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The Knights Eternal #1
Soultaker
It's been a thousand years since the Rising.
Earth is a wasteland, and a holy order of knights is all that stands between what remains of civilization and the brigands and demons trying to bring it all down. When the oldest of these knights, Abe, isn't trying to keep his brothers in line, he's tirelessly attempting to decode the riddles that have guided the Knights Eternal for the past two centuries.
The visions Abe's been having aren't helping matters.
The latest riddle sends the Knights Eternal after a prophet and his band of Outriders. Or is it sending them to seek the Prophet's aid? It's a question Abe needs answered. With his sanity fleeing, more demons than ever rising from the Pit, and rumors circulating of an army of risen dead, failure for the knights might end the world this time once and for all.
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Where else will reincarnated musicians become gun-slinging knights to patrol a post-apocalyptic wasteland? This book by Robert J. Duperre takes a pound of Game of Thrones, a few cups of The Wild Bunch, a dash of Doom, and a sprinkle of Doctor Who, and mixes them all into a fun, horrific ride.
Earth is a wasteland, and a holy order of knights is all that stands between what remains of civilization and the brigands and demons trying to bring it all down. When the oldest of these knights, Abe, isn't trying to keep his brothers in line, he's tirelessly attempting to decode the riddles that have guided the Knights Eternal for the past two centuries.
The visions Abe's been having aren't helping matters.
The latest riddle sends the Knights Eternal after a prophet and his band of Outriders. Or is it sending them to seek the Prophet's aid? It's a question Abe needs answered. With his sanity fleeing, more demons than ever rising from the Pit, and rumors circulating of an army of risen dead, failure for the knights might end the world this time once and for all.
---
Where else will reincarnated musicians become gun-slinging knights to patrol a post-apocalyptic wasteland? This book by Robert J. Duperre takes a pound of Game of Thrones, a few cups of The Wild Bunch, a dash of Doom, and a sprinkle of Doctor Who, and mixes them all into a fun, horrific ride.
342 pages, Paperback
Published July 11, 2017
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Duperre
27 books107 followersBorn on Cape Cod and raised in northern Connecticut, Robert Duperre is a writer whose main ambition is to create works that defy genre. His first novel, "The Fall: The Rift Book I" is now available in paperback and for the Amazon Kindle.
Robert lives with his wife, the artist Jessica Torrant, his three wonderful children, and Leonardo, the super one-eyed Labrador.
Robert lives with his wife, the artist Jessica Torrant, his three wonderful children, and Leonardo, the super one-eyed Labrador.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 13, 2017
A Perfect Mesh
Anybody can take a mystery and throw in some magic or cram a romantic subplot into a shoot-em-up thriller, but it takes serious skill to truly blend multiple genres into one cohesive story. Robert Duperre has done that here.
Soultaker follows brothers Abe, Meesh, and Shade on an unforgettable adventure that has all the fantasy, horror, science fiction, and action you can ask for. The post-apocalyptic landscape is unlike anything you’ve seen outside your worst nightmares, and yet the characters are real, sympathetic, understandable. Where did these guys come from? And how did they navigate the wastelands between there and here without going absolutely insane? Or did they?
I wanted to know it all. Because this isn’t just a perfect mesh of speculative fiction. It’s also a book with real heart. Would I have stayed for the exciting storyline alone? You better believe it. But I’m beyond tickled that it turned out to be something more than just a fun page-turner.
Fantastic world building, intriguing characters, and a plot that surges to an epic conclusion? Yeah, seriously, it’s all here. There’s nothing not to like about this novel. I found myself engrossed in Duppere’s world, infatuated with his writing, and desperate for more of both.
Anybody can take a mystery and throw in some magic or cram a romantic subplot into a shoot-em-up thriller, but it takes serious skill to truly blend multiple genres into one cohesive story. Robert Duperre has done that here.
Soultaker follows brothers Abe, Meesh, and Shade on an unforgettable adventure that has all the fantasy, horror, science fiction, and action you can ask for. The post-apocalyptic landscape is unlike anything you’ve seen outside your worst nightmares, and yet the characters are real, sympathetic, understandable. Where did these guys come from? And how did they navigate the wastelands between there and here without going absolutely insane? Or did they?
I wanted to know it all. Because this isn’t just a perfect mesh of speculative fiction. It’s also a book with real heart. Would I have stayed for the exciting storyline alone? You better believe it. But I’m beyond tickled that it turned out to be something more than just a fun page-turner.
Fantastic world building, intriguing characters, and a plot that surges to an epic conclusion? Yeah, seriously, it’s all here. There’s nothing not to like about this novel. I found myself engrossed in Duppere’s world, infatuated with his writing, and desperate for more of both.
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September 22, 2020DNF at 30% even though I only promised to give it to 25%.
Problem with this book is not even that it starts slow, because it does, OMG it does. The story eventually picks up speed. Only it was too late for me. Yes, there is a story there and there is a mystery and something sinister is afoot... only I don't care. The author failed to make me care about this characters. We are told they consider each other brothers, yet they constantly withhold vital information from each other, don't even talk about what bother them, and seem to barely like each other on occasions. And since I don't care about the characters, I can't bring myself to care about that mystery they are trying to unravel. So I'm out.
Problem with this book is not even that it starts slow, because it does, OMG it does. The story eventually picks up speed. Only it was too late for me. Yes, there is a story there and there is a mystery and something sinister is afoot... only I don't care. The author failed to make me care about this characters. We are told they consider each other brothers, yet they constantly withhold vital information from each other, don't even talk about what bother them, and seem to barely like each other on occasions. And since I don't care about the characters, I can't bring myself to care about that mystery they are trying to unravel. So I'm out.
July 5, 2017
*** I was given a free eBook copy of this book, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest feedback ***
Soultaker, by Robert J. Duperre, at its very core is a good story, though some of the other elements of the book may make that hard to see.
What I didn’t like:
The story moves slow in the beginning. Really slow. It’s not only the speed of the story either, it kind of wanders a little. I’m lead from place to place never knowing if anything that I’m reading is ever going to have a place anytime down the road.
Some of the characters were hard to get used to. I’m looking at you, Meesh. He’s one of the knights, and therefore a main character, but he’s really annoying. He lays down a constant barrage of crude jokes, which I’m normally game for, but his just weren’t funny. And he called everyone ‘brah’ all the time. Yes, it was spelled that way. Every time. To be fair, I think he’s supposed to be annoying, but it gets so intense at certain points that it pulled me out of the story.
The writing felt a little clumsy. There were times when it was difficult to tell who was talking, or who was making one action or another. I also noticed some repetition where the prose to describe a past event, and then a character would describe the very same event, using very similar words.
I have no idea why it was called Soultaker. A small quibble, I know. Still, I feel like someone should be able to ask me, “Hey, why’s it called Soultaker?” and I’d say something like, “There’s this guy that takes souls. They call him the Soultaker.” But, no. Nothing obvious, anyway. I could make some guesses through vague interpretations, but when it comes to the title, seems like it should be spoon fed.
What I liked:
The story really together by the end. Despite the speed it moved in the beginning, by the end I found myself turning the pages a lot faster, and I was very satisfied with the conclusion.
The world. Post-apocalyptic is such a wide open concept. Since it’s never happened (that we know of) there’s no right or wrong. Soultaker uses an interesting mix of archaic, modern day, future-tech, and magic to create the world and characters of Soultaker. Everything is a mixture of the fantastic and the familiar.
This preview is unavailable in the editor.
The end of Soultaker was clear in saying that there would be a lot more to the story. And though I had a few issues with it, I feel invested in the world and the characters and I’d certainly read future sequels.
Soultaker, by Robert J. Duperre, at its very core is a good story, though some of the other elements of the book may make that hard to see.
What I didn’t like:
The story moves slow in the beginning. Really slow. It’s not only the speed of the story either, it kind of wanders a little. I’m lead from place to place never knowing if anything that I’m reading is ever going to have a place anytime down the road.
Some of the characters were hard to get used to. I’m looking at you, Meesh. He’s one of the knights, and therefore a main character, but he’s really annoying. He lays down a constant barrage of crude jokes, which I’m normally game for, but his just weren’t funny. And he called everyone ‘brah’ all the time. Yes, it was spelled that way. Every time. To be fair, I think he’s supposed to be annoying, but it gets so intense at certain points that it pulled me out of the story.
The writing felt a little clumsy. There were times when it was difficult to tell who was talking, or who was making one action or another. I also noticed some repetition where the prose to describe a past event, and then a character would describe the very same event, using very similar words.
I have no idea why it was called Soultaker. A small quibble, I know. Still, I feel like someone should be able to ask me, “Hey, why’s it called Soultaker?” and I’d say something like, “There’s this guy that takes souls. They call him the Soultaker.” But, no. Nothing obvious, anyway. I could make some guesses through vague interpretations, but when it comes to the title, seems like it should be spoon fed.
What I liked:
The story really together by the end. Despite the speed it moved in the beginning, by the end I found myself turning the pages a lot faster, and I was very satisfied with the conclusion.
The world. Post-apocalyptic is such a wide open concept. Since it’s never happened (that we know of) there’s no right or wrong. Soultaker uses an interesting mix of archaic, modern day, future-tech, and magic to create the world and characters of Soultaker. Everything is a mixture of the fantastic and the familiar.
This preview is unavailable in the editor.
The end of Soultaker was clear in saying that there would be a lot more to the story. And though I had a few issues with it, I feel invested in the world and the characters and I’d certainly read future sequels.
August 6, 2017
Soultaker is a perfect blend of a variety of genre fiction or at least sub genres of Science Fiction. The setting is overtly post apocalyptic, complete with religious fundamentalists and desert landscapes, it has a techno fantasy aspect with the ostentatious guns and magical weaponry, but also the adventurous nature of a fantasy book. That coupled with a good portion of horror. The tale keeps the readers on their toes at all time and would clearly be categorized as a page turner. Duperre manages to perfectly blend the wild west style of storytelling with the science fiction backdrop. The Knights Eternal believe in a religion called Pentmatarianism, an apparent off shoot of older religions in the world. They also encounter the scourgers’ faith in Yehoshua, which causes them some confusion. There is a lot of depth in Soultaker and it takes some unexpected turns. It is a great example of what genre fiction can do.
November 5, 2021
What at first glance seems to be a postapocaliptic western full of stereotypical characters (the old veteran with a crisis of faith; the broken man bent on revenge; the reckless youth who hides his fears and feelings behind crude jokes and an attitude; the bandit gang that atterrorize the region) is actually more than it seems and nothing is what the reader thinks. The plot is so full of twists and surprises that the reader can't stop guessing and reading until the end. Superb.
October 17, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I had two attempts at reading hoping that it would improve but in the end I just gave up.
The story was slow and confusing, the characters were one dimensional and the storyline just did not improve.
This was not for me.
I had two attempts at reading hoping that it would improve but in the end I just gave up.
The story was slow and confusing, the characters were one dimensional and the storyline just did not improve.
This was not for me.
August 4, 2017
that was quite nice in a post-apoc sci-fi story
August 24, 2017
Disclosure: The reviewer received a review copy of this book via Netgalley.
I admit it: The cover art snagged me. It just looks like a thrilling sci-fi adventure cover. There’s one of the Knights Eternal in his armor, with his railgun, ready for action. Mr. Duperre’s writing lives up to the promise of the cover.
Soultaker takes place about a thousand years after the apocalyptic "Rising" event wiped out modern civilization. Three "brothers" comprise the Knights Eternal who keep the peace in the Wasteland and try to maintain the civilization that is centered in Sal Yaddo. The knights are generated through some unknown artificial means and incarnate as adults. Their missions are based on cryptic instructions from an oracle.
We meet our three protagonists, Shade, Meesh, and Abe, on a mission pursuing the religious fanatic Cooper, who is traveling the Wasteland putting together an army of Outriders. The oracle’s message isn’t very clear, so the knights don’t know if they’re supposed to help or stop Cooper. The knights have their own personal issues that aren’t helping: Meesh is being impetuous, Shade is moody and taciturn, and Abe is seeing things that aren’t there. And, of course, there are demons pushing their way into the world and causing mayhem.
I loved the pacing of this story. It starts off with a big fight scene in a tavern–a kick-ass start that grabbed me right away. There’s plenty of action and well-done fight scenes that kept me reading long past when I should have gone to bed. There were a couple of info dumps dropped into the action, including a Bond-villian-esque scene where the antagonist explains the whole plan, but most of the story felt organic.
Out of the three main characters, Abe had the most depth and believability. Shade had depth, but he could switch from blood enemy to warm compadre a bit faster than I could believe. Meesh was mostly two dimensional, but this story didn’t really focus much on him. His best parts were mostly in combat.
Soultaker has a great premise and fast-paced action. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
View the complete review here at Epic Grit.
I admit it: The cover art snagged me. It just looks like a thrilling sci-fi adventure cover. There’s one of the Knights Eternal in his armor, with his railgun, ready for action. Mr. Duperre’s writing lives up to the promise of the cover.
Soultaker takes place about a thousand years after the apocalyptic "Rising" event wiped out modern civilization. Three "brothers" comprise the Knights Eternal who keep the peace in the Wasteland and try to maintain the civilization that is centered in Sal Yaddo. The knights are generated through some unknown artificial means and incarnate as adults. Their missions are based on cryptic instructions from an oracle.
We meet our three protagonists, Shade, Meesh, and Abe, on a mission pursuing the religious fanatic Cooper, who is traveling the Wasteland putting together an army of Outriders. The oracle’s message isn’t very clear, so the knights don’t know if they’re supposed to help or stop Cooper. The knights have their own personal issues that aren’t helping: Meesh is being impetuous, Shade is moody and taciturn, and Abe is seeing things that aren’t there. And, of course, there are demons pushing their way into the world and causing mayhem.
I loved the pacing of this story. It starts off with a big fight scene in a tavern–a kick-ass start that grabbed me right away. There’s plenty of action and well-done fight scenes that kept me reading long past when I should have gone to bed. There were a couple of info dumps dropped into the action, including a Bond-villian-esque scene where the antagonist explains the whole plan, but most of the story felt organic.
Out of the three main characters, Abe had the most depth and believability. Shade had depth, but he could switch from blood enemy to warm compadre a bit faster than I could believe. Meesh was mostly two dimensional, but this story didn’t really focus much on him. His best parts were mostly in combat.
Soultaker has a great premise and fast-paced action. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
View the complete review here at Epic Grit.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews