious past, is the charm of the novel. She is tough, thinks for herself, doesn’t have to resort to leveraging her sexuality, and has great lines. Her motivations in joining the hunt to kill the primal dragon Greatshadow are described best in her own words when she tells one of her companions that all she wants is a palace full of servants and cake (paraphrased). She isn’t a stone-cold character however, because Maxey allows us to see her vulnerable side through Stagger, in the scenes where she mourns his death and wonders at the possibilities that could have been between the two of them were he still alive.

Stagger is defined very well by the nickname he goes by, for it is not a “just so” nickname. He is a man who was conflicted by his feelings for Infidel when he lived, and is still conflicted in death. He staggers along his feelings, exploring them haphazardly, but he gets there in the end. The knife that binds him to the mortal world is a great device for Maxey to show off his world-building and raises questions about the dominant religion in the world, as well as what happens to those who die: do they linger on like Stagger or do they willingly go off into the unknown of the spirit world. Stagger made for an excellent vehicle of that exploration. Through his alliance of convenience with Relic, a mysterious sorcerer who is the only one who can see him, Stagger gets to know himself, Infidel, and the rest of his companions.(less)

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Jun 09, 2012 Gavin Gates rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Greatshadow straddles the line between serious story telling and a light hearted fast read almost perfectly. I knew that this book was due to be released and then was very happy to see it turn up in my review pile. Maxey has made a great choice to put the tale across in a third party sense through the eyes of a ghost who is connected to a weapon being carried by the magically enchanted super strong and almost indestructible Infidel, possibly my new favourite heroine/anti hero. The setting is pre...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Mieneke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2012

The first in a new series by James Maxey, Greatshadow managed to be both a very original book and a rather familiar one. Let's start with the original part. The book had a very original take on the narration. While the protagonist is Infidel, she is not the narrator; no, that place is beholden to Stagger, her erstwhile – and currently very dead – partner. This approach is one I hadn't seen before and one that's very effective in keeping us appraised of happenings Infidel couldn't have known abou...more The first in a new series by James Maxey, Greatshadow managed to be both a very original book and a rather familiar one. Let's start with the original part. The book had a very original take on the narration. While the protagonist is Infidel, she is not the narrator; no, that place is beholden to Stagger, her erstwhile – and currently very dead – partner. This approach is one I hadn't seen before and one that's very effective in keeping us appraised of happenings Infidel couldn't have known about. Told in first person with Stagger referring to himself as I, Greatshadow is actually mostly a third person story as Stagger relates Infidel's story. I really enjoyed the way the book was narrated and Stagger is a very funny point of view.

Now for the rather familiar part: the characters surrounding Infidel. The cast of people along with Infidel on her quest is very cool and I really liked them, but if you squint hard enough at them you can just assign them their relevant D&D classes and you have a relatively traditional adventuring party. However, this only occurred to me after finishing the book, so it might just be nitpicking. My favourite members of Infidel's group were the Three Goons, Relic and Aurora. The Three Goons were just really funny and interesting, Relic rather creepily mysterious and Aurora is just a wonderful character, whose background as a high priestess to the primal dragon Hush was very interesting and also key to the story.

Infidel is completely kick ass. She's an intriguing juxtaposition; despite being physically mostly invulnerable, she's still very human and emotionally breakable. Her back story is awesome and very well done, we slowly learn more about where she comes from and how she acquired her magical protections. I loved how she only realised how she felt about Stagger after she lost him and hits herself over the head for it. So yes, there is a sort of romance in the book, but definitely not of the traditional kind. Infidel also showed growth during the novel, going from a rather barbaric artefact looter to wanting a more 'normal' life. I'm curious where Maxey will take this in the next book.

While the basic plot of the book is rather linear – a group of people get together and go off to slay the dragon – it's the side plots and the characters' motivation that make the story captivating. The world building, while relatively limited – we're on an island – is interesting. We get enough glimpses of the world off island to not feel too isolated, but Maxey mainly focuses on the Isle of Fire itself. We do meet some interesting races and learn some excellent dragon lore. This book mainly focused on Greatshadow, the primal dragon of fire, but in the next book we'll meet Hush, Rott and Glorious and I imagine we'll meet others in the third book, Witchbreaker. I can't wait to learn about other parts of this world and more dragon lore in the coming books.

Greatshadow was a fabulous read, which kept me turning pages and just finishing one more chapter before doing whatever I was supposed to do. Besides, any story that can legitimately clothe its main character in a chain mail bikini and make it functional can only be genius! If you like straight up adventure novels, kick ass heroines and dragons – lots of dragons – then you can't miss Greatshadow. I know I'm already impatient for the second book in the series called Hush, planned for release in July. Greatshadow is out from Solaris Books this week.

This book was sent to me for review by the publisher.(less)

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Dec 28, 2012 Bob Milne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-traditional

Greatshadow, the first book of The Dragon Apocalypse by James Maxey, reminds me in so may ways of the TSR quest-driven novels I cut my fantasy teeth on so many years ago. More specifically, it reminds of Forgotten Realms adventures by the likes of R.A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Troy Denning, and Douglas Niles. Before anybody takes that the wrong way, let me assure you that's absolutely not a criticism or a complaint - I have fond memories of those adventures, and Maxey rekindled that same kind of...more Greatshadow, the first book of The Dragon Apocalypse by James Maxey, reminds me in so may ways of the TSR quest-driven novels I cut my fantasy teeth on so many years ago. More specifically, it reminds of Forgotten Realms adventures by the likes of R.A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Troy Denning, and Douglas Niles. Before anybody takes that the wrong way, let me assure you that's absolutely not a criticism or a complaint - I have fond memories of those adventures, and Maxey rekindled that same kind of wide-eyed enjoyment.

The writing is fresh, the characters intriguing, the action frantic, and the story line deeper than you might originally suspect. I must admit, it took a while to get used to having a ghost narrate the novel, but there's purpose to Stagger's narrative role that goes far beyond mere novelty. He's a coward and a scoundrel, a greedy, drunken adventurer with questionable ethics, but one who is loyal and sincere where it counts. I definitely warmed up to him over the course of the novel, and I quite liked the way Maxey gave his story closure towards the end.

Infidel, his magically endowed, super powered partner in crime seemed a little thin at first. She reminded me too much of the characters at the heart of the Runelords saga, a series where the novelty wore thin long before the final pages of the first book. Fortunately, Maxey has an entertaining backstory for her that is slowly unveiled over the course of the novel, slowly adding layers of humanity to her impervious exterior. Of course, it helps that she's entirely aware of her role as a sex-object within the genre, something she takes great joy in subverting. There's a scene where Infidel explains to Aurora, high priestess and frost giantess extraordinaire, just how deep her superhuman strength runs, and why she could never doom a man to the throes of orgasm, that will leave you laughing and crossing your legs at the same time.

Where Maxey breaks away from the style of those Forgotten Realms adventures of 20+ years ago and cements his place alongside his genre contemporaries is in his sheer unpredictability. This is one of those novels where nobody is safe, where good and evil are not absolutes, and where truth and lies are simply a matter of perspective. For such a small band of adventurers, a lot of main characters die along the way, and not all of them in the grand, heroic fashion you might expect. There's an element of realism here - or, as much as there can be within a swords & sorcery tale - that acknowledges the fact that things don't always work out simply because we want them to.

One final note on this book, I thoroughly enjoyed Maxey's take on religion. The Church of the Book is an interesting concept, both a satiric parody of organized religion and an almost logical mythological construct. The idea of a Book that contains the complete story of the universe, but which cannot be read except by the arrival of long-anticipated Omega Reader, is brilliant in its absurdity. Similarly, the duelling magics of Father Ver and the Deceiver is both ridiculous and inspired, with the magical outcome of their respective 'truths' and 'lies' dependant solely upon the belief of those around them.

It's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of enjoying a good, old-fashioned, straight-up quest adventure, complete with magical artifacts, inhuman races, and truly epic dragons. He amused me, entertained me, and amazed me on several occasions. Much to Maxey's credit, he maintained both my interest and my smiles the whole way through, more than ensuring I'll be back to discover what happens with Hush.

Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins(less)

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Feb 08, 2013 Samantha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was good. It wasnt exceptionally anything, it was just good. I appreciated the narrative, and the plot, and I'm happy I spent my entire day off reading it:D

The only big issues I had with this book were the awkward 'romantic' parts. They weren't written as fluently as the rest of the novel, which made it a bit uncomfortable to read.
But then again, it might've just been my own awkard romantic brain influencing how I read those parts...but I dont think so.

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Nov 11, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: eternal, fun, intense, dragons, fantasy, female-lead, humor, 4review

This book is in the top 10 of my favorite new reads of the year. I know, I’m being blunt. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was chewing through 50-100 pages a night and only put it down when I was too fatigued to read any more. This book turned me into a little kid – I didn’t want to sleep, or do the dishes, or get dressed. I simply wanted to read this book. Infidel is a kick-ass 30 year-old woman who is the true heroine of this tale. She is fascinating, flawed, and trying to do the right thing...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Elise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If Chuck Norris had written a fantasy novel, this would be it. It's written in a rare 2nd person perspective, told from the point of view of the main character's partner. It sounds like the standard mythical story we've all heard about, but less likely have read. (I certainly haven't read any novels specifically about this) of dragon slaying for the reward of the beast's treasure, but it's a lot more than that. It's unique, unconventional and jam packed full of goodies. There's a colorful cast o...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another really creative book from Maxey. This book is narrated by Stagger, who is kind of the protagonist, but also, since he spends the vast majority of the book dead, is largely just a witness to the acts of Infidel, an indestructible princess-warrior. The world, the magic, and the characters are incredibly funny. If you want a light, enjoyable fantasy read, this is great.

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Jul 26, 2012 Bob rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fans of Scott Lynch and A. Lee Martinez rejoice! Do not let a cheesy cover dissuade you from reading this book!With just enough humor to entertain, but not so much as to slip into slap stick this action filled adventure fantasy has all the fun characters and creative aspects of a fully developed "other world".

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Mar 03, 2012 Frank Jarome rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Slow in the first third, awesome in the middle, kinda fell apart at the end. And Stagger got a little voyeuristic for my tastes... Not sure if I'll be back for Book Two or not.

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Aug 18, 2012 Paul rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Functional Nerds Review:

http://functionalnerds.com/2012/07/la...

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Jan 06, 2013 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-reviews

I received my first read book free from goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed this story very much it is full of adventure and fantasy, from dragons to pygmies! The story was a pleasant surprise it also includes romance which may interest anyone who loves a good romance as well. I will continue on with the series the charecters are interesting enough to want to know what happens next. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a decent fantasy story that's not over top with drama, or creepy way out fanta...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Adventure, romance, ghosts, dragons, pygmies... what more do I need?

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Jan 29, 2012 Penelope rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-and-fantasy

An excellent fantasy with some really cool additions to the wonderful world of dragon mythology. I loved the story telling devise, thought it worked really well and very much look forward to reading the next in the series.

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Mar 18, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Fun, all the way around. It's the best of the Warhammer novels with none of the prerequisite backstory. Want a rousing adventure, full of action and warrior women? This is your book. It's just a great ride.

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Sep 20, 2012 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 stars really, but not 4.

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Feb 25, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, books-i-own

I received this in a giveaway from goodreads, so decided to boost it up fairly high on my reading list. I'm so glad I did!
A thrilling read, it really got me sucked into the story. There's lots of action, gets you hooked from the first page.
I loved the majority of the characters (even the bad guys).
The narrator is a ghost, which I thought was fairly unusual, and made for an interesting point of view.
I can't wait for the sequel to come out.

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About James Maxey

I've been an avid reader since I first picked up a book. Luckily, I was within biking distance of three different libraries growing up. I was a skinny kid. If only I had maintained that link between biking and reading, I might be a skinny adult.

I'm also a writer. I wrote my first book as a kid, an adventure about pirates and ghosts. When I was a teenager, I used to write superhero adventures. The...more

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Quotes from Greatshadow

“I'm not shooting for happy. I'm aiming for comfortable and fat.” — 4 people liked it

“...I could now look down at ghostly fingers, wraith-like toes, and a phantom wang.” — 1 person liked it

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Greatshadow (Dragon Apocalypse #1)

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