Creation of the Inevitable

by The Raven’s Doctor

All his life Malcom Doxon has only known fragility and sickness. Most days were spent on a hospital bed counting the hours go by day by day. One day his aliments got the better of him and he soon passed from our world. But through unexpected circumstances, he finds himself in a new world where he can start a new life without fear of his body breaking down.

86 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2022

Reviews

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creation of the Inevitable is Volume I, written by The Raven’s Doctor. I appreciated the creativity and also the fantasy of the story but found myself moving from moment to moment without a coherent connection during most of the story. There were too many ideas for the characters to move forward in the story. It felt as if the author was trying to get a plethora of moments and ideas into an 81-page story and in turn to me, just created more confusion.
The premise of the story, if I understood it correctly, is about a very sickly 17-year-old boy, by the name of Malcom Doxon, who invariably dies at the hospital and in a moment of time he awakens to find his long-time childhood friend Denise acting very peculiarly. The reader finds out very soon that Denise is really the daughter of Death, and she has taken Malcom’s soul to do with it what she will. She gives him magical powers of the utmost strength. The story moves on with him experimenting with those powers, and at one point uses them to create monstrosities out of the deer in the forest. I never understood why, and it left me wanting more of an explanation.
If Malcolm ever angered the daughter of Death, she would punish him by having sex with him for hours, forgetting that he was a 17-year-old boy. I honestly couldn’t follow the plot line very well. There would be times when Malcom was using his magic, and then days had gone by, and the reader doesn’t know what happened in those few days and the plot moved along with no explanation. This book has many five-star reviews, and I realize then this isn’t the type of story for me, but other readers absolutely raved about it. I thought it would be more of a tale of darkness, but it’s apparently geared to fantasy/science fiction genre readers.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed, and my comments are my honest opinion.

[Janine Villanueva · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started this book, I did not know what to expect. I did not realize it was a fantasy novel. When Malcom died, I became confused when his girlfriend turned into Death when he died. She was quite crazy about Macolm but more so in the afterlife. As the story progressed, I had trouble figuring out where the story was going. The concept was interesting but not for me.

I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily provided a review.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creation of the Inevitable: Volume 1, by The Raven’s Doctor is by far one of the more unique books I have read in a long time. I find a lot of books, regardless of quality or content, to be a bit formula at times and I loved that this book stands out. The author does not stick to any particular trope or formula but tells a captivating story in their own style.

The story hits the ground running and does not hold back on the action or the progression of the plot. It only took me a few hours to read it, and it definitely left me wanting to read more. It’s hard to explain fully what happens without giving spoilers, but you do not want spoilers for this book. It is thoroughly unpredictable.

The characters are likeable, their thoughts and emotions are forthright and relatable, which I love. I found myself at times both loving and hating the characters’ behavior. They are written in a way that their humanity shows through. I have always loved authors who can write fully “human” people with the entire scope of good/bad inherent in their personalities. The Raven’s Doctor doesn’t simply write evil villains and good and sweet heroes. Their characters are people with foibles and good qualities both.

The settings are descriptive and, as a reader, I got a full picture of what this world must look like. Even in the moments where the author is explaining the technical aspects of the universe they created, it is done in such an engrossing way that it adds to the color of the story.

This was worth the read and I recommend it! I look forward to reading future volumes to see where the story goes. I am definitely hungry for more!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

The author did an incredible job of crafting a powerful story in such a short read. The character development was rich with action and the writing did a fantastic job of giving readers a sense of history and depth to these characters. The heart and passion with which the author wrote these characters also allowed readers to connect with them and seeing the protagonist’s unique relationship with each character introduced was a great way of making this fantastic story feel a bit more grounded.

Yet it was the world-building and powerful themes that really kept me invested in the narrative. The creative and highly original mythos that the author developed concerning Death and the protagonist’s relationship with Death, as well as the concept of what life after death truly looks like was such a powerful idea to explore, and the theme of life, death, and finding purpose felt so powerful and blended so well with the fantasy genre.

The Verdict

Captivating, richly developed, and entertaining, author The Raven’s Doctor’s “Creation of the Inevitable: Volume 1” is a must-read short story that meets the fantasy narrative of 2022. The cliffhanger final chapter will have readers breathless, and the promise of new worlds and new threats will keep readers eager for the next chapter of this epic-growing saga.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a unique fantasy novella! In many cases, when I read a genre book or story, I have a general idea of what to expect. That wasn't the case here, and I really enjoyed reading without falling back on typical genre tropes.

Basically, this is the story of Malcolm, who dies and meets up with Death's daughter, who has taken the form of his former girlfriend. A lot happens to both of them, and there's plenty of action to keep you on the edge of your seat. Both characters, especially Malcom, are detailed and interesting, and I enjoyed learning more about him after his death.

The author's unique take on life after death, and the fantastical world Malcom finds himself in, made for fascinating reading.

I always enjoy reading something that surprises me, and this definitely fits the bill. Highly recommended for anyone that enjoys reading outside of any box you can think of!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not a genre I usually read, but objectively speaking, I think it’s great for those like me, as it’s not off-putting and the storyline doesn’t stall. As we see the narrative from Malcom’s perspective, we get quite a subjective point of view, but there are some details that need to be addressed, such as how Death is allowing him to leave so often and what is she doing all day long? It will definitely help build up a more well-rounded image of the magic world Malcom got into.
I think it could have easily been at least double in length, and I hope that the sequel will be longer, as it has a lot of potential and the story is already promising. I have to say that for me, this first volume raised a lot of questions about how things would develop next, as it ends on a true cliff-hanger. That’s why I am looking forward for the next one.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first book is a very different magic world where ends up after he dies very young. Malcolm narrates the story line as his personality changes while there. There are so many questions running through the story line like what does Death blow hot and cold with Malcolm. One minute he has a crush and the next minute she is torturing him. Then there is his obsession with experimenting with animals. This first book is very full of information which was good for background but I felt there were gaps that left questions. This book was very dark and for those who love this genre, I am sure you will like it. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Masha M.]

This is a debut light novel that confidently plants its flag in the popular Isekai genre, offering a classic setup with a dark fantasy twist. The story follows a protagonist who dies from a prolonged sickness, only to unexpectedly awaken in a strange, grand bedroom in another world. The immediate relief is palpable: he is in perfect health, his formerly brittle body now strong. However, this physical salvation is overshadowed by a profound and urgent mystery: How did he get there, and why is he not at death's door?

[Amber Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going into this, I had no idea what to expect, and I like to approach things with an open mind. However, I didn’t love this novella. Poor Malcom is thrown into a bizarre experience that sort of feels like the makings of a soft core Cinemax film, even from the first chapter where his pelvis breaks.

Although I didn’t enjoy it, I am sure that others will find the magic and tone of the narration more compelling. For me, it just was not it.

I gave the story three stars instead of four because there were too many details left out to make the story flow well. Things felt disjointed and it was hard to connect some ideas and moments. I think a little more time fleshing this idea out would have served the author well.

[María Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read for the right audience. For the most part, I’m not that audience, which doesn’t hinder the value of this story. I’m easily grossed out, and I’m not much into BDSM or animal cruelty. But the premise is original. The book has non-stop action that kept me engaged, and the use of language makes for a vivid reading experience. I do love black humor, and I had a blast with some of the dialogues in this novel.