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Heroes Road: Book 1
Disgraced, destitute, and dishonorably discharged. Coel ap Math and Snorri Yaroslav are soldiers without a cause. When a mysterious sorcerer makes them an offer they can’t afford to refuse, they set out on an adventure that will take them around the known world, and one that will determine the world's fate.
- GenresFantasy
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2016
4 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 5, 2017
I've been a reader of Chuck Rogers from his days as a Mack Bolan ghostwriter. He's always been an entertaining writer. So, when he asked me to pick up his self-published novel, HEROES ROAD, I decided to give it a chance, despite it being a historical supernatural adventure novel and outside of my usual wheelhouse.
I am very glad that I gave it a chance.
In terms of sheer readability, HEROES ROAD is one of the best novels I have ever read, bar none.
The story opens with Welshman Coel ap Math and Slav Snorri Yaroslav serving a Commission of Debt to the Church on the Russian steppes, and inadvertently stumbling upon a hobgoblin horde. The Church, refusing to believe that the hobgoblins have returned to the world of man, dishonorably discharge both men and give them a week to pay their debts.
A mysterious sorcerer and his dwarven companion offer them a deal that is too good to be true: payment of their debt to the Church and more gold than either one knows how to spend if they act as his bodyguards in a quest to the south. Desperate and strapped for cash, they agree to the terms.
What follows is a boisterous, humorous, emotionally gripping, and harrowing tale with various exotic companions and locales, and quite possibly the finest collection of medieval penis jokes the world has ever seen.
I strongly related to the character of Coel, a poetic and secretly iconoclastic heathen who alternates between letting his temper and his libido get the best of him. To call him a medieval Captain Kirk would be a bit of an understatement, and it is entertaining to observe his follies.
Snorri is ever reliable as the comic relief, though the other supporting characters are definitely not left out when it comes to wisecracks.
The action is visceral, aptly described and clearly pictured in the reader's head, and pulse quickening.
I cannot recall the last time I read a book so enthralling that I would read four or five chapters in one sitting to find out what happens next, stopping only to give my eyes a break.
If you buy any book this year, make it Chuck Rogers's HEROES ROAD. You will be hard pressed to find a finer tale of debauchery and derring-do.
I am very glad that I gave it a chance.
In terms of sheer readability, HEROES ROAD is one of the best novels I have ever read, bar none.
The story opens with Welshman Coel ap Math and Slav Snorri Yaroslav serving a Commission of Debt to the Church on the Russian steppes, and inadvertently stumbling upon a hobgoblin horde. The Church, refusing to believe that the hobgoblins have returned to the world of man, dishonorably discharge both men and give them a week to pay their debts.
A mysterious sorcerer and his dwarven companion offer them a deal that is too good to be true: payment of their debt to the Church and more gold than either one knows how to spend if they act as his bodyguards in a quest to the south. Desperate and strapped for cash, they agree to the terms.
What follows is a boisterous, humorous, emotionally gripping, and harrowing tale with various exotic companions and locales, and quite possibly the finest collection of medieval penis jokes the world has ever seen.
I strongly related to the character of Coel, a poetic and secretly iconoclastic heathen who alternates between letting his temper and his libido get the best of him. To call him a medieval Captain Kirk would be a bit of an understatement, and it is entertaining to observe his follies.
Snorri is ever reliable as the comic relief, though the other supporting characters are definitely not left out when it comes to wisecracks.
The action is visceral, aptly described and clearly pictured in the reader's head, and pulse quickening.
I cannot recall the last time I read a book so enthralling that I would read four or five chapters in one sitting to find out what happens next, stopping only to give my eyes a break.
If you buy any book this year, make it Chuck Rogers's HEROES ROAD. You will be hard pressed to find a finer tale of debauchery and derring-do.
November 10, 2020
Now, I would warn people to take my review with a grain of salt, mostly because I could not force myself to listen through the audiobook. I got through what would be around half the book before I just couldn’t bring myself to continue and I want to mention a bit why since there are very few books I can’t get through.
Now, first, I am not the intended audience as a woman and this book, at least what I read, was a blatant male power fantasy which brings me no joy or interest. The main character is a welsh barbarian, a chieftain’s son who don’t get to inherit anything so the father sends him to become a paladin. The paladins soon realize that the main character is the best talent they had in god knows how many years. He is a master at the sword, bow and can sing and play harp. He is a leader, a position he hasn’t earned and others are more suitable for the position, handsome and popular among ladies. He has a brutish best friend whose loyalty he has earned by doing nothing. Two beautiful women fights for him, one is a sultry beauty who sleeps with anything that moves. The other is a maiden, raised by nuns with no experience with men, a warrior who seem to only have one seen of showing it before she is hurt and nurtured back to health by the main character and become his love interest after the main character is an asshole to her because he has a sad past.
Another reviewer mentions that this feels like an old DnD game and I would agree. It feels long, littered with side quests. The main character’s sad past which makes him angry is one of them. He tells the maiden about it and suddenly it gone. Quest solved.
The book seems to be littered with stereotypical characters which doesn’t goes beyond their “npc” structure, which often is about giving the main character something to do, tell him something or get him on the right track.
As I said in the beginning, this book isn’t targeted towards me and I was bored throughout it. If you grew up on DnD then you might love this but I cannot give it a higher rating than one star simply because I found it so horrendous that I couldn’t get through it. Some seem to like it though, so maybe you will as well, but I wanted to say my piece.
Now, first, I am not the intended audience as a woman and this book, at least what I read, was a blatant male power fantasy which brings me no joy or interest. The main character is a welsh barbarian, a chieftain’s son who don’t get to inherit anything so the father sends him to become a paladin. The paladins soon realize that the main character is the best talent they had in god knows how many years. He is a master at the sword, bow and can sing and play harp. He is a leader, a position he hasn’t earned and others are more suitable for the position, handsome and popular among ladies. He has a brutish best friend whose loyalty he has earned by doing nothing. Two beautiful women fights for him, one is a sultry beauty who sleeps with anything that moves. The other is a maiden, raised by nuns with no experience with men, a warrior who seem to only have one seen of showing it before she is hurt and nurtured back to health by the main character and become his love interest after the main character is an asshole to her because he has a sad past.
Another reviewer mentions that this feels like an old DnD game and I would agree. It feels long, littered with side quests. The main character’s sad past which makes him angry is one of them. He tells the maiden about it and suddenly it gone. Quest solved.
The book seems to be littered with stereotypical characters which doesn’t goes beyond their “npc” structure, which often is about giving the main character something to do, tell him something or get him on the right track.
As I said in the beginning, this book isn’t targeted towards me and I was bored throughout it. If you grew up on DnD then you might love this but I cannot give it a higher rating than one star simply because I found it so horrendous that I couldn’t get through it. Some seem to like it though, so maybe you will as well, but I wanted to say my piece.
January 24, 2018
I absolutely loved this book! The author creates a very interesting and unique fantasy world by combining the supernatural with a historical setting. People who are semi-familiar with history will get the most out of this book, but the story is so well written that anyone who likes fantasy novels will really enjoy this book.
I literally laughed out loud at several parts but also felt genuine anxiety and tension at other moments in the book. The author is a great writer and will suck you into the fantasy world that he has created almost immediately.
Couldn't recommend this book enough to anyone who loves fantasy books/video games, and history. Would still highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy.
I literally laughed out loud at several parts but also felt genuine anxiety and tension at other moments in the book. The author is a great writer and will suck you into the fantasy world that he has created almost immediately.
Couldn't recommend this book enough to anyone who loves fantasy books/video games, and history. Would still highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy.
July 17, 2017
This book amused me but I had to push myself to finish it. The author felt like he was bored with his own characters. He did not seem interested in their interactions unless they were fighting or making out. It was like watching some testosterone fueled action flick. I will not be picking up book 2. Totally forgettable
December 21, 2018
This book is definitely worth a read. The blerb doesn't give much away, which is good because some books ruin most of the story in the blerb but bad because you don't really get much of an idea about what the book is like. I'm more than glad I took a chance on this.
November 5, 2023
This was simply put: a mind blowing, exciting, emotional and action-packed book! The first to begin a much awaited series. It’s reminds me very much of my favorite series by Michael J. Sullivan: The Riyria Revelation, etc. the relationship that eventually made the entire series what it is. Royce and Hadrian. Now these two: Coel ap Math and Snorri Yaroslav (some tongue-twisters for sure but now that I’m introduced to them & have gone thru many travels with them that I understand that the author made fitting names for the characters). I’m hooked on this series. So will you be. What an author! Great writing & balanced story-telling with so many different characters I’ve not mentioned is not an ez task. Yet, here I am bragging about it.
January 27, 2020
3.5 Stars
While this book has all the ingredients for an epic fantasy, it fails to grow into that mold. I was left feeling no anticipation for book two. Sadly, I can't put my finger on the missing element.
While this book has all the ingredients for an epic fantasy, it fails to grow into that mold. I was left feeling no anticipation for book two. Sadly, I can't put my finger on the missing element.
August 19, 2019
Pretty entertaining story. Reminds me of a D&D adventure. Interesting altered real world history intertwined into a high fantasy story.
October 9, 2019
Great listen as audiobook. Recommended for adventure fantasy lovers!
June 16, 2021
This book is very well written and the quality is simply outstanding.
If you like flowing prose and fast action, then this is for you.
If you like flowing prose and fast action, then this is for you.
April 25, 2020
I loved this book, that humor and setting are genius !
"The Odin's Spear"!!
Very good recommend to anyone.
"The Odin's Spear"!!
Very good recommend to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews