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The Combat Codes Saga #1
The Combat Codes
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
0 days and 18:12:47
100 copies available
U.S. only
SPFBO Award Finalist for Best Fantasy Book (2020)
"We fight, so the rest shall not have to."
In a world where single combat determines the fate of nations, the Grievar fight so that the rest can remain at peace.
Cego is a mysterious Grievar boy forced to fight his way out of the slave Circles into the world's most prestigious combat school.
At the Lyceum, Cego will learn a variety of martial arts from eclectic teachers, develop deep bonds of friendship and fight against contentious rivals to climb the school's rankings.
But, Cego will find far more than combat studies at the Lyceum. He will find the mystery of his past unraveled by forces greater than he could ever imagine.
"We fight, so the rest shall not have to."
In a world where single combat determines the fate of nations, the Grievar fight so that the rest can remain at peace.
Cego is a mysterious Grievar boy forced to fight his way out of the slave Circles into the world's most prestigious combat school.
At the Lyceum, Cego will learn a variety of martial arts from eclectic teachers, develop deep bonds of friendship and fight against contentious rivals to climb the school's rankings.
But, Cego will find far more than combat studies at the Lyceum. He will find the mystery of his past unraveled by forces greater than he could ever imagine.
408 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2015
About the author
Alexander Darwin
5 books98 followersAlexander Darwin is an author living near Boston with his wife and three daughters. Outside of writing, he teaches and trains martial arts (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). He’s inspired by old-school Hong Kong action flicks, jRPGs, underdog stories and bibimbap bowls.
Outside of writing fiction, Alexander has written for publications such as Rolling Stone Magazine and SF Signal. His latest piece - "The Lost Diary of Anthony Bourdain" - was a featured piece in Rolling Stone’s January 2022 issue.
Outside of writing fiction, Alexander has written for publications such as Rolling Stone Magazine and SF Signal. His latest piece - "The Lost Diary of Anthony Bourdain" - was a featured piece in Rolling Stone’s January 2022 issue.
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March 10, 2021
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Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Fun, tense, and entertaining; The Combat Codes is an MMA-inspired sci-fi debut with heart and well-written combat scenes.
I’ve been waiting to post this review for a while now, but after hearing there will be a new updated cover art for the series done by the incredible Felix Ortiz, I knew it would better for me to wait for its reveal first before posting this review. I mean, look at that! I loved the distinctive quality of the cover art; it reminded me of Star Wars poster. The Combat Codes is the first book in the The Combat Codes Saga trilogy by Alexander Darwin. This is a debut that’s currently a finalist in this year’s SPFBO (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off), and I think it deserves its spot as a finalist there for its quality. Personally speaking, though, I have to admit that I’m a bit surprised that some readers classified this as fantasy; I think it’s a sci-fi/dystopia novel with a little fantasy element, and it’s a really great one.
The story in The Combat Codes takes place in a world where single combat determines the fate of nations, the Combat Codes guide the Grievar to fight so that the rest can remain at peace. We have two main characters to follow in this book. The first one is Cego, a 13 years old Grievar boy with a mysterious past that’s forced to fight his way out of the slave Circles and enter the world’s most prestigious combat school. The other main character is Murray, a retired Grievar Knight who currently scouts for talents to be enlisted into Lyceum for better and elite training. The main story itself isn’t nothing too surprising; if you’ve read plenty of coming-of-age SFF books, you will most likely know how the story goes from point A to B. However, just because a story is predictable doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing; it all always comes down to execution. I found Darwin’s storytelling of this predictable story to be engaging, and the revelations contained in the narrative made me excited for the next book.
I highly enjoyed reading Cego’s character development. The Combat Codes have been forgotten by many Grievar and fighters of the world, but Cego never stops doing his best to uphold the Combat Codes, even when he doesn’t fully remember his past or understand himself. Also, the relationship that Cego built with Murray and the friends—Dozer, Weep, and Knees—he met along the way was well-written. Friendship, mentorship, and standing for what’s right are prominent themes in the story, and I enjoyed reading about them. As I said, it’s a predictable story, even the bully, the villains, and their actions were predictable from their first appearances, but I can’t help but found myself turning the pages. There’s just something about waiting to see bullies receiving retributions that I can’t ever get enough of. However, I do think that the side characters needed more characterizations and focus. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that the next book in the series will fix this.
Actions and hand-to-hand combat are very integral in this book. I started reading The Combat Codes expecting there will be a lot of action scenes, and I’m not disappointed by this. Darwin has delivered detailed hand-to-hand combats with a rhythm that flows really well. The combats and the blow by blow traded between fighters were both vivid and impactful. If you’re a fan of martial arts, or maybe Cradle series by Will Wight, I have a good feeling that you’re going to have a blast reading this book. It also helps that the world-building and history of the world enhanced the believability of the combats and stakes contained in them. Plus, Darwin’s prose was accessible, and each epigraph at the beginning of each chapter helped established the importance of Combat Codes in the world.
I do, however, want to address one more time that I don’t think of The Combat Codes as a fantasy novel. Almost everything in the world-building relies on technologies, and if anything, the closest comparison I can think of when it comes to the world-building is Red Rising by Pierce Brown or The Hunger Games (with martial arts) by Suzanne Collins. The class distinction and treatment between Purelight and Lacklight, for example, are very reminiscent of the Gold and Red in Red Rising. I have other reasons for this assessment, but I’m afraid that’s diving too deep into spoiler territory. This, of course, doesn’t mean that I’m dismissing the quality of the book; I enjoyed it after all. This is just me disagreeing with the fantasy genre classification.
I doubt The Combat Codes will revolutionize the genre. But if you’re looking for a fast-paced familiar, charming, tense, and engaging escapism novel with heart and great hand-to-hand combat scenes, this is a no-brainer. I highly enjoyed reading this debut, and I’m so looking forward to continuing to the sequel, Grievar’s Blood.
You can order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Alya, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Devin, Diana, Edward, Estefani, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Lufi, Melinda, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Shaad, Summer, Zoe.
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Fun, tense, and entertaining; The Combat Codes is an MMA-inspired sci-fi debut with heart and well-written combat scenes.
“A perceived weakness is strength, and a flaunted strength is weakness.”
I’ve been waiting to post this review for a while now, but after hearing there will be a new updated cover art for the series done by the incredible Felix Ortiz, I knew it would better for me to wait for its reveal first before posting this review. I mean, look at that! I loved the distinctive quality of the cover art; it reminded me of Star Wars poster. The Combat Codes is the first book in the The Combat Codes Saga trilogy by Alexander Darwin. This is a debut that’s currently a finalist in this year’s SPFBO (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off), and I think it deserves its spot as a finalist there for its quality. Personally speaking, though, I have to admit that I’m a bit surprised that some readers classified this as fantasy; I think it’s a sci-fi/dystopia novel with a little fantasy element, and it’s a really great one.
“We fight neither to inflict pain nor to prolong suffering. We fight neither to mollify anger nor to satisfy vendetta. We fight neither to accumulate wealth nor to promote social standing. We fight so that the rest shall not have to.”
The story in The Combat Codes takes place in a world where single combat determines the fate of nations, the Combat Codes guide the Grievar to fight so that the rest can remain at peace. We have two main characters to follow in this book. The first one is Cego, a 13 years old Grievar boy with a mysterious past that’s forced to fight his way out of the slave Circles and enter the world’s most prestigious combat school. The other main character is Murray, a retired Grievar Knight who currently scouts for talents to be enlisted into Lyceum for better and elite training. The main story itself isn’t nothing too surprising; if you’ve read plenty of coming-of-age SFF books, you will most likely know how the story goes from point A to B. However, just because a story is predictable doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing; it all always comes down to execution. I found Darwin’s storytelling of this predictable story to be engaging, and the revelations contained in the narrative made me excited for the next book.
“A Grievar shall become neither arrogant in victory nor broken in defeat; this is the path to complacency. A Grievar’s opponent is their greatest teacher; one learns more walking the path of defeat than they do on the road to victory. Such a balanced spirit will give a Grievar the continued purpose to strive for combat mastery.”
I highly enjoyed reading Cego’s character development. The Combat Codes have been forgotten by many Grievar and fighters of the world, but Cego never stops doing his best to uphold the Combat Codes, even when he doesn’t fully remember his past or understand himself. Also, the relationship that Cego built with Murray and the friends—Dozer, Weep, and Knees—he met along the way was well-written. Friendship, mentorship, and standing for what’s right are prominent themes in the story, and I enjoyed reading about them. As I said, it’s a predictable story, even the bully, the villains, and their actions were predictable from their first appearances, but I can’t help but found myself turning the pages. There’s just something about waiting to see bullies receiving retributions that I can’t ever get enough of. However, I do think that the side characters needed more characterizations and focus. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that the next book in the series will fix this.
“A Grievar shall not accumulate land, wealth, servants, or worldly possessions beyond what is necessary for survival. In the act of relinquishing all but dedication to martial prowess, a Grievar will become unburdened, free to attack and defend without hesitation.”
Actions and hand-to-hand combat are very integral in this book. I started reading The Combat Codes expecting there will be a lot of action scenes, and I’m not disappointed by this. Darwin has delivered detailed hand-to-hand combats with a rhythm that flows really well. The combats and the blow by blow traded between fighters were both vivid and impactful. If you’re a fan of martial arts, or maybe Cradle series by Will Wight, I have a good feeling that you’re going to have a blast reading this book. It also helps that the world-building and history of the world enhanced the believability of the combats and stakes contained in them. Plus, Darwin’s prose was accessible, and each epigraph at the beginning of each chapter helped established the importance of Combat Codes in the world.
“A Grievar must fully commit to the present moment. Weighed down by events of the past or too feather-footed in anticipation of the future, a Grievar will be unable to find the rhythm of combat. A wave rolling to shore and receding to sea knows neither purpose nor path; it has no awareness of time passing. So must it be with a Grievar’s every breath; rolling like a wave and fully in the present. Passage Three, Twenty-Seventh Precept of the Combat Codes”
I do, however, want to address one more time that I don’t think of The Combat Codes as a fantasy novel. Almost everything in the world-building relies on technologies, and if anything, the closest comparison I can think of when it comes to the world-building is Red Rising by Pierce Brown or The Hunger Games (with martial arts) by Suzanne Collins. The class distinction and treatment between Purelight and Lacklight, for example, are very reminiscent of the Gold and Red in Red Rising. I have other reasons for this assessment, but I’m afraid that’s diving too deep into spoiler territory. This, of course, doesn’t mean that I’m dismissing the quality of the book; I enjoyed it after all. This is just me disagreeing with the fantasy genre classification.
“Anger is like a boiling pot of water. Useful if you can keep the boil steady, but if turned too hot, it will overflow and become useless.”
I doubt The Combat Codes will revolutionize the genre. But if you’re looking for a fast-paced familiar, charming, tense, and engaging escapism novel with heart and great hand-to-hand combat scenes, this is a no-brainer. I highly enjoyed reading this debut, and I’m so looking forward to continuing to the sequel, Grievar’s Blood.
You can order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Alya, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Devin, Diana, Edward, Estefani, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Lufi, Melinda, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Shaad, Summer, Zoe.
November 27, 2020
Combat Codes
*I read this as it's one of this year's #SPFBO finalists and I'm a judge*
This book is a surprise for me as I really didn't know what I'd think of it when I started. It's a book which is super heavy on fighting, especially Jiu Jitsu inspired fights, and that's not something I'd typically say appeals to me, but man the characters and plot drew me in and even the fight scenes I really enjoyed in the end too.
Cego is our main character and he's a young boy off the streets. He's a character with fight bred into his soul and he has lived all of his life to date with a solid belief in following the Combat Codes to become the best Griever. *He fights so they don't have to*.
His past is a little unclear at first and we learn more about that as we follow him, but I enjoyed the gradual flashbacks and fleshing out of his storyline.
Murray is out other main character, he's a Scout who is supposed to hunt for new talent to be tested and out through the tests to get into elite training. He's a former Griever Knight yet he's becoming disillusioned with the state of his word and the leadership, until he sees Cego.
The magic of this world is a subtle part of it as it's kind of a combination of magic and science. This is clearly a very futuristic world with all the food coming in dehydrated forms and technology far-advanced, but there are some magic-like parts which are the Wisps (balls of light which seem to appear around fights and to certain individuals) and the Circles (a kind of stone/metal-infused blend of science and magic which cause the fighters to go through various neurological effects and emotions).
I really felt like the science and magic combined well here and felt like a natural fit for this world as a whole. It seemed like it was a world which was harsh but also pretty interesting and one I could see existing in some form.
The feudal, war-like culture and honor-based society certainly reminded me of Eastern ideals, but the author specifically cited Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as his inspiration and I found that fascinating. It's obvious the author knows the sport well and takes huge inspiration from this, and it came off as very genuine and relatable even to someone like me who is fairly clueless about the sport.
In the end I think the subtle nuances of some of the characters and the world in general sold this to me. The plot I found a little predictable at times, and some of the gender stereotyping was not the best (although I note the author tried to flip biases this wasn't done as well as I think it could have been), I still highly recommend this even if it's not your usual flavour. It has a dystopian society feeling and I read the entire book in just one day, mostly one session, so it's highly digestible! 4.25*s from me so 8.5/10 overall :)
*I read this as it's one of this year's #SPFBO finalists and I'm a judge*
This book is a surprise for me as I really didn't know what I'd think of it when I started. It's a book which is super heavy on fighting, especially Jiu Jitsu inspired fights, and that's not something I'd typically say appeals to me, but man the characters and plot drew me in and even the fight scenes I really enjoyed in the end too.
Cego is our main character and he's a young boy off the streets. He's a character with fight bred into his soul and he has lived all of his life to date with a solid belief in following the Combat Codes to become the best Griever. *He fights so they don't have to*.
His past is a little unclear at first and we learn more about that as we follow him, but I enjoyed the gradual flashbacks and fleshing out of his storyline.
Murray is out other main character, he's a Scout who is supposed to hunt for new talent to be tested and out through the tests to get into elite training. He's a former Griever Knight yet he's becoming disillusioned with the state of his word and the leadership, until he sees Cego.
The magic of this world is a subtle part of it as it's kind of a combination of magic and science. This is clearly a very futuristic world with all the food coming in dehydrated forms and technology far-advanced, but there are some magic-like parts which are the Wisps (balls of light which seem to appear around fights and to certain individuals) and the Circles (a kind of stone/metal-infused blend of science and magic which cause the fighters to go through various neurological effects and emotions).
I really felt like the science and magic combined well here and felt like a natural fit for this world as a whole. It seemed like it was a world which was harsh but also pretty interesting and one I could see existing in some form.
The feudal, war-like culture and honor-based society certainly reminded me of Eastern ideals, but the author specifically cited Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as his inspiration and I found that fascinating. It's obvious the author knows the sport well and takes huge inspiration from this, and it came off as very genuine and relatable even to someone like me who is fairly clueless about the sport.
In the end I think the subtle nuances of some of the characters and the world in general sold this to me. The plot I found a little predictable at times, and some of the gender stereotyping was not the best (although I note the author tried to flip biases this wasn't done as well as I think it could have been), I still highly recommend this even if it's not your usual flavour. It has a dystopian society feeling and I read the entire book in just one day, mostly one session, so it's highly digestible! 4.25*s from me so 8.5/10 overall :)
Read
October 26, 2020I haven't read this book, yet, but it's a finalist in this year's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, so it must be good!
See the finalist board here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
See the finalist board here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
February 9, 2021
Here are a few things you can expect from this book :
A martial arts inspired gem;
Excellent and raw fighting sequences;
Master and apprentice vibes;
Incredible military academy; and
Friendships and family.
On to the full review…
I started reading The Combat Codes on January 1st and it was such a great book to start my reading year off with! I LOVE martial arts in all of its forms so to see such a great Jiu Jitsu inspired SFF novel was super cool.
My experience reading The Combat Codes was one of nostalgia, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was such fun! Every time a pointer was given or a stance adjusted I knew what the Cego was feeling, it was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me to be honest. I remember having my hips wobbled and being told to get good and get strong or I would blow away like a leaf in the wind and that my stance wasn’t balanced, my arm was to low, firm taps to my elbows and wrists showing the weak points in my blocks! So this book hit a few great memories I have of Karate and MMA.
“We fight, so the rest shall not have to.”
And man do they fight! This book has some of the finest hand to hand combat I have read, you can totally see Darwin’s in depth knowledge and love of the art in his writing. It is like when you read John Gwynne’s books and you feel so many things in his writing because he has such a vast knowledge of battles and such due to his reenactments and such. So, yeah Darwin knows his shit!
I really loved the characters in this book, they were so well crafted. Cego and Murray are brilliant in their own rights but not only that, Darwin has created a world of fabulous characters even the ones that are not massive parts of the plot. They each add something different, they all had something they learnt from their own history that was imparted in someway onto our main characters. Each character, big or small, had a clear and distinguishable personality.
Another thing I really enjoyed in this book was the unraveling of Cego’s past, he is pretty mysterious at first and it was a joy to learn more about the role he has to play and where he has come from.
I think while this books world definitely feels more sci-fi in nature with it technological advancements but one of its keys components, the alloys, were so magical in my eyes. There were like a magic system in their own science-like way. Though, I don’t plan to say much in resect of these because they are such a joy to learn about.
There is quite a lot to this story, it has so many elements and little twists and it is enjoyable. Though, it did feel uneven at times. Yet the plot never stopped moving, it was always progressing and it was so fun to keep moving forward with such incredible characters but I sometimes felt like I lacked direction overall. Each section had its own direction but I felt the overall plot was slightly uneven.
The Combat Codes is an entertaining story, and its character are some of my favourite to read. Darwin has created a fascinating world and I will definitely be reading book two.
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
BUY THE PAPERBACK! This is an easy one for me, I read this on Kindle through my Kindle Unlimited subscription and will very soon be purchasing the PB of this book with its brand new amazing COVER!
A martial arts inspired gem;
Excellent and raw fighting sequences;
Master and apprentice vibes;
Incredible military academy; and
Friendships and family.
On to the full review…
I started reading The Combat Codes on January 1st and it was such a great book to start my reading year off with! I LOVE martial arts in all of its forms so to see such a great Jiu Jitsu inspired SFF novel was super cool.
My experience reading The Combat Codes was one of nostalgia, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was such fun! Every time a pointer was given or a stance adjusted I knew what the Cego was feeling, it was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me to be honest. I remember having my hips wobbled and being told to get good and get strong or I would blow away like a leaf in the wind and that my stance wasn’t balanced, my arm was to low, firm taps to my elbows and wrists showing the weak points in my blocks! So this book hit a few great memories I have of Karate and MMA.
“We fight, so the rest shall not have to.”
And man do they fight! This book has some of the finest hand to hand combat I have read, you can totally see Darwin’s in depth knowledge and love of the art in his writing. It is like when you read John Gwynne’s books and you feel so many things in his writing because he has such a vast knowledge of battles and such due to his reenactments and such. So, yeah Darwin knows his shit!
I really loved the characters in this book, they were so well crafted. Cego and Murray are brilliant in their own rights but not only that, Darwin has created a world of fabulous characters even the ones that are not massive parts of the plot. They each add something different, they all had something they learnt from their own history that was imparted in someway onto our main characters. Each character, big or small, had a clear and distinguishable personality.
Another thing I really enjoyed in this book was the unraveling of Cego’s past, he is pretty mysterious at first and it was a joy to learn more about the role he has to play and where he has come from.
I think while this books world definitely feels more sci-fi in nature with it technological advancements but one of its keys components, the alloys, were so magical in my eyes. There were like a magic system in their own science-like way. Though, I don’t plan to say much in resect of these because they are such a joy to learn about.
There is quite a lot to this story, it has so many elements and little twists and it is enjoyable. Though, it did feel uneven at times. Yet the plot never stopped moving, it was always progressing and it was so fun to keep moving forward with such incredible characters but I sometimes felt like I lacked direction overall. Each section had its own direction but I felt the overall plot was slightly uneven.
The Combat Codes is an entertaining story, and its character are some of my favourite to read. Darwin has created a fascinating world and I will definitely be reading book two.
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
BUY THE PAPERBACK! This is an easy one for me, I read this on Kindle through my Kindle Unlimited subscription and will very soon be purchasing the PB of this book with its brand new amazing COVER!
July 9, 2020
“We fight, so the rest shall not have to.”
The Combat Codes is set in a dystopian society where one-on-one, MMA style combat replaced war. It blends fantasy, sci-fi, cyberpunk, martial arts, and more.
Murray Pearson, a former Grievar champion, works as a scout. While looking for potential recruits in the slave circles, he spots an adolescent boy, Cego, with remarkable martial skills and honorable attitude. He introduces him to the Lyceum where promising teenagers learn martial techniques and compete with each other.
There’s much more to the story, but revealing it would spoil things for you. The book plays with the tropes (magic school, chosen one, master/apprentice) and while it doesn’t spin them around, it avoids obvious twists. It contains plenty of well-written and well-choreographed hand to hand battles. Some of them are brutal and graphic, but never gratuitously.
The fights take place in circles made of “alloys” that influence fighters in unique ways (for example, auralite makes you want to please the crows and rubellium rises anger). A great and well-executed concept. The government uses neurotech to enhance their fighters, but their machinations may run even deeper. I would say Darwin succeeded at connecting Cego’s journey of self-discovery with a much more complex plot of interplanetary politics and balance of power.
Despite young age, Cego acts like a wise adult with plenty of life-experience. He’s competent, honorable, and acceptably special. His teammates/enemies play well-known roles present in most magic/fight school setting (a bully, a mannered nobleman, good-natured bag of muscles, etc.). Most of them are memorable and well-rounded (it’s impossible to dislike Dozer or Abel); only Shiar, the bully, suffers from a profound lack of depth. He’s, basically, a caricature of a mean and arrogant douchebag.
I applaud Darwin’s approach to structuring scenes - Cego’s plans often end in a disaster, and it keeps things exciting. He faces all possible adversities (physical and emotional injuries, terrifying discoveries, a threat to him and those close to him), and reacts accordingly to get out of a jam. It also means the story ends in a cliffhanger, but not of the type that would make you furious. Quite the opposite.
“We fight neither to inflict pain nor prolong suffering. We fight neither to mollify anger nor to satisfy vendetta. We fight neither to accumulate wealth nor to promote social standing. We fight so that the rest shall not have to.”
The Combat Codes draws abundantly from martial arts movies and it embraces both awesome and cheesy staples of the genre. I had great fun reading it and found it exciting throughout. A must for fans of well-paced and mindful martial arts stories.
The Combat Codes is set in a dystopian society where one-on-one, MMA style combat replaced war. It blends fantasy, sci-fi, cyberpunk, martial arts, and more.
Murray Pearson, a former Grievar champion, works as a scout. While looking for potential recruits in the slave circles, he spots an adolescent boy, Cego, with remarkable martial skills and honorable attitude. He introduces him to the Lyceum where promising teenagers learn martial techniques and compete with each other.
There’s much more to the story, but revealing it would spoil things for you. The book plays with the tropes (magic school, chosen one, master/apprentice) and while it doesn’t spin them around, it avoids obvious twists. It contains plenty of well-written and well-choreographed hand to hand battles. Some of them are brutal and graphic, but never gratuitously.
The fights take place in circles made of “alloys” that influence fighters in unique ways (for example, auralite makes you want to please the crows and rubellium rises anger). A great and well-executed concept. The government uses neurotech to enhance their fighters, but their machinations may run even deeper. I would say Darwin succeeded at connecting Cego’s journey of self-discovery with a much more complex plot of interplanetary politics and balance of power.
Despite young age, Cego acts like a wise adult with plenty of life-experience. He’s competent, honorable, and acceptably special. His teammates/enemies play well-known roles present in most magic/fight school setting (a bully, a mannered nobleman, good-natured bag of muscles, etc.). Most of them are memorable and well-rounded (it’s impossible to dislike Dozer or Abel); only Shiar, the bully, suffers from a profound lack of depth. He’s, basically, a caricature of a mean and arrogant douchebag.
I applaud Darwin’s approach to structuring scenes - Cego’s plans often end in a disaster, and it keeps things exciting. He faces all possible adversities (physical and emotional injuries, terrifying discoveries, a threat to him and those close to him), and reacts accordingly to get out of a jam. It also means the story ends in a cliffhanger, but not of the type that would make you furious. Quite the opposite.
“We fight neither to inflict pain nor prolong suffering. We fight neither to mollify anger nor to satisfy vendetta. We fight neither to accumulate wealth nor to promote social standing. We fight so that the rest shall not have to.”
The Combat Codes draws abundantly from martial arts movies and it embraces both awesome and cheesy staples of the genre. I had great fun reading it and found it exciting throughout. A must for fans of well-paced and mindful martial arts stories.
April 20, 2021
Review to be posted on The Fantasy Hive for SPFBO 6
February 4, 2021
Rating: 7.5/10
Thanks to the author for a listening copy of The Combat Codes for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
We fight neither to inflict pain nor to prolong suffering. We fight neither to mollify anger nor to satisfy vendetta. We fight neither to accumulate wealth nor to promote social standing. We fight so that the rest shall not have to.
The Combat Codes is a love letter to martial arts with a dystopian sci-fi Ushiro Geri to the solar plexus. Darwin has written a splendid debut that takes a handful of tropes we see across SFF and breathes new life into them. I can definitely see why he is a SPFBO finalist with this entry.
You know, indies have come a long way in recent years and you have to wonder why they still don’t get the attention they deserve. We used to think the cover art game just wasn’t there, but you can’t say that anymore. I MEAN LOOK AT THAT COVER BY THE WONDERFUL FELIX ORTIZ. I can definitely attest to the fact that it isn’t the writing, so I guess it has to do with marketing or social media. The masses just aren’t there for most, so it is up to competitions like SPFBO and the book bloggers of the world to help boost these fantastic titles up as much as possible.
What Darwin excels at with this novel is hand-to-hand combat. I mean, my goodness, every single fight is calculated; measured to the Nth degree with precision. You feel the impact of each hit, taste the blood and sweat from the combatants, and see just how brutal this world is. Cego is a very intriguing character, much like Ender Wiggin, as he is calm and calculated rather than bullheaded. Though the end results aren’t always there, he is constantly learning from his mistakes while balancing out risk vs reward. I quite enjoyed seeing his progression, as well as the bit of backstory the author chose to reveal.
The only drawbacks came with some of the secondary characters. Many felt very surface and I hope that with the continuation of the series, they get a little more light shined on them. They are a little tropey as you can expect from most of your “magical school / coming of age” type stories, but Darwin doesn’t take a cliff dive into painting the same arcs we’ve seen time and time again. I also want to see the world fleshed out a little more; maybe broaden the landscape a bit and allow for more exploration.
This a story I believe will resonate with fans of, say, Harry Potter, Ender’s Game, Red Rising and maybe Will Wight’s ‘Cradle’ series. It is a very enjoyable debut and I look forward to Book 2 (and its snazzy new cover).
Thanks to the author for a listening copy of The Combat Codes for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
We fight neither to inflict pain nor to prolong suffering. We fight neither to mollify anger nor to satisfy vendetta. We fight neither to accumulate wealth nor to promote social standing. We fight so that the rest shall not have to.
The Combat Codes is a love letter to martial arts with a dystopian sci-fi Ushiro Geri to the solar plexus. Darwin has written a splendid debut that takes a handful of tropes we see across SFF and breathes new life into them. I can definitely see why he is a SPFBO finalist with this entry.
You know, indies have come a long way in recent years and you have to wonder why they still don’t get the attention they deserve. We used to think the cover art game just wasn’t there, but you can’t say that anymore. I MEAN LOOK AT THAT COVER BY THE WONDERFUL FELIX ORTIZ. I can definitely attest to the fact that it isn’t the writing, so I guess it has to do with marketing or social media. The masses just aren’t there for most, so it is up to competitions like SPFBO and the book bloggers of the world to help boost these fantastic titles up as much as possible.
What Darwin excels at with this novel is hand-to-hand combat. I mean, my goodness, every single fight is calculated; measured to the Nth degree with precision. You feel the impact of each hit, taste the blood and sweat from the combatants, and see just how brutal this world is. Cego is a very intriguing character, much like Ender Wiggin, as he is calm and calculated rather than bullheaded. Though the end results aren’t always there, he is constantly learning from his mistakes while balancing out risk vs reward. I quite enjoyed seeing his progression, as well as the bit of backstory the author chose to reveal.
The only drawbacks came with some of the secondary characters. Many felt very surface and I hope that with the continuation of the series, they get a little more light shined on them. They are a little tropey as you can expect from most of your “magical school / coming of age” type stories, but Darwin doesn’t take a cliff dive into painting the same arcs we’ve seen time and time again. I also want to see the world fleshed out a little more; maybe broaden the landscape a bit and allow for more exploration.
This a story I believe will resonate with fans of, say, Harry Potter, Ender’s Game, Red Rising and maybe Will Wight’s ‘Cradle’ series. It is a very enjoyable debut and I look forward to Book 2 (and its snazzy new cover).
October 28, 2020
4.5
Tremendous debut from Alexander Darwin. Best written hand to hand combat in all of the genre with original world building and a fast paced mysterious plot. He took legit Martial arts and made it the real magic of this world and it works. Will definitely be reading book two!
Tremendous debut from Alexander Darwin. Best written hand to hand combat in all of the genre with original world building and a fast paced mysterious plot. He took legit Martial arts and made it the real magic of this world and it works. Will definitely be reading book two!
February 22, 2021
*This was one of our SPFBO semifinalist in our group. My review only. Links for team reviews and about the contest at the bottom..
*I actually won a copy of this in the spring and a thank you to Alexander Darwin for the e-copy. I had been trying to find time to squeeze it all summer. I was pretty happy to see it as a finalist so I could move it up my list.
***
This book surprised me. Don’t get me wrong, I did expect to enjoy it- underdog claws his way out of the slave pits to make it into combat school- it’s right up my alley (other than the school part). And I expected good fights, but what I didn’t expect was for it to have so much heart (or to enjoy the school parts). A lot of times with fight books or movies, the story is just a vehicle to showcase the fights themselves, and the characters and the plot get sacrificed along the way.
The characters are very likeable. You want Cego and his group to succeed. I love that they have became this found family unit, and that through hard work and good attitudes they are overcoming the obstacles that are thrown in their path. Honestly, I just love the whole underlying message, that life sucks but you can rise above it with a little effort on your own part, and sometimes with the help of friends.
This is what Maze Runner could have been if it had tried a bit harder to do something besides a write to formula story.
**
So, if anything was a little on the light side, it was maybe the magic and the worldbuilding- which was more a blend of scifi/fantasy but there was enough of both to please me.
The circles where the grievers fight, are a colour-based magic that influences the fighters in ways that could affect their fight, mentally or even physically (I thought of this like status affects in a rpg game). Some fighters have tattoos that do this kind of magical flux, where they change as the fighter grows in skill.
The fights are great and not over-done, we don’t see every move broken down to the minute detail but we do get enough to understand what’s going on even if you don’t know the first thing about fighting. I liked that they weren’t too technical but still have all the fun and feel of a good UFC style ring/octagon fight.
There is also techy stuff in the world- food blocks (if I remember right) and even an alien type race (which made me think of the aliens in Mars Attacks for some reason) suggesting there’s quite a bit more to the world that we will see in the next book.
This felt very much like a can of worms got opened at the end of this book. In a good way. The story feels complete but there were some things left unanswered that make you want to jump in to the next book immediately.
In conclusion the TLDR:
Great fights, great friendships, great story and message. I really enjoyed this one and plan to read the second book.
Go here to find out more about SPFBO contest and to find links to all the participating bloggers/authors and reviews.
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
finalist board-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Queen's Book Asylum Team reviews
https://starlitbook.com/2021/02/17/sp...
spfbo score 8 or 4.5 stars
*I actually won a copy of this in the spring and a thank you to Alexander Darwin for the e-copy. I had been trying to find time to squeeze it all summer. I was pretty happy to see it as a finalist so I could move it up my list.
***
This book surprised me. Don’t get me wrong, I did expect to enjoy it- underdog claws his way out of the slave pits to make it into combat school- it’s right up my alley (other than the school part). And I expected good fights, but what I didn’t expect was for it to have so much heart (or to enjoy the school parts). A lot of times with fight books or movies, the story is just a vehicle to showcase the fights themselves, and the characters and the plot get sacrificed along the way.
The characters are very likeable. You want Cego and his group to succeed. I love that they have became this found family unit, and that through hard work and good attitudes they are overcoming the obstacles that are thrown in their path. Honestly, I just love the whole underlying message, that life sucks but you can rise above it with a little effort on your own part, and sometimes with the help of friends.
This is what Maze Runner could have been if it had tried a bit harder to do something besides a write to formula story.
**
So, if anything was a little on the light side, it was maybe the magic and the worldbuilding- which was more a blend of scifi/fantasy but there was enough of both to please me.
The circles where the grievers fight, are a colour-based magic that influences the fighters in ways that could affect their fight, mentally or even physically (I thought of this like status affects in a rpg game). Some fighters have tattoos that do this kind of magical flux, where they change as the fighter grows in skill.
The fights are great and not over-done, we don’t see every move broken down to the minute detail but we do get enough to understand what’s going on even if you don’t know the first thing about fighting. I liked that they weren’t too technical but still have all the fun and feel of a good UFC style ring/octagon fight.
There is also techy stuff in the world- food blocks (if I remember right) and even an alien type race (which made me think of the aliens in Mars Attacks for some reason) suggesting there’s quite a bit more to the world that we will see in the next book.
This felt very much like a can of worms got opened at the end of this book. In a good way. The story feels complete but there were some things left unanswered that make you want to jump in to the next book immediately.
In conclusion the TLDR:
Great fights, great friendships, great story and message. I really enjoyed this one and plan to read the second book.
Go here to find out more about SPFBO contest and to find links to all the participating bloggers/authors and reviews.
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
finalist board-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Queen's Book Asylum Team reviews
https://starlitbook.com/2021/02/17/sp...
spfbo score 8 or 4.5 stars
February 21, 2023
This book kicks ass - literally and literarily!
March 2, 2023
Combat Codes is a well-paced sci-fi brimming with action, brutality, thoughtfulness and heart. From ruthless underworld to storm-harried, glistening academy, every fight is clear and visceral, and I couldn’t help but be ensnared by the mystery and tension woven throughout. I can’t wait for the next chapter in Cego’s journey!
July 27, 2020
ETA: Read a second time and found it as charming as the first, and easier to follow being somewhat familiar with the world. Will be heading into the sequel soon.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Reading the description I didn't really expect to like it. I'm not into martial arts in the slightest and I was anticipating something needlessly violent and brutish. I was very wrong.
What I ended up reading was intricate, balanced and emotional. The Grievar, the fighters of the world, are a varied and rich group. The main characters, Cego and Murray, show amazing depth of character. These brutes built to fight were compassionate, noble and kind. Right from the beginning I was rooting for them.
The society outlined in this book is fascinating. We see a world where wars and disputes are whittled down to a single match between two Champions. This way of settling differences designed to limit the loss of life. It's a fascinating concept and it was well worked here. However, just like with all things, what is begun with good intentions often turns monstrous.
The relationships in the book are well done. The secondary characters have depth and add contrast to the story. I found myself laughing out loud and fighting back tears at certain points. The emotions the author was able to create, in what could have been a blindingly violent book, were stunning.
The science-fiction aspects of this book were also fascinating. I'm not generally a lover of science-fiction, but this story had a great balance. The spartan lifestyle of the Greivar contrasted nicely with the tech saturated world of the Daimyo. The concepts of the fighting circles and flux tattoos were interesting and added nice imagery.
One of the most fascinating pieces of the story was the Combat Codes themselves, from which the book gets it's title. At the beginning of each chapter we see an excerpt from these Codes. The book opens with the very first precept of the Codes:
"We fight neither to inflict pain nor prolong suffering. We fight neither to mollify anger nor to satisfy vendetta. We fight neither to accumulate wealth nor to promote social standing. We fight so that the rest shall not have to."
This is the fundamental principle that Cego and Murray fight to uphold throughout the book. This is the basis for the Codes that they live their lives by. Watching them navigate a world where others are forgetting the Codes is both heart-warming and heart-breaking.
The only reason I held back from the fifth star was a minor lack of world-building. The Spectrals in the story are fascinating, but it's hard to really get a grasp on what they and how they exist in the world. Similarly, I had a little trouble sorting out the differences in the geography of the world. It started coming together the further I got in, but left me a little puzzled at the beginning, which was a bit distracting.
Overall, I highly recommend this story and will be impatiently awaiting a sequel.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Reading the description I didn't really expect to like it. I'm not into martial arts in the slightest and I was anticipating something needlessly violent and brutish. I was very wrong.
What I ended up reading was intricate, balanced and emotional. The Grievar, the fighters of the world, are a varied and rich group. The main characters, Cego and Murray, show amazing depth of character. These brutes built to fight were compassionate, noble and kind. Right from the beginning I was rooting for them.
The society outlined in this book is fascinating. We see a world where wars and disputes are whittled down to a single match between two Champions. This way of settling differences designed to limit the loss of life. It's a fascinating concept and it was well worked here. However, just like with all things, what is begun with good intentions often turns monstrous.
The relationships in the book are well done. The secondary characters have depth and add contrast to the story. I found myself laughing out loud and fighting back tears at certain points. The emotions the author was able to create, in what could have been a blindingly violent book, were stunning.
The science-fiction aspects of this book were also fascinating. I'm not generally a lover of science-fiction, but this story had a great balance. The spartan lifestyle of the Greivar contrasted nicely with the tech saturated world of the Daimyo. The concepts of the fighting circles and flux tattoos were interesting and added nice imagery.
One of the most fascinating pieces of the story was the Combat Codes themselves, from which the book gets it's title. At the beginning of each chapter we see an excerpt from these Codes. The book opens with the very first precept of the Codes:
"We fight neither to inflict pain nor prolong suffering. We fight neither to mollify anger nor to satisfy vendetta. We fight neither to accumulate wealth nor to promote social standing. We fight so that the rest shall not have to."
This is the fundamental principle that Cego and Murray fight to uphold throughout the book. This is the basis for the Codes that they live their lives by. Watching them navigate a world where others are forgetting the Codes is both heart-warming and heart-breaking.
The only reason I held back from the fifth star was a minor lack of world-building. The Spectrals in the story are fascinating, but it's hard to really get a grasp on what they and how they exist in the world. Similarly, I had a little trouble sorting out the differences in the geography of the world. It started coming together the further I got in, but left me a little puzzled at the beginning, which was a bit distracting.
Overall, I highly recommend this story and will be impatiently awaiting a sequel.
August 2, 2020
SPFBO6 semifinalist review forthcoming
March 5, 2021
Are you a Potterhead and a MMA fan? Have I got a book for you.! Yes, that is a small niche crowd. Still, I like the character and the world. A caste like culture built around the arena, where single combat decides borders and status. I was on the fence for about the halfway point when the story picked up steam and finished well with some interesting concepts. In fact, I was a bit disappointed when the story ended but book #2 Grievar's Blood is out and picked that up because I want to see how it all ends.
February 9, 2021
Here are a few things you can expect from this book :
A martial arts inspired gem;
Excellent and raw fighting sequences;
Master and apprentice vibes;
Incredible military academy; and
Friendships and family.
On to the full review…
I started reading The Combat Codes on January 1st and it was such a great book to start my reading year off with! I LOVE martial arts in all of its forms so to see such a great Jiu Jitsu inspired SFF novel was super cool.
My experience reading The Combat Codes was one of nostalgia, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was such fun! Every time a pointer was given or a stance adjusted I knew what the Cego was feeling, it was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me to be honest. I remember having my hips wobbled and being told to get good and get strong or I would blow away like a leaf in the wind and that my stance wasn’t balanced, my arm was to low, firm taps to my elbows and wrists showing the weak points in my blocks! So this book hit a few great memories I have of Karate and MMA.
“We fight, so the rest shall not have to.”
And man do they fight! This book has some of the finest hand to hand combat I have read, you can totally see Darwin’s in depth knowledge and love of the art in his writing. It is like when you read John Gwynne’s books and you feel so many things in his writing because he has such a vast knowledge of battles and such due to his reenactments and such. So, yeah Darwin knows his shit!
I really loved the characters in this book, they were so well crafted. Cego and Murray are brilliant in their own rights but not only that, Darwin has created a world of fabulous characters even the ones that are not massive parts of the plot. They each add something different, they all had something they learnt from their own history that was imparted in someway onto our main characters. Each character, big or small, had a clear and distinguishable personality.
Another thing I really enjoyed in this book was the unraveling of Cego’s past, he is pretty mysterious at first and it was a joy to learn more about the role he has to play and where he has come from.
I think while this books world definitely feels more sci-fi in nature with it technological advancements but one of its keys components, the alloys, were so magical in my eyes. There were like a magic system in their own science-like way. Though, I don’t plan to say much in resect of these because they are such a joy to learn about.
There is quite a lot to this story, it has so many elements and little twists and it is enjoyable. Though, it did feel uneven at times. Yet the plot never stopped moving, it was always progressing and it was so fun to keep moving forward with such incredible characters but I sometimes felt like I lacked direction overall. Each section had its own direction but I felt the overall plot was slightly uneven.
The Combat Codes is an entertaining story, and its character are some of my favourite to read. Darwin has created a fascinating world and I will definitely be reading book two.
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
BUY THE PAPERBACK! This is an easy one for me, I read this on Kindle through my Kindle Unlimited subscription and will very soon be purchasing the PB of this book with its brand new amazing COVER!
A martial arts inspired gem;
Excellent and raw fighting sequences;
Master and apprentice vibes;
Incredible military academy; and
Friendships and family.
On to the full review…
I started reading The Combat Codes on January 1st and it was such a great book to start my reading year off with! I LOVE martial arts in all of its forms so to see such a great Jiu Jitsu inspired SFF novel was super cool.
My experience reading The Combat Codes was one of nostalgia, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was such fun! Every time a pointer was given or a stance adjusted I knew what the Cego was feeling, it was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me to be honest. I remember having my hips wobbled and being told to get good and get strong or I would blow away like a leaf in the wind and that my stance wasn’t balanced, my arm was to low, firm taps to my elbows and wrists showing the weak points in my blocks! So this book hit a few great memories I have of Karate and MMA.
“We fight, so the rest shall not have to.”
And man do they fight! This book has some of the finest hand to hand combat I have read, you can totally see Darwin’s in depth knowledge and love of the art in his writing. It is like when you read John Gwynne’s books and you feel so many things in his writing because he has such a vast knowledge of battles and such due to his reenactments and such. So, yeah Darwin knows his shit!
I really loved the characters in this book, they were so well crafted. Cego and Murray are brilliant in their own rights but not only that, Darwin has created a world of fabulous characters even the ones that are not massive parts of the plot. They each add something different, they all had something they learnt from their own history that was imparted in someway onto our main characters. Each character, big or small, had a clear and distinguishable personality.
Another thing I really enjoyed in this book was the unraveling of Cego’s past, he is pretty mysterious at first and it was a joy to learn more about the role he has to play and where he has come from.
I think while this books world definitely feels more sci-fi in nature with it technological advancements but one of its keys components, the alloys, were so magical in my eyes. There were like a magic system in their own science-like way. Though, I don’t plan to say much in resect of these because they are such a joy to learn about.
There is quite a lot to this story, it has so many elements and little twists and it is enjoyable. Though, it did feel uneven at times. Yet the plot never stopped moving, it was always progressing and it was so fun to keep moving forward with such incredible characters but I sometimes felt like I lacked direction overall. Each section had its own direction but I felt the overall plot was slightly uneven.
The Combat Codes is an entertaining story, and its character are some of my favourite to read. Darwin has created a fascinating world and I will definitely be reading book two.
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
BUY THE PAPERBACK! This is an easy one for me, I read this on Kindle through my Kindle Unlimited subscription and will very soon be purchasing the PB of this book with its brand new amazing COVER!
July 8, 2021
Solid popcorn entertainment that I breezed through pretty quickly. The setting is interesting, it’s a dystopian future world where single combat has replaced war. As a result the entire culture is built around MMA style fighting.
We follow a kid fighting in the slave rings. The plot itself is a little predictable, which robbed some of the tension from the narrative. It was still lots of fun to read though. The fights are often and exciting, written by someone who seems to know the topic well.
There are some minor gripes, like not being shown much of the wider world or having a super clear antagonist, but the book was overall just fun.
We follow a kid fighting in the slave rings. The plot itself is a little predictable, which robbed some of the tension from the narrative. It was still lots of fun to read though. The fights are often and exciting, written by someone who seems to know the topic well.
There are some minor gripes, like not being shown much of the wider world or having a super clear antagonist, but the book was overall just fun.
January 25, 2021
If you liked the power-progression fun of Cradle, Mage Errant, or Warforged: Stormweaver, then this will be for you! It's fast-paced, interesting, and features a low-key futuristic world of high-tech and low-tech single combat that I can't wait to explore further in the next book.
The combat (of which there is a lot of) is spot-on: realistic, brutal and detailed without getting overly technical. It hits the sweet spot between accuracy and fast pace. For me, I really enjoyed reading a book without swords and ranged weapons.
The combat (of which there is a lot of) is spot-on: realistic, brutal and detailed without getting overly technical. It hits the sweet spot between accuracy and fast pace. For me, I really enjoyed reading a book without swords and ranged weapons.
November 27, 2020
Review coming in January!
March 1, 2021
So this was a fun book great action pretty good story and characters I really liked the world and the fresh new way war is waged instead of guns and soldiers of war you have kids that fight for there different nations I really like the narration of the audiobook it was fantastic I can’t wait to read the next to in the series and see more from the new up coming independent author
December 26, 2020
Combat Codes is currently an SPFBO Finalist (one of my competitors!) and it absolutely deserves its seat at the table.
In this mashup of Ender's Game and Red Rising, Darwin gathers a few well-worn tropes and weaves them together masterfully to create a gripping, fast-paced story. As someone who wrestled for four years, every takedown released a flood of fond memories and every arm bar a memorial shudder. The fight scenes are flawless flashes of real-world brutality. Like Ender Wiggins, you read not to see IF he will win, but HOW.
I'll leave this review short and sweet. You should absolutely read this book. It's fun, brutal, and the rich world is creative and intriguing. Book two is a quick add to my TBR.
In this mashup of Ender's Game and Red Rising, Darwin gathers a few well-worn tropes and weaves them together masterfully to create a gripping, fast-paced story. As someone who wrestled for four years, every takedown released a flood of fond memories and every arm bar a memorial shudder. The fight scenes are flawless flashes of real-world brutality. Like Ender Wiggins, you read not to see IF he will win, but HOW.
I'll leave this review short and sweet. You should absolutely read this book. It's fun, brutal, and the rich world is creative and intriguing. Book two is a quick add to my TBR.
July 9, 2020
Full review to be posted later
This book was quite different from all of the rest of the titles in my batch and it started slowly and was full of tropes. However it had heart and focused on Cego a young lad who’s discovered by Murray Pearson whose job as a Greivar scout is to unearthen hidden warriors. From then on we get a rousing tale wherein many one-on-one battles are fought. Plus with likeable characters as well as a mystery about the protagonist’s past, this debut story really grabbed my attention and I was able to read without taking any breaks. This story was an action-packed one and the characters even though while sticking to a bit to tropes are written refreshingly well.
December 9, 2020
I read this in two nights during downtime at work. That is how good it was for me, I couldn't stop picking this back up between doing my job and not even after getting home at 6am from my 12 hour shift - I had to know more, delve deeper into this world.
Who knew reading such detailed descriptions of Ju-Jitsu moves would be so incredibly thoughtful, immersive, and leave you wanting more fights? Not me, that's for sure. This Sci-Fi with touches of the fantastical and a whole lot of...dare I say...heart, pulled me in and didn't let go until the final pages. Set in a world with no more wars where those below you fight for you. "We fight so they don't have to" is a reoccurring theme and mantra of those they call the Grievars. Who is They? Why do the Grievars really fight? What is happening? Who is Cego, really? Why is Murray so invested? You find out, sort of. It leaves you wanting more, it makes you want to take a deep dive and find the truths beneath it all, into the psyche of those who built this world to be the way it is. The Combat Codes was an interesting experience, and that is all I can really call it - an experience. Different. Imaginative. Brutal. Progressive. Thoughtful. Exciting.
A wonderful 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 because I want to keep reading more from this author and keep learning about the other characters, their motivations, and the rest of the world.
Who knew reading such detailed descriptions of Ju-Jitsu moves would be so incredibly thoughtful, immersive, and leave you wanting more fights? Not me, that's for sure. This Sci-Fi with touches of the fantastical and a whole lot of...dare I say...heart, pulled me in and didn't let go until the final pages. Set in a world with no more wars where those below you fight for you. "We fight so they don't have to" is a reoccurring theme and mantra of those they call the Grievars. Who is They? Why do the Grievars really fight? What is happening? Who is Cego, really? Why is Murray so invested? You find out, sort of. It leaves you wanting more, it makes you want to take a deep dive and find the truths beneath it all, into the psyche of those who built this world to be the way it is. The Combat Codes was an interesting experience, and that is all I can really call it - an experience. Different. Imaginative. Brutal. Progressive. Thoughtful. Exciting.
A wonderful 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 because I want to keep reading more from this author and keep learning about the other characters, their motivations, and the rest of the world.
January 1, 2021
We fight so that the rest will not have to!
What a book to kick 2021 of with! A wonderful blend of sci-fi and fantasy with some of the best fight scenes I have ever read. I was intrigued by the magic system, and a well paced exciting story is waiting for you. A more in-depth review will be available soon as part of the SPFBO.
What a book to kick 2021 of with! A wonderful blend of sci-fi and fantasy with some of the best fight scenes I have ever read. I was intrigued by the magic system, and a well paced exciting story is waiting for you. A more in-depth review will be available soon as part of the SPFBO.
September 26, 2021
4.5 ⭐️
Such a exciting read and fast paced. I love reading the fighting sequences and this didn’t disappoint. my favourite parts to read were definitely the trails and after. I really wasn’t expecting to so many twists and turns and the mystery to be so interesting. The ending really opened up the world and I’m very excited to read the sequel.
Such a exciting read and fast paced. I love reading the fighting sequences and this didn’t disappoint. my favourite parts to read were definitely the trails and after. I really wasn’t expecting to so many twists and turns and the mystery to be so interesting. The ending really opened up the world and I’m very excited to read the sequel.
February 10, 2021
Not my usual reading material but . I quite enjoyed this one. Good steady worldbuilding, decently believable flawed characters. Excellent combat scenes written by an author who loves what he's writing.
A worthy contender in spfbo 6 finals.
A worthy contender in spfbo 6 finals.
January 6, 2021
3.5⭐️
Read
September 19, 2021I found Combat Codes to be an interesting read. The story centers around stylized combat between gladiators who fight on behalf of their nations, rather than allowing conflict to be decided by destructive wars. The Grievars--said gladiators--live by the Combat Codes, a bushido-style set of rules to uphold their honor and formalize their existence. As one might expect, that code is starting to break down at the outset of the story.
The book features two POV protagonists: Murray, an aging Grievar who now searches for new fighters while being increasingly disillusioned with his nation's ethics, and Cego, a young man with a mysterious past who is Murray's latest find from the slums. Both develop nicely and end up being quite likable. In fact, I would say the strong characterization of the main players is one of the strengths of the book.
If you like hand-to-hand martial arts, it's in ready supply here, in fine detail. In some places, it felt a little overwhelming but I commend the author for being able to describe the grapples and blows well. The fight narrative never felt clunky or badly worded, just overlong sometimes. I thought the world-building was decent and intriguing and I'd like to see more of it.
If I had a major stumbling point with Combat Codes, it was in the plot. Maybe this is a casualty of me absorbing too much spec fiction for the last forty years, but I thought the major plot points were telegraphed a far way out. Because of that, the story milestones didn't convey much dramatic tension, which robbed the story of some of its suspense. But I was invested enough in Murray and Cego's arcs to keep reading.
Quibbles aside, this has a lot of attention to detail and empathetic protagonists, and overall, it's a good read. I liked following both main characters. Combat Codes is in the 3.5-4 range but I read for enjoyment and I did enjoy the book, so I'll go up and add book 2 to my TBR.
The book features two POV protagonists: Murray, an aging Grievar who now searches for new fighters while being increasingly disillusioned with his nation's ethics, and Cego, a young man with a mysterious past who is Murray's latest find from the slums. Both develop nicely and end up being quite likable. In fact, I would say the strong characterization of the main players is one of the strengths of the book.
If you like hand-to-hand martial arts, it's in ready supply here, in fine detail. In some places, it felt a little overwhelming but I commend the author for being able to describe the grapples and blows well. The fight narrative never felt clunky or badly worded, just overlong sometimes. I thought the world-building was decent and intriguing and I'd like to see more of it.
If I had a major stumbling point with Combat Codes, it was in the plot. Maybe this is a casualty of me absorbing too much spec fiction for the last forty years, but I thought the major plot points were telegraphed a far way out. Because of that, the story milestones didn't convey much dramatic tension, which robbed the story of some of its suspense. But I was invested enough in Murray and Cego's arcs to keep reading.
Quibbles aside, this has a lot of attention to detail and empathetic protagonists, and overall, it's a good read. I liked following both main characters. Combat Codes is in the 3.5-4 range but I read for enjoyment and I did enjoy the book, so I'll go up and add book 2 to my TBR.
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February 22, 2021One more SPFBO finalist to close out 2020!
The Combat Codes is probably the most martial-arts-based book I've ever read, including Liang Yusheng's BAIFA MONU ZHUAN. As such, it was a unique and enjoyable read - regardless of received wisdom that says an author really only needs to know slightly more than the average reader about the subject of a book, you can always tell when someone is really writing what they know. Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I'm told, forms the backbone of this book, but I really didn't need to know anything about it in order to understand the story. I'd describe the story as RED RISING meets HARRY POTTER, with martial arts taking the place of magic in a dystopian science-fiction setting.
The setting and martial arts are definitely the stars of this book - the fight scenes are some of Darwin's most gripping writing, while the world itself, with its distinctive speech cadences and sci-fi concepts including combat rings that influence the fighters' emotions and thoughts, felt immersive and real. Meanwhile, the ending packs some mean twists, including one I never saw coming!
The Combat Codes is probably the most martial-arts-based book I've ever read, including Liang Yusheng's BAIFA MONU ZHUAN. As such, it was a unique and enjoyable read - regardless of received wisdom that says an author really only needs to know slightly more than the average reader about the subject of a book, you can always tell when someone is really writing what they know. Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I'm told, forms the backbone of this book, but I really didn't need to know anything about it in order to understand the story. I'd describe the story as RED RISING meets HARRY POTTER, with martial arts taking the place of magic in a dystopian science-fiction setting.
The setting and martial arts are definitely the stars of this book - the fight scenes are some of Darwin's most gripping writing, while the world itself, with its distinctive speech cadences and sci-fi concepts including combat rings that influence the fighters' emotions and thoughts, felt immersive and real. Meanwhile, the ending packs some mean twists, including one I never saw coming!
January 15, 2020
Debut author Alexander Darwin really pleasantly surprised me with the Combat Codes. Heard about it first on the reddit's Fantasy sub, basically described as taking place in a dystopian world where hand to hand combat between champions determines political disputes between nations. Cool premise, but the story is really where this novel got me pulled in. It's fantastic, full of twists and turns with likable and realistic characters. And the action scenes really are fantastic.
I'd describe it as Young Adult, but certainly could be enjoyed by any fans of dystopian sci-fi / fantasy (along the vein of Hunger Games). There are some cliches that come with the territory, but Darwin has created a unique world that I'd love to follow in the next of the series.
I'd describe it as Young Adult, but certainly could be enjoyed by any fans of dystopian sci-fi / fantasy (along the vein of Hunger Games). There are some cliches that come with the territory, but Darwin has created a unique world that I'd love to follow in the next of the series.
July 30, 2020
Sci-fi with a heavy dose of MMA. I dig it.
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