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Tears of Rage #1
First Chosen
On her twenty-first birthday, Julianna frees an ancient god of vengeance, from his thousand-year prison. In his "gratitude," the god names her his high priest and commands her to lead his people to greatness once again. However, it is now a capital crime for any of Julianna's people to worship one of the five ancient gods - the punishment is the destruction of the offender's soul.
And so begins TEARS OF RAGE, a dark, epic fantasy saga about the power of faith and belief, where even though the gods can inspire these qualities in mortals, it is those same mortals that truly control the religions that form from any god's divine inspiration. It is also a swashbuckling tale of political intrigue where men scheme against each other and the gods, and how friendship, loyalty, and faith can help people persevere through the darkest times.
And so begins TEARS OF RAGE, a dark, epic fantasy saga about the power of faith and belief, where even though the gods can inspire these qualities in mortals, it is those same mortals that truly control the religions that form from any god's divine inspiration. It is also a swashbuckling tale of political intrigue where men scheme against each other and the gods, and how friendship, loyalty, and faith can help people persevere through the darkest times.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2013
30 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
M. Todd Gallowglas
62 books176 followersM Todd Gallowglas has been a professional storyteller at Renaissance Faires and Medieval Festivals for over twenty years. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University in 2009, he used his storytelling show as a platform to launch his fiction career. He is the author of the Tears of Rage and Halloween Jack series, which have spent time on various bestseller lists. He was a fiction contributor for Fantasy Flight Games and developed creative content for the reboot of the children's classic Reading Rainbow. Now he spends most of his time trying to find the perfect balance between family, writing, airsoft (because it's not as messy as paintball), and gaming while he's not off somewhere telling stories.
M Todd Gallowglas is a proud member of the Genre Underground.
M Todd Gallowglas is a proud member of the Genre Underground.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 28, 2014
I'm torn with this particular review, because I know that Gallowglas is a tremendous writer and I know what he's capable of, having already reviewed the excellent short that is Jaludin's Road.
Having said that, I cannot in good conscience give this a 4, I agree with another reviewer who pointed out that it's more of a 3.75. It's a good work, but it didn't quite blow me away and there were bits that niggled at me to the detriment of the work.
Our protagonist Julianna is very much the coming of age character who has been blessed or cursed by the Gods. What differs about her from the usual is that she isn't some farm girl or bar maid, but rather of wealthy upbringing.
Now we come to the inherent problem I had with the book: I can't remember any of the other characters. I'm aware there was a man following her called Faelin, and there were a few others that made an appearance, but it was either so fleeting or inconsequential that I couldn't keep their names in my mind.
Speaking of names, the nomenclature of the characters and beings in question may have led to this confusion. There are multiple points of view but they're all compressed into what averages out as a very small book for its particular genre. There was no need for the alternative spelling of demons and saints either, as it led to further confusion.
I had no empathy for Julianna, and her trials were mirrored by my own trials to finish the book. I also can't remember the name of the antagonist or their primary motivation.
In his defense, there's more than a touch of the Zelazny about the prose of Gallowglas, with a great magic concept and deeply rooted faith that I enjoyed reading about. There's no denying that the quality is there, but the constraints of the book meant that it wasn't allowed to flourish.
The short, sharp chapters and constant switching of the points of view with little to no recapping of previous events meant that each time I picked up the book to continue I was lost. A longer volume with more fleshed-out chapters may have prevented this.
It won't be the first and it certainly won't be the last time I make this complaint of a self-published fantasy work, but the book was just starting to heat up when it ended. That irritated me greatly, as it felt like an incomplete third of whatever tale was being told.
In spite of my various gripes with the text, I do feel that there's great potential with the Tears of Rage series as a whole. This is one of the more popular works that I've reviewed and I acknowledge that while the above seems harsh, it's written in the understanding that the prose is a cut above the rest.
Given the calibre of the author and the fact that this is an early work, I do suggest that people pick it up. I may not have been in the right mindset to appreciate the story as a whole, so I'd advise you read the other reviews before purchasing it.
Overall I consider this a solid if inauspicious start, but many a great author has done just that before catapulting themselves into something special. Gallowglas may well manage that given time.
Having said that, I cannot in good conscience give this a 4, I agree with another reviewer who pointed out that it's more of a 3.75. It's a good work, but it didn't quite blow me away and there were bits that niggled at me to the detriment of the work.
Our protagonist Julianna is very much the coming of age character who has been blessed or cursed by the Gods. What differs about her from the usual is that she isn't some farm girl or bar maid, but rather of wealthy upbringing.
Now we come to the inherent problem I had with the book: I can't remember any of the other characters. I'm aware there was a man following her called Faelin, and there were a few others that made an appearance, but it was either so fleeting or inconsequential that I couldn't keep their names in my mind.
Speaking of names, the nomenclature of the characters and beings in question may have led to this confusion. There are multiple points of view but they're all compressed into what averages out as a very small book for its particular genre. There was no need for the alternative spelling of demons and saints either, as it led to further confusion.
I had no empathy for Julianna, and her trials were mirrored by my own trials to finish the book. I also can't remember the name of the antagonist or their primary motivation.
In his defense, there's more than a touch of the Zelazny about the prose of Gallowglas, with a great magic concept and deeply rooted faith that I enjoyed reading about. There's no denying that the quality is there, but the constraints of the book meant that it wasn't allowed to flourish.
The short, sharp chapters and constant switching of the points of view with little to no recapping of previous events meant that each time I picked up the book to continue I was lost. A longer volume with more fleshed-out chapters may have prevented this.
It won't be the first and it certainly won't be the last time I make this complaint of a self-published fantasy work, but the book was just starting to heat up when it ended. That irritated me greatly, as it felt like an incomplete third of whatever tale was being told.
In spite of my various gripes with the text, I do feel that there's great potential with the Tears of Rage series as a whole. This is one of the more popular works that I've reviewed and I acknowledge that while the above seems harsh, it's written in the understanding that the prose is a cut above the rest.
Given the calibre of the author and the fact that this is an early work, I do suggest that people pick it up. I may not have been in the right mindset to appreciate the story as a whole, so I'd advise you read the other reviews before purchasing it.
Overall I consider this a solid if inauspicious start, but many a great author has done just that before catapulting themselves into something special. Gallowglas may well manage that given time.
April 25, 2016
An interesting world where gods and different factions of humans are battling away. The characters are interesting and the writing is good. The main drawback of the novel is that it is too short. There needed to be more character interaction to build them up and allow the reader to get to know them better. The book also ends in the middle of the story. Overall I really enjoyed the story though.
May 14, 2015
After finishing First Chosen, it's immensely clear that M. Todd Gallowglas is a tremendous writer. He managed to pen an original story with believable characters and overarching celestial machinations. Our protagonist Julianna clearly undergoes several transformations and developments along the way, while other perspectives provide the reader with multiple viewpoints and insights into the happenings.
Part of the reason for my average rating was the sheer amount of characters and POVs in a relatively short frame. Normally I don't mind. I love grand sweeping stories. However, since we're essentially thrown into an unfamiliar realm and forced to develop context along the way, the differences in language and terminology made it difficult to acclimate. I found it strenuous trying to recall many characters with their distinctive, unpronounceable name(s). Furthermore, a lack of physical descriptions regarding characters became a detriment to my memory. I'm not even sure if the protagonist Julianna is a blonde or brunette.
Another issue I had isn't a fault of the author and harbors no bearing on my rating. I received my edition of this ebook from Smashwords and used the appropriate format for my Kindle. Even so, there were various text based oddities. Here and there the font size would shift from bigger print to smaller, then back again, all within a single chapter. More editing is necessary as well. I found a fair amount of instances where a word was missed, improperly placed, or possessed the wrong tense. It wasn't terrible by self-publishing standards, though still distracting.
I don't want to be overly negative since I really did enjoy the novel and the rating would be a 3.5 if I could grant it. While stories revolving around mortals, gods, and demons (daemyns) isn't my cup of tea, I found the worldbuilding exceptionally crafted for a book of this length. It must be difficult balancing a plethora of character insights while imparting uniqueness and worth to each one. However, they all enhanced the plot and compelled the reader to care, one way or the other. I'm not even sure I want Julianna to 'win', or that she will. With the gods and their intrigues, it appears that no one is 'right' and multiple factions struggle against each other. Equally interesting standpoints include the brief role of the Inquisitors and the Adepts of Old Uncle Night. Who's to say they are not worthy of prevailing?
Overall, I recommend taking a chance on this one. The prose is easily a step above many self-published authors. Conceptually, the story is unique and original, if not to my personal liking. I found most character perspectives beneficial to the overarching plot and the excessive scheming is proving to be quite entertaining. We'll see where the machinations take us next.
Part of the reason for my average rating was the sheer amount of characters and POVs in a relatively short frame. Normally I don't mind. I love grand sweeping stories. However, since we're essentially thrown into an unfamiliar realm and forced to develop context along the way, the differences in language and terminology made it difficult to acclimate. I found it strenuous trying to recall many characters with their distinctive, unpronounceable name(s). Furthermore, a lack of physical descriptions regarding characters became a detriment to my memory. I'm not even sure if the protagonist Julianna is a blonde or brunette.
Another issue I had isn't a fault of the author and harbors no bearing on my rating. I received my edition of this ebook from Smashwords and used the appropriate format for my Kindle. Even so, there were various text based oddities. Here and there the font size would shift from bigger print to smaller, then back again, all within a single chapter. More editing is necessary as well. I found a fair amount of instances where a word was missed, improperly placed, or possessed the wrong tense. It wasn't terrible by self-publishing standards, though still distracting.
I don't want to be overly negative since I really did enjoy the novel and the rating would be a 3.5 if I could grant it. While stories revolving around mortals, gods, and demons (daemyns) isn't my cup of tea, I found the worldbuilding exceptionally crafted for a book of this length. It must be difficult balancing a plethora of character insights while imparting uniqueness and worth to each one. However, they all enhanced the plot and compelled the reader to care, one way or the other. I'm not even sure I want Julianna to 'win', or that she will. With the gods and their intrigues, it appears that no one is 'right' and multiple factions struggle against each other. Equally interesting standpoints include the brief role of the Inquisitors and the Adepts of Old Uncle Night. Who's to say they are not worthy of prevailing?
Overall, I recommend taking a chance on this one. The prose is easily a step above many self-published authors. Conceptually, the story is unique and original, if not to my personal liking. I found most character perspectives beneficial to the overarching plot and the excessive scheming is proving to be quite entertaining. We'll see where the machinations take us next.
September 4, 2011
3.75 Stars!
OK, I probably need to explain the 3.75 star rating. It's an odd number, true, but although I thoroughly enjoyed this story there was something nagging at me while I read it. I finally figured out as I finished and my problem was I wanted a little more. A little more background into the hierarchy of gods, a little more depth into the characters and a little more World-building.
Having said that, this novel did not disappoint me at all. I felt the premise was unique, the battles and type of magic used are very entertaining and I wanted more. Epic Fantasy of any kind should leave the reader wanting more, that is what defines them as Epic.
Here is the book summary:
And so begins, TEARS OF RAGE a dark, epic fantasy about the power of faith and belief, where even though the gods can inspire these qualities in mortals, it is those same mortals that truly control the religions that form from any god’s divine inspiration. It is also a swashbuckling tale of political intrigue where men scheme against each other and the gods, and how friendship, loyalty, and faith can help people persevere through the darkest times.
M. Todd Gallowglas has an epically great story at his fingertips. I will read the second installment of First Chosen and I promise that most of you will love this fresh Fantasy. Those of us that read a lot of Epic Fantasy may want more as I described previous, but will still enjoy this novel as I did.
OK, I probably need to explain the 3.75 star rating. It's an odd number, true, but although I thoroughly enjoyed this story there was something nagging at me while I read it. I finally figured out as I finished and my problem was I wanted a little more. A little more background into the hierarchy of gods, a little more depth into the characters and a little more World-building.
Having said that, this novel did not disappoint me at all. I felt the premise was unique, the battles and type of magic used are very entertaining and I wanted more. Epic Fantasy of any kind should leave the reader wanting more, that is what defines them as Epic.
Here is the book summary:
And so begins, TEARS OF RAGE a dark, epic fantasy about the power of faith and belief, where even though the gods can inspire these qualities in mortals, it is those same mortals that truly control the religions that form from any god’s divine inspiration. It is also a swashbuckling tale of political intrigue where men scheme against each other and the gods, and how friendship, loyalty, and faith can help people persevere through the darkest times.
M. Todd Gallowglas has an epically great story at his fingertips. I will read the second installment of First Chosen and I promise that most of you will love this fresh Fantasy. Those of us that read a lot of Epic Fantasy may want more as I described previous, but will still enjoy this novel as I did.
October 22, 2011
Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/10/indie-book-review-first-chosen-volume-i.html
I have been lucky enough to be asked to review First Chosen by the author himself. M. Todd Gallowglas. This is a part of the Blog Tour de Force. First Chosen is set in a beautiful dark and epic fantasy world. It is about a girl (a duchess) named Julianna, who has been chosen as the Lord Morigahn (high priest) to protect and lead the Morigahnti (followers of Grandfather Shadow), physically and spiritually. But she can only do this when she speaks the words that will release Grandfather Shadow, a god who has been held prisoner for 1000 years. When she is put in a frightening and traumatizing situation that causes her to use the words, everyone wants a piece of her. So Julianna is in quite a predicament. Not only does she have lots to learn about those after her and who to trust, she also has to figure out her new found powers and who she is.
I really enjoyed this book. The storytelling was truly out of this world. Gallowglas has created something gorgeous and complex. I love a plot that has so many layers that you can pick a part. Not only is the story deep and compelling, but the characters are as well. Gallowglas wrote it in a way where no one is left out. I love that I get a sense of everyone in the story. There is so much mythology in this book and no matter the species, everyone was playing a game. This book is full of betrayals, secrets and lies. If you want a great story on the battle of good vs. evil, First Chosen is a great choice.
I loved the characters. I loved Julianna. After her initial shock of knowing everything rests on her shoulders, you see her growing into it. It was a nice journey with her and Faelin. Faelin was chosen by Grandfather Shadow to help guide and direct Julianna since he is a true believer in Grandfather Shadow. We also have characters that we meet that have their own agendas about Julianna. For instance, the Goddess of Lies, Yrgaeshkil, she has power over Daemyns. But she wants more power, more dominions to control. Her husband is Old Uncle Night. Old Uncle Night is a rival to Grandfather Shadow and he has followers of his own trying to kill off the Morigahnti. But she isn’t the only villain in this story. Some are villains that might be closer to Julianna than she thinks.
Now for a few complaints I have for this book. As I said, we have a lot of characters which was both good and bad. The good: we have many characters to love and/or hate. We get lots of diversity and different sides of the same story. The bad: we have a lot of characters and at times, it is hard to keep up with them. Some get more “screen” time than others, so when another gets mentioned, it is hard to remember who they are in the story. I have seen that was an issue with some people, which leads me to another issue. When starting the book, it is a bit of information overload. Gallowglas wastes no time getting you into the heat of it all. As I said, this book is complex, but it does start off a bit overwhelming. We meet a lot of people in a short amount of time. Last issue, editing. This book had quite a few grammar issues. Not enough to be distracting, mind you. But you do notice them.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for fans of dark and epic fantasy books. This book has a very clever and rich story that made it difficult for me to put it down. There is definitely has a Game of Thrones feel to this book that made me love it even more. Political intrigue, lies, secrets, wars, and supernatural creatures; this book has a little something for everyone. The plot is very deep and makes me very happy that there will be a sequel because there is still more to know. Even with a few kinks, First Chosen isn’t hard to read; well besides some of the characters names. I definitely want to know how to pronounce some of those. Nonetheless, read this book. You won’t regret it.
I have been lucky enough to be asked to review First Chosen by the author himself. M. Todd Gallowglas. This is a part of the Blog Tour de Force. First Chosen is set in a beautiful dark and epic fantasy world. It is about a girl (a duchess) named Julianna, who has been chosen as the Lord Morigahn (high priest) to protect and lead the Morigahnti (followers of Grandfather Shadow), physically and spiritually. But she can only do this when she speaks the words that will release Grandfather Shadow, a god who has been held prisoner for 1000 years. When she is put in a frightening and traumatizing situation that causes her to use the words, everyone wants a piece of her. So Julianna is in quite a predicament. Not only does she have lots to learn about those after her and who to trust, she also has to figure out her new found powers and who she is.
I really enjoyed this book. The storytelling was truly out of this world. Gallowglas has created something gorgeous and complex. I love a plot that has so many layers that you can pick a part. Not only is the story deep and compelling, but the characters are as well. Gallowglas wrote it in a way where no one is left out. I love that I get a sense of everyone in the story. There is so much mythology in this book and no matter the species, everyone was playing a game. This book is full of betrayals, secrets and lies. If you want a great story on the battle of good vs. evil, First Chosen is a great choice.
I loved the characters. I loved Julianna. After her initial shock of knowing everything rests on her shoulders, you see her growing into it. It was a nice journey with her and Faelin. Faelin was chosen by Grandfather Shadow to help guide and direct Julianna since he is a true believer in Grandfather Shadow. We also have characters that we meet that have their own agendas about Julianna. For instance, the Goddess of Lies, Yrgaeshkil, she has power over Daemyns. But she wants more power, more dominions to control. Her husband is Old Uncle Night. Old Uncle Night is a rival to Grandfather Shadow and he has followers of his own trying to kill off the Morigahnti. But she isn’t the only villain in this story. Some are villains that might be closer to Julianna than she thinks.
Now for a few complaints I have for this book. As I said, we have a lot of characters which was both good and bad. The good: we have many characters to love and/or hate. We get lots of diversity and different sides of the same story. The bad: we have a lot of characters and at times, it is hard to keep up with them. Some get more “screen” time than others, so when another gets mentioned, it is hard to remember who they are in the story. I have seen that was an issue with some people, which leads me to another issue. When starting the book, it is a bit of information overload. Gallowglas wastes no time getting you into the heat of it all. As I said, this book is complex, but it does start off a bit overwhelming. We meet a lot of people in a short amount of time. Last issue, editing. This book had quite a few grammar issues. Not enough to be distracting, mind you. But you do notice them.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for fans of dark and epic fantasy books. This book has a very clever and rich story that made it difficult for me to put it down. There is definitely has a Game of Thrones feel to this book that made me love it even more. Political intrigue, lies, secrets, wars, and supernatural creatures; this book has a little something for everyone. The plot is very deep and makes me very happy that there will be a sequel because there is still more to know. Even with a few kinks, First Chosen isn’t hard to read; well besides some of the characters names. I definitely want to know how to pronounce some of those. Nonetheless, read this book. You won’t regret it.
June 16, 2013
I wasn't sure at first if First Chosen was "my kind of fantasy." It's a little darker than I usually enjoy, and there are a few more fight scenes than I tend to like. But the imagination of the world-building hooked me, and I love the strong female protagonist in Julianna. Our daughters should be taught that girls can do anything a boy can do (might take a different procedure, but it can be done) and that they don't have to sit around waiting for some guy to rescue them or make their lives complete. Julianna teaches us that. She shows us that courage is more important when life gives us unexpected crises than are money or who you know. But she knows the value of friends and leadership, too. She's a very strong heroine.
The fight scenes are extremely well done. There are hints of Greek and Roman mythology, Celtic legend, and time travel. The plot and subplot lines are intricately woven, the world of mankind, magic ("speaking miracles"), gods with their followers and the agnostics, aengyls, daemyns, and faerie creatures is rich and well thought out. This is a book that assumes an intelligent audience and much that we learn about the different types of creatures comes from later books. But the storyline stands alone, and the subtle mysteries pull the reader along. No unsatisfying cliff-hangers here. But there are sufficient details left uncertain to make us want to run out and read the next book. I read the first three in a single week. But then I went back and re-read more leisurely because there were whole new levels to the story after I knew what came later. (I didn't write down when I first finished each book, so the Goodreads finish dates reflect the last time I read each book.) The series stands up well to multiple reads, and the new edition has very few typos.
Some reviewers have complained about the book being a tad short, but the length is clearly shown in the description. As the first in a series, I think it did a very good job of setting the stage, introducing the characters, and giving us an impelling plot we can care about. It felt like the right length to me.
I think the Tears of Rage series is a great example of how High Fantasy should be done. I've enjoyed it as much as I did the early Robert Jordan Wheel of Time Series, and I think the characters are done as well as Tolkien's LotR.
Of the first three books in the series, Arms of the Storm is my favorite, but I think First Chosen is a really strong first book in the series.
The fight scenes are extremely well done. There are hints of Greek and Roman mythology, Celtic legend, and time travel. The plot and subplot lines are intricately woven, the world of mankind, magic ("speaking miracles"), gods with their followers and the agnostics, aengyls, daemyns, and faerie creatures is rich and well thought out. This is a book that assumes an intelligent audience and much that we learn about the different types of creatures comes from later books. But the storyline stands alone, and the subtle mysteries pull the reader along. No unsatisfying cliff-hangers here. But there are sufficient details left uncertain to make us want to run out and read the next book. I read the first three in a single week. But then I went back and re-read more leisurely because there were whole new levels to the story after I knew what came later. (I didn't write down when I first finished each book, so the Goodreads finish dates reflect the last time I read each book.) The series stands up well to multiple reads, and the new edition has very few typos.
Some reviewers have complained about the book being a tad short, but the length is clearly shown in the description. As the first in a series, I think it did a very good job of setting the stage, introducing the characters, and giving us an impelling plot we can care about. It felt like the right length to me.
I think the Tears of Rage series is a great example of how High Fantasy should be done. I've enjoyed it as much as I did the early Robert Jordan Wheel of Time Series, and I think the characters are done as well as Tolkien's LotR.
Of the first three books in the series, Arms of the Storm is my favorite, but I think First Chosen is a really strong first book in the series.
September 19, 2011
“First Chosen” is a complex story, multi-layered and containing a rich mythology and large amount of world building. I was impressed with the word that Gallowglas has apparently put into creating not only his world, but its various cultures, mythologies, religions and even languages. The rich interactions of his characters fill the story with a sense that you know these people and you grow to care very much what happens to them.
I can’t really explain the plot too well without spoiling some of the story. It revolves around a young woman named Juliana Taraen, a duchess of the Komati. The Komati have been taken over by the Kingdom of the Sun and their religions and mythologies ruthlessly suppressed. As a result, the worship of the Komati deities has gone underground with the creation of secret societies. The most powerful of them are the Morghanti – followers of Grandfather Shadow – and the Brothers of the Night, who follow Old Uncle Night, the god of death. Juliana’s soul was tampered with at birth by a Saent of Grandfather Shadow, who put into her his own pure faith so that she would be able to release Grandfather Shadow from his 1000-year imprisonment. Plotting against Juliana is Yrgaeshkil, Old Uncle Night’s wife and thus she is the Mother of Daymyns, and she is also the Goddess of Lies.
As I said, it’s quite complex when you try to break it down, but the writing is well done and it is easy to follow and understand the plot. I recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy, especially people who enjoy a really rich mythology and strong world-building.
I can’t really explain the plot too well without spoiling some of the story. It revolves around a young woman named Juliana Taraen, a duchess of the Komati. The Komati have been taken over by the Kingdom of the Sun and their religions and mythologies ruthlessly suppressed. As a result, the worship of the Komati deities has gone underground with the creation of secret societies. The most powerful of them are the Morghanti – followers of Grandfather Shadow – and the Brothers of the Night, who follow Old Uncle Night, the god of death. Juliana’s soul was tampered with at birth by a Saent of Grandfather Shadow, who put into her his own pure faith so that she would be able to release Grandfather Shadow from his 1000-year imprisonment. Plotting against Juliana is Yrgaeshkil, Old Uncle Night’s wife and thus she is the Mother of Daymyns, and she is also the Goddess of Lies.
As I said, it’s quite complex when you try to break it down, but the writing is well done and it is easy to follow and understand the plot. I recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy, especially people who enjoy a really rich mythology and strong world-building.
March 1, 2015
As the title implies, this book features a "chosen one". Yet, the author managed to kept this trope fresh by doing away with prophecies and getting right inside the minds of mythical beings as they force the "chosen" status upon main character, Julianna.
The book starts with a bang and continues at breakneck pace, giving readers barely a moment to breathe. The action is tense and exciting, filled with swords and guns and sorcery. Julianna barely escapes death on multiple occasions. Despite her skills with a rapier and a strange time-altering magic, she is bested at every turn by entities far greater than she could imagine.
However, by the end of the book she is starting to master a new and far more deadly power, gifted to her by the god she set free. Yet enemies of that god are on her trail, and even her allies can't truly be trusted. A dark, violent road awaits her, and I am eager to see where it leads.
The only complaints I have with this book are that it's too short. That wouldn't be a problem in itself, but the author tried to include too many side characters and subplots, which, in my mind, only serve to shift focus away from the more important parts. Still, I find it admirable that he managed to cram in an entire original mythology, presented with just enough mystery to keep me guessing, with a welcome twist of good/evil not necessarily aligning neatly with light/dark.
This is a strong first entry in what promises to be a thrilling and imaginative series.
The book starts with a bang and continues at breakneck pace, giving readers barely a moment to breathe. The action is tense and exciting, filled with swords and guns and sorcery. Julianna barely escapes death on multiple occasions. Despite her skills with a rapier and a strange time-altering magic, she is bested at every turn by entities far greater than she could imagine.
However, by the end of the book she is starting to master a new and far more deadly power, gifted to her by the god she set free. Yet enemies of that god are on her trail, and even her allies can't truly be trusted. A dark, violent road awaits her, and I am eager to see where it leads.
The only complaints I have with this book are that it's too short. That wouldn't be a problem in itself, but the author tried to include too many side characters and subplots, which, in my mind, only serve to shift focus away from the more important parts. Still, I find it admirable that he managed to cram in an entire original mythology, presented with just enough mystery to keep me guessing, with a welcome twist of good/evil not necessarily aligning neatly with light/dark.
This is a strong first entry in what promises to be a thrilling and imaginative series.
October 21, 2011
First Chosen by M. Todd Gallowglas follows the birth and life of Julianna Taraen. At birth she is imbued with the faith of the Saent of Grandfather Shadow as a hidden gift that will come into play at a point later in her life. Because of this unwanted gift her life is visited by tragedy on a regular basis as the Goddess of Lies Yrgaeshkil seeks to manipulate Julianna into using the gift at a time and in a way that will be to her own benefit. The plot is woven very skillfully and I can't really say anything else for fear of spoiling anything for the reader.
The book starts out a little confusing as there are a lot of unique races and gods to learn about, but as the story unfolds everything is cleared up very nicely. The magical system is very well done with the power of faith being the basis for the magic that people can use. The story also has a couple of clues to what may be coming in the rest of the series. The character Maxian introduced at the end of the story really made me eager to see what would be coming in the next book. I have a theory about who he is and I am very curious to see if I am right.
This book is filled with vivid characters engaging in some fantastic fight sequences. If you are a fan of fantasy with a bit of a darker side this book will suck you in and leave you wanting more.
The book starts out a little confusing as there are a lot of unique races and gods to learn about, but as the story unfolds everything is cleared up very nicely. The magical system is very well done with the power of faith being the basis for the magic that people can use. The story also has a couple of clues to what may be coming in the rest of the series. The character Maxian introduced at the end of the story really made me eager to see what would be coming in the next book. I have a theory about who he is and I am very curious to see if I am right.
This book is filled with vivid characters engaging in some fantastic fight sequences. If you are a fan of fantasy with a bit of a darker side this book will suck you in and leave you wanting more.
August 4, 2011
Very good story indeed. This one came highly recommended, and with very good reason. Strong characters, interesting world, neat but familiar pantheon gods. Not happy it is part of a series... Wasn't expecting that, but oh well. What can you do? If I were going to mass market this book I would have the author rewrite the opening... I find so many foreign, hard (actually I found impossible) to pronounce names daunting, and almost gave up before the story started, which would have been a real loss. I would also have the author add more world background. Although you don't REALLY need it, you want it. I found some bits confusing and had to trust to faith that the author would not leave me stranded. He never truly did, but there was much I would have liked to have known that would make this a five instead of four.
September 8, 2011
4.5 stars. I love this book and it ended way to quickly! An intriguing world and mythology. The characters were excellent. The fight scenes are fantastic (I wish I could write fight scenes like that!) Happy to hear this is part of a series and I would definitely recommend as a great epic fantasy read.
The missing half a star is me wishing there was a bit more connection to the main characters. The characters themselves were great, however I love to see more of how they are feeling, more emotion. The introduction into the world was a bit confusing (not written so-just everything was new and it was a little hard to keep track!) Don't let this deter you from reading, things get zipping along and settled into your head very quickly.
Awesome book. Be sure to check it out!
Review from Jen Wylie, author of Sweet Light
The missing half a star is me wishing there was a bit more connection to the main characters. The characters themselves were great, however I love to see more of how they are feeling, more emotion. The introduction into the world was a bit confusing (not written so-just everything was new and it was a little hard to keep track!) Don't let this deter you from reading, things get zipping along and settled into your head very quickly.
Awesome book. Be sure to check it out!
Review from Jen Wylie, author of Sweet Light
October 20, 2011
This book is a captivating, complex read. It is a tale of many realms, creatures and the battle for power. Our central character, Julianna, is headstrong, beautiful and a great character to fall in love with.
Any fan of the genre will be missing out if they do not read this epic tale, and first time readers of fantasy will be sucked in by the descriptive, fast paced writing. It is a dark world of magic, power struggles, Gods, desires, and battles for supremacy.
The characters have substance, and M Gallowglas in his writing has constructed an intricate, complicated new world, filled with forces and characters to engage and enthral you.
This book is available in many formats, Smashwords and Amazon, and at less than £2.50, is an absolute bargain of a read!
August 13, 2011
“First Chosen: Tears of Rage” is a dark fantasy ride-of-a-read that centers on the lead female character, Julianna, who finds herself entwined in political and divine intrigue as she summons powerful forces to her aid at her darkest hour. What’s also interesting are the events following the darkest hour; her journey continues, with a complex world of good vs. evil, pushing the danger with bladed action and emotional reaction, part of the greatness of epic stories. My only critique is some confusion in getting the bearings of the numerous, but well named characters, that to me is not a deterrent to readers that enjoy a detailed, dark fantasy epic. Four stars!
September 7, 2013
I'm biased - I met the author at WorldCon and shared a space with him there, but my enjoyment of this book was genuine. It reads very fast, the prose is clean and sharp as a rapier, yet doesn't miss out on complexity or world building. Gallowglas has described this novel as a cross between "Game of Thrones" and "The Three Musketeers" but I found it more similar to the Malazan stories than A Song of Ice and Fire. The magic is dark and powerful and very real and there is a rich, barely touched history of divine and infernal politics and machinations driving through the plot. I might have knocked a star off for some minor reason but I was too busy enjoying myself to care.
May 15, 2014
This is a book that I borrowed from my son, Scotty Steele. He and my daughter, Jamie Steele knew M. Todd Gallowglass in High School. Scotty's book is a signed copy!
Really loved the way Gallowglass put this book together and want to read all of his other books. The book kept me interested from start to finish (most books lose me at some point and then catch me again). His characters are well thought out and well formed (maybe from his "Live action" characters?) I'm not good enough with putting my thoughts into words, so will just say, READ the book!!!
Really loved the way Gallowglass put this book together and want to read all of his other books. The book kept me interested from start to finish (most books lose me at some point and then catch me again). His characters are well thought out and well formed (maybe from his "Live action" characters?) I'm not good enough with putting my thoughts into words, so will just say, READ the book!!!
March 23, 2015
A good book, but really too short. It reads like the first half of a first installment, though there is a completed narrative arc.
Where this book is best is world-building, particularly in the form of cosmology. The settings' gods and other supernatural beings are fascinating, and several make appearances as characters. In the tradition of older polytheist religions, they have their own agendas, desires, and squabbles.
The political structure is mostly hinted at, but what we learn makes it seem like a good setting for a power struggle.
I look forward to reading more.
Where this book is best is world-building, particularly in the form of cosmology. The settings' gods and other supernatural beings are fascinating, and several make appearances as characters. In the tradition of older polytheist religions, they have their own agendas, desires, and squabbles.
The political structure is mostly hinted at, but what we learn makes it seem like a good setting for a power struggle.
I look forward to reading more.
August 6, 2013
This is a fantasy of a darker nature, where magic is actually a 'miracle' given to those of faith. It is quite a complicated world as there are lots of different Gods and Goddesses who each also have different names they are known by. There are fight scenes in it that are described in detail.
The only nit-pick I would make is that during a major battle that happens, you are not entirely sure of who survives and where they went.
On the whole a good start to the series.
The only nit-pick I would make is that during a major battle that happens, you are not entirely sure of who survives and where they went.
On the whole a good start to the series.
April 21, 2013
I couldn't quite give First Chosen full stars, because it started out slow. There was a great deal of background, and lore to push out. Normally, I like that, but in this case I feel it could be done more elegantly.
However, once the book got rolling, it was wonderful. The characters were rich, and interesting. The politics of the gods, and various other beings was delightful.
Overall, great book, I'd definitely recommend it.
However, once the book got rolling, it was wonderful. The characters were rich, and interesting. The politics of the gods, and various other beings was delightful.
Overall, great book, I'd definitely recommend it.
January 23, 2015
quick and fun read, the start is a little tough as there's a lot going on and you're thrown in the deep end but once the story properly starts following Julianna then it picks up and moves along quickly. There's a well made mythos and pantheon that is revealed very naturally, no huge paragraphs of dry exposition, and the hints at the magic systems are good. Wish it had been longer, but I'll be picking up the next books in the series so that should solve that.
August 13, 2017
First Chosen is a strong start to a series. It sets up a complex and exciting mythology that drives the story. For being fairly short, a ton happens and there are not many dull moments. There were two weaknesses that I saw when reading. 1) Everyone is connected to the main character without much explanation at points other than they know her and are deeply attached. 2) The book shows the origen story for the main character and sets up for more, but does not feel complete on its own.
July 28, 2011
I read this book for the first time a few weeks ago. I recently reread it and found that I love it even more. If you are a fan of fantasy books, you should defiantly pick up this book. The story sucks you in and grabs a hold of you, and it doesn't let go. First Chosen isn't just a book - it is a window into another world.
June 21, 2011
First Chosen grabbed me from the beginning and never let go. Its a great tale of love and loss, friendship and betrayal. Definitely a must read for any Sci-Fi/Fantasy book reader. I will definitely be reading many more books by M. Todd Gallowglas in the future.
July 25, 2011
The unique theology in the world of First Chosen grabbed me right away. Gallowglas paints characters with such rich detail that I regretted the deaths of minor characters more than the main characters in most books. I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait to read the next installment.
December 29, 2013
This is actually only a weak 3 star rating. The story was interesting in many ways, but ends suddenly with no sense of resolution or closure. So it loses in the rating for being unable to stand alone.
September 30, 2015
Both fast paced and intricate, First Chosen uses thrilling action and devious schemes to reveal its unique mythology. This first installment does feel a bit short, but it is more than enough to convince me to continue with the series.
September 29, 2018
5 stars. This was an enjoyable book
January 28, 2012
Read the full review at http://sciyourfi.blogspot.com/2012/01...
December 8, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. It is the first in a series and am planing to read each of them.
January 31, 2014
Really interesting world and setup!
November 4, 2018
Book Review- First Chosen by M. Todd Gallowglas
Julianna lives with her aunt and uncle after her parents died. She has been gifted with a task she knows nothing about. She is basically a pawn in this story. It was a dark story that sets the stage for the series. I like Julianna’s character. Her life is one way and the expectations are perfectly clear. However, she has her own ideas. Unfortunately, the unspeakable happens. Her life changes forever as a major betrayal brings loss and danger.
The author presents this divided world. It’s a bit confusing. Is there a good and a bad since there is light and dark? I can’t tell if Julianna is working for the dark side if you will. The role Julianna gets chosen to fill is a bit mysterious. I’m not sure what she is supposed to do. Carmine is definitely on the bad side. Not sure what either side is supposed to accomplish. The inquisitors are trying to destroy Julianna, but you don’t get enough information to understand why yet. Is it just common beliefs from all sides and the expectations that were taught from generations?
I like how the author gives Julianna help. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book. I give this a 3 out of 5.
Julianna lives with her aunt and uncle after her parents died. She has been gifted with a task she knows nothing about. She is basically a pawn in this story. It was a dark story that sets the stage for the series. I like Julianna’s character. Her life is one way and the expectations are perfectly clear. However, she has her own ideas. Unfortunately, the unspeakable happens. Her life changes forever as a major betrayal brings loss and danger.
The author presents this divided world. It’s a bit confusing. Is there a good and a bad since there is light and dark? I can’t tell if Julianna is working for the dark side if you will. The role Julianna gets chosen to fill is a bit mysterious. I’m not sure what she is supposed to do. Carmine is definitely on the bad side. Not sure what either side is supposed to accomplish. The inquisitors are trying to destroy Julianna, but you don’t get enough information to understand why yet. Is it just common beliefs from all sides and the expectations that were taught from generations?
I like how the author gives Julianna help. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book. I give this a 3 out of 5.
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