Child of the Sword

The Gods Within #1

by J.L. Doty

Prisoner of a clan of witches, a young boy clashes with the evil old matriarch. Can he master her magic and survive?
Rat is no ordinary thief
A small feral child, he steals what he can to feed the gnawing hunger in his gut, though nothing can satisfy the hunger in his soul.


But he has a special talent that the wizards and witches of the clans covet, so Clan Elhiyne abducts him and gives him the name Morgin.


Can he escape the scheming of the clan's calculating and manipulative leader, the matriarchal old witch Olivia?


And as he grows into manhood, can he survive the inter-clan rivalries, and the hatred that smolders between Olivia and her arch-enemy Valso, leader of Clan Decouix?

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, Demons

296 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2012

About the author

Jim is a full-time SF&F writer, scientist and laser geek (Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, specialty laser physics), and former running-dog-lackey for the bourgeois capitalist establishment. He's been writing for over 30 years, with 15 published books. His first success came through self-publishing when his books went word-of-mouth viral, and sold enough that he was able to quit his day-job, start working for himself and write full time--his new boss is a real jerk. That led to contracts with traditional publishers like Open Road Media and Harper Collins Voyager, and his books are now a mix of traditional and self-published.

The four novels in his new hard science fiction series, The Blacksword Regiment, are scheduled for release in July 2020. Right now he’s fleshing out ideas for the next book in The Dead Among Us, he’s writing another episode in The Treasons Cycle, and he’s working on a new fantasy series The Deck of Chaos.

Jim was born in Seattle, but he's lived most of his life in California, though he did live on the east coast and in Europe for a while. He now resides in Arizona with his wife Karen and three little beings who claim to be cats: Tilda, Julia and Natasha. But Jim is certain they're really extra-terrestrial aliens in disguise.

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was good until the last twenty percent when it got so bad I had to make myself finish this. It just got so out there in comparison to the rest of the book that it almost didn't make sense. How things changed almost right angles how things were before.

The first part of Child of the Sword was good while I was being introduced to the world and the characters and things built up to the plot. I liked it, it was a decent introduction as I got used to the world since this was a new series to me. On the fifty percent mark, things picked up. It was good, I enjoyed the turn it took. It was very exciting compared to the first half of the book and was very fast paced. I liked it, it was a good turn that was a good thing for the story. What wasn't a good thing was the supposed conclusion to this.

I was so utterly confused after the climax of the story which the switched between realities essentially. It made the story very confusing and very difficult to follow. I did not enjoy it.

On top of the plot, I was not a fan of the main character. Rat grows at the beginning of the story, yes, but after that first growth when his life changes he stays virtually the same. Rat is a jerk and an idiot. I got annoyed with his character and his sulky, bratty attitude. Several of the supporting characters were far more interesting, particularly French and when we first met him I expected him to take a more active role in the plot than he did. Rat's step brother JohnEngine was the other more interesting character and I would have liked to have seen more of him. The grandmother was nothing short of annoying and I really wished she would have died by the end of the book. She needed to die.

The end of the book by far the worst part. I definitely won't be reading the sequel if it's like the end of this one.

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

it was good up until the part where his wife got raped

[Don Dunham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this excellent fantasy a while back then got sidetracked, very happy I returned to it, J.L. Doty doesn't disappoint.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very pleased with this book. I bought it as a "recommended for you" book on Kindle...one of the ones that are offered for a few dollars.
I read a lot of fantasy books lately and I thought this was one of the better reads.
I loved the main character "rat" and I thought that the story line was very interesting.

I liked the way magic is protrayed.
I am always interested in the various ways that writers protray magic and the creative ways they
are able to be "different" than other stories with magic.

There are many conflicts within the main character as he comes to learn his craft...and
there are many "outside" conflicts that effect him.
The story moves at a fast pace. There is enough action for those who love action and just the right
amount of description for those who like to "see" where they are and imagine the land around them as they read.

This story is about a young boy who comes to manhood in an adoptive family and how he deals with family ties...and how the various family members deal with this "new" person who suddenly appears in their life.

I would classify it as an action fantasy...yet there is a great deal of mystery, which is NOT solved
by the ending of the first book.

The writer does give us a small taste of the 2nd book.
As I have stated before, I like to read older series where the 2nd and even 3rd book is already written. Unfortunately for me, the 2nd book has not been published yet.

I found that when I finished the teaser chapters, I was not ready to put away the book and leave "Rat" behind. I wanted more. I can think of no higher compliment to any writer....than wanting more.

[Shady Lubbad · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing....

[Johnathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Book and have been telling all my Friends about it.

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy named Rat (later changed to Morgin), who begins as much of a street rat as his name implies. Except, he has magic in him, where he can hide in shadows and all but disappear.

The magic building leaves a lot to be desired, IMO. While a witch named Olivia (an adopted grandmother, so to speak), consults with spirits and can determine the magical strength of a person. Her blood children make up a large number of her "children" and "grandchildren"--one of whom is AnnaRail, Morgin's adopted mother (though he also calls her his sister at times so it's all just a clan. Anyway, because Morgin is strong in magic but his abilities seem weak, and some of the other magic in the book kind of falls flat for me, I can't give this a full five stars.

Morgin's overall growth overall though is great. He grows in magic, in martial arts, and sword fighting. He becomes a husband (though his behavior towards his wife, Rhianne, and anger overall is insanely frustrating. I just want to shake him til his head rattles). He befriends a sword master named France who is a really cool secondary character. I like Rhianne too, and am glad we get into her head. Olivia tries to magic Morgin into having sex with his bride, making me highly dislike the matriarch.

The clan has enemies, primarily a magician named Valso, who is intent on defeating the Elhiyne family. I feel like some of the feud doesn't make sense.

What is really weird (and the type of weird for a fantasy book, not utterly baffling though I can't personally put my head around it, but again--magic) is when Morgin dies but doesn't die, and is saved by a skeleton king who may be a spirit.

Morgin's work with the shadows becomes extreme, and he finds himself on the cusp of love and hate, reality and spiritual spheres. Things get crazy.

[Rosver · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very tedious book to read. The early parts of the book is quite alright, quite reveting even; but it quickly become tedious and frustrating. I work over a third of the book and then just give up. I just lost my strength and will to continue.

The characters are very, very dull and unimaginative:

Olivia, the master of the clan, is so one dimensional, overly so. You really couldn't be surprised by what she do or think. There is nothing much to her really. And she is not someone you would like. Very power hungry and selfish.

Our protagonist Rat, or Morgin as he was later named, is a do-nothing, achieve-nothing, go-nowhere-by-himself guy. He obviously has strong magical abilities and potential, as we are constantly reminded of; as was all this magical "hero" always seems to be; but obviously after years of magic training and study he obviously doesn't progress much or at all. He doesn't improve much in swordsmanship or at all either and he spend his days in town drinking and fucking prostitutes. Anything exciting or life changing events just happen to him or forced to him. His becoming part of the clan, his gaining of an important name, his wedding; everything is just happenstance and not by his own effort or desire. Olivia might be monotonous being one dimensional and all, but she has direction and strong purpose of living; Morgin on the other hand is totally pointless. You would have expect nothing from him if he was real. Who wants to read a story about a man that is just dragged about by people around him?

The minor characters are so terribly minor. Sure there are here and there would be snapshot stories where they would come upfront but those stories appears to be fillers and doesn't bear much to the overall story of the book. Of all the minor characters, AnnaRail and Roland might be the most interesting, even more so than the protagonist Rat/Morgin. They inject some humor, a different view of the story and interesting contrast with other characters but they appear very seldom and not used very well by the author. Other minor characters like MichaelOff, DaNoel, JohnEngine and the like are more like props than actual characters. They are there to populate the scene but do little of actual substance or influence to the story.

If the author aren't able to create any interesting character, then at least a great exciting plot should be there to catch the slack. But no, the book just go on and on and on from one event to the next. There was this that happened, then this happened, then this and this and this. Individually they make some interesting short stories and anecdotes but as a whole they don't have any focus, purpose or direction. They are all so fragmented. Its like being hauled from one adventure to the next Alice in Wonderland style but without the adventure, the charm, the fun and especially the interesting characters.

There are events in the plot though that would have bring the bang in the story like Morgin's encounter with Valso, his kidnapping and the wedding, but all of them just come and go, the next episode going on like nothing big happened. All the interesting stuff and the author just waste it in the verbous dullness.

Morgins's encounter with Valso is very telling point of author machination. The author really forced everything so that the event occur. Beginning from his estrangement with his adopted grandmother Olivia (which uncharacteristically become lax and failed to make an effort to search for him after such an insult), his encounter with bandits (and why did Morgin suddenly become this stupid idiot, throwing all caution in the wind and abandoning his hardwired habits of wariness?), France coming to the rescue (we have a good Samaritan do we? And he will come to rescue everyone in need out of his good heart?), and of course the fortunate chance of picking the right tavern where the whole scene would happen (the author ). There is just a lot of obvious machinations by the author all over the story it just become quite tiring. Obviously, the author has to do them because the characters are all so damn boring.

Then there is also the terrible lack of information about the nature of magic in this world. Many people has magical ability, that is given, their nature however is very confusing. We don't even see them use it that much. Or if they did, it was so unclear of what the nature of the magic is. The author is terribly skimpy in that matter.

From what I could see from what I have read (which is about more than a third of the book) the author is just bad in story making and horrible in storytelling. There is a lack of imagination and creativity in everything. We are presented with a story in serious need of revision. There might be more exciting parts further down but I'm not going to forgive the horrible beginning that I have to go through. The parts that I read will just destroys any respect and enjoyment I may have for those doubtful good things that might be there. The parts I read just killed my motivation to continue.

Not to mention the horrible cover art. Such an affront to the senses. In this case you could judge the book by the cover as both are equally horrible. And have you seen the book art of Book 2. It was even more ugly!

[Paps · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfull age-progession story, we follow our heroe in his journy from a street urchin to condecorated heroe. The clans politics, embroided with the magic and military progress maes for an fun enteretaining read.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

too much terminology and too little context

[Robert Toliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average

Its and average hard to follow story. Kind of jumps around. It's an ok book. Ok series so far. Bout to start book two and hopefully story gets better

[Ares · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

The story began rather midly and grew in intensity until it reached its peak, this is the kind of story that made frustrated, all along questioning and questing a truth that was hidden by the author who tries to make you feel blind for not seeing something and this something turn up to be inexistant.

The developement of the main character is my main complain about the story, while the first chapters have drawn a peticular character with a weak and fearful personality and later chapters still contained those characteristic, after a certain time skip I've found myself with a totally different main that I didn't recognise, and with each time skip longer than 2 years afterward the main continued to change, it left me unsteady and quite annoyed.

Other than that and the boring unoriginal blabbers of angels trying to make mortals sound like fools through the last chapters, it was quite good and the style of the author permit easy reading and enjoyable passing, most noticeable characters are france and the head of the clan both different but with great influence.

Give it a try you may find it to your taste.

[NovelBrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw this book, my expectations were zero. Seemed like the author was rather unknown, and there weren't many reviews. However, being a big fantasy fan, I couldn't pass up on a book with "sword" in its title. Very good decision if I might say so myself.

I'm not here to tell you what the book is about... The description is there for a reason. I also believe that tastes vary with each reader, but what I do know, is that I enjoyed this book very much.

Story is mostly told through one character's view point, although there are well-timed jumps here and there. And if you're a fan of action, then you should definitely give this a try. Not only that, but it's actually a well written book. Can't tell you how many indie books I've come across that read like a high school essay. I might not be a sensational writer or possess substantial intellect, but even I have my standards and this book delivers.

[Fredrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The evening of Jan 26, 2015 I had 3 books in front of me and after reading the back cover of two them and the dust jacket of the third I had decided that this book would probably be my second book. But just to be sure I always like to read the first few pages. After checking out the first book I opened Child of the Sword and those first few pages became a chapter and 287 pages later at 4 a.m. I put it down. With only about 20 pages let to read I think it is safe to safe to say this is the first one I will read. I enjoyed enough that when I had a break this morning I went online and ordered books 2 and 3. There are books I read once and give to someone else to read and there are books I sit aside because I know I will enjoy reading them again I think this could be one of those to put aside and reread later.

[Damgaard78 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the read. Interesting world building, young orphan with potential grows into supreme hero, ok sounds like one in a long line of storied already told, but I must say it works well here.

The story unfolds with a rapid pace and it was hard putting it down, which was also the reason I was kinda sad to realize that it was the first book in a series and the others are not out yet. That said its a very nice long book, often authors would have cheaped out and cut it into two, so I must say I really was impressed.

Bought it as a cheap kindle ebook and must say it was a delight to have a book not filled with bad grammar, and that combined with a cheap price can only make one appreciate it.

[JL Lucaban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm... How would I describe this... Confusing, and very easy to understand at the same time. I love the story, it's characters, the scenes it conjures, and everything else. And the words, I'm not sure about the sentence construction and I won't comment on that since I'm not good at reviewing such things, but the words, it's like it was woven intricately, like a spell. I love that too, well for me that is.

[Joecrash411 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I got past the 1st chapter I was hooked. I've read the 1st (this one) and 2nd book in the series (The Gods Within) and think they are pretty great. Interesting storyline, good characters. Until I bite the bullet and pay the $26 for Jordan's last book in the Wheel of Time series this is now my favorite "go to" when I want to re-read something.

[Wes Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cautiously optimistic about the forth coming books. This one hooked me in the beginning, then kind of lost me, then hooked me again. I love the world that was created here, but honestly, there were a lot of cliche or, "I saw that one coming from a mile away!" moments. I'll continue reading though.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gripping novel that I found myself devouring rapidly. You cannot help but love Rat, who becomes Morgin, as you follow him from beggar thief child to grown man, who loves and wants to save the family that doesn't always treat him as an equal.

[Tshepo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overall good book. It started out rather slow and I was skeptical over the direction the author was taking, but the storyline improved as I read. My advise is, don't judge it from the beginning, the story gets better.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, there is some good character development especially with the main character, you can't help but feel sorry for Morgin and sympathise with him. I look forward to reading the sequel.

[Contrarius]

Shadow magic has very much been done before (see, for example, Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny and the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey), but I enjoyed Doty's book A Choice of Treasons so much that I'm determined to try something else by him. We Shall See!

[Jonathan Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was quite good, but felt a bit of the character development was forced. Sort of like a beat was skipped or something.

Certainly recommend it, and will read more.

[Chris Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book ... Definitely worth a read

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way way too much angst for me. I got through it, but don't really care about the characters enough to read anything else in the series.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book

[Marcelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It´s good, surprisingly good. Recomend.

Zanca

[David Keyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book!

[Muhammad Gibran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great fantasy novel.