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The Disgraced Martyr Trilogy #1
The Hierophant's Daughter
By 4042 CE, the Hierophant and his Church have risen to political dominance with his cannibalistic army of genetically modified humans: martyrs. In an era when mankind's intergenerational cold wars against their long-lived predators seem close to running hot, the Holy Family is poised on the verge of complete planetary control. It will take a miracle to save humanity from extinction.
It will also take a miracle to resurrect the wife of 331-year-old General Dominia di Mephitoli, who defects during martyr year 1997 AL in search of Lazarus, the one man rumored to bring life to the dead. With the Hierophant's Project Black Sun looming over her head, she has little choice but to believe this Lazarus is really all her new friends say he is--assuming he exists at all--and that these companions of hers are really able to help her. From the foulmouthed Japanese prostitute with a few secrets of her own to the outright sapient dog who seems to judge every move, they don't inspire a lot of confidence, but the General has to take the help she can get.
After all, Dominia is no ordinary martyr. She is THE HIEROPHANT'S DAUGHTER, and her Father won't let her switch sides without a fight. Not when she still has so much to learn.
It will also take a miracle to resurrect the wife of 331-year-old General Dominia di Mephitoli, who defects during martyr year 1997 AL in search of Lazarus, the one man rumored to bring life to the dead. With the Hierophant's Project Black Sun looming over her head, she has little choice but to believe this Lazarus is really all her new friends say he is--assuming he exists at all--and that these companions of hers are really able to help her. From the foulmouthed Japanese prostitute with a few secrets of her own to the outright sapient dog who seems to judge every move, they don't inspire a lot of confidence, but the General has to take the help she can get.
After all, Dominia is no ordinary martyr. She is THE HIEROPHANT'S DAUGHTER, and her Father won't let her switch sides without a fight. Not when she still has so much to learn.
286 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2019
43 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
M.F. Sullivan
5 books177 followersAn Ohio native who attended college in Virginia before moving by train to Arizona, MF Sullivan is an author and playwright currently living in Southern Oregon. Sullivan is the author of DELILAH, MY WOMAN (2015) and THE LIGHTNING STENOGRAPHY DEVICE (2018), as well as the forthcoming DISGRACED MARTYR TRILOGY (2019-2020). All her work is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Painted Blind Publishing's Aer.io store, and your local indie bookseller.
The release schedule of THE DISGRACED MARTYR TRILOGY is as follows:
THE HIEROPHANT'S DAUGHTER: May 19th, 2019
THE GENERAL'S BRIDE: August 14th, 2019
THE LADY'S CHAMPION: January 9th, 2020
THE DISGRACED MARTYR TRILOGY - OMNIBUS EDITION: October 31st, 2020
Keep up with news, essays from MF Sullivan, and info about her other forthcoming works at paintedblindpublishing.com!
The release schedule of THE DISGRACED MARTYR TRILOGY is as follows:
THE HIEROPHANT'S DAUGHTER: May 19th, 2019
THE GENERAL'S BRIDE: August 14th, 2019
THE LADY'S CHAMPION: January 9th, 2020
THE DISGRACED MARTYR TRILOGY - OMNIBUS EDITION: October 31st, 2020
Keep up with news, essays from MF Sullivan, and info about her other forthcoming works at paintedblindpublishing.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 21, 2018
Word to the wise:
This novel has a ton of great worldbuilding... as in, the grand majority of your reading pleasure may very well be in the worldbuilding going on here. My recommendation? Skip to the appendix first, give it a brief, probably delighted, gander. Then, read the timeline. Do not skip the timeline. This will give you all the proper context to go into the novel proper. :)
But wait, Bradley, is that REALLY necessary? I mean, even Peter F Hamilton can be read without that long, long, detailed timeline at the beginning of his novels.
Yes, certainly, you can, but I would caution you to be patient because the full import of all the things that happen in this Future History skipping forward 2000 years is full of scientifically created vampires in a full cyberpunk world having undergone civil wars, vastly altered political landscapes, and herds of human meat ready for the dining pleasure of the "Martyrs".
Is this vast tapestry of bloodsuckers well thought out? Hell yeah. Right down to the ongoing mystery of where the Hierophant came from, the cult that sprang up around him, the general social and socioeconomic landscape, scientific progress, and so much more.
But what about the story?
Pretty damn fun. It has a good number of twists but the core is an immortal daughter's rebellion. :)
This is NOT your standard horror or SF epic. Or UF, for that matter. This is a fully realized future history with a fully explained SF core for every horror element here. Nicely done, I might add.
This is not a light read, overall, but it isn't particularly difficult, either. It is, however, worth investing a lot of effort. Well done.
This novel has a ton of great worldbuilding... as in, the grand majority of your reading pleasure may very well be in the worldbuilding going on here. My recommendation? Skip to the appendix first, give it a brief, probably delighted, gander. Then, read the timeline. Do not skip the timeline. This will give you all the proper context to go into the novel proper. :)
But wait, Bradley, is that REALLY necessary? I mean, even Peter F Hamilton can be read without that long, long, detailed timeline at the beginning of his novels.
Yes, certainly, you can, but I would caution you to be patient because the full import of all the things that happen in this Future History skipping forward 2000 years is full of scientifically created vampires in a full cyberpunk world having undergone civil wars, vastly altered political landscapes, and herds of human meat ready for the dining pleasure of the "Martyrs".
Is this vast tapestry of bloodsuckers well thought out? Hell yeah. Right down to the ongoing mystery of where the Hierophant came from, the cult that sprang up around him, the general social and socioeconomic landscape, scientific progress, and so much more.
But what about the story?
Pretty damn fun. It has a good number of twists but the core is an immortal daughter's rebellion. :)
This is NOT your standard horror or SF epic. Or UF, for that matter. This is a fully realized future history with a fully explained SF core for every horror element here. Nicely done, I might add.
This is not a light read, overall, but it isn't particularly difficult, either. It is, however, worth investing a lot of effort. Well done.
August 29, 2019
I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I thought the book was good, confusing at times, but a good story line. There's a lot of mixed up religion involved, and there are some really good moments between the MC, Dominia, and the people she meets on her way to find Lazarus. At times though I found it a bit confusing to follow.
February 8, 2019
DNF at 30%
The Hierophant's Daughter is like jumping into the middle of a historical documentary without any knowledge of the context, types of people (or even species/breed) involved and political climate. It genuinely took me a few pages just to realize that martyr's were vampires (or a version thereof).
M. F. Sullivan has set-up a very complex alternate history for humans and woven in the (eventual) dominance of the martyr's by 2035(ish). This is the point at which we come into the story.
Characters
Even figuring out who the major players are and how they relate or connect to one another is difficult. Not only can one martyr have multiple names (they live hundreds of years I suppose it's fair) but they can also have many titles (i.e.: General, Lamb, etc.), plus then their relationships (i.e.: daughter, lover, spouse, etc.). All of which are used to refer to the same person at any given time. I had to read many paragraphs or phrases multiple times to figure out if the character referenced was the same as the one I thought had been talked about in the paragraph before.
Visceral
I'm not sure how else to describe the descriptions and general 'ick' factor of Hierophant's Daughter. Except perhaps to say that it's icky, visceral and a bit too graphic for me. I tend to stay away from gory movies but usually a gory book doesn't bother me. Descriptions of decapitation, torture, infections, etc. have rarely phased me before. However the details that Sullivan gives regarding an eye impact (and the nerve connections) or the description of a child being (more or less) eaten struck me as a bit much. Maybe that's hypocritical of me to say given it's a vampire book but I just didn't need all the detail given.
Boring Narrative
The biggest issue I had was not the confusion or detail in which this novel is written; but instead how utterly boring it was. Do I really need/want to read 6 pages about a new eye implant being given to someone? Or do I need two pages of description of a house? Instead of showing, I found Sullivan was telling me things; and given they weren't that interesting to start with (or a bit too graphic) I just couldn't keep my attention on the story.
That's the other issue is I'm not sure what the plot is. After 30% read I think the plot is that the 'daughter' is trying to escape but I'm unclear on why or who or what her ultimate goal was. Without at least some semblance of direction or motivation it made the convoluted history and characters feel even more disjointed.
Overall
Hierophant's Daughter is a complex alternate history of Earth where vampires (martyrs) have taken over. There is a lot of science fiction elements to future Earth that are also focused on. Perhaps underneath all of the narration, descriptions and confusion is a solid political intrigue story; I just couldn't find it and didn't have the patience to keep slogging through.
It may be that this is a brilliant piece of work if you're willing to put in the time and effort to really focus 200% of your brain and time to it. For me that is too much effort for fiction. I'd rather read elaborate non-fiction physics (where at least what I'm reading has basis in truth) than navigate a fictional narrative that feels very indulgent.
Overall I feel like Sullivan wrote this from a place of self-indulgence. They wrote for themselves, to get the ideas on the page and not for the enjoyment of the reader. The Simarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien is similar in that it's not really for the reader; it's more to get the history and facts down so they can be referenced. Perhaps a character driven story or plot inside this elaborate world is possible by another writer but I think Sullivan's investment in this alternate history is so deep they can't claw their way back to a story that most readers want to sit down and enjoy.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and BookSirens. This is an honest and unbiased review.
The Hierophant's Daughter is like jumping into the middle of a historical documentary without any knowledge of the context, types of people (or even species/breed) involved and political climate. It genuinely took me a few pages just to realize that martyr's were vampires (or a version thereof).
M. F. Sullivan has set-up a very complex alternate history for humans and woven in the (eventual) dominance of the martyr's by 2035(ish). This is the point at which we come into the story.
Characters
Even figuring out who the major players are and how they relate or connect to one another is difficult. Not only can one martyr have multiple names (they live hundreds of years I suppose it's fair) but they can also have many titles (i.e.: General, Lamb, etc.), plus then their relationships (i.e.: daughter, lover, spouse, etc.). All of which are used to refer to the same person at any given time. I had to read many paragraphs or phrases multiple times to figure out if the character referenced was the same as the one I thought had been talked about in the paragraph before.
Visceral
I'm not sure how else to describe the descriptions and general 'ick' factor of Hierophant's Daughter. Except perhaps to say that it's icky, visceral and a bit too graphic for me. I tend to stay away from gory movies but usually a gory book doesn't bother me. Descriptions of decapitation, torture, infections, etc. have rarely phased me before. However the details that Sullivan gives regarding an eye impact (and the nerve connections) or the description of a child being (more or less) eaten struck me as a bit much. Maybe that's hypocritical of me to say given it's a vampire book but I just didn't need all the detail given.
Boring Narrative
The biggest issue I had was not the confusion or detail in which this novel is written; but instead how utterly boring it was. Do I really need/want to read 6 pages about a new eye implant being given to someone? Or do I need two pages of description of a house? Instead of showing, I found Sullivan was telling me things; and given they weren't that interesting to start with (or a bit too graphic) I just couldn't keep my attention on the story.
That's the other issue is I'm not sure what the plot is. After 30% read I think the plot is that the 'daughter' is trying to escape but I'm unclear on why or who or what her ultimate goal was. Without at least some semblance of direction or motivation it made the convoluted history and characters feel even more disjointed.
Overall
Hierophant's Daughter is a complex alternate history of Earth where vampires (martyrs) have taken over. There is a lot of science fiction elements to future Earth that are also focused on. Perhaps underneath all of the narration, descriptions and confusion is a solid political intrigue story; I just couldn't find it and didn't have the patience to keep slogging through.
It may be that this is a brilliant piece of work if you're willing to put in the time and effort to really focus 200% of your brain and time to it. For me that is too much effort for fiction. I'd rather read elaborate non-fiction physics (where at least what I'm reading has basis in truth) than navigate a fictional narrative that feels very indulgent.
Overall I feel like Sullivan wrote this from a place of self-indulgence. They wrote for themselves, to get the ideas on the page and not for the enjoyment of the reader. The Simarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien is similar in that it's not really for the reader; it's more to get the history and facts down so they can be referenced. Perhaps a character driven story or plot inside this elaborate world is possible by another writer but I think Sullivan's investment in this alternate history is so deep they can't claw their way back to a story that most readers want to sit down and enjoy.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and BookSirens. This is an honest and unbiased review.
March 19, 2019
Blimey, what an amazing book. There are certain series that give you a feeling of awe when you start them, the sheer scale and possibilities get your brain going into overdrive...or if you were are dog called Basil then your tail would be wagging. For me this happened when I picked up the first book of Frank Herbert's Dune, Stephen King's Dark Tower and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. This has now happened again with The Hierophant's Daughter and it doesn't disappoint.
There are many great characters and so many plot twists that the book doesn't leave you much time to catch your breath, it also has many flashbacks but even then so much happens you don't get a chance to cool down. Dominia and Miki play off each other really well, and how brave Miki is around Dominia makes the character more loveable.
At the back of the book is a timeline of events leading up to the rise of the Martyrs to the book's current date, I recommend you read this before you start as it gives you an idea of how much time has passed (over 2000 years) the book then does a strange thing, it feels like no time has past and events could be happening in present day. A crazy person in charge who thinks he is God, even technology hasn't moved on that much, due to many wars having happened.
The author has also included her own unique writing style used in the last book (The Lightning Stenography Device) where she takes the story in a surreal direction, the way the book ends like this works well and like all those great TV shows it ends on quite the cliff hanger, leaving you eagerly awaiting the next book.
This series is going to be epic and I hope many many will read it....at least before it gets picked up by Netflix that is.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2019...
There are many great characters and so many plot twists that the book doesn't leave you much time to catch your breath, it also has many flashbacks but even then so much happens you don't get a chance to cool down. Dominia and Miki play off each other really well, and how brave Miki is around Dominia makes the character more loveable.
At the back of the book is a timeline of events leading up to the rise of the Martyrs to the book's current date, I recommend you read this before you start as it gives you an idea of how much time has passed (over 2000 years) the book then does a strange thing, it feels like no time has past and events could be happening in present day. A crazy person in charge who thinks he is God, even technology hasn't moved on that much, due to many wars having happened.
The author has also included her own unique writing style used in the last book (The Lightning Stenography Device) where she takes the story in a surreal direction, the way the book ends like this works well and like all those great TV shows it ends on quite the cliff hanger, leaving you eagerly awaiting the next book.
This series is going to be epic and I hope many many will read it....at least before it gets picked up by Netflix that is.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2019...
February 1, 2019
This was a realllllly weird one, but in a good way! I'd called it science fiction with a good helping of fantasy elements. It's set on a future Earth, but also has a whole well-developed alternate history. You definitely have to pay attention while reading this- and I'd recommend reading through the timeline (which came at the end of my ARC) before diving in. But I think it's totally worth it- you'll meet a disillusioned general turned governess turned possible savior of Earth, a snarky former geisha, a weirdly sapient Border Collie, and a bunch of other bonkers characters. This book is a bit nuts, but it somehow works!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 17, 2019
3.5/5 Rounded up to 4
Review to come on April 30th.
Received the book in exchange for an honest review of my opinion for a Blog Tour
Review to come on April 30th.
Received the book in exchange for an honest review of my opinion for a Blog Tour
November 29, 2018
While the writing in this book was really lyrical and beautiful, I found the run-on sentences and the intense language really confusing and tricky to follow, and with my current run-down mood and my exhausting life, I just couldn't keep up with this book. The premise of immortal cannibal humans called martyrs just sounded so interesting, but unfortunately at the 20% mark still nothing was happening, and nothing was explained. The confusion just carried on throughout the book and I felt so lost. Glad to be done with it.
December 28, 2019
I had high hopes for this book as the premise sounded fascinating.
The story was quite confusing and I wish I'd have know about the timeline at the end of the book earlier.
Personally I found it an entertaining read . If you enjoyed The Passage by Justin Cronin or Stephen King books you might like this one.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
The story was quite confusing and I wish I'd have know about the timeline at the end of the book earlier.
Personally I found it an entertaining read . If you enjoyed The Passage by Justin Cronin or Stephen King books you might like this one.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
January 29, 2019
Some books begin slowly and simply, with the story gradually unfolding, and gently building. THE HIEROPHANT’S DAUGHTER conversely, hits the ground running, amidst a series of unfamiliar, intriguing events already in progress. A sci-fi/cyberpunk tale, with elements of fantasy and horror, it’s a thinking person’s thrill ride, revealing layers of complexity and backstory, amidst a series of fast-paced, globe-trotting twists and turns, all told in rather lyrical prose.
In science fiction and fantasy, with a lesser author it can be hard to really picture the world the story takes place in, beyond the events of the story. And if we think too much about the workings of that world, it all falls apart, because the author never fully fleshed it out in the first place.
However, in some lucky instances, we as readers may stumble upon an author who dreams up a complex, fully functioning world and society, vastly removed from our own, who imagines it all the way down to trivial details, then once the world is created, sets about telling a tale (or series of tales) within that world.
Reading THE HIEROPHANT’S DAUGHTER, it becomes quite clear rather quickly that author M.F. Sullivan put a wealth of time and effort into fully fleshing out the world - a radically different, future Earth - in which the events take place. And this might be the book’s greatest strength.
Despite its fast pace, this isn’t some quickie, one-off tale. This is the beginning third of something bigger, with (I’m assuming) more to be revealed and explained at a later point.
As the story unfolds, there is a lot to absorb. Some readers may find it challenging to stay caught up with what’s going on as events unfold (and occasionally flash backward), exploring an unfamiliar world, and an unusual supernatural element that is key to the story. Also, being the first in a trilogy of books, not everything is explained, and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. This to me is a strength. Others may want a more self-contained, fully explained tale, but me I like the intrigue of what’s withheld, and the knowledge that there is clearly more to come in this story.
There is an appendix at the end of the book, with a timeline leading from the 20th century, all the way up to the far-future events of the book. It may potentially be more helpful to some readers to consult the timeline before beginning the book proper, but I don’t encourage it unless you feel completely lost. For me, the timeline works better as a reveal than a preface.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. And honestly I loved this book. I very much look forward to the next chapter in this saga.
In science fiction and fantasy, with a lesser author it can be hard to really picture the world the story takes place in, beyond the events of the story. And if we think too much about the workings of that world, it all falls apart, because the author never fully fleshed it out in the first place.
However, in some lucky instances, we as readers may stumble upon an author who dreams up a complex, fully functioning world and society, vastly removed from our own, who imagines it all the way down to trivial details, then once the world is created, sets about telling a tale (or series of tales) within that world.
Reading THE HIEROPHANT’S DAUGHTER, it becomes quite clear rather quickly that author M.F. Sullivan put a wealth of time and effort into fully fleshing out the world - a radically different, future Earth - in which the events take place. And this might be the book’s greatest strength.
Despite its fast pace, this isn’t some quickie, one-off tale. This is the beginning third of something bigger, with (I’m assuming) more to be revealed and explained at a later point.
As the story unfolds, there is a lot to absorb. Some readers may find it challenging to stay caught up with what’s going on as events unfold (and occasionally flash backward), exploring an unfamiliar world, and an unusual supernatural element that is key to the story. Also, being the first in a trilogy of books, not everything is explained, and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. This to me is a strength. Others may want a more self-contained, fully explained tale, but me I like the intrigue of what’s withheld, and the knowledge that there is clearly more to come in this story.
There is an appendix at the end of the book, with a timeline leading from the 20th century, all the way up to the far-future events of the book. It may potentially be more helpful to some readers to consult the timeline before beginning the book proper, but I don’t encourage it unless you feel completely lost. For me, the timeline works better as a reveal than a preface.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. And honestly I loved this book. I very much look forward to the next chapter in this saga.
October 27, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Painted Blind Publishing, and the author via netgalley.
I DNF'd this book at 22%.
I'd read reviews before starting this story so knew that it was possibly going to be hard to get through, but I was still optimistic. One review I saw had a great suggestion, flick to the back of the book and read the timeline before starting the actual story. I'm so glad that I did this otherwise I would have absolutely no clue what was going on or who anyone was. So please, read the timeline first because it really helps set the story and the world up and eliminates some confusion.
I was really trying to push through with this story, I hate DNFing ARCs, but I just couldn't do it. The only character I cared about was the dog, Basil. Even though I had read the timeline, which helped immensely, the story was still very convoluted and hard to follow, I probably could have gotten past this and ended up following the story fine, but the pacing just killed it for me. We weren't going anywhere and the story line just felt very messy. So unfortunately for me, this is going into the DNF pile, the idea was a great one, futuristic world where vampires are king, and the vampires are written how they should be, vicious, unpredictable and terrifying, however, this story is just not for me.
I DNF'd this book at 22%.
I'd read reviews before starting this story so knew that it was possibly going to be hard to get through, but I was still optimistic. One review I saw had a great suggestion, flick to the back of the book and read the timeline before starting the actual story. I'm so glad that I did this otherwise I would have absolutely no clue what was going on or who anyone was. So please, read the timeline first because it really helps set the story and the world up and eliminates some confusion.
I was really trying to push through with this story, I hate DNFing ARCs, but I just couldn't do it. The only character I cared about was the dog, Basil. Even though I had read the timeline, which helped immensely, the story was still very convoluted and hard to follow, I probably could have gotten past this and ended up following the story fine, but the pacing just killed it for me. We weren't going anywhere and the story line just felt very messy. So unfortunately for me, this is going into the DNF pile, the idea was a great one, futuristic world where vampires are king, and the vampires are written how they should be, vicious, unpredictable and terrifying, however, this story is just not for me.
July 2, 2019
Such a great lore. The world built by the author felt authentic So few fantasy and science fiction authors manage to do. Dominia is so noticeably flawed but still likable. This blend of genres flowed quite nicely. Look forward to the next 2 books.
December 25, 2018
The Hierophant’s Daughter is beautifully violent, reads like a dream and has some of the best world building I’ve ever come across. Can’t wait for this series!
December 10, 2018
In the future there are two kinds of humans in the world, and one of them eats the other. Dominia is a Martyr, but after the death of her wife, she is disillusioned with the way things are run and decides to defect to what amounts to a resistance.
I very much enjoyed this mix of cyberpunk, not-vampires, and the apocalypse. I think it does something a bit different with those elements, and I am here for it. The main character, Dominia, is fully realized and believably flawed, while also being likeable and fun. The side characters are amazing, especially the dog. I hope to see lots more of Basil in the future. The plot is tight and the prose is really beautiful and thoughtful throughout the book. This book left me wanting more, and I can't wait to read the next in the series.
I very much enjoyed this mix of cyberpunk, not-vampires, and the apocalypse. I think it does something a bit different with those elements, and I am here for it. The main character, Dominia, is fully realized and believably flawed, while also being likeable and fun. The side characters are amazing, especially the dog. I hope to see lots more of Basil in the future. The plot is tight and the prose is really beautiful and thoughtful throughout the book. This book left me wanting more, and I can't wait to read the next in the series.
December 21, 2018
More reviews on my blog
The Hierophant’s Daughter takes place in the future, where there are two kinds of humans, the Martyrs and the normal humans. The Martyrs, led by the Hierophant, rules a big part of the Earth,and they can live for thousands of years. But in order to stay alive they must stay out of the sun and they have to eat humans.
Dominia is one of these martyrs. She is one of the Hierophant’s daughters, as well as his most feared general. But after her wife’s dead she is disillusioned and starts working against the Hierophant.
Dominia was an interesting character to follow, and I really liked the flashbacks back to her early life with the Hierophant and the time she spent with her wife. Actually most of the characters were interesting to read about, as they all were very different.
The world too was very fascinating, and I liked the dystopian atmosphere as well as the martyrs (who were not quite vampires, but still kinda were). I loved that the story took place in so many different places of the world, such as both Japan and Kabul. And it even mentioned Denmark a few times - The Hierophant lives in Kronborg!
I was however quite confused throughout a lot of the story, of course it got better the further in I got, but at times it almost felt like I was reading a sequel to a series. I would definitely recommend people to read the timeline before they start the book, as that would probably clear a lot of the confusion.
However, despite the confusion I still really liked this book, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for something different to read, or to those who like sci-fi and dystopias.
The Hierophant’s Daughter takes place in the future, where there are two kinds of humans, the Martyrs and the normal humans. The Martyrs, led by the Hierophant, rules a big part of the Earth,and they can live for thousands of years. But in order to stay alive they must stay out of the sun and they have to eat humans.
Dominia is one of these martyrs. She is one of the Hierophant’s daughters, as well as his most feared general. But after her wife’s dead she is disillusioned and starts working against the Hierophant.
Dominia was an interesting character to follow, and I really liked the flashbacks back to her early life with the Hierophant and the time she spent with her wife. Actually most of the characters were interesting to read about, as they all were very different.
The world too was very fascinating, and I liked the dystopian atmosphere as well as the martyrs (who were not quite vampires, but still kinda were). I loved that the story took place in so many different places of the world, such as both Japan and Kabul. And it even mentioned Denmark a few times - The Hierophant lives in Kronborg!
I was however quite confused throughout a lot of the story, of course it got better the further in I got, but at times it almost felt like I was reading a sequel to a series. I would definitely recommend people to read the timeline before they start the book, as that would probably clear a lot of the confusion.
However, despite the confusion I still really liked this book, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for something different to read, or to those who like sci-fi and dystopias.
May 27, 2019
4.5 stars on the blog.
I love this author. Her writings are deeply thought provoking. I will be back with a review soon. I don't have time to do a proper job of it right now.
I love this author. Her writings are deeply thought provoking. I will be back with a review soon. I don't have time to do a proper job of it right now.
February 4, 2019
The Hierophant’s Daughter - Disgraced Martyr Trilogy - Book 1
By M.F. Sullivan
Genre - Fiction
Category - Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction/LGBT/Fantasy
Pages - 298
Publication Information - Painted Blind Publishing (May 19, 2019)
Reviewed by William C. Bitner, Jr. (https://booksinmylibraryblog.wordpres...)
Rating - 📙📙📙📙📙
I finished reading The Hierophant’s Daughter, Disgraced Martyr Trilogy, Book One by M.F. Sullivan a few days ago, and I’ve just be wondering what I can possibly say about this phenomenal piece of fiction that would be a credit to it’s achievement. First I want to say that it took me a little longer than I expected to read the 298 pages. It’s a complex story that had me perplexed and confused in the beginning pages. I am happy to say however that sticking to it paid off in a much larger aspect than I could have ever imagined. The world building and character development is astonishingly vivid and the story begins to develop right before your eyes on the pages. It really was an experience reading this book. I’m gobsmacked and left in a state of wonderment about what the next chapters will bring to light. This is a difficult piece of fiction to put into any one category as it really touches on so many issues and crosses many genre boundaries. It is just something that must be experienced by just opening up your mind and allowing the story to just sink in. I am fast becoming a big fan of M.F. Sullivan and cannot wait for the next installment.
Synopsis (from the back cover): By 4042 CE, the Hierophant and his Church have risen to political dominance with his cannibalistic army of genetically modified humans: martyrs. In an era when mankind's intergenerational cold wars against their long-lived predators seem close to running hot, the Holy Family is poised on the verge of complete planetary control. It will take a miracle to save humanity from extinction.
It will also take a miracle to resurrect the wife of 331-year-old General Dominia di Mephitoli, who defects during martyr year 1997 AL in search of Lazarus, the one man rumored to bring life to the dead. With the Hierophant's Project Black Sun looming over her head, she has little choice but to believe this Lazarus is really all her new friends say he is--assuming he exists at all--and that these companions of hers are really able to help her. From the foulmouthed Japanese prostitute with a few secrets of her own to the outright sapient dog who seems to judge every move, they don't inspire a lot of confidence, but the General has to take the help she can get.
After all, Dominia is no ordinary martyr. She is THE HIEROPHANT'S DAUGHTER, and her Father won't let her switch sides without a fight. Not when she still has so much to learn.
About M.F. Sullivan: M.F. Sullivan is a playwright and novelist currently living in the scenic town of Ashland, Oregon. There, the author is hard at work on a new trilogy and a slew of plays. Sullivan's interests include consciousness, language, and how the literary arts can be used to expand them both.
Other work by M.F. Sullivan: The Lighting Stenography Device: A Psychedelic Odyssey, and Delilah, My Women: A Dark Transgressive Romance.
By M.F. Sullivan
Genre - Fiction
Category - Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction/LGBT/Fantasy
Pages - 298
Publication Information - Painted Blind Publishing (May 19, 2019)
Reviewed by William C. Bitner, Jr. (https://booksinmylibraryblog.wordpres...)
Rating - 📙📙📙📙📙
I finished reading The Hierophant’s Daughter, Disgraced Martyr Trilogy, Book One by M.F. Sullivan a few days ago, and I’ve just be wondering what I can possibly say about this phenomenal piece of fiction that would be a credit to it’s achievement. First I want to say that it took me a little longer than I expected to read the 298 pages. It’s a complex story that had me perplexed and confused in the beginning pages. I am happy to say however that sticking to it paid off in a much larger aspect than I could have ever imagined. The world building and character development is astonishingly vivid and the story begins to develop right before your eyes on the pages. It really was an experience reading this book. I’m gobsmacked and left in a state of wonderment about what the next chapters will bring to light. This is a difficult piece of fiction to put into any one category as it really touches on so many issues and crosses many genre boundaries. It is just something that must be experienced by just opening up your mind and allowing the story to just sink in. I am fast becoming a big fan of M.F. Sullivan and cannot wait for the next installment.
Synopsis (from the back cover): By 4042 CE, the Hierophant and his Church have risen to political dominance with his cannibalistic army of genetically modified humans: martyrs. In an era when mankind's intergenerational cold wars against their long-lived predators seem close to running hot, the Holy Family is poised on the verge of complete planetary control. It will take a miracle to save humanity from extinction.
It will also take a miracle to resurrect the wife of 331-year-old General Dominia di Mephitoli, who defects during martyr year 1997 AL in search of Lazarus, the one man rumored to bring life to the dead. With the Hierophant's Project Black Sun looming over her head, she has little choice but to believe this Lazarus is really all her new friends say he is--assuming he exists at all--and that these companions of hers are really able to help her. From the foulmouthed Japanese prostitute with a few secrets of her own to the outright sapient dog who seems to judge every move, they don't inspire a lot of confidence, but the General has to take the help she can get.
After all, Dominia is no ordinary martyr. She is THE HIEROPHANT'S DAUGHTER, and her Father won't let her switch sides without a fight. Not when she still has so much to learn.
About M.F. Sullivan: M.F. Sullivan is a playwright and novelist currently living in the scenic town of Ashland, Oregon. There, the author is hard at work on a new trilogy and a slew of plays. Sullivan's interests include consciousness, language, and how the literary arts can be used to expand them both.
Other work by M.F. Sullivan: The Lighting Stenography Device: A Psychedelic Odyssey, and Delilah, My Women: A Dark Transgressive Romance.
December 10, 2018
Publishing Date: May 2019
Publisher: Painted Blind
ISBN: 9780996539579
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 1.6/5
Publisher’s Description:By 4042 CE, the Hierophant and his Church have risen to political dominance with his cannibalistic army of genetically modified humans: martyrs. In an era when mankind’s inter-generational cold wars against their long-lived predators seem close to running hot, the Holy Family is poised on the verge of complete planetary control. It will take a miracle to save humanity from extinction.
Spoiler Alert!
IF, you can swallow all that nonsense and the others that precede and follow this scene, then you got more guts than a male praying mantis. Plot devices can work but usually are utilized as a vehicle that hides a lack of creative scene development.
The other problem this novel has is saying the word….Vampire. Nowhere is it ever mentioned like a booger hanging out of your nose. The Martyrs are of the un-dead, live almost forever, need human blood to survive and will die if in the sun too long. Check, check, check and check….Vampire. Did the author not want to relegate her masterpiece to the common genre via naming conventions? In my world a spade is a spade, so why not call it another fucking vampire novel. Oh, but just not any vampire novel…..it is a Gay vampire novel. So why no sparkles?
This could have been a brilliant novel. A burgeoning writing talent with some great twists on an old idea. Sadly there were too many plot devices coupled with stuttering scene progression that placed the novel squarely in “douche wagon” mode. Additionally there is A LOT of backstory to wade through. No really, A LOT OF BACKSTORY to wade through. I am not kidding.
I wanted to DNF this novel but was curious about whether the main character would evolve or continue to spiral down into the gay vampire mourning/romance thing.
(Pssst, it’s the latter).
You can read all of my reviews,HERE.
Publisher: Painted Blind
ISBN: 9780996539579
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 1.6/5
Publisher’s Description:By 4042 CE, the Hierophant and his Church have risen to political dominance with his cannibalistic army of genetically modified humans: martyrs. In an era when mankind’s inter-generational cold wars against their long-lived predators seem close to running hot, the Holy Family is poised on the verge of complete planetary control. It will take a miracle to save humanity from extinction.
Spoiler Alert!
IF, you can swallow all that nonsense and the others that precede and follow this scene, then you got more guts than a male praying mantis. Plot devices can work but usually are utilized as a vehicle that hides a lack of creative scene development.
The other problem this novel has is saying the word….Vampire. Nowhere is it ever mentioned like a booger hanging out of your nose. The Martyrs are of the un-dead, live almost forever, need human blood to survive and will die if in the sun too long. Check, check, check and check….Vampire. Did the author not want to relegate her masterpiece to the common genre via naming conventions? In my world a spade is a spade, so why not call it another fucking vampire novel. Oh, but just not any vampire novel…..it is a Gay vampire novel. So why no sparkles?
This could have been a brilliant novel. A burgeoning writing talent with some great twists on an old idea. Sadly there were too many plot devices coupled with stuttering scene progression that placed the novel squarely in “douche wagon” mode. Additionally there is A LOT of backstory to wade through. No really, A LOT OF BACKSTORY to wade through. I am not kidding.
I wanted to DNF this novel but was curious about whether the main character would evolve or continue to spiral down into the gay vampire mourning/romance thing.
(Pssst, it’s the latter).
You can read all of my reviews,HERE.
May 23, 2019
The Hierophant’s Daughter by M.F. Sullivan is the first book in the Disgraced Martyr Trilogy.
In a nutshell: In 1974, a visitor from another world came to the Earth. The Hierophant then began a slow and methodical political, religious and military takeover of the planet. Immortal, and backed by an army of genetically altered, cannibalistic humans known as Martyrs, his domination is imminent. Those humans who could afford it, fled to the safety of Mars leaving their poorer counterparts behind to fight an endless battle for freedom and survival.
General Dominia is as anti-hero as they come. She is a martyr, feared by humans both for her appetite and her ferocity in battle. She’s killed countless as the leader of the Hierophant’s army or simply as her next meal. Heck she’s even referred to humans as garbage. And then there is her selfishly hell-bent determination to resurrect Cassandra. So why is it I find myself cheering for her? Perhaps it is an empathy for her utter disillusionment, for the sting of familial betrayal, for the soul searing pain of losing a loved one? Perhaps it is her desire to try and become the better person her wife hoped she could be. Whatever the reason, I find her character to be so compelling.
The Hierophant is a megalomaniac from another planet bent on world domination. Cunning, ruthless and feared by Martyrs and humans alike, he is the quintessential villain. Cassandra is the love of Dominia’s life and the catalyst for the Martyr’s rebellion. However, we are only given glimpses into her character through flashbacks. Her story is a tragic one nonetheless and I am curious if we will see more of her character in the sequels. There is also a great supporting cast.
This book is a phenomenal example of world building. The history, politics and the social and religious systems are so detailed and intricately woven throughout the narrative that I felt entirely immersed in the world. It is complex and there is a lot to digest. It’s like Sullivan tossed all of speculative fiction’s sub genres into a blender and cranked it on high for this book. I also adored the very visceral nature of the book. It is deliciously graphic, rife with violence and grotesque imagery. If you desire being truly transported to another place, this book will envelop you in a dark and rich world brimming with flawed and compelling characters, action, violence and interesting twists and turns. It ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for book two.
Full review available here: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/?s=t...
In a nutshell: In 1974, a visitor from another world came to the Earth. The Hierophant then began a slow and methodical political, religious and military takeover of the planet. Immortal, and backed by an army of genetically altered, cannibalistic humans known as Martyrs, his domination is imminent. Those humans who could afford it, fled to the safety of Mars leaving their poorer counterparts behind to fight an endless battle for freedom and survival.
General Dominia is as anti-hero as they come. She is a martyr, feared by humans both for her appetite and her ferocity in battle. She’s killed countless as the leader of the Hierophant’s army or simply as her next meal. Heck she’s even referred to humans as garbage. And then there is her selfishly hell-bent determination to resurrect Cassandra. So why is it I find myself cheering for her? Perhaps it is an empathy for her utter disillusionment, for the sting of familial betrayal, for the soul searing pain of losing a loved one? Perhaps it is her desire to try and become the better person her wife hoped she could be. Whatever the reason, I find her character to be so compelling.
The Hierophant is a megalomaniac from another planet bent on world domination. Cunning, ruthless and feared by Martyrs and humans alike, he is the quintessential villain. Cassandra is the love of Dominia’s life and the catalyst for the Martyr’s rebellion. However, we are only given glimpses into her character through flashbacks. Her story is a tragic one nonetheless and I am curious if we will see more of her character in the sequels. There is also a great supporting cast.
This book is a phenomenal example of world building. The history, politics and the social and religious systems are so detailed and intricately woven throughout the narrative that I felt entirely immersed in the world. It is complex and there is a lot to digest. It’s like Sullivan tossed all of speculative fiction’s sub genres into a blender and cranked it on high for this book. I also adored the very visceral nature of the book. It is deliciously graphic, rife with violence and grotesque imagery. If you desire being truly transported to another place, this book will envelop you in a dark and rich world brimming with flawed and compelling characters, action, violence and interesting twists and turns. It ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for book two.
Full review available here: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/?s=t...
January 17, 2020
The premise: in a future where the world is controlled by a fascist theocracy ruled by vampires, our heroine's wife is dead and she's on a quest to find a heretic who can bring back the dead.
This book was weird. It presents itself in a very serious manner - love that cover - but at its heart it's a vampire thriller. Our heroine is a vampire warlord who was redeemed by the love of a human, but only partially - with her dead she's forced to really make some choices and defect from the ruling class of vampires.
Most of the book is her running to and from violence as she travels to Japan, then by means of a super train to Kabul. Her companions are a human rebel who hooked her up with promises of this dead-raising heretic, a dog, and eventually a prostitute who forces her to confront her worldview and grow as a person, kind of.
This is the part where I wax lyrical about how interesting and creative it was, but it was weird in bad ways as well as good. There's an omnipresent villain in the form of the Hierophant, basically king vampire himself who presents himself as a good and kindly pope who descended from space to bring vampirism to the world as god's blessing...but you quickly realize he's the kind of internet troll who never answers any questions, leads the rhetoric back to himself, and always, always puts it so you're in the wrong.
And he keeps showing up. And he keeps turning people against our heroine, and he subverts the technology around her, and he's this... fantastic villain as I hate him. But I also don't want to read him, y'know? He's too believable.
I don't know how to feel about this book. I really don't. I'm curious about the sequels but afraid of them in equal measure because there's this weird... sense of futility in the books. I don't know.
Four stars for being well-written and weird, but removed a star because I don't know if I actually liked it.
This book was weird. It presents itself in a very serious manner - love that cover - but at its heart it's a vampire thriller. Our heroine is a vampire warlord who was redeemed by the love of a human, but only partially - with her dead she's forced to really make some choices and defect from the ruling class of vampires.
Most of the book is her running to and from violence as she travels to Japan, then by means of a super train to Kabul. Her companions are a human rebel who hooked her up with promises of this dead-raising heretic, a dog, and eventually a prostitute who forces her to confront her worldview and grow as a person, kind of.
This is the part where I wax lyrical about how interesting and creative it was, but it was weird in bad ways as well as good. There's an omnipresent villain in the form of the Hierophant, basically king vampire himself who presents himself as a good and kindly pope who descended from space to bring vampirism to the world as god's blessing...but you quickly realize he's the kind of internet troll who never answers any questions, leads the rhetoric back to himself, and always, always puts it so you're in the wrong.
And he keeps showing up. And he keeps turning people against our heroine, and he subverts the technology around her, and he's this... fantastic villain as I hate him. But I also don't want to read him, y'know? He's too believable.
I don't know how to feel about this book. I really don't. I'm curious about the sequels but afraid of them in equal measure because there's this weird... sense of futility in the books. I don't know.
Four stars for being well-written and weird, but removed a star because I don't know if I actually liked it.
May 7, 2019
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book by Sullivan that I've read and enjoyed. The first, The Lightning Stenographer, was much deeper and harder to follow than this one, but worth the effort. This story didn't throw me around as much, and even though it was more violent, didn't feel as dark to me. Of course, dark is a plus as far as I'm concerned, so bear that in mind.
The Heirophant's Daughter takes place in an alternate future and comes complete with a timeline that I didn't notice until I read some of the other reviews. It cleared up quite a few of the gaps in my reading, although I didn't get too confused without it. You do have to carry on reading to understand some of it, but I like to turn those gaps over in my mind to come up with plausible possibilities. When they're explained later (and they are in this book), it just makes all those imaginings even better when they're close to the author's path.
If you're looking for a fun, fluffy read, step away from this book. If you're looking for a new twist on vampires and don't mind putting a little thought into the story, then I highly recommend this one. I'm looking forward to seeing where the next book goes!
This is the second book by Sullivan that I've read and enjoyed. The first, The Lightning Stenographer, was much deeper and harder to follow than this one, but worth the effort. This story didn't throw me around as much, and even though it was more violent, didn't feel as dark to me. Of course, dark is a plus as far as I'm concerned, so bear that in mind.
The Heirophant's Daughter takes place in an alternate future and comes complete with a timeline that I didn't notice until I read some of the other reviews. It cleared up quite a few of the gaps in my reading, although I didn't get too confused without it. You do have to carry on reading to understand some of it, but I like to turn those gaps over in my mind to come up with plausible possibilities. When they're explained later (and they are in this book), it just makes all those imaginings even better when they're close to the author's path.
If you're looking for a fun, fluffy read, step away from this book. If you're looking for a new twist on vampires and don't mind putting a little thought into the story, then I highly recommend this one. I'm looking forward to seeing where the next book goes!
June 28, 2019
Ahh the relationship between fathers and daughters. Is there a more special bond than that? What if your dad is a warlord/god and you are his wayward general? What about then?
Beautifully written, amazing characters and settings, and adventure throughout, this is a story that you can really get into! However, make sure you have the time to do so, because Sullivan is never short on words. The author describes in detail what is going on in the story and it can feel quite heavy at times. However, the story keeps moving forward, even with the additional explanations. It all works together to weave a narrative that you can immerse yourself into.
It is easy to get into the head of the main character because you know her thoughts, her fierceness, her anger, and her losses. There are minor twists and turns throughout the book to keep you guessing and wanting to know more. This is definitely a “want to curl up with a good book” type of read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own.
Beautifully written, amazing characters and settings, and adventure throughout, this is a story that you can really get into! However, make sure you have the time to do so, because Sullivan is never short on words. The author describes in detail what is going on in the story and it can feel quite heavy at times. However, the story keeps moving forward, even with the additional explanations. It all works together to weave a narrative that you can immerse yourself into.
It is easy to get into the head of the main character because you know her thoughts, her fierceness, her anger, and her losses. There are minor twists and turns throughout the book to keep you guessing and wanting to know more. This is definitely a “want to curl up with a good book” type of read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own.
December 31, 2018
The Hierophant's Daughter by M.F. Sullivan - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 4.5 / 5 STARS
This book was AMAZING. A great dystopian cyberpunk horror taking place far into the future with humans and Martyrs. Both are the same buuuut also not the same. You see, humans have the gruesome option of eating other humans
(mostly in desperate situations or they're either sick in the head) but Martyrs MUST eat humans in order to thrive. Oh, and avoid the sun.
Our leading lady is one of these Martyrs. Once a Governess, Dominia escapes from her "family" after a disastrous event which kills her beloved wife. She is strong, she is gay, she is flawed, and she is awesome. The other characters were such a delight as well (which is such a relief since most horror books I read stray away from giving minor characters a smidge of a personality)
OH, and the worldbuilding! It was so unique and such a fresh take on a futuristic Earth. It can get confusing at first; I personally suggest to read the timeline located towards the end of the book to get a clearer view of things that happen.
I highly reccomend for those interested in LGBT relationships (particularly f/f), dystopian horror, creepy worldleaders, mixture of ancient and future religions, great writing, and immortal cannibals.
ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY
This book was AMAZING. A great dystopian cyberpunk horror taking place far into the future with humans and Martyrs. Both are the same buuuut also not the same. You see, humans have the gruesome option of eating other humans
(mostly in desperate situations or they're either sick in the head) but Martyrs MUST eat humans in order to thrive. Oh, and avoid the sun.
Our leading lady is one of these Martyrs. Once a Governess, Dominia escapes from her "family" after a disastrous event which kills her beloved wife. She is strong, she is gay, she is flawed, and she is awesome. The other characters were such a delight as well (which is such a relief since most horror books I read stray away from giving minor characters a smidge of a personality)
OH, and the worldbuilding! It was so unique and such a fresh take on a futuristic Earth. It can get confusing at first; I personally suggest to read the timeline located towards the end of the book to get a clearer view of things that happen.
I highly reccomend for those interested in LGBT relationships (particularly f/f), dystopian horror, creepy worldleaders, mixture of ancient and future religions, great writing, and immortal cannibals.
ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY
June 4, 2020
Great book, I enjoyed the premise a lot, lots of jargon to get through but I don't feel it takes away from the story or understanding what's going on. I enjoyed the side characters a lot, even the treacherous ones. I will say I couldn't care less about Cassandra and felt Dominia had more chemistry with her evil father than the supposed love of her life. Can't wait to read the second installment when all is said and done.
February 25, 2019
Great book. The world building is spectacular, far reaching with great depth. At times the horror plays into the absurdly comic. Very original and unique characters that will be hard to forget. With regards to the world building it is extremely helpful to read the timeline in the back first. Things make a lot more sense. Highly recommend.
June 10, 2019
kinda vampirish. really liked this.
July 1, 2019
Such great lore. The world built by the author felt authentic So few fantasy and science fiction authors manage to do. Dominia is so noticeably flawed but still likable. This blend of genres flowed quite nicely. Look forward to the next 2 books.
did-not-finish
April 21, 2019I received an advance review copy through Netgalley. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
DNF at 41%.
The setup is interesting, but the pacing of the plot, worldbuilding, and writing style aren't really working for me — I'm feeling more frustrated than intrigued by the slow build. While I appreciate how sensitively this book deals with issues of prejudice and discrimination (most notably same-sex relationships and religion), acknowledging complexity and systemic power imbalances, as [almost] always there's room for improvement: for example, geishas were not prostitutes, no matter how many people seem to think the terms are interchangeable, so although this is a sci-fi setting, that usage was the last straw for me.
DNF at 41%.
The setup is interesting, but the pacing of the plot, worldbuilding, and writing style aren't really working for me — I'm feeling more frustrated than intrigued by the slow build. While I appreciate how sensitively this book deals with issues of prejudice and discrimination (most notably same-sex relationships and religion), acknowledging complexity and systemic power imbalances, as [almost] always there's room for improvement: for example, geishas were not prostitutes, no matter how many people seem to think the terms are interchangeable, so although this is a sci-fi setting, that usage was the last straw for me.
April 7, 2019
Book received for free through NetGalley
I loved this book and the author makes it so easy to fall in love with the characters even though at the same time you can't believe this might happen. The book seems so legit and you can see this happening easily if such a protein was discovered.
I loved this book and the author makes it so easy to fall in love with the characters even though at the same time you can't believe this might happen. The book seems so legit and you can see this happening easily if such a protein was discovered.
January 26, 2019
Some families you are born into, some you choose. And some families are chosen for you. The Hierophant's Daughter, Dominia, has the third sort of family. Raised to rule over the human race she once belonged to, she is a warrior above all. But what a story that creates. Full of vivid imagery and convoluted relationships that defy description (but are well described nonetheless), this story is rich on many levels. And there's a dog!
It reminds me in many ways of Elizabeth Bear's Jacob's Ladder Series (not the same in plot or location, etc, but very much the same in flavor)
It reminds me in many ways of Elizabeth Bear's Jacob's Ladder Series (not the same in plot or location, etc, but very much the same in flavor)
December 21, 2018
The Hierophant’s Daughter takes place in the future, where there are two kinds of humans, the Martyrs and the normal humans. The Martyrs, led by the Hierophant, rules a big part of the Earth,and they can live for thousands of years. But in order to stay alive they must stay out of the sun and they have to eat humans.
Dominia is one of these martyrs. She is one of the Hierophant’s daughters, as well as his most feared general. But after her wife’s dead she is disillusioned and starts working against the Hierophant.
Dominia was an interesting character to follow, and I really liked the flashbacks back to her early life with the Hierophant and the time she spent with her wife. Actually most of the characters were interesting to read about, as they all were very different.
The world too was very fascinating, and I liked the dystopian atmosphere as well as the martyrs (who were not quite vampires, but still kinda were). I loved that the story took place in so many different places of the world, such as both Japan and Kabul. And it even mentioned Denmark a few times - The Hierophant lives in Kronborg!
I was however quite confused throughout a lot of the story, of course it got better the further in I got, but at times it almost felt like I was reading a sequel to a series. I would definitely recommend people to read the timeline before they start the book, as that would probably clear a lot of the confusion.
However, despite the confusion I still really liked this book, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for something different to read, or to those who like sci-fi and dystopias.
Dominia is one of these martyrs. She is one of the Hierophant’s daughters, as well as his most feared general. But after her wife’s dead she is disillusioned and starts working against the Hierophant.
Dominia was an interesting character to follow, and I really liked the flashbacks back to her early life with the Hierophant and the time she spent with her wife. Actually most of the characters were interesting to read about, as they all were very different.
The world too was very fascinating, and I liked the dystopian atmosphere as well as the martyrs (who were not quite vampires, but still kinda were). I loved that the story took place in so many different places of the world, such as both Japan and Kabul. And it even mentioned Denmark a few times - The Hierophant lives in Kronborg!
I was however quite confused throughout a lot of the story, of course it got better the further in I got, but at times it almost felt like I was reading a sequel to a series. I would definitely recommend people to read the timeline before they start the book, as that would probably clear a lot of the confusion.
However, despite the confusion I still really liked this book, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for something different to read, or to those who like sci-fi and dystopias.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews