The Armored Saint

The Sacred Throne #1

by Myke Cole

"Cole weaves a fantasy world that feels comfortably familiar, then goes to places you’d never expect. You won’t stop turning pages until the stunning finish." —Peter V. Brett

Myke Cole, star of CBS's Hunted and author of the Shadow Ops series, debuts the Sacred Throne epic fantasy trilogy with The Armored Saint, a story of religious tyrants, arcane war-machines, and underground resistance that will enthrall epic fantasy readers of all ages.

In a world where any act of magic could open a portal to hell, the Order insures that no wizard will live to summon devils, and will kill as many innocent people as they must to prevent that greater horror. After witnessing a horrendous slaughter, the village girl Heloise opposes the Order, and risks bringing their wrath down on herself, her family, and her village.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Novella, Science Fiction, LGBT, Audiobook

206 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2018

About the author

As a security contractor, government civilian and military officer, Myke Cole’s career has run the gamut from Counterterrorism to Cyber Warfare to Federal Law Enforcement. He’s done three tours in Iraq and was recalled to serve during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. After hunting terrorists and criminals in real life, he kept up the job on TV, first tracking fugitives on CBS’ 2017 show Hunted, and UFOs on Discovery Channel’s 2019 show Contact.

All that conflict can wear a guy out. Thank goodness for fantasy novels, comic books, late night games of Dungeons and Dragons and lots of angst fueled writing.

Reviews

[Mark Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Read it in two days, which is always a good sign. Though sometimes I do savour books I'm really into too...

This isn't a book for savouring, it's a hard hitting tale that doesn't let up until it's done. The punches come both emotionally and, in the actions scenes, literally. The title girl is the main character and we see events unfold through her eyes. Cole does a great job portraying her inner life along with her often poor decision making that comes from a good place.

The book does a great job at portraying relationships, making you care about the characters, and then menacing the hell out of them! Nooooo! Don't do that! I thought, more than once.

It's a small book but it builds a big and interesting world, and does so painlessly, even though we only see a sliver of it. There's enough inventiveness going on to keep this reader happy without overloading.

Reading the story there were quite a few points where I thought, "I know where this is going." And each time I felt a touch disappointed, thinking that I was reading a tale I basically already knew, albeit it very well executed. It turned out though that I was wrong on several of those occasions and the refusal to stay on the tracks was very welcome.

It's a little book that takes on big issues of rights and wrongs, and rather than give glib answers it just shines a light on them. It's intelligently written, fun, and brutal in equal measures. Well ... the fun comes from reading it. I won't claim it's a laugh riot.

I thought this was an excellent read, bringing to the table all of Myke Cole's proven skills and adding new ones into the mix as if the man didn't already have enough talent.

So, yes, read it! It won't take long and you'll thank me.



Tor describe this as a novella. Book 1 in a trilogy of novellas.

http://www.tor.com/2016/06/02/tor-com...

At almost 60,000 words The Fractured Girl is actually a shortish book rather than a novella, the definition of which seems to include a word range of 17,500 to 40,000.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novella

It's also longer than most of the many books that Michael Moorcock wrote in the 60s/70s. We've just grown used to fat fantasy of late.

I hear a whisper that short and sweet may be coming back. And remember, Prince of Thorns was only 82,000 words.


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[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher—Tor.com—in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

Constantly pulse-pounding, The Armored Saint is a poignant, tension-packed grimdark fantasy and a glorious beginning to a trilogy.

I started The Armored Saint with zero knowledge about the book; I didn’t know what it was about, and I had never even heard of the name Myke Cole. What captured my attention was Robin Hobb’s blurb and its stunning cover art by Tommy Arnold. Luckily, I’m pleased to say that the book’s tone totally matched Hobb’s blurb (“Ruthless and heart-wrenching”) and the quality of the book itself exceeded the quality of the gorgeous cover. I guess you can say that judging a book by its cover worked wonderfully this time.

The Armored Saint, the first book in The Sacred Throne trilogy, is in fact only the second time a short book or a novella made it to my “favorites of all time” shelf, the first one being The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson. Cole has truly created something special here; right from the first chapter, the story pulled me in and never let go until the end. Told solely from Heloise’s perspective, I found the plot highly engaging up to the incredible action-packed climax sequences. It’s immersive and it dealt with a lot of intriguing topics that fit our current societies, such as faith, familial and LGBT love, but most of all, injustice and persecution.

“..while your thoughts are your own, the words you let past your lips belong to the world, and the world will not always take the meaning you intended.”

The story direction is not plot-driven; I don’t think it was ever meant to be written that way, and was instead a heavily character-driven story. Because the author used this storytelling direction with an exceptionally well-written main character, I was never bored while reading this book. The main character, Heloise Factor, has become one of the best female protagonists I’ve ever read in any book.

“Heloise Factor is my favorite kind of hero, the one who makes mistakes and suffers for them, and comes out swinging anyway. I can’t wait for you to meet her.” –Myke Cole

And I’m delighted to have met her. Her raw emotions, her innocence, her struggle with love and her identity can be felt through each word. In fact, by the middle of the first chapter, I was already worried about her fate. This, of course, doesn’t apply to Heloise only; the side characters, especially Samson, Clodio and Basina are all equally well written despite the book being told solely from Heloise's POV in third person narrative.

All of these were achievable due to Cole’s prose that felt incredibly vivid and totally brought the raw emotions of the characters to life. Believe me, I wish I can share all the quotes that I highlighted and tell you what a wonderful experience I had reading Cole’s prose, but it’s better for you to find out by yourself. Surprisingly, the discussion about love in this book moved me the most. There was also stunning world-building that was introduced meticulously: dark medieval setting, violent fanatical religious group, a portal to hell through an eye, magic with repercussions, and War-Machines. With all of these aspects combined, I couldn’t possibly ask for a better start to a trilogy in a short book.

Remember, all of this happened within the scope of fewer than 200 pages; what many authors usually require 400 pages or more to do, Cole did exceptionally well in half the number of pages. This deserves high praise from me and trust me, I’m quite petty when it comes to giving praises. It actually shocked me to learn that this is Cole’s first grimdark fantasy; he captured all the essence of grimdark fantasy magnificently without showing any gore or unnecessary violent scenes; he instead emphasized more how brutal and harsh reality can be. However, in the midst of all the injustice, he never forgets to remind us that love and kindness remain two of the greatest gifts that humanity can bestow upon one another.

“That love is worth it. It is worth any hardship, it is worth illness. It is worth injury. It is worth isolation. It is even worth death. For life without love is only a shadow of life.”

I read through the ARC edition of this book within three hours; on that front, I guess I’m screwed because there are still five months left until the official release date of this book, which means my wait for the second book will be even more painful. However, I’ll wait patiently; if the rest of the trilogy maintains this quality, I have no doubt that The Sacred Throne will be one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read. Cole is truly a long-awaited addition to grimdark fantasy and I’m sure fans of the genre—or just great fantasy in general—will be damn pleased to welcome him aboard once this book appears on the market.

P.S: Although Tor categorized this book as a novella, I should let you know that its wordcounts reached 60k, which easily fits the criteria of a short book instead of a novella.

Release date: February 20th, 2018. You can pre-order the book HERE

You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by Tor in exchange for an honest review.

“Love is worth it. It is worth any hardship, it is worth illness. It is worth injury. It is worth isolation. It is even worth death. For life without love is only a shadow of life.”

Well, I think it’s safe for me to yell from the rooftops: pre-order The Armored Saint now, guys! What an amazing ride, even though I wasn’t ready for it to be over. This is easily one of the best things I’ve read in 2017, and this is truly epic fantasy at its finest. I’m so damn impressed.

The Armored Saint centers on a village of people who live subservient lives to the Order. The Order is a group of religious tyrants that do horrible things to the wizards in this world, or to the people that are protecting and/or harboring the wizards in this world. The Order follows the word of the Writ, which has lead them to believe that wizards have a portal in their eye, that can open the very gates of hell itself and summon devils.

Our main protagonist, Heloise, is a sixteen-year-old girl who isn’t sure if she even believes the Order, but she knows that they are heartless, terrible people after her and her father have a run-in with them at the very start of this story. The Order appears to just be cruel for the sake of being cruel, but many of the villagers in Heloise’s community believe in the words that Order preaches, including her very own father.

“Because the Writ tells us, girl. Because the Order reminds us. The devils are real, and they are terrible, and we must be ever vigilant for their return.”

Heloise and her village are put in a situation where they have to make a sacrifice, after they’ve already been forced to make so many, or to risk everything to protect their community. The story really takes off from there, and we also get to see a mysterious ranger, an inactive war-machine, and even a magical mouse!

But this is also a story about discovering and embracing your sexuality. Heloise is constantly questioning her feelings for her best friend, and it made me cry so many happy yet sad tears. This is a beautiful tale about a girl coming to terms with her queerness in a world that thinks it is unnatural, and it is so very important. This story truly means more to me than I can express in words. Heloise is easily one of my favorite female protagonists of all time, and I will continue to say what I say in every queer SFF review I write: we need more stories like this! This story is so utterly heart-wrenching, but it’s so important.

“That’s what love should be, sure as stone, as running water. Sure as the bite of winter and spring blossoms. Sure even when it was impossible. Even when they were both girls.”

And love is such a driving force in this very character focused story. The love between families. The love between friends. And the love between two young girls who are just trying to learn who they are.

“No. It is a person you love. Not a name. Not a she or a he. A person in all their shining glory. There is a thing in us, Heloise. A seed. It makes us who we are. It is our core. That is the thing we love. It alone exists. It alone is holy. It has no home, no name. It is neither male nor female. It is greater than that.”

Now, excuse me while I go cry for the rest of this night, because I’m not sure if I’ve read anything as beautiful as that quote. This book has such a lyrical prose. The writing is so fantastic and adds even more to an already perfect story. And Myke Cole does this in only 200 pages. This is the first thing I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be my last. This book is little, but it is oh so mighty. And it has completely captured my heart. Please give this book a try when it releases on February 20th, 2018!

“Never be sorry for loving, Heloise. No matter who it is, no matter how it is done, no matter how the person you love receives it. Love is the greatest thing a person can do. Most go their entire lives knowing only ritual and obligation, mistaking it for love.”

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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 3 out of 5]

On sale now! Unfortunately it's a weak 3 stars for me, maybe 2.5. I'm an outlier here, so if you love the idea of a young, idealistic, and passionately impulsive gay character fighting against evil religious oppression in a medieval setting, this book will be right up your alley. Full review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:

In Heloise’s land, the foremost rule of the Order is clear: “Suffer no wizard to live.” For the exercise of magical powers, it is said, will open a portal to hell through the eyes of the wizard, allowing devils to come through and wreak destruction among men. But all sixteen year old Heloise can see is the oppression of the religious Order, which allows its Sojourners and Pilgrims to bully and oppress the common people. Anyone even suspected of using magical powers, or protecting those who have such powers, is immediately executed by the flail- and chain-bearing Order members, who act in the name of the Emperor.

Heloise Factor lives with her parents in the small medieval-type village of Hammersdown, where families are named for the father’s profession: Factor, Trapper, Fletcher, Grower, and so forth. Heloise’s best friend Basina Tinker comes from a family of metalworkers, who form metal ox yokes and other items for the villagers. But the Tinkers also create secret weapons and war-machines under Imperial commissions, like giant suits of armor that give the wearer immense strength, speed and endurance.

When a cruel Sojourner, Brother Tone, forces the villagers to participate in a manhunt, killing innocent people accused of engaging in (or harboring sympathy toward) wizardry, or even just being a person with a mental disability or such a person’s relative, Heloise rebels against Brother Tone and the Order. Her actions spark a village rebellion that may prove the destruction of her family and even her entire village.

Myke Cole’s The Armored Saint (2018) is a magical fantasy set in a harsh, unfair medieval world. It’s a familiar type of setting and, personally, it wasn’t a world I particularly cared to experience. The sadistic, quasi-religious Order members who embody the Emperor’s brutal government were distasteful and play into anti-religious stereotypes. Like Inquisition agents run amok, the Order terrorizes and murders villagers in order to enforce the social order. The religious oppression theme is continually hammered home, bolstered by scripture-like quotes at the beginning of the book’s chapters.

Heloise is a rather frustrating protagonist. She makes several questionable choices due to her immaturity and impetuosity, gravely endangering her family and her entire village as a result. She’s tremendously passionate, but not terribly bright, at least not in a practical sense. Heloise is nonetheless a sympathetic character, coming of age in this story and coming to terms with her feelings toward her best friend Basina, which is all in a furtive Love That Dares Not Speak Its Name kind of way, due to their culture. Basina is betrothed to a village lad, and it’s not at all clear that she feels anything more for Heloise than deep friendship. But The Armored Saint is ultimately very affirming of Heloise’s sexuality:

Never be sorry for loving, Heloise. No matter who it is, no matter how it is done, no matter how the person you love receives it. Love is the greatest thing a person can do. Most go their entire lives knowing only ritual and obligation, mistaking it for love. But you have loved truly, as few can ever hope to do. This pain you are feeling is a triumph, Heloise.

This is Message Fiction, which clearly has its place, but it’s not a subtle message. Still, The Armored Saint is a novel that may be helpful to the self-acceptance of teens who are gay or otherwise feel marginalized.

I give The Armored Saint props for one seriously eyebrow-raising twist that I in no way expected. Unfortunately the reader isn’t given a full explanation for why and how this event occurs, but maybe that will be disclosed in the sequels. The second book in THE SACRED THRONE series, The Queen of Crows, is scheduled for publication in October 2018.

I was given an advance copy of this book by Tor for review. Thank you!

[Orient · Rating 5 out of 5]

Million 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

After seeing wonderful reviews for this book on GR, had to try it! Special thanks to Petrik who got me infected with "Armored Saint".

What an amaztastic short read. Loved it, all of it! The characters, the pace, the worldbuilding and of course the



and the juicy



Can't wait for the next book to come out!

P.S.WARNING: LGBT traces.

[Elle (ellexamines on TT & Substack) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

The most important question on whether or not I can enjoy high fantasy, at least for now as I’m still a newby, is whether or not I can engage in the narrative. High fantasy is an enjoyable genre, but sometimes, the longer and slower of the genre make me forget. Or my mood will. And this novella-length fantasy novel with an incredibly engaging story is the perfect example of entertaining and fast-paced high fantasy.

Okay, let’s break down why this novella works so well.
note: This review contains two spoiler sections, both marked with both tags and don’t-read-this notes.

→thematic concept and ideas, p.ii←
There are a lot of ideas in this novella, but the basic concept can be summed up like this: it’s about how oppressive groups systematically perpetrate marginalization, and how bystander culture is used by these groups to stop pushback.

“Did we have to do it?” she asked.
“No,” he answered, his voice breaking, tears falling into his beard to turn the flakes of ash to gray slush. “No, child. We didn’t.” He took a deep break then spoke again. “And making us complicit means we will never call them to account for the crime.”

It’s so easy to make a population complicit in their own oppression, to force them to be complicit and ignore the suffering of those around them. The thing I thought was most interesting about this novel is how - yes, this is a spoiler - two character’s being queer and them being wizards are integrated as parts of the plot. It's sort of an interesting narrative and I'm interested to see where it goes!

→worldbuilding and concept←
The world isn’t the focus, but it’s clearly built to criticize a deeply religious and discriminatory culture. The metaphor of this strict religious dictatorship is used sort of as a metaphor for queer oppression, which is clever. The world is not the focus of this novella, but it’s used well, tying into the themes of oppression perfectly.

Never be sorry for loving, Heloise. No matter who it is, no matter how it is done, no matter how the person you love receives it. Love is the greatest thing a person can do. Most go their entire lives knowing only ritual and obligation, mistaking it for love. But you have loved truly, as few can ever hope to do. This pain you are feeling is a triumph, Heloise.

I will say that I’m not personally into the typical oppressive-world concept and don’t tend to adore grimdark fantasy. Constant brutality isn’t my thing and I sometimes think it goes down the path of torture porn. But I felt good about this novella - it walks the line very well between happiness and torture, grief and hope. But this one is kind of brutal with a bunch of death, so just be aware of that going in.

→plot and story structure←
This novella is structured so well. It’s difficult to give a novella such a clear arc of development and such excellent pacing, not too fast and not too slow, but I think Myke Cole achieved that. Unfortunately, one hangup: I felt sometimes that the plot was a bit unconnected. Specifically, the author tries to use a magic structure as a plot twist, and it felt a bit clumsy to me. From other reviews, I’m getting that the author does this because he’s trying to consciously subvert several genre constraints of adult sff, which is a fantastic idea, but I haven’t read enough adult sff as of yet to really recognize those points. [I mean, I enjoyed it anyway, so…?] Overall, though, I was a huge fan of the plot anyway. This book never really went where I was expecting, but still felt like a fairly logical progression. Events felt both out of nowhere and sensical. I never stopped feeling engaging in the narrative and didn’t really want it to end [okay. my slump wanted it to end.]

→character development←
The character development here is so great and it makes this novella such a shining gem. Heloise is an impulsive teenager who also doesn’t feel annoying - she’s a flawed character who makes bad decisions and that’s okay. Her arc focuses mostly on her realization of the oppression she’s facing and also - this was the part I liked most - her discovery of her sexuality and her feelings for her best friend, Basina. These two arcs are integrated in a way that makes them feel like they’re each a part of the same story, which is exactly what I want out of character development like this. I’m really excited to see more of her saga!

Yeah. Anyway. Those are my thoughts on the core aspects of The Armored Saint and why I found it, on the whole, entertaining.

Something I noticed critique of in this book is - spoilers, but this might be worth knowing for lgbtq reviewers - the #buryyourgays trope. I have… thoughts. First of all, yeah, it’s an accurate criticism. There’s a sapphic lead, one queer mentor, and one possible love interest, and then two of those characters die. Wish that were changed. BUT I will say that it didn’t bother me personally for a couple reasons. It feels less like baiting and switching and more like those first books where the childhood love and the father figure both get fridged so the protagonist has to rely on themselves. [Which I literally think I’ve only seen happen to male characters until today?] Maybe it also helped that I was as warned - like you’re being right now, hmm? So yeah, that’s a warning I’d add to the book, but it didn’t feel exploity to me personally [a Huge Sapphic]. Again, totally fine if you hated or loved it! That’s just how I felt.

update 11/5: unfortunately, book two of this series did not work as well for me - you can find my review here.

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[Hamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

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“That love is worth it. It is worth any hardship, it is worth illness. It is worth injury. It is worth isolation. It is even worth death. For life without love is only a shadow of life.”

The main reasons that made me read this one are: It has a great cover, The author is cool and funny on twitter and I love Tor’s novellas! But as soon as I started it, I liked it for totally different things!

I thought that the book would be plot driven, the book has a weird and very intriguing synopsis, there is a kind of a religious group called the order and these people opposes any act of magic because wizards have the ability to open portals and summon devils (from their eyes?!). It is not like anything I have ever read before!

“Hell is a word men use in place of fear.”

The reality is that this took me by surprise as it was a character-driven story with a number of fleshed out characters and a teenager as a protagonist who is still trying to figure things (LIFE) out! Heloise was a ruthless character and I have seen her getting equal amounts of love and hate. I think this explains the relatively lower review of this entry in the series! I think the angst and confusion Heloise had was very befitting for a character her age and we all mistakes so that makes her more realistic for me. I don’t like too perfect characters!

That being said, the plot was not bad at all! It needed some time to build the main event toward the end which I knew was going to happen but still enjoyed! The book deals with extreme religious figures and oppression and the victims of such things. There was some action and the modern mix between the medieval setting and the armor worked well for some reason! All in all, I enjoyed the plot too.

“No matter what happened, try and take joy in the day, girl. We have precious few of them.”

Summary: With a good writing and fleshed out characters, The Armored Saint is a short story that delivers a lot more than its size! I always believed fantasy books can be shorter and this proves that a full story can be delivered within a small number of pages!

You can get more books from Book Depository

[Richard Derus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.9* of five

I have a confession to make right off the bat: I didn't request this book. My Tor.com Publishing contact, knowing I am big on books with queer representation, figured I'd like this and sent it along. I looked at it in some surprise because it's by Myke Cole, The Shadow Ops-superhero-y military SF guy. If you've paid me the smallest bit of attention before now, you know I detest superhero-y crap and am only enjoying milSF from a gay-male PoV these days. I was a history major. I've had my fill of battlefield stuff for its own sake. Talk to ME, the elderly queer gent, not the strategist/armchair general, or I got better uses for my eyeblinks.

Author Cole, I am profoundly sorry I pigeonholed your work. I was wrong to do so and I'm glad to learn the error of my intolerant ways in so pleasant a fashion.

This fantasy world is deeply satisfying. It's oppressively ruled by a military/religious Order, but run in time-honored community-based democratic ways. Being staunchly anti-religion, that setup is one I'll buy into immediately. I'm not insensible to its relevance to the current state of affairs in our current US, our very own Russian satellite state, either, though that is not to ascribe my beliefs to Author Cole. I am not acquainted with him and make no representation that what *I* take away from his work is what he intended that I take away from it. That disclaimer being made, moving on.

The basis of this story is simple: How does a person, raised in a world that does not jibe with the True North on their inborn moral compass, survive and live and love in it? Can that happen without a struggle, a fight, a battle, or even an outright war? (MAJOR SPOILER: Nope.) What does it take to be authentically yourself in a world that dislikes you for being who you are?

Preview; the rest goes live on my blog tomorrow.

[TS Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

A superbly well-crafted gritty story with memorable characters, tight pacing and vivid prose in just over 200 pages, The Armored Saint is one of the best novellas I've ever read.

200 pages are not exactly short by any standard for literary fiction. In fantasy, however, where stories are told in a secondary world complete with its own lore and history, social and political structure, it does not provide a lot of ground to deliver a complete and balanced narrative. One that sufficiently addresses the necessary aspects of fantasy storytelling of worldbuilding, character development and plot execution. The Armored Saint has all these and with great effect too; and while it is mainly for the reasons above that I am awarding such a high rating for the book, the tale itself is captivating.

The world of The Sacred Throne is oppressive despite having a history of a saviour of all mankind, The Emperor who sacrificed his life in defeating the demons who arrived on this plane through portals; portals from the eyes of those who practised wizardry. The Writ is the sacred text by which the people of the land live by and enforced through the tyrannical rule of The Order who hunts down anyone whom they deem as a wizard with zealous fanaticism. To further highlight the level of obeisance expected, villagers are named by the nature of their trade instead of having a family name of their own. The author managed to weave all this exposition into the narrative in a manner which felt natural and effortless, a feat which I find quite marvellous given the length of the book.

The story grabbed me from the very first chapter, through a scene that is full of tension and yet feels personal through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Heloise Factor. The plot is pretty much a coming-of-age story and is straightforward. It is its execution that lends the narrative a most engaging tone that keeps the pages turning. By keeping the plot simple, and the locality narrow, the author is then able to expand upon the characterization of Heloise, her relationship with her father, her friendship with Clodio, and the ‘unnatural' love she felt for a close female friend.

It is a person you love. Not a name. Not a he or a she. A person in all their shining glory. There is a thing in us, Heloise. A seed. It makes us who we are. It is our core. That the thing that we love. It alone exists. It alone is holy. It has no home, no name. It is neither male nor female. It is greater than that.

The concept of love transcending definition and gender was beautifully described, giving the story a spark of hope amidst the dark brutality and injustices represented by The Order and their strict administration of the Writ.

Myke Cole also clearly has the ability to write action scenes that convey suspense that is palpable. The concluding climax in The Armored Saint is brutal, intense and poignant, albeit not entirely unpredictable.

I am wholly impressed with this novella and look forward to its continuation, The Queen of Crows.

This review can also be found at Booknest

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans)]

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Suffer no wizard to live."

The Order ensures no wizards, wizard sympathizers, or wizard harborers are allowed to live lest hell's dark maw opens once again allowing demons to walk among man. When Heloise and the villagers of Lutet are gathered to assist the Order by razing a nearby town and all of it's inhabitants, Heloise and her father defy instructions and bring the Orders' wrath to Lutet.

The Armored Saint was a mixed bag for me. I was immediately drawn into the story based on the Order and their sadistic tendencies. The Order is the supreme power in the land and they do not require any reason for their cruelty. The Writ, the world's holy book written by their Emperor, demands obedience from all towards the Emperor and his Order. These are the type of characters I largely want to see brought low because they abuse their power unabashedly. The world seems to be in a permanent Salem Witch Hunt atmosphere. Any suspected wizardry brings the Order near and no one wants the Order near.

After the strong beginning things go slowly and get less interesting. I won't go into major details, but the story focuses largely on Heloise and her father Samson's lack of judgment. They know the Order is cruel beyond need yet they can't seem to stop themselves from messing with them. Samson tries to lecture Heloise, but she clearly gets her rage filled stupidity from him and he has yet to learn to keep himself in check. The Order undoubtedly makes this difficult, but Samson should have taken his own advice when he said, "When a killer [any member of the Order] dumps your kit in the mud, you smile sweetly and tell him he's done right." If only Samson could listen to himself, then perhaps Heloise could learn to do the same.

The book did have more than a few heartbreaking moments. Witnessing friends slaughtered by the Order was significant, but what was harder was Heloise's love interest. She's in love with her best friend Basina who's betrothed to a man. Heloise has never spoken of her love, but she thinks about Basina constantly and is massively protective of her. Young love is difficult enough for anyone, but the added factor of being in love with someone of the same sex in a world where that's likely considered an executable offense is hard to read.

The Armored Saint got me excited in the beginning, but ended with me wondering if I care to continue the series.

[kartik narayanan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Armored Saint is disappointing. Considering the hype around it as well as the current goodreads ratings (4+ stars), the reality of the book is very different.

For one, the story is superficial as well as trite. The second (and bigger issue) is how the writing never seems to draw the reader in. When I was reading it, I never once felt anything for any of the characters. In fact, Heloise, the main character, turns out to be a whiny spoilt brat of a girl who screws up over and over again. And the supporting characters actions' never seemed right in light of what Heloise does. The third issue is that I don't think a novella works for setting up an epic fantasy which Myke Cole appears to be shooting for. Now, coming to the one thing that I liked about this book is Heloise's unabashed sexual preferences. It is refreshing to see that a main character like this but this comes across as a calculated move from the author - the prime reason being that this seems to be shoe-horned in.

So, in conclusion, this will probably be the last Myke Cole book that I will read given my experiences with his other books (one) too.

[Nicholas Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was my first novella, and I feared I'd feel like I only read half a book, but Myke tells a wonderful story here, with beautifully realized characters and effortless worldbuilding. To paraphrase Luke Skywalker: "This is not going to go the way you think it will," since there's a twist or two in here as well.

All in all, fantastic--I eagerly await the next!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

"Fear's a deadly thing, Heloise. It can drain a person of all their strength, make them weak before their enemies. That's how we were until you showed us different. But we see now, and we are not afraid anymore..."

Heloise, a young village girl, is just that at first; fearful. In the first few pages, Heloise is privy to the horrors of the Order. The Order, an organization bent on maintaining a wizard-free world, leaves terror in its wake. With the opening scene, I was expecting more horrors to follow, and in that regard I was only mildly disappointed. While the tone of the first few pages faded a little as the story progressed, there were other happenings that were almost, ALMOST, up to the same standard. I would have liked a little more action in the same vein as the beginning of the story to really boost the dark tone.

I really like the genre mash-up of sorts that was happening. The novel exhibited pieces of the steampunk, horror, and fantasy genres which made for a very interesting mix. I can’t say that I’ve read too many books that have done that successfully, and this book was almost, if not, there.

I thought Heloise was a great character. She really evolved as the story progressed, and I liked who she was by the end. I appreciated her loyalty to her family and friends, and her “romantic” relationship. I felt that her growth, in regards to her romantic feelings, was handled tactfully and realistically. I did feel as if Heloise acted a little TOO young for how old she was supposed to be, particularly at the beginning of the novel. If that aspect of the story were to be tightened up a little, then I think Heloise would be a truly stellar character.

Overall this was a strong novel. With a few tweaks, I truly feel that this could be a top-notch read.

P.S. I totally got a Fallout 4 type feel with the whole armor aspect. I can’t say I didn’t like that my mind was making that connection :D

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heloise is the daughter of a scribe in a dark medieval world rigidly ruled over by an Emperor and his religious Order. Society is rigidly proscribed under the Emperor because of the threat from wizards; people who can access magic are said to become portals through which terrifying devils can come into the world. But in Heloise's quiet village both wizards and devils are a long way off and all that really affects her are the draconian Writ and the brutal Order, which is a problem for a same-sex attracted girl on edge of womanhood and a future as a wife and mother.

Myke Cole is open about the influence that the Warhammer 40K universe had on his conception of this fantasy book and there's more than a little of that on the page here. The vigilance against devils (Chaos in W40K) and the seductiveness of them as well as the reverence for the godlike Emperor all feel very familiar, and we even get the Fantasy-world version of power armor.

Ultimately the question for me is how much does this stand apart from the inspiration?

I think it mostly does, partly because it does address the problems attached with the proscription around this society that can't afford to tolerate wizards and as such can't really afford to tolerate anything. Which leaves our hero in a bit of a dire state, because she's pretty clearly gay (even though she lacks the language or concepts to express it).

I did enjoy this and will be interested to see where it goes next.

[Janet Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, as there is a lot going for it. I wasn't able to overcome the extraordinary stupidity of the main viewpoint character--16, going on 6. Every single bad thing that happened in the story was the result of Heloise's stupidity and headstrong selfishness. I, and most of the girls and women I have known in my life, are smart enough to know when to fight and when to shut up. Heloise destroyed the lives of everyone who ever tried to help her and a bit of bravery at the end wasn't enough to make me as a reader have any respect or liking for her

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was short, sweet, and to the point! And what a change of pace for me, as my epic Fantasy picks tend to be, you know, EPIC. Like, as in size, as well as in content. And while this story is a single POV tale that is set in only one main location, and with maybe a 4th of the page count of my traditional fantasy reads, it still seemed pretty epic to me. I’ve not read anything else by Myke Cole, but I plan to remedy that as soon as possible. Because whew, this guy can tell a lean & mean story.

It’s books like these that make me super thankful for Goodreads. It is highly likely that I would have seen this book in a bookstore, and not really given it much thought, what with it being nestled in with a bunch of other similar books. But thanks to the power of Goodreads (and the solid 4-5 star reviews by GR friends) this one was on my radar, and then into my grubby little hands, pretty quickly. And honestly, I don’t lend much credence to professional reviews or author blurbs on book covers. Give me reviews by folks like me, amateur reviewers who simply love to read, and aren’t necessarily paid to read.

So, do me a solid and just ignore those early low reviews. If you love Fantasy, especially new/different takes on somewhat familiar tropes, then The Armored Saint is right up your alley. Or your village common area, if we are talking in Fantasy vernacular. If you are familiar with my reviews, then you know that I have a love/hate relationship with comparing books to other books. It’s an easy way to give someone a rough idea of what they are getting into, but it can generally lead to false expectations or complete misconceptions. That said…if I had to throw a comparison out there, I’d say it’s similar in feel, if not in scope, to Django Wexler’s excellent Shadow Campaigns series. So, if you are a fan of those books already, then I can see no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy The Armored Saint. Yes, this is more Steampunk Fantasy than Flintlock Fantasy, but tone is somewhat the same, the respectful treatment of LGBT relationships are the same, and the female protagonist is well-drawn and engaging.

As with all my reviews, I will keep spoilers to a minimum. With the advent of the internet, and FB specifically, along with similar services (and also movie trailers), spoilers are omnipresent, which I feel generally robs some (or a lot) of the impact of a book/movie/album. Aside from the official book synopsis, and just the overall star ratings, I prefer to avoid reading spoilers/reviews until AFTER I’ve completed a book/movie/album. I find that this eliminates most preconceived notions, and allows me to enjoy the material more. So, that said, if it’s not mentioned in the official book synopsis, I will do my level best to avoid mentioning it here.

Like I stated earlier, we have a single third-person POV character, Heloise Factor, throughout the entire book. Truth be told, I generally like my books to have multiple characters, as I feel it gives more depth to the story, making it more dynamic and larger in scope. But, there are exceptions to that rule, and The Armored Saint just makes it work. It’s probably because the story essentially takes place in one general area (several townships not far removed from each other). This lends the story a slightly smaller and more intimate feel, and because the book really only dwells on the immediate goings-on (with very few references to the outside world or historical occurrences), the single POV doesn’t hurt or diminish the tale being told. It also helps that Heloise is such a likeable protagonist. Hopeful and full of questions, she’s a teenage girl on the cusp of womanhood, but still naïve to a great many things. She has a good heart and generally acts above her age, but she’s also impetuous, occasionally short-sighted, and sometimes a little selfish. Which, you know, is how teenagers roll. And yes, the “teenager saves the day” concept has been done to death, and then revived and done to death again, but she’s such a fun and enjoyable character that it’s easy to overlook. She also has a very traceable character arc and growth through the book, which I always enjoy. It’s especially difficult to read about a young character who had gone through tremendous, life-changing events, and is the exact same person at the conclusion of the tale. But Heloise actually grows and matures as the pages unfold, and that was immensely satisfying.

Supporting characters are a mixed bag, going from somewhat pertinent to the story to simple window dressing, but none of them are given much backstory or elaboration. That’s not to say that they aren’t likeable or enjoyable…there’s just not a lot of detail there. Again, this is Heloise’s story, so we view everything from her eyes, her perspective. What was rather cool, though not entirely unique, was how each of the townsfolk's last names were of their trade/occupation. I mean, that would be awkward in today's society; I think people with names like Herbert Proctologist or Janice Body Coach would just be weird. And then what if they changed jobs? How would you go about finding them? But, in this book, it was just kind of neat.

The villains, such as they are, are actually pretty effective. They aren’t traditional story villains, as their main tenets of belief (and which they use zealously and brutally to keep the population in check) are actually true…they just go about enforcing those beliefs in the worst possible ways. There is another villain who ultimately becomes the story’s big bad, but the less said about that creature the better. It’s not something you expect, so I don’t want to spoil it.

I mentioned it earlier, and it bears repeating, this is a pretty insular tale. Everything takes place in, or near, Heloise’s village. But don’t let that fool you. This is still a pretty grand and rollicking tale, regardless of the lack of varied locations. It’s not as epic a tale as something from Sanderson or Martin, but it still packs a hefty punch. It’s a mini-epic! It also doesn’t necessarily play out like you think it will, which gives it a wonderful feeling of newness.
I also just enjoy Myke Cole’s writing. It’s detailed without being over-wordy, he handles both action and quieter moments well, and he doesn’t gloss over the brutality or the danger of the times. There are moments in the book that aren’t for the squeamish (he seems to have a fixation on intestines), but it’s still generally on the more tame side of the fence.

For you action fiends out there (I’m raising my hand too!), there’s a bit here, though I was hoping for a bit more. The big action scene is satisfying, and the buildup is good, but I do like a little more fighting in my Fantasy stories.

There are a few gripes I have with the book, though they are minor. First…it’s just too short. I wanted more. It feels like the story barely gets going…and then we are done. I also would like a little more history as to why things are the way they are. We get excerpts from holy writ and some minor exposition from the older characters, but not enough of either. There is also a moment, a BRIEF moment, where it feels like the story is veering into late-night Skinemax territory, but it quickly rights itself and moves along in a satisfying fashion. Not that this kind of thing doesn’t happen in Fantasy (Rand’s harem in WoT, for example), but it just seemed like all the goodwill the book had established was in danger of being ruined. Thankfully, it was only a minor pothole on an otherwise pretty smooth road.

I’m also not thrilled that I now have to WAIT for the next book to be published, but that’s the gripe of any reader who starts a series when it’s first released. So…ignore that little whine & bitch moment…

Ultimately, I loved The Armored Saint. It was refreshing, it never overstayed its welcome, and it makes me excited for what is to come. Now that some of the groundwork has been laid, I fully expect the next book to be bigger, with more detail and history, in addition with more action and more stakes. If you like Fantasy, pick this one up. You’ll finish it quick, and you’ll likely love the ride. Now…come on book 2!

[Anton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm... I was really looking forward to this release. I had no luck with ARCs so waited patiently for the publication date and read it on my Kindle as soon as it came out.

In summary, I would score it 3.5|5.0. I enjoyed it enough to finish but wasn't charmed away and unlikely to pick up the sequel(s).

The strongest parts of this book for me were:

(1) Format. It is nice and brief - 200 pages or so. Either a long novella or short novel. I have a particular soft spot for brief fiction. Not too short (20-50) pages but not sprawling monstrosities either (700+). Armored Saint was hitting my sweet spot marvellously.

(2) World/Setting. Lots of clever, stylish elements. Some bits are fresh and inventive, others are pleasantly familiar.

(3) Characters. Strong wilful female protagonist. Colourful support cast and vile antagonists.

Bits I struggled with:

- Pacing. Despite the short length, the story dragged for me 40% of the way. I had to push myself to stay on track.

- Magic. The author is violating Sanderson's Laws and it diluted my satisfaction of the last 25% stretch. It is no fun when magic solves everything.

- Plot twist. Yes, I was caught by surprise - but I did not enjoy it. It felt slightly random to me: out of a sudden heroic fantasy plunged into horror. Again, more thinking around the application of Sanderson's Laws could have helped perhaps?

- A tone of voice. It felt that author is undecided whether he writes for a YA audience or an adult reader. So the book stuck somewhere in between. Arguably, both groups can enjoy the story but neither may find it entirely to their satisfaction. I must confess that I dislike the same thing about Robin Hobb's writing too - but I am in an obvious minority on this. So you may see it glass half full instead.

I sense that my remarks may be more critical compared to other readers. So check out other reviews for balance. While I don't think this is the best thing 'since sliced bread' - it is still a good quality story, well written with some major strength going for it.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and at times brutal. Ending with a cliffhanger :(

Ovde nema šta puno da se kaže. Grim dark fantazija koja u relativno malo scena uspeva da prikaže ovaj svet, klase i sistem funkcionisanja, mitologiju i relatvno velik broj likaova a da ni u jednom momentu ne smara. Tempo je dobar, akcije ima na kašičicu ali bude odlično opisana i vrlo bolna.

Jedina dva minusa su kraj koji završava prva ark knjige ali sama priča je daleko od gotovog a drugi su same korice. Ženska u njima izgleda bad-ass ali ona treba da je oko 14~15 godina tako da izaziva očekivanja koja nisu ispunjena. Ja mislio da će biti neki time skip posle prvih par poglavlja ali da kraja toga nije bilo.

Sve u svemu vrlo zabavno ali možda najbolje sačekati da izadje cela priča pa onda navaliti.

[Iryna *Book and Sword* · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5stars

If I keep this up, I will be known as that girl who only gives books 2 star (or lower) ratings. But what can I do, if I keep picking the wrong books to read??

me: okay, so we have a little girl, probably around 6 years old...
the book: no, no, no Heloise is a woman of 16 winters!
me: are you sure, because she doesn't act much like one...
the book: she's a woman grown of 16!!
me: ok, but ...
the book: she's 16!!
me: .........whatever dude, she's 6 and you know it.

My point is, that having a character repeating their age doesn't actually make them that age. Maybe the author was trying to reassure himself that he knows how to write a teenage female character, while in truth he does not.

This was such a miss for me that I don't even want to write this review. I don't think I have one positive thing to say about it? Well, the writing was good. Minus the action sequences, those were a mess. I liked Twitch. And I did enjoy one whole chapter out of the whole book, so yeah.

​I am just so tired of male authors trying to write books with teenage girls as protagonists, and failing hugely at it. Have you ever actually met a teenage girl in your life? Or do you just follow the "how to create a fantasy novel teenage girl protagonist for dummies" ?

​Because apparently all girls don't ever just want to be girls. They want to be strong and manly, and ride around on horses chopping their enemies heads. They spur their mothers who are soft, and house-wifey and just not as cool as their fathers. Well you know what, you can chop enemies heads in the morning and still tidy up your house in the afternoon.

​At first I was pleasantly surprised that Heloise (as a fantasy character) still had her father and her mother alive - what a rarity, not an orphan! But then she voiced just how much of a waste of space she thought her mother was, and how can she just sit home and do chores and never want any adventure, and I decided that it would have been better if her mother was dead. Because you know being JUST a mother and a wife is such a disgrace in a fantasy world.

​For being only 200 pages long this book was so boring, it was astonishing. It took me 11 days to get through this book!! Because I kept putting it down, and not wanting to pick it back up. The beginning seemed promising, for a few pages, till a whole load of random names, professions, religious beliefs and more was dumped on a reader in a span of, oh I don't know 5 pages. The world was trying to be too big, while showing so very little. And it can work in a novella, but it just didn't work in this one.

​Also, what is up with Heloise's constant rage? It was the driving force of the whole book, but it was never explained. Was she raging because of her "teenage" hormones?? Was she raging because there was a bigger reason inside of her for it? Did she have anger issues? Was she bi-polar? You know if Heloise wasn't so stupid, and thought before she acted at least once, this book could have been so much shorter. Because EVERYTHING in this book happened "thanks" to Heloise. Because she couldn't control her stupid self.

It goes like this: Heloise does something stupid - her father protects her. She then does something stupider, her father protects her. She then, yep, does something stupid again (puts the entire village in danger) and look here's her father running to protect her. If she was supposed to portray a brave young woman, well I didn't get that. Bravery is not always running into danger head first, bravery is knowing when to shut up sometimes, a concept very foreign to Heloise.

​And don't get me started on her getting into that armor that was meant for a grown, trained soldier and just kicking ass in it, without having any physical strength, knowledge about how to fight, and training whatsoever. How convenient.

Besides me hating Heloise as the main character, or as I dubbed her, the idiot - the book didn't do anything for me. I felt no emotion, no connection, no interest - the only good thing about this book was that I finished it.

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[Scott Sigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was at Seattle ComicCon, shooting the breeze before my signing. I started talking with the bookstore owner about — what else — books. She asked what kind of things I would like to write that I hadn't already done.

I said something to the effect of: "Well, I've always had this cool idea about medieval mechs, like some kind of wandering knight errant that travels from town to town, except instead of wearing a suit of armor, he's in some kind of mech suit."

The bookseller looked at me for a moment, as if I was joking.

"Have you read Myke Cole?" she asked.

"Of course I have," I said. "He's a good friend of mine, I love his stuff."

She pointed to a stack of thin tomes sitting on a display table, the covers showing a black-haired girl in a rather BIG suit of armor.

"Well, he already wrote it," she said.

The first thing I did was curse Myke Cole's name. That's okay, I do that quite often.

The second thing I did was buy the book. And let me tell you, this book kicks some serious ass.

I supposed someone could claim this is YA fiction, if YA fiction includes a coming-of-age story about an emo teenage lesbian protagonist who drives a steam-driven suit of mech armor, smashes skulls, kills devils and starts a rebellion against an all-powerful religious sect that would kill her on the spot just for being who she is.

This book is not your typical hero's quest. It sucks to be Heloise. She takes more damage than Bruce Willis in DIE HARD, and these aren't the kind of bombs and bruises one can heroically shrug off. Physical damage, emotional scarring, mental trauma — Heloise has to absorb it all and find a way to keep fighting.

This is hard-hitting military fantasy, something Myke excels at. If the words "medieval mech" caught your eye in even the slightest way, just get it and thank me later.

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 3.66 ***

This is very hard to rate well, since the main character is quite unlikable most of the time... She was headless and too impulsive in moments of mortal danger for someone sixteen years old... Her one interesting feature, her sexually, felt a bit gimmicky, since it was her only saving grace... I am all for rebels, but I like them a bit more intellectual and less fear induced bravery/stupidity... It was well written and I was intrigued by the take on wizardry, which I am not sure I have full grasp on, since I almost hope that there was more to the scary situation at the end of the book...

A quick and violent read, despite the MC being 16, I would not start up a new reader with this one... Too easy to desensitize to violence for someone who is more impressionable... Not that there aren't plenty of books for middle teenagers with a ton of violence, but there are degrees, and I would not have wanted to read this book at that age... So, parental discretion advised 🙂!

[Lilly (Lair Of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe to say I’ll be following this new series to the depths of the earth! EPIC read! Full RTC on Lair Of Books (Link is in the bio). Pre-ordering my finished copy, The Armored Saint hits shelves 2/20/18 🔥

UPDATE: FULL REVIEW MAY ALSO BE VIEWED ON LAIR OF BOOKS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS!!!




MY REVIEW...

I’m singing this books praises to you all today cause it is well worth it & so much more! coming in at 208pgs, The Armored Saint has to be one of the top Fantasy books I’ve read in a really long time. Set in a small town, we meet Heloise and her father Samson as they go about their every day routine of earning their living. Samson is a man of letters & travels light with only his quills, paper, and ink pot. It is during one of their travels down the road that they encounter The Order who are the equivalent of soldiers, these men are to serve the throne & rid evil from the world. It is believed that demons on the other side of the living world can possess humans. When The Order stops Samson & Heloise it is to ask them for directions to a neighboring town. Seeing them out in full force is never a good sign & this scene pretty much set the tone for the rest of the book. We got to know both Heloise and Samson in that brief interaction & all of the events that took place after that encounter felt like a domino effect. The fear that these characters feel is palpable & the tension is so thick that I read this book at the edge of my seat hoping they’d all make it through. I realized that I wasn’t the only one, all of the townspeople were hoping they weren’t next to be accused of harboring demons…

“Suffer No Wizard To Live”

The “Veil” is compromised and so The Order must make rounds looking for those that show signs of being possessed. The townspeople follow the law or the ways of The Writ which is sort of like their bible & anyone caught speaking against it can be accused of being possessed by demons. I totally got The Crucible vibes while reading certain passages where the townspeople out of fear were made to look unto their neighbor for any behavior that wasn’t considered “normal.” The Order however, isn’t some by the book group of men looking to do good & banish evil. They abuse their power & hide behind the royal banner. Perhaps what makes them even more evil than the demons they’re trying to excorcise is that they don’t actually get their hands dirty when they find said evils. Instead they have what are called Knittings & no they’re not the kind your sweet grandmother partakes in…these are much more scarier. When someone is accused of being a wizard, The Order comes through lining up all of the towns people & under their order the people must take up pitchforks to kill the accused. Failure to comply places you & your loved ones in jeopardy of being accused of protecting a wizard & harboring evil magic.

The characters in this town have all known each other for many years & their children have all grown up together. Up until the day The Order came around their town, Heloise spent her days with her bff Basina talking about their futures. Her biggest fear was the more than platonic love she felt for Basina. However, on the road where she & her father faced The Order, Heloise was forced to age years in a matter of minutes. She saw her father in a new light, he was no longer the pillar of strength & safety every good father works so hard to have their child believe. He was just a man keeping his head down in order to keep her safe. The rebellion this stirred within Heloise led to what many considered reckless but in her defense, it seemed like it was out of her control whether she reacted or not. Heloise was someone who grew up believing in The Writ & what they did to rid the kingdom of all evil. When she starts seeing their actions in each town, it’s like a veil is lifted and the part of her that seeks justice takes over.

I truly thought this was just going to be a story about herd mentality and how easy it is to instill fear in a group of people to establish control. It is the aforementioned, however it’s also a story about heroes. Many of the characters in this story were actually selfless in time of need. Heloise wasn’t someone who fooled herself into thinking she could save everyone from The Order & many others who didn’t think they’d sacrifice their own safety to help another in need, stepped up to the plate. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book! the characters & world building were so well fleshed out. The fantastical/supernatural elements made their presence known yet they didn’t overpower the characters. When we finally get to see truths come to light, I was left pleasantly surprised. There’s also discussion about sexuality & the judgment of others in a world where homosexuality is not accepted. With a bi-sexual MC and one of the supporting characters alluding to being Gay, I found myself getting very invested in Heloise & her journey. The Armored Saint is a FANTASTIC start to a new adult Fantasy series! & Myke Cole is now on my radar which means, I’m going to need to read all of the books I hope he’s already writing 😄

HUGE thanks to Tor Books and Myke Cole for the early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion

[astarion's bhaal babe (wingspan matters) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hell is a word men use in place of fear.

I don't know about this one. I really don't.
Maybe it wasn't the kind of fantasy I thought it was, or maybe I really couldn't get into the writing style, but I've had my rough times going through it, even if it was less than 150 pages.
The fantasy factor was okay, maybe it was probably the best thing about the entire book (definitely the thing I liked more), but it was a little weak on the whole and confusing when it came to long descriptions and past events.
I also didn't like the MC as I probably should have had and, even if I appreciated the bi rep she provides, it wasn't enough for me to relate to her or establish some sort of connection with her.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because the audiobook was available from the library and I needed something to listen to during a long drive. My GR friends from SpecFic Buddy Reads mostly liked it too, which for me is always a pretty good indicator of quality. So, yes, it was great!

This wasn't all what I was expecting - a young, female protagonist, a queer romantic element, vicious members of an Order bent on burning out any traces of wizardry in the most cruel and sadistic way imaginable, and monsters (besides the Order, that is)!

The narration was good and all around this was an engaging story that made my long drive much more bearable.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4 Stars.

First the positive: the writing is incredible, and the chapters are brimming with tension. From the very first day page I was on the edge of my seat devouring this book.

The setting is captivating with a religious order fighting against wizardry employing questionable methods.

But...I found the main character to be incredibly frustrating. Heloise is sixteen years old and she makes a lot of unfortunate choices in this book.

That’s probably understandable because she’s young and naive and still believes things will be right simply because right has to trump wrong.

But her father and her village also make questionable choices, and it feels like a lot of the bad things that happen in this book wouldn’t happen if someone—anyone—would stop and think for a moment.

Otherwise, this book is a page-turner and I will definitely read the sequel.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mix of religion, fantasy and steam-propelled machines. I liked it despite of the protagonist, whose stupidity is beyond the pale. I want to see how the story goes.

promise me that you’ll remember that while your thoughts are your own, the words you let past your lips belong to the world, and the world will not always take the meaning you intended.”

[Holly Hearts Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Being brave isn't not being frightened, it's doing a thing even though you are."

My eyes are literal waterfalls.. These kinds of books make me rethink ALL of my previous recent ratings. HOW can a 200 paged grimdark epic fantasy do that?! I haven't got a clue. Also I need to mention this is the most pro LGBTQ+ book I have ever read in my life so if you are looking for a female main character finding herself in a brutal world that wants to draw the line at love (and all things wizardry) PICK THIS UP!

Also action packed, heart wrenching, unputdownable.. all the things.

[Adrian Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Armored Saint is the new novella from Myke Cole (Shadow Ops) and the beginning of a new fantasy trilogy, The Sacred Throne. The publication seems to be part of Tor’s novella series, but at 208 pages, it reads more like a short novel than a novella. No matter what you call it, though, Cole makes the format work exceptionally well with tight prose, a close third-person single narrative, a condensed story world, and intense conflicts all stuffed into a smaller-than-door-stopper package. As most readers are aware, there is not enough time to read all the great fantasy and sci-fi available, and I have been wanting to read some of Cole’s highly regarded Shadow Ops series, but never got there. So I was glad to be given a chance to read and review the beginning of this new series, which looks to be a good one.

The Armored Saint follows the story of Heloise, a teenage girl living in a quasi-medieval village on the outskirts of an extremely oppressive empire under the rule of the religious Order and their Holy Writ. The job of the order is summed up in one line from the Writ: “Suffer no wizard to live.” The Order gallops around from village to village dispensing brutal justice on anyone suspected of wizardry or any village suspected of harboring a wizard. The Order is relentless and, even worse, accountable only to themselves. True to the short-form novel, Heloise and her father, Samson Factor, encounter the Order in the story’s first chapter. They stop Heloise and her father on the road. The effect is truly frightening, setting the mood for the entire story, and the hook, the inexorable, gripping, frightening conflict, of the story is set, never to let go.

While some, perhaps many, longer novels sag in the middle, get muddled down with seemingly irrelevant subplots, long descriptions, and/or episodic events, The Armored Saint has no time for bullshit. The story races along like a forest fire. When Heloise sees her friend murdered by the Order in a horrifying “Knitting” of a nearby village, she is determined to fight back. She is joined by her village who are fed up with the oppressive Order and skeptical about its intentions. Only Heloise knows the real secret that need to be protected from the Order to save her friends and family. But does she really know everything she thinks she knows? There are twists and turns aplenty, especially for such a short novel, and as should be expected, the whole fucking thing blows up in an explosive, magical, and pleasantly unexpected climax.

Cole’s prose is fast and direct. There’s no space for self-indulgence here; the author/narrator almost disappears behind Heloise’s thoughts and actions. Characters’ voices, dialogue, and language are consistent and diacritical, which helps create a distinct feeling for the culture of these villagers without the need for a lot of exposition. Cole also uses dialogue to move the story along briskly while adroitly avoiding info-dumping. The effect is a very fast moving tale, full of energy, excitement, and the type of character depth one would expect from a full-length novel. It’s not perfect, though. Heloise’s mother, Leuba, who appears sparingly in the story, is particularly without description or voice, a mere placeholder for a character, but that’s part of the tradeoff between a lengthy tome and a densely packed short novel.

Despite its short form, The Armored Saint is replete with thematic significance. Readers must ask themselves what rights do authorities have to govern people in extremely dangerous situations, a theme that seems extremely compelling given the expanding role of government in the so-called War on Terror. The nature of forbidden love and sexual attraction is called into question as well, with surprising results. Loyalty is another significant theme that drives the action in The Armored Saint: at what point are family ties in conflict with the good of society? Of course, the role of sexuality and gender in a male-dominated society is also explored. Are women worthy of traditional male roles in society, and why must it always be men who raise them to such positions (with the highly significant exception of Kameron Hurley’s The Stars are Legion—see review in GdM #11)? These are complex questions that are significant both in fiction and with regard to the resurgence of a global women’s movement.

Heloise joins a seemingly rising number of young, tough-as-nails female protagonists written by male authors in grim fantasy, including Nona from Mark Lawrence’s Red Sister, Thorn from Joe Abercrombie’s Half the World, and Pyrre from Brian Staveley’s Skullsworn. And Heloise is not alone in this story. She has other female friends, which separates The Armored Saint from a lot of old school fiction that features female characters who only relate to male characters, like the nearly non-existent female characters in The Lord of the Rings and the powerful but isolated female characters in A Game of Thrones, which shows that male writers are starting to “get it”: women are literally Half the World. I wonder if Heloise will continue to be the featured protagonist of The Sacred Throne trilogy; I can think of no reason why she shouldn’t. She is a complex, flawed, sympathetic character with huge balls... uh... I mean, gonads. If anything, she might be too ‘good’.

Which brings us to the big question. The Armored Saint is billed by its publisher as the start of “a new epic fantasy trilogy.” It remains to be seen how grimdark purists will receive it. Heloise and her father are ‘good’ people; there can be little argument about that. Because this is only the first entry in a trilogy, we cannot know yet if good will triumph over evil, but I expect it will. However, even though I enjoy grimdark as a favorite subgenre (IMHO) and love the morally grey sentiments that are central to it, I am very much looking forward to revisiting these complex characters and this terrifying world in the next installment in this gritty, dark, brutal, grim, fearsome but perhaps merely ‘epic’ series. Highly recommended.

The Armored Saint is expected to be released by Tor.com Books/Tom Doherty Associates on Feb 20, 2018. Our thanks go out to the publishers for sending us an advance copy.

Review by malrubius to be published in GdM#14.

[Adah Udechukwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Armored Saint is a five star read. It's a great novel to start my Goodreads challenge