Crimson King

The Seven Hungers #1

by Morgan Quaid

"Jaw-Dropping action, a great blend of investigation and horror, I've never quite read anything like it!"

Censured Crown sorcerer Ambrose Drake is hired to investigate a bizarre emergence in a city halfway across the world from his native London. Drake soon learns that a being from one of the Seven Hungers beneath our world is attempting to cross over. Flanked by his ex-lover and betrayer, Agent Karen Winter and a young acolyte with a severe lack of magical ability, Drake must plunge once more into the depths to save humanity.

The Seven Hungers is a fast-paced fantasy thriller which blends sorcery, horror elements and the exploration of dark new worlds with intense emotional struggle.

Perfect for fans of Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files, Charles Stross's Laundry Files, and the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Thriller, Fiction

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2023

About the author

Morgan Quaid is an Australian writer of urban fantasy and horror, specializing in fast-paced page turners set against expansive fantasy backdrops. When Morgan isn’t writing novels, comics, graphic novels, or short stories, he’s usually composing or producing music, or staring with longing and regret at a bar of chocolate.

Published works include: Whiplash Book 1 (Markosia), The Script Rebellion (Markosia), Shadow’s Daughter (Markosia), Idle Thuggery (Markosia).
Upcoming works include: Rust Chronicles (Markosia 2022), The Blood Below (Markosia 2022), A Blade in the Dark (Black Caravan/Scout 2022).

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally don’t request books from authors I’ve not read before because I have so many. However, this one ticked all my favs, so I gave it a chance. I’m so glad I did! While I wasn’t really fond of Drake at first (and TBH that isn’t a deal breaker for any book), I really was fond of him by the book’s end. Add to that the vivid descriptions, great writing, unique characters, and interesting universe, I am now hooked on this series. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with Drake, Karen, and the other great side characters that make this such a great book. Full of action, snark, gore, humor, and fun, I want the next book now! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful book was an unexpected delight! It has just the right blend of magic, horror, and charm. If you enjoy urban fantasy with a bit of dark sorcery and gore sprinkled in, this is the book for you. It has been compared to The Dresden Files and Rivers of London and I think it’s a good blend of the two.

Censured Crown sorcerer Ambrose Drake is just trying to scrape by clearing out eldritch abominations for The Crown. Having his magic forcibly cut off, this is often easier said than done. But the sins of the past mean that Drake is at The Crown’s beck and call. When Drake is given a new assignment for which The Crown is willing to restore his power, Drake is more than a little suspicious. Things only get stranger when he arrives in Brisbane to find his ex-lover Karen Winter and a marker left by one of the Hungers. However, Drake’s struggles with his conflicted emotions over The Crown and Agent Winter will have to wait if he has any hope of saving humanity.

This book throws you right into the action and doesn’t stop until the end! I was honestly surprised and delighted by the strength of the characters and worldbuilding. Quaid reveals just the right amount of information to pull you in, but will keep you guessing as the story unfolds. Drake is extremely relatable and his companions, Rook and Janus, are both interesting in their own right. Extra kudos go to Rook for being a strong female character who is also mute. Where none of them have quite the same level of wittiness as those in Rivers of London, there is still plenty to help lighten the mood of an otherwise horrific tale.

Though I liked Karen Winter’s character and the tension she brings to the plot, I did not really like the characterization of her relationship with Drake. The rest of the book is so strong that it is painfully obvious that the ‘romance’ vibes are a bit flat. As a result, many of these interactions and Drake’s pining just feels awkward and a little out of place. Additionally, Winter’s initial introduction as being either an ‘ice queen’ or a giggly school girl with little in between felt a bit reductive. Things get better as the book progresses, but it prevents it from getting top marks from me.

Overall, this Urban Fantasy was a fun blend of humor, eldritch horror, and adventure. Content warnings include alcoholism and graphic violence.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing ARC!

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent start to the urban fantasy series
Ambrose Drake, his cocky ways, his censure by the Crown and his past with Karen Winters and the Shadow Sovereign in his body all come together to give an enjoyable start to this fantasy series.
Rook and Janus (Pink specifically) were truly enjoyable characters.The hungerworld the world building and the ultimate villain were intertwined and brought on well in the story as the readers go through the story. Lilith brought the perfect unpredictability in the story because neither are her actions expected and that made the story even more enjoyable.
The fact that Ambrose narrated the story made it more interesting.
Enjoyed reading the book and want to definitely know more in the next book.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

The usual smart alec magic user does his thing, complaining all the while. When did magic get so dreary?

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s time to save the world again but Ambrose isn’t sure what is worse, battling dark entities from the Seven Hungers or teaming up with his ex, Karen. Ambrose is desperate to get his magical powers restored, even if it means taking on an assignment halfway around the world. What starts out as odd occurrences soon turns into a battle to save the world. With the help of his ex-lover, Karen, as well as a rag-tag team of sidekicks, Ambrose will go up against unseen dark worlds all to save humanity. Will he succeed and regain his powers, or will he die trying to save the world?

The Seven Hungers is a rip-roaring fantasy thriller from start to finish. With classic fantasy, horror, magical realism elements, The Seven Hungers will appeal to readers on so many levels. I connected with Ambrose and thoroughly enjoyed him throughout the story. I didn’t feel the same way about Karen. I found her character off-putting and disjointed. I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the romance between her and Ambrose. It seemed like an afterthought to the author. What I adored was the fast-paced plot, the emotional narration, and the intricate world-building. Each of these elements combined to make The Seven Hungers an incredible fantasy thriller. There’s a Lovecraft vibe to the story which increased my enjoyment while reading ten-fold. If you’re a fantasy reader, you’ll love The Seven Hungers. If you’re an urban fantasy reader, you’ll want to read The Seven Hungers. If you crave some serious horror, The Seven Hungers is your next book to read.

My Rating: 4.75 stars

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Blanche Leeding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Voracious Readers, and I loved it!

Right from the opening it was a non-stop roller-coaster with a great anti-hero. The writing was superb, his back story unfolded in a really organic fashion. There were no jarring passages where the author is desperately cramming in the history of the character. Everything flowed and boy was it fast paced. I read it in 2 days - I couldn't put it down.

It really reminded me of another of my favourite series - The Dresden Files. This is urban fantasy with a well-rounded cast of characters. It's a few days in the life of the sorcerer Ambrose Drake, tasked to save the world from the Emergence of a Sovereign erupting from one of the levels of the Hungers below.

All the characters from Ambrose to Karen, from Rook to Janus were well defined, and I can't wait to discover more about Lilith! The world building made sense from the levels of the Hungers through to the 'Hallowed World'.

If you enjoy a fast paced fantasy with a great storyline and believable characters then this is definitely one you should pick up.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible new fantasy series.

This book is truly spell binding! A great new world which draws inspiration from many different fantasy sources like Dantes inferno as well as demons and fae from folk lore. It has an unobtrusive statement on the current state of the world while delivering epic adventures, complex and interesting characters like our anti hero Ambrose and his bodyguard/ friend/ sidekick Rook. I found the flow reasonably fast paced, and even with the new world of the Hungerborn it was easy to pick up and follow along.

I am excited to see where this series goes and what adventures await us in the next book.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting read. In the vein of Alex Verus and Harry Dresden (albeit WAY more gory), this "street sorcerer with a 'tude" novel has a lot going for it. Snarky, fleshed-out characters, lots of magical action, needless violence and a badguy that you can have nightmares about.

It seems a little "formula" at first, but you get to know Ambrose Drake pretty well, and you can see where his vulnerabilities and loyalties lie fairly easily. He's likeable and intelligent. Rook was a great character, especially when she speaks. I liked the female aspect of Janus, as well.

Overall, if this is a series, bring on the next book. I can't wait. Thanks to Netgalley and Morgan Quaid. All opinions are my own.

[Mel Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a review copy from Voracious Readers Only.

This book was absolutely amazing. The details and thought that went into it are great. The characters themselves are engaging and interesting. I am looking forward to the sequel

[Jennifer Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new series by an indie author the Seven Hungers cover art grabbed me. The opening line of the book "The sound of my forearm snapping cuts through the din of chaotic violence, accompanied by splintered wood and clouds of debris" suckered me in and should tell you everything you need to know about the level of gore in the book.

A fast paced, crime fighting magic weilding adventure exploring a few days in the life of Ambrose Drake and his sidekick Rook who are called in to help assist The Crown in exploring the cause of an Emergence. The story takes us on an adventure of Drake's life and the seven hungers, building an elaborate new world that I'm hopeful will produce many more interesting stories.

This book has an excellent balance of representation and story and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.

Thank you to Morgan Quaid for giving me an opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

[Jack Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, on par with the best of the Laundry Files series by Charles Stross. There are many disturbing elements that echo some of the body horror of the Hellraiser and Resident evil movies, with flashes of H.R. Geiger, so this novel is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The story moves along briskly, and although you start out with little sympathy for the censured Crown Sorcerer, Ambrose Drake, as the story progresses and you begin to understand Drake's motivation, he becomes a much more sympathetic and appealing character. The story draws you in, and the conclusion is satisfactory, but leaves scope for the sequel which will undoubtedly follow.

This is worth five stars and I highly recommend it.

[Alpa · Rating 1 out of 5]

like a very poor version of jim butcher's dresden files.
two dimensional characters, and i esp disliked his ex/love interest.
meh plot.
world-building and magic was a mashup of many other urban fantasy books. and it was explained in laborious and uninteresting detail by the hero, as if none of the other characters have been living in this world.
made me want to go read more dresden files, for the characters and butcher's excellent writing and pacing.

[Stuart Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb. If you like Charles Stross Laundry Files, the Dresden books or Ben Aaronovitchs Rivers of London you'll like this very much. Interesting protoganist(s!), good world building and a plot that bombs along. Highly recommended.

[Robert L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

This is a fine dark urban fantasy adventure. It is well written and edited. I especially like Rook. I anxiously await the sequel.

[Dave Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quaid leans into both the noir tropes in urban fantasy and the terrifying otherness of ancient myths about fairies and other beings, creating a novel that is likely to please those who like their magical thrillers closer to Lovecraft than love story.

Ambrose Drake was a promising sorcerer, until he was caught making a forbidden expedition to the Seven Hungers—strange magical realms that lie alongside the human world—and his powers were bound. When something horrific forces a connection from one of the Hungers, Ambrose is politely required to provide the benefit of his experiences to the investigation. Success might offer a slight softening of his punishment or at least a chance to not be an utter pariah, but the slightest hint he is using the forbidden knowledge could earn him the harsher punishment he barely escaped last time—and to make the situation worse, the lead investigator was the central witness in his prosecution.

As with many urban fantasy worlds, Quaid’s has a magical society hiding within a mundane one that is nigh identical to our own modern world. However, rather than the usual creatures of myth such as werewolves and vampires, Quaid’s supernatural beings are denizens of other realms that lie in parallel to ours but are increasingly different from ours; the legends we know of vulnerability to common substances or stealing away children are the result of such beings having to pay a magical price to remain. This creates a setting that readers are likely to find both accessibly familiar and engagingly fresh.

The book opens with an incursion that seems to be connected to the Crimson King, ruler of one of the Hungers. While the Crown—the international government of sorcery—has structures for minor beings who wish to stay, the price for a nigh-godlike being to make even the briefest visit requires something equivalent to a mass sacrifice, so the devastation is likely to get orders of magnitude worse if than it already is if the connection remains open. Thus, the team must identify what is actually happening and how to stop the world as we know it becoming a buffet for an eldritch horror.

While the author’s description mentions the Dresden Files—not with any justification—the book’s tone is as much Barker as Butcher, featuring living-flesh portals, carnivals that steal body parts from members of the audience, and other viscerally Other magics. This metaphysical inhospitability to human-centric reality only increases once the team—as readers will likely suspect from a book whose protagonist is selected for having visited the Hungers—cross over in the hope of investigating the portal from the other side. While Quaid’s universe is similar enough to the uncaring universe of Lovecraft and such that fans of them might well find it pleasing, the motivations of the rulers and residents of these other realms are a little too comprehensible for it be unequivocally cosmic horror.

Over the course of the book, Quaid reveals more and more glimpses of Ambrose’s life before and immediately after being caught visiting the Hungers, and of his relationship with Karen Winters—the lead agent on the investigation—before he was caught. In addition to providing an engaging human-scale plot to contrast with the apocalyptic main threat, this gives the reader conflicting evidence on whether and how much Ambrose deserves the distrust he is shown.

The situation is further complicated by Ambrose having the monarch of another Hunger bound within him through a pact he does not fully understand; thus, he has access to inhuman powers—at unpleasant cost—but is also potentially a beachhead as terrible as the one he seeks to remove.

Quaid balances the book well, mixing fights and investigation with various types of threat to create a sense that violence, negotiation, and magic are sometimes the answer but that it isn’t always clear which is best when encountering the Other.

Ambrose is a character firmly in the mould of classic noir protagonists, firmly on the side of doing what seems right rather than what is legal and possessed of a fundamental decency under his very human flaws. Thus, whatever the reader’s perspective on his younger choices at various points in the book, they are likely to wish for him to succeed and will at least understand if not always utterly agree with his methods in overcoming obstacles.

The supporting cast are an engaging blend of ubiquitous human traits and weird fantasy, giving each the feeling of being a realistic lead in their own story while keeping the differences with our world as intrinsic parts of the events rather than merely a thin veneer of the unreal as a metaphor for entirely unmagical human struggle.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking urban fantasy that centres on the otherness of the supernatural.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

II really liked this book because it is mainly takes place in Brisbane and London and the author is Australian. This book has references to Wizard of Oz and some other books. It has an interesting take on the 7 circles of hell or Hungers, underworld realms and the hallowed land being the present. It has magic in terms in ether and ancient Gaulic Sigils. The Crimson King is from the underworld or a Hunger. Each world being a little different. Ambrose Drake is a sorcerer who has been banned from the council because he has crossed into the 7th Hunger and returned with demon attached to him or a Sovereign or King of the 7th Hunger. The Hallowed world and the world of Hungers is at war. The underworld is a mirror image of this world but with subtle difference, kind of the circles of hell from Dante. One of the Sovereigns wants to destroy the world of the living and make it like like hell on earth which is not a new concept either. The innovation is how the Sovereign comes about it. That is a blood sacrifice and a human body. Ambrose is called to help with an "infestation". He is a 38 year old sorcerer who was married to Karen Winter part of the "Adminstratium" who manages all of the magic in the world. The infestation is a human tower of machinery which feeds into the sovereign. It done through carnivals with the lure of fun and faeries and magic but the magic is get body parts to build a vessel for the Sovereign. There are kids that are going to carnivals and the towers are eating people left and right all over the world and Brisbane is one the epicenters. The story starts in London and moves to Brisbane through an etheric portal. Ether is the magic of travel and autokeys. This is a great story about team work and old rivalaries. I tried not to like this book but kept reading to see what would happen next. This is a free kindle book and one of the betters. I like the plot line, there is love, revenge, power struggle and redemption. I like Karen Winter, espcially Rook as a character, the twins souls and Lilith and Magnus as the sovereigns. Overall this is a good fantasy, apolyptic novel and a good mystery. This books is definitely worth the read and thank you Kindle Unlimited. Thank you Book Bub and Good Reads for recommending it this book.

[The Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 7 Hungers is an urban fantasy tale blended with horror that will definitely appeal to fans of both genres. The story is set in London where the main protagonist, Ambrose Drake, a sorcerer who is under the watchful eye of an organisation called the ‘Crown,’ is enlisted to investigate a bizarre supernatural occurrence. Ambrose soon realises this occurrence is as a result of a demonic being from realms (called the Hungers), that exist below the natural world, attempting to find a way to cross into and conquer the natural world.

The demonic being is fuelling his power by stealing human souls and ‘monster mashing’ human bodies together into weird and frightening organic machines (think along the lines of John Carpenters ‘The Thing’ film) to achieve his goal, whilst stealing body parts from the living to create the ideal host body to step into. Ambrose must work with the Crown’s appointed Agents, and do the very thing the ‘Crown’ told him not to do, and travel back through the Hungers to find this demonic being and stop him. Throw in the added complication that Ambrose himself is possessed by the ruler of the seventh realm/hunger who also has her own agenda and that he must work with his ex-lover and the woman who betrayed him to the ‘Crown’ and readers have a delicious mix of drama, excitement, conflict, magic, action and horror.

The character of Ambrose very much reminds me of Jim Butcher’s ‘Harry Dresden’ mixed with a supernatural version of ‘Venom.’ Fans who are familiar with these characters will understand the similarities. The secondary characters created particularly Rook and Janus, readers will also find engaging and enjoy following. The plot moves at a good pace, the dialogue is believable and all of the characters are sufficiently developed to enable readers to build a connection with. I would recommend another editing pass as there are some occasional errors but not enough to spoil the enjoyment of the story. The ending clearly indicates that there is more to come.

I award 4 stars.

[Steph Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a bit of snarky urban fantasy, and this one is slightly darker than other comparable series like Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files or Josh Erikson’s Ethereal Earth series.

There is a horror streak added here, with the Seven Hungers portrayed as a series of linked unearthly dimensions which worsen as you move through them from the First Hunger to the Seventh, like the Circles of Hell. This is great worldbuilding already, and then you can add in concepts of fae bargaining and other cryptid and mythological creature mythologies which the author has neatly incorporated into his new construct.

On the horror side, there is lots of body horror, as the Crimson King – much like The Magnus Archives‘ ‘The Flesh’ – deals in flesh, blood, bones and body parts. The image of that group of young people, fresh from the carnival, will forever haunt me with its combination of disfigurement and obliviousness.

The main character, Ambrose Drake, is a likeable anti-hero with a dark past and present secrets, and he assembles a mis-matched and reluctant but highly effective team to stave off an imminent incursion from a powerful Hunger that would likely lead to the end of the human world as we know it. You know, standard urban fantasy action (although the Hungers are more stand-out than standard).

The whole book is great fun: high-stakes, action-packed and pretty disturbing (again, The Blood Carnival, urgh!), with some funny moments and a main storyline that resolves the imminent peril but neatly leads the reader towards more to follow… I can’t wait!

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[MaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is new to me but the synopsis sounded interesting. A dark fantasy with magic and horror but a little laughter to lighten the load some. To be honest, I struggled through the first several chapters. The world confused me. Who/what is the Crown and what exactly does Drake's full job entail? Did I miss something from a different series involving these characters?
But suddenly, I can't say exactly what it was, but I became ensnared by the depth of descriptive scene after scene. The imagery invades the senses to the point you feel you have walked onto the page and into this world rife with hellish beings. You want a Drake, Rook and Janus there to shield you from the mayhem.
I will say I really did not like how Karen's character was portrayed in the beginning. I understand, in her position with the Crown, she had to be hard, decisive and strong.and that she and Drake had a "past". But Karen just came across to be as a mean, spiteful, crass "witch". She did not have the feel of female lead character but of someone you just want to flick away because she is annoying. Also, I couldn't see why she held the position of power that she had. She did start growing on me a little toward the end...but it wasn't really anything she did but what Ambrose caused to happen. I guess we'll see how she holds up in the next installment.
Overall, it drew me in enough to want to continue the series. The start made me want to say 3 stars but by the end I'm leaning more to 4. Bring on the Brine Council!

I received a copy and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Paige Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always excited to start a new series! This one looked interesting, and comicy by the cover, and I won this in a Kindle give away! I did buy a physical copy as normal to annotate, and highlight.

So I definantly liked the writing style, it was quick, and described scenes well. I really like the Secret Power/monster struggle trope so that was really fun to read about- especially this hell/hunger spin off on it. The main characters that were supposed to grow on you did, and i did like them- i wasnt wholly attached but Rook was a bad ass along with one of the other characters(s) Janus. They all had different personalities/quirks that were unique in a good way that i liked!

Neutrally, im not the biggest into comedic horror, so some of the parts to me were a grind to read, but this is a personal opinion and subjective to my tastes. Urban fantasy has to be really good and heavy fantasy for it to hit with me well. Some scenes, descriptions were a bit cheesy, but i just could not be the audiance for it.

What i didnt like was bringing up real world pop culture things- like harry potter/star wars/ wizard of oz. I know its Urban fantasy, but this brings me completely out of the story because i remember oh yea.. this is reality and boring because harry potter is in my world. i dont know how to explain it- but i want to feel there world entirely built up- its ok to be modern of course, but dont use a different book/show to defend or compare something in your book.

If i could i would rate this 3.5. A solid 3 and i enjoyed it and will read the other books.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crown censured sorcerer Ambrose Drake and his partner Rook are going home after fighting a mysterious creature that lives in the basement causing problems for the apartment tenants. After telling the tenants that the work is done, they go home. Upon arriving home Ambrose is surprised to find a person in his home. His name is Janus. He nervously explains why he is there (the Administratum has sent Janus) to report on Ambrose’s work in Australia. Ambrose is then given the gift of having his “censure necklace” removed by Janus, Why? Janus cleans up before going to his next work assignment. There is a being from the Seven Hungers emerging the being is trying to cross into our world. This being has wished to destroy the world. This causes Ambrose with his ex-lover Karen, and sidekicks to fight the being. Will Ambrose succeed in saving the world? Will Ambrose die?

The author has written a novel that is an incredible fantasy. I enjoyed Ambrose as he just was amazed by his character. The fast-pace, plot and the detailed world-building made this story an amazing urban fantasy to read. It also includes some horror that only adds to the novel.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Seven Hungers: Rise of the Crimson King is a fun and entertaining read. This is the first book I have read by Morgan Quaid. Though it is not part of my go to genre, I thought it was one that kept interested all throughout. It is definitely not one that can be easily predicted. There was a lot of action, adventure and horror. It truly is amazing how the author was able to come up with such a out of this world story.

I am giving The Seven Hungers: Rise of the Crimson King four and a half stars. Fans of fantasy and science fiction will want to pick this one up. I would be interested in reading the other books from The Seven Hungers series.

I received a paperback copy of The Seven Hungers: Rise of the Crimson King from the publisher but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Christine Choptovy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of the book from Voracious Readers Only. This is a fantasy/horror and was a great read. Ambrose Drake is sorcerer who has been censured by the Crown (an agency that investigates all things supernatural) because he travelled through the seven hungers (layers of what we label as Hell). His partner is a female hunger born female named Rook. Drake’s assignment are carefully chosen by the Crown, to limit the amount of magic he can perform. Strange markers from one of the hungers shows up and starts consuming people. The Crown needs to know how and why this is happening. The only way to accurately assess the situation, the Crown decides to allow Ambrose to travel back into the hungers with a party of people chosen by the Crown. I won’t reveal more of the story line but if you like fantasy and have the stomach for horror, then you’ll enjoy this book.

[Alibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, I didn't expect to enjoy this book so much. The blurb definitely caught my attention obviously, but I was sucked into this world immediately. I was eager to learn all of Ambrose Drake's secrets and past as he hinted at everything, then as his ex entered the set, I was intrigued even more. It was a well built world that I enjoyed, and it felt like watching some of my favorite paranormal/fantasy shows and movies. There was danger, action, and suspense as well as plenty of moments to laugh at. Drake's internal thoughts were both informational and humorous at times. I was preparing myself for a cliffhanger moment, and was definitely happy when the main ends were tied up by the end of the book. The overall battle against evil isn't over though, and I am definitely hoping I can get the other books in the series in audio soon! The narration brought the story to life.

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Morgan Quaid and I will definitely be reading more by him. In Crimson King we meet Sorcerer Ambrose Drake - he is not the most likeable character at first, but he grew on me and by the end I was a true fan. Mr. Quiad's writing is very detailed allowing the reader to visualize the story and different realms the characters visit. The characters have depth, I especially liked Rook and Janus who I think could have spin offs of their own. The world created for the series is fascinating and the story captivating - I had a hard time putting the book down. Filled with tons of action, suspense and magic this is a must read for any fantasy/horror fans. I look forward to reading book 2.

[Celine Italia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Seven Hungers: Crimson King” by Morgan Quaid is a book I likely wouldn’t have discovered if it weren’t for Goodreads Giveaway lol. But this book had all the themes I like, so I decided to give it a try after winning it in a giveaway. I’m really happy I did! The vivid descriptions, humorous writing, unique characters, and interesting world got me hooked and wanting to read the rest of the series. Even though I was on-the-fence about Ambrose Drake at first, I ended up really liking him by the end of the book. I’m excited to see what happens to him, Rook, Winter and rest of the other characters in Brine Council. 4.25/5 in my book! Crimson King was full of action and humor, and I can’t wait to read the next one.

[Roger Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC of the book he Seven Hungers: Crimson King by Morgan Quaid. If you like the Alastair Stone Chronicles, then this series is likely for you. It is a difficult to write a good first book. You have to define and introduce everything and everyone. Quaid does a good job. There are elements of the story that are familiar and other elements that are original. I think that as the series progresses the small bumps in the story will iron out. I liked the character and his flaws. I did think that towards the end of the story things were rushed. I did enjoy the book and will read the next installment.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 7 Hungers was my first introduction to Morgan Quaid, and I read about half of the novel with my jaw dropped and my eyes popping out of my head! I've never quite read anything like it, and I can't wait for the next one. His novel is so action packed from beginning to end that I didn't want to put it down, and the few times I did I couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen next. If you're a fan of Quaid's writing style I definitely recommend checking out his Rust Chronicles series as well.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read! It's full of action, humor and interesting characters! The world building and the character building was great! I wasn't too crazy about Drake in the beginning but he grew on me and I enjoyed the relationship between Drake and Karen. It will be interesting to see where they're relationship goes. The world is interesting and unique and with vivid descriptions the reader has no problem picturing everything! Overall it's a great read with magic, adventure and nonstop action! Thank you Rockstar Book Tours for sharing this book with me!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I’ll be honest. I am not really a fan of the cover. That said, the description of the book hooked me. I love a good dark urban fantasy with a little gore sprinkled in. Having been a fan of the Dresden files for a long time, when I saw that this book was compared to those, I knew I had to give it a shot.

The characters were well-written, and the world building was strong. This book was fun from start to finish. Definitely recommend. I will definitely be continuing this series.

Thank you to Morgan Quaid and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.