Demon Gates

Nexus Wars Saga #1

by Robert Day

‘When in the city of the ancient ones, those from the endless darkness shall step through the flaming gate, HE shall come, from the shadows of the Dragons Wing, bearing the Eye and Horn of the Dragon. The land will sing with his passing and they will know fear that oppose him, for he is the Lord of the skies and protector of the Realm.’ :The Child's Prophecy. T.E. 2147

The land of Kil’Tar has a long and bloody history of war between the Kay‘taari and the Ashar’an. Aided by Dragonkind, the Kay’taari have protected the world against the Ashar’an and their demonic followers for many centuries. With demonkind banished to the Voids, and the Ashar’an all but destroyed, Kil’Tar has enjoyed an era of peace.
However, the seals binding the portals to the voids are failing, and the Ashar’an are abroad once again. Both the Kay’taari and Dragonkind are nowhere to be found on Kil’Tar.
Can Valdieron, a young man raised in the small village of Shadowvale, fulfill his destiny and rid the lands of this menace once and for all, or will he falter, and condemn Kil’Tar to demonic destruction?

"Demon Gates is a finely crafted tale of sufficient quality to place right alongside those of it's peers...." SFBook.com
"The fighting scenes are written in a way that reminds me of R. A. Salvatore with the detail and complexity of the melee battles...." IndieBookBlog

Genres: Fantasy, Demons, Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

388 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2010

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demon Gates primarily follows young Valderion the son of a simple farmer and horse breeder. Vald lives a simple life helping on his family farm and occasionally going into town to meet up with his friends. When tragedy strikes his small town he is given a token from his long dead mother and has to make his own way in the world. In the beginning he learns that this token is much more than it appears and can help him achieve a destiny that he would never have been able to conceive. At the same time that all this is happening the seals that shut portals to a demonic realm begin to weaken and break. Demons are beginning to invade the world and plan on wiping it out as vengeance for being sealed away thousands of years ago.

I will say that the book really did not have me struggling to put it down until about a third of the way through. Up until then it was a good story and I was enjoying it, but at some point it became extremely difficult for me to stop reading to get anything done. The introduction of some new characters along the way really help to advance the story and help Vald achieve more of his potential. My personal favorite had to be Llewellyn an elven bard of some renown and an overall nice guy. These two form a strong friendship and a close bond. If I say anymore I will begin to give spoilers and I would like to avoid that.

The end of the first novel wraps up very well, but not much has been done about the demon problem or the quest that Vald has embarked upon. The second book promises to be filled with a lot of action and enjoyment. The fighting scenes are written in a way that reminds me of R. A. Salvatore with the detail and complexity of the melee battles. For .99 the first book is a must and if you enjoy it like I did I'm sure you will find yourself getting the second as well.

[Edward Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glance this book really appealled to me, I found the introduction was just enough to pique my interest and curiosity without giving anything away as some do, but thankfully not in this case. From the start to the finish of the book, I wasn't disappointed. I found it to be, both easy to read as well as follow, without the author having to compromise on any of its contents.

I found the descriptions of the characters and the realms that they live in, to be both vivid and captivating, allowing me to build some impressive scenery, amazing places and interseting characters. From the start, you are immediately transported to a world full of such depth that you have little difficulty in drawing a picture of what is a spectacular universe.
The story itself, I found to be so addictive that I found myself not being able to put it down for too long.
I immediately loved the characters, and I have to say I was extremely impressed with the amount of variety and amount of detail they were each given, and with enough depth of information that you could put together a clear picture, but not too much so as that you simply had to continue onwards in the hopes that you were going to learn something else about them.
Throughout the book you seem to find myself asking questions about things, due to the way in which you are swept up into this world, and its inhabitants take a firm hold of your imagination that you can almost believe you are actually there, and I have to say I was never disappointed!
The whole thing, was for me extremely good with the the right balance (well for me at least) of might and magic and lots and lots of mystery.
All in all I absolutely loved this book I shall be re-reading this, at least after I have finished Ashar'ran Rising that is!
So simply put, it is a must must read for anyone who enjoys a really good book!

[Tom Mock]

This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBOX contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.

An aged Lorewielder is assigned to watch a portal to the demon Void, the seal of which may be breaking down in this rock-solid classic fantasy.

With an opening somewhat reminiscent of RA Salvatore’s Demon Wars, both for its subject and prose, this kicks off with a steady, focused prologue that introduces us to everything we need to invest in the story to come.

The narrative grounds us in the moment as our old wizard writes to his superiors to warn them of what he has found, incanting spells to teleport his letter directly to them.

We get just the tip of the iceberg here. It doesn’t overwhelm us with information, takings enough time to give us a feel for its MC, his magic, the cloistered dark of its momentarily subterranean setting, his second in command, and the cold, yawning portal.

The prose and dialogue are both completely competent and a joy to read, laying out one narrative thread after the other, and steadily weaving them into a sudden, unavoidable tragedy that is full of action.

This is a well done prologue that feels as if it must be here. It introduces our big, life-changing problem for the protagonists we’re sure to meet, and it begins to give us a feel for the world without bogging the narrative down.

The steady drip of information in the narration, character internality, setting details, and dialogue is everything stories are made of. It doesn’t try to tell us everything at once, nor does it needlessly withhold anything relevant to the immediate action.

By the end, I feel totally confident in the author, and eager to continue to meet characters and explore the setting and find out what happens next. This is great! I’m in!

[Lyrical · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always get a bit nervous when I read high fantasy novels as I’m a real fan of snappy, fast-paced stories and relevant, relatable characters. I always get worried that I’m going to commit the reading sin of all reading sins and start skipping pages to get to actual plot. With Demon Gates, however, I have sighed a huge sigh of relief.

Demon Gates took me back to the moment when I first opened The Fellowship of the Rings. It was a moment when I first grasped how thick the book was, how tiny the type was and how wafer thin the pages were and I sank in despair wondering if this was a book I would ever finish. But when I think back to when I read The Lord of the Rings, I realise that that is exactly what high fantasy is all about. It’s not about quick reads, the author has designed a whole new world for you to explore, the joy of reading comes from the epic nature of a high fantasy, that’s why the fantasy section of the bookshop is filled with fat books. And that is what I have re-learnt from reading Demon Gates.

The story has been constructed so well by Robert Day, balancing both the personal journey of young Valdieron and the overarching epic storyline of the impending escape of the demons on the world. I think Robert has found just the right mix to keep the plot both grounded and fantastical. Valdieron has been a real pleasure to travel with and the time spent on his character over the pages has fleshed him out into someone I’m really quite fond of now. The author’s skill really shows through by the end of the book where you feel both that you have been on an epic journey of adventure and discovery but at the same time you are certain that you ain’t seen nothing yet! There’s a tangible sense that the story has only just begun, that Valdieron has succeeded only in the easiest of his tests.

Possibly one of the greatest assets of Demon Gates is the fight scenes. I love a bit of swashbuckling action and this book is filled with it. The descriptions are so vivid, you’ll be standing there right amongst the action, ducking at the opportune moment. What is really clever is the way Robert Day has written Valdieron’s battle training into his sleep, eradicating the need to spend endless pages on his training rather than getting on with the story. At the same time, Valdieron’s skills do not develop overnight, as it were, his development unfolds across the whole story, keeping it realistic and keeping him human (if indeed that is what he is… Bit of a hint there!).

I really enjoyed Demon Gates, definitely one of my favourite high fantasy stories. It’s clean, it’s not confusing, it’s personal as well as epic, it’s definitely suitable for older teens as it’s not overly graphic and most importantly it’s a really engaging story that has been really well crafted. A definite recommendation whether you are into high fantasy or not, it’s an accessible and enjoyable venture into the genre.

Lyrical Reviews
@LyricalReviews
Goodreads Group: No Dark Romance Allowed

[Carla-Everything Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by BMR guest reviewer Carlyn

I don't read a lot of high fantasy books so I was expecting to really struggle with this, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I really couldn't put it down!

Valdieron is a simple horse breeders son whose life is turned upside down when trolls attack his village and it is only because of his father that he is able to flee while his village is brought down. He flees to the mountains while clinging to survival and his thoughts on revenge. On his journey he opens a box his father gave him which contains a necklace called the Dragon's Tear and finds an unusual sword which sets him on a monumental quest and has him wondering exactly what of his past is the truth.

Valdieron's journey is an amazing one to read. You literary watch as he grows into the man he is meant to be and you fall in love with this character. Day also writes a great many supporting characters who are well thought out and integral to the story. The act on sequences in this book are amazing to read and would allow anyone with a half decent imagination to immerse themselves in these fights.

When the story came to an end I was already dying to know where the next part of Valdieron's quest would take him so I was very happy to see that the second part of this series was already available to buy.

Fans of J.R Tolkien and the Hunger Games books would really enjoy this series. Even if you are not really into fantasy, I wouldn't let the genre put you off, as it is an amazing read for all!

I give Demon Gates 5 out of 5 stars

[Jeffrey Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best dark fantasy story I've ever read!

Demon Gates is a story about a meek young son of a horse breeder who is suddenly thrust into a series of events that could easily shape the future of the world he lives in.

The premise is the evil demons that once have ravaged the world have been locked away into the Void. Ancient Loremasters managed to lock them in their prison, with formidable seals preventing the Portals from becoming active. However, the seals are failing, and the demons have once again entered into the world to wreak havoc.

Not being a big fan of darker fantasy, or demons for that matter , I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself swept away in a story which was very expertly told, deftly weaving several storylines together with a skill that I truly envy. The author has created an extensive world with believable characters, nasty creatures, and picturesque locales.

For once, I don’t have to wait a bit for the next book in the series to be released. I know book two, Ashar’an Rising, has been released. I’ve already purchased it, and it’s now sitting on my iPod, ready to go!

This book is a tremendous read, at a very reasonable price. I encourage everyone who loves fantasy to give it a try! Robert, you’re a helluva writer!

[B. Throwsnaill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demon Gates is a skillfully crafted fantasy novel that fires on all cylinders. It features some of the most vivid swordplay I've read in quite some time, and the plot arc and characterizations are nearly flawless. The only minor quibbles I had with it were related to some decisions made by certain characters and some surprising twists that disappointed me (a sign of how engaged I was in the story). The book begins with some very dark scenes, but the tone gradually lightens as the tale progresses. Still, the danger that the Demons pose is always on the figurative horizon, and after many satisfying pages the reader is left with a strong desire to see how this tale will continue to unfold. The good news is that Book Two is already available! If you're looking for a well-rendered fantasy coming-of-age tale with a generous helping of action then this is a must read.

[Justin Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! Well written! Lots of action! Great characters! Reading the sequel now!

[BJ Haun · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had the option, I'd give this book 3.5 stars, but I liked it enough that I decided to round it up to 4 instead of down to 3.

"Demon Gates" fits into what I term (albeit probably incorrectly) as "old fashioned fantasy". That is to say that it's the style of fantasy where there is still a sense of wonder to the characters who are likable, as compared to (again, my own inaccurate term) "new style fantasy" where the sense of wonder is usually quickly squashed the grim-darkness of the setting and likable characters have a high mortality rate.

The story about a young farm boy who survives the destruction of his home only to become the chosen one is played pretty close to the trope, but manages to be interesting regardless. The main character, Valdieron (more commonly referred to by Val 'cause holy crap what a name) manages to play the part of victim turned hero pretty believable (thanks in part to a rather clever idea by the author, Robert Day, of having Val being trained in the ways of combat in his dreams as well as by his friends in the real world): he has the innocence of a small village boy without the overbearing naivete or angst that so often is written into the role. The characters around him also work well: the good guys are good, the villains are villainous, and there is little to no ambiguity about who is on what side. I know this might be a turn off to some people, but I like a good straight forward story.

Another thing I liked about "Demon Gates" is that, while the story definitely had it dark moments, they didn't define the book. Bad things happen: characters die, extras die, and Valdieron learns quickly that, despite being a hero, it is impossible to save everyone. While a lot of fantasy books go down the path of having the dark moments set the tone of the stories (coughcoughGameofThronescoughcough), Demon Gates has these moments and fits them into the story rather than having them be the story.

Kil'Tar (the name of the world) is on the verge of dark times, but isn't there yet, and the tone of the story fits that. It's not the most imagitive worlds, and Day certain doesn't go into world building the way that a Tolkien or, for a modern example, Brandon Sanderson does, but it works for this book.

All told, I'm probably being too generous giving Demon Gates 4 stars, as it is fairly straight forward fantasy fair. However, I liked the characters and the story, and will keep my eye out for the next book in the series, so why not be too generous?

[Hollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of other things going on while reading this book, and even would go days without picking it up. While most of this was due to my own trips, I think sometimes the pacing was a little uneven in this book, and when it slowed down I was much less likely to pick it up in every two minute space I got to get in a few pages. That said, a lot happened in this book, and the story really made progress, something you don't always get out of a first installment, no matter how long it is.

I thought that the way the author explicated the whole farm boy becomes a great swordsman thing (practically overnight ;) was refreshing, as this is often a sticking point in making fantasy stories plausible. That might be a slight oxymoron, but we all need a grain of reality in our fantasy to keep us engaged. Though, somewhat aside, I would note that the author might want to brush up on equine terminology to this same effect. I'm sure most people don't even notice, but as someone whose spent many years working with horses, there are a lot of errors or inconsistencies, i.e. the same horse being described as both black (black), and sorrel (a light brown color) being one of them. But this is a very minor thing that only jumps out at me personally.

Overall the story is well told and engaging, the action is great (especially if you like blow by blow fight scenes), and the characters are full and likable. It is not a particularly original fantasy, but is a solid fantasy of the more "classic", persuasion. Just started on the second book, and looking forward to more!

[Sarah Castillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find myself having very little to say about this book. I enjoyed the characters, the plot was solid, the main characters were interesting. It was very good, but not amazing. It doesn't do anything new or different, but it does normal very well.

The only problem I had with it was that the more I read it, the more I felt like I was reading a D&D campaign made real. Now, in the beginning, Val's story doesn't have this problem. His story feel organic and I found myself loving him. But in other places I find myself jarred by talk about Magical Levels and Elves and their obvious enemies, Dark Elves, and racial abilities, and their magical spell analogs and adamantium and mithril.

Get the picture? For myself, I'm past that stuff. I've read as much as I need to read about those things. However, there are some people who would be happy if they never read another book with a dragon in it, and I can't get enough!

So, if elves and trolls and swords and things make you happy, this is a solid book, and the price is right.
If you're tired of that kind of stuff, then pass it up. It's not incredible enough to read despite it.

Check out my other reviews at my blog

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Demon Gates is about a boy named Valdieron who lives in a quiet mountain town that is attacked by a group of hill trolls. Valdieron has to leave his home town when his father is killed. Before his father dies, he gives Valdieron a key and a box. Valdieron gets chased by a squadron of trolls into a waterfall which drags him into a crypt that has a a magical sword. There is a man in the crypt who tells Valdieron a story about the demons. The man tells him that the seals that shut the portals to the demon realm are weakening and breaking. They are escaping and seeking vengeance for having been sealed away.

One of the strengths of this book is the introduction of new characters and the dispatch of old characters. I also feel that another strength of this book is that the action is spaced out evenly and set at a nice pace. One of the weaknesses of this book is that some of the parts aren't as smooth as others. I felt that in some parts of the book you might want to know more with better detail and the author did not go into enough detail and so some ideas about the story were forgotten. I would like to read the next book in the series but I do not know if I want to spend money on buying it. I would recommend this book to lovers of fantasy and adventure books.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the free kindle books. I started reading it on the bus on the way to work. I did not really like it to start off with, but the story and the writing definitely improved as it went along.

This was about a young guy called Valderion. He lived in a small village, which early on in the book is attacked by trolls. The trolls kill his father, who as he dies gives him a mysterious box. Val runs from the trolls and once he reaches safety he opens the box. In the box is a jewel which glows and is warm to his touch. This Tear also transports Valderion to a dream landscape where he learns to fight. Val encounters many things on his journey, he finds a sword, he kills some trolls, he makes friends. This was just the first in the series, which should be interesting if I ever decide to read another one.

While Valderion is learning about various things and travelling to the capital of the land. Portal seals are cracking and demons are entering the realm... dun dun duuuunnn....

There is a huge demon which knows it needs to kill those who might have the power to oppose it... surprise surprise this is Val. This should be an interesting story line in the later series.

[Jacinta Hoare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars - its not quite a four star read.

I enjoyed the set up of this book, the characters of the village of Shadowvale are convincing and authentic. The flight from the trolls was also well written.

What stopped this book from being a four star effort in my opinion is lack of political intrigue and distance that should exist in the Court of the King. The Royal Family seems to be ever so nice and lovely, the King seems to be wise and prudent, the Princess is beautiful and the Princes are handsome (albeit one has a disability that is brushed over). The King's spy is a nice person and regardless of the personal security of the Royal Family invites our young champion into the inner circle of the King. A little bit of reality here or at least some distance would have been more convincing.

I also did get a bit bored with drawn out descriptions of fighting scenes - I got it the first time, the young man can fight.

Overall however this is a good story and the author writes well. I will probably follow this through to the next book in the series.

[Tricia Kristufek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bid thee farewell, and advise thee that the paths of the future are never what they seem.

Valdieron, son of a local horse breeder, has his world swept out from under him when trolls attack his village. Setting out on his own, he meets up with some companions and travels and sets off to fulfill his destiny.

The characterization and attention to details was very well done. Even the horse's personality was depicted in a way that the reader could "see." The backstory of the demons and Masters showed the level of details of the world that the author created.

While the characters were interesting and the overall plot engaging, somewhere about halfway through the story Val (and even the head demon) seemed to get sidetracked. And while this is probably due to this being the first of a series, it took away some of the urgency that the beginning had built up.

A good beginning to a dark fantasy series, Demon Gate holds the promise of an epic adventure just waiting to happen.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It started well and I liked the premise. Demons are usually high on my attention list and this book added some interesting diversions from the norm. The characterisation was well done and was interesting. There was some nice twists in the plot on occasions. I did find my attention waned briefly but then the story picked up and I felt the ending was good and certainly left me wanting to read more. I would liked to have given this and extra half point as I definitely found myself hovering close to a 4.

[Brian Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young boy, never knew his mother, raised by father, sees dad and village wiped out then ends up on a quest as he escapes.

Pretty routine fantasy, bit slow in places, fairly predictable throughout.
For all that, the characters are written well and the majority of it goes along at a good pace.

Good for filling the time on a commute.

[Fredrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read

I could almost see the people, places and actions as they happened. The author captured my imagination and held it from almost the first page. I am sure that the second book will as captivating and am looking forward to reading it with great anticipation.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Well developed characters, compelling and relatable. Really enjoyed how the plot unfolded and the twist and turns along the way. Looking forward to see how the series continues.

[Stephen Lodewyks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked the book. can see the how the writer is influenced by Tolkien and Jordan. The book kept me going and wanting more...immediately bought #2

[Olivia Perrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another kindle freebie. A decent classical fantasy fic book, not ground breaking... But I enjoyed reading it - engaging characters even down to Shakk the horse :) will read on to book two.

[Dontais Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. He just needs someone to edit it.