Tavern

Dargath Chronicles #1

by Deston J. Munden

Xelnath of the Gnarled Root—a tavern owner, information broker, healer, and guildmaster of the Blackwind Company—has found a place, far better than the forest from which he came in the magical metropolis and city-state of Lladad in the Magiian Empire.

When a simple act of kindness draws the ire of a troubled assassin, his love-stricken Archmage father and an army of magically constructed golems, Xel must scheme with vipers of the high court, mingle with royalty at the castle, blackmail drug dealers in the slums, and fight assassins and mercenaries in the streets.

He needs to lean on the support of his motley crew of a dark elf assassin, a dragon pirate, a high elf royal, and a talking dog artificer to keep him from his own inner demons and doubts.

Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Asexual

440 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2019

About the author

Deston “D.J.” Munden is a fantasy and science fiction author, living near the Outerbanks of North Carolina. Somewhere in the vague realm of his late twenties and early thirties, he lives with his brother in a small house in the woods where he taught himself how to imagine and write down worlds with orcs, swords, and magic (and sometimes mutants and spaceships). When he’s not writing, he’s playing video games with his best buds, rolling horribly on multisided dice, eating double his weight in food, trying out new recipes, collecting samurai memorabilia and watching as much anime and reading as much manga as humanly possible (sometimes doing more than one of these things at once).

His current work includes the Dargath Chronicles novels and Dusk Mountain Blues, his scifi webseries. He’s a huge fan of the fantasy and science fiction genre, including both the modern and classic works. Nothing he loves more than finding new authors all over the genre and then recommending them to all of his friends (that are willing to listen at this point). This will be his official debut in the fantasy world he has grown up in (at least in his head) his entire life.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’m just a modest tavern owner and mediocre healer caught in the middle of these nasty politics, ‘ight?”

Xel is a Renaissance Orc in new land… tavern keeper, knowledgable in medicines, and leader of the Blackwind Company. On a typical day, he heals the sick, manages the bar menu, and takes on a new job for his crew. His background and his status as a relative newcomer in the city proves to be both a blessing and a curse as he wades into the deep political positioning of the royals and mages alike… And as the book moves along, he finds that his understanding of the city intelligence is not as deep as he may have thought… An assassination attempt sparks a light in a dark, dark tunnel of greed and magic that is ready to devour the city. A great twist about half way through will test the company like never before.

The best part of this book for me is the relationships Xel has with his team and the kinship or brotherhood he has with other members of the the underground. I also enjoyed Xel’s counterpart. He’s an interesting character that Munsten has drawn very well.

My only criticism is that at times I was overwhelmed by the descriptions of the fighting and the magic system: many runes, portals, elementals, and aether. But I also see this as a strength… It is a book that shows its influences… Obviously D&D and classic fantasy novels, but there’s also some superhero and even maybe even some video game themes in there too.

This was the last book on my vacation a couple months back. It was perfect to escape into as I tried to ease back into the real world. Xel is complete guide to an awesome setting… as Munston populates this world with all sorts of creative species and creatures.

Recommended for that fantasy reader looking for a good fusion of so many good elements by an up-and-coming new writer.

For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog

[Melissa Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

After this book had such a high rating, my expectations were great. They were not met. I loved the MC being an orc, yet quickly grew to despise his continual internal self negative monologue. Also, his glimpses of his past were very rarely complete and just irked me. I also felt a disconnect with some of his Guild members and so called best friends. They were described well, but for about half of them, the actions between them and the MC were stilted. I wanted more action and less mystery, but that is a personal opinion. Decent story, good editing and well written, just not interesting or engaging enough.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good solid 3 stars, for this, loved the character, good use of his self doubt made him flawed.

Well worth reading.

Only one thing, there’s too much happening with regard to the environment as the characters are wandering around the city and the like.

Looking forward to reading my of this authors books.

[Megan Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well told action fantasy story. Their is many twists and turns that will leave you in suspense.

[Peyton · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

I’m disappointed that I had to give this book a low rating because I really wanted to love it

The beginning of the book was perfect. Xel was one of those characters that stole my heart the second he came on-page. I loved that Xel was obviously intelligent and capable, but that he still struggled with low self-esteem. As the story continues we get brief glimpses of Xel’s past as we’re introduced to his found family and business connections as a spymaster in Lladad. I loved the creativity in the worldbuilding and the detail that went into each character.

The problem is I never stopped being introduced to characters. There wasn’t enough development of important (and interesting) characters because there was always someone else being introduced. As a result, a lot of the conversations felt forced and awkward because there wasn’t enough buildup in the characters’ relationships. It felt like the whole book was overloaded with new characters, backstories, and complicated world-building. While I wanted to be interested in everything, there was too much for me to keep up with. The story got lost in the details. I think the book would have been better if it had a more narrow scope. There was a lot of potential in many of the character relationships that I wish had been developed further.

The information overload might have been forgivable if the book wasn’t constantly breaking the “show don’t tell rule”. As a reader, I like making connections on my own, but there wasn’t much room for that in Tavern, which took away the suspense of the story. By the time the major conflict was introduced, I'd lost interest in the story and was just trying to finish.

In the end, the book wasn’t all bad. There were a lot of moments in this book that I loved, even if they weren't executed well overall. I’m glad I finished the book just so I could see Xel’s character development throughout the story.

[Jason Aycock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love action oriented fantasy and I love character driven fantasy. Those two don’t often go together. But when an author melds the two it can be pretty amazing. Tavern is one of those rare fantasy books that melds one part action and one part character oriented fantasy but then goes and adds a big heaping dose of heart to make you fall in love with it.

Tavern is one of those books that sells you one thing and gives you something free as a bonus. It sells you a story about an Orc tavern owner (Xel) who runs a mercenary spy ring called The Blackwind Company out of his establishment, who also happens to save some people from assassination and manages to get himself and his crew caught up in an attempt to bring down the city’s ruling family. It’s a story about a man (orc), his business (tavern and merc company), and what comes when they get swept up in local politics. But then you realize you’re also getting a story about friendship, the struggles of self-doubt, and racism. What you also get is a story about life with all it’s beauty and ugliness.

The narrative itself is fun and entertaining. There’s just the right mix of action and character development to keep you reading one chapter after the next. It is something of a fantasy mystery with the characters trying to get to the bottom of the attempted assassinations, and political fantasy with the upheaval the assassination attempts stir up. It’s also a story about friendship and overcoming odds which I’ll talk about more below. And it’s the story of one orc, trying to make his way as a tavern owner and guild leader in a world that doesn’t fully trust him.

Characters
Xelnath of the Gnarled Root Clan is the heart and soul of Tavern. Xel is an orc who left his homeland to settle in the city of Lladad. His background is one of pain and bullying at the hands of his peers because his magic rune is perceived to be a source of evil. But life in Lladad doesn’t start well for him either and he suffers beatings there too until he is eventually found and trained by a mysterious blind master. Soon he recovers and is able to get on his feet, make a small name for himself, and establish tavern and mercenary guild. By the time the story starts he’s pretty successful yet still filled with loads of self-doubt.

Xel is assisted in his endeavors by the members of his merc company (the dragon pirate, dark elf assassin, high elf royal, and talking dog artificer mentioned above) as well as a number of the city’s district leaders who also happen to be the children of the Duke. The secondary characters are numerous and serve to flesh out Xel’s character and his limitations, as well as to explore some of the themes noted below. These secondary characters are not very deep in terms of characterization, but they don’t need to be given the bent of the story. This isn’t to say they are shallow – they do have nuance and flaws, it’s just to say they are not the focus, and instead serve to assist in Xel’s development.

One of the few complaints I have with Tavern is with the numerous secondary characters. Now, let me start by saying I REALLY liked them all and they all add really cool flare to the group that makes up the guild. But, it felt a little strange that so many of them come from powerful backgrounds. I won’t say much else in order not to give too much away, but I wondered at Xel’s ability to draw so many high placed people to him. Then again maybe that’s an integral part of Xel’s character.

Writing And POV
Tavern is told from Xel’s perspective throughout and in the third person. In a day when so many single POV narratives are being told from the first person this seemed an interesting shift for me. You can still get inside the character’s head, but the POV of the story takes you in other directions.

One aspect of Munden’s writing I particularly enjoyed was Xel’s voice. Xel is an immigrant to the city. He’s from a different people with a different language and culture. As such he speaks differently. And though Xel has worked on how he talks he frequently falls into speech patterns and mannerisms that are considered a little crass or uncultured. This feeds into some of the racism Xel encounters throughout the book. It’s a great example of how the way someone speaks (especially with a second language) is not an indicator of their intelligence or ability. It really helps to mark Xel and set him apart from others he encounters in the narrative.

In contrast many of the other characters have no distinct issues with speech patterns or mannerisms. This is true even though a number of them are also immigrants and from other peoples and cultures (such as the elves and dwarves of the group). I would have liked to have seen some differentiation there, but at the same time maybe it was on purpose as a way to really set Xel apart.

Munden’s writing style is on point and direct. It fits the themes and tone and plot of the book really well. There were a few editorial issues but not many and they don’t deter from the story.

Magic System
Magic in this world has its source in Aether. it is found in everyone’s blood to different degrees but not everyone has figure out how to wield it. It is brought forth in ways unique to each individual through rune’s within the person. Not everyone knows their rune, or the depth of their pool of aether. It is only once both are discovered that they can truly wield it.

I REALLY liked this magic system as it is one that in theory at least is open to everyone in the world. While magic systems that can only be accessed by certain special individuals make for great stories with powerful characters, this system allows for anyone and everyone to have magical power if they can discover how to unlock it. It’s kind of a leveling of the playing field to some extent. Not totally, because there are definitely those with more power and skill than others (a lot more) but it normalizes magic a little which makes for some interesting story possibilities.

World Building
While set in the world of Dargath, Tavern spends most of its time in the city of Lladad. It’s a city with multiple districts (Port, Guard, Common, Crafter, Merchant, Military) built in ever widening circles, each run by sons (and one daughter) of the ruling Duke and Duchess. The narrative takes the characters and the reader through each of these districts, each with it’s own sights and sounds and smells, each with its own set of inhabitants, each with its own distinct qualities and drawbacks. Lladad, an urban landscape shaped as a circle, becomes a hub within which the story spins.

We do get glimpses of the wider world, including Xel’s homeland, and mentions of the lands of the elves and dwarves as well as the nations’s capital, but these additional snippets only add a little detail and color to the background of the characters. For Tavern the core of the story is the wold within Lladad.

Lladad and Dargath are filled with all manner of creatures. humans, orcs, dragon kind, elves, dwarves, rock golemns, and many many other humanoids that are new and unique to Munden’s story. It’s a world in which they all have long histories and mingle and interact. It’s a world where there is some separation and integration. And it makes for some interesting dynamics.

Themes
While the plot was fun and entertaining, it was some of the themes woven into it that I enjoyed most about Tavern. Friendship is a major theme throughout. From almost page one friendship comes to the fore. For Xel and the members of the Blackwind Company friendship is paramount. They look out for each other, care for each other and genuinely seem to love each other. It is contrasted with Xel’s life prior to coming to Lladad, and contrasted with some of the antagonists of the story who lack close relationships in their lives and suffer for it. Xel and his friends lean on each other and take strength from one another and yes, they take risks for each other. Major life threatening risks. What makes it even more special is when you discover more about each character’s background and how unlikely it would be for some of them to befriend each other outside of their current circumstances.

Self-doubt is another major theme. Xel is plagued by self-doubt. It is a constant voice in his head that he isn’t good enough, that he doesn’t deserve what he has (especially his friends), that he is a let down or burden for those he is closest to. At times this constant self-doubt seems to get tiresome, but then you remember that’s what it’s really like. Self-doubt isn’t something that easily goes away or is easily “fixed” which makes Munden’s use of it in this book so on point. If it wasn’t constantly in your face it wouldn’t seem real, and wouldn’t have the right impact. I was glad to see a book use such a common personality trait in so many people as a trait for it’s main character. It shows how something that can totally consume so many of us doesn’t have to be ignored in our fiction.

Race also rears it’s head in this book and it’s something you just can’t miss. It’s seen first and foremost with Xel. As an orc he’s looked at as inferior by many. He’s an outsider foreign to the city. His mannerisms don’t math everyone else’s. His way of speaking is looked down on. He is presupposed to be a brute, uneducated, and crass, and dirty. He’s tribal. All of these examples have parallels in our world and in our cultures today. Xel is constantly subjected to both casual and overt racism. At times he ignores it, and at other times must address it. But it is a continual presence in his life that cannot be overlooked.

Conclusion
As I come to the end of this review which is already too long I’m realizing how much I’ve left out. I guess that can’t be helped at this point. Let me close by saying this book surprised me. As I noted, I went in with certain expectations and came away with a surprise or two. If you like action and mystery coupled with character focused stories I think you’ll enjoy Tavern. If you like books with heart that appeal to friendship and overcoming pain and adversity I think you may just love Tavern. Either way I hope you’ll give this little gem a chance.

[John A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an author of Orcs, I was naturally eager to see what Deston brought to the table with his story. I was pleasantly surprised in that Tavern is very much a book that took me to places I didn’t expect and told a story I hadn’t quite anticipated. Certainly, a high fantasy starring an Orc brings a certain type of story to mind and Deston takes those expectations and goes in a different direction.

Xel, the main character, is far from a roaring Barbarian that takes up the lions share of Orc character. Thoughtful, cunning, and possessed of numerous skills that are tempered with lingering sense of self-doubt. The reader comes to know Xel better than any other character—for better and for worse. Told in third person, Xel is the sole POV character and while it gives Xel the most life, it also left secondary characters feeling not quite as fleshed out.

Xel wears many hats: tavern owner, spymaster, information broker, court politician, healer through his Druidic magic. Deston explained one of his primary influences was Dragon Age Origins, which explains the story structure where Xel goes on differing missions with different characters who have skill sets appropriate for the occasion. He goes on a clandestine back alley cloak-and-dagger information hunt, he takes his muscle. When he goes to a city gala to engage in court politics, he takes the high elf Royal.

The book starts with Xel helping a gathering of individuals who were poisoned, only to be attacked later. This draws him into a series of escalating events concerning a rogue Archmage attempting a city-wide coup. Action scenes are brimming with well-written action and impact without breaking into a mundane blow-by-blow description.

I was not expecting a cloak-and-dagger spy story but that’s what a lot of tavern comes to: Xel trying to weave a path through a massive web of court politics and local espionage to figure out who is using who and why—even when he knows he’s being used himself and finds he has no other choice. This includes a sub-plot of Xel trying to befriend an assassin working for the Archmage rather than fighting him to the death. It turns into gut-wrenching story of a man trying to help someone caught in an entangled life of trauma and manipulative abuse.

Tavern is littered with what I call Cozy Elements. Descriptive passages that are the prose equivalent of stopping to smell the roses. Many scenes want you to take in the breadth and wonder of the city of Lladad, it’s people, it’s places, it’s culture. It’s a book that loves its MC and it’s location—sometimes to a fault. To the reader who loves this kind of description level, they will find much to like about Tavern. They instill a sense of relaxation and ease of mind.
This CAN work against it in some instances. After a mid-book incident, the tension of the plot is amped up and starts to kick off, only to pull back a little too much and defuse the tension at a time when it should have kept going. Eventually, it finds this path again.

There are a few formatting issues I noted, but nothing that ruins the reading experience. Deston has a commanding grasp of prose that, once honed by experience and commitment, will one day write a book that blows people away. As it is, Tavern is a good debut novel that any author would be proud of. We look forward to Deston’s future as an author.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an awkward start, but the story made up for it in delivering suspense and an amazing cast of characters.
It isn't often you find fantasy giving you the perspective of an orc when elves and dwarves tend to live in the same worlds (which honestly is a travesty). Munden's love for the genre and world building is fully evident throughout the pages.

If you're looking for a fresh perspective on a worn out genre, check this one out for sure.

[G.M. Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

I struggled with Tavern. It's a very well-written book, and has an incredibly well-built world that is rich in lore and detail, but throughout my read it often felt like it was way too much and often in the wrong places for my taste.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't read a whole lot of fantasy, so a lot of it might have just been my expectations, but given the style of story and the large cast of characters, I felt like there was way too much detail in the world-building and description to the point where I often lost interest and had to push myself to continue the book.

The main character of Xel is a good one and I love that the book is from his point of view as an orc, but his self-criticism fell flat since he seemed to be extremely good at what he did, not to mention its clash with his often cocky and self-confident dialogue. I also felt that the constant focus on Xel, while not a bad thing, gave me very little insight into his teammates. I found myself forgetting how many friends he had and who was who. It seemed to get all muddled for me in the midst of all the description.

Ultimately, I think a lot of these issues could have been solved with a more judicious edit, as the story could have been trimmed to a tight 300-or-so pages and lost nothing of value.

All of that being said, the plot was well drawn, the main character was interesting, and the world-build was so deep it was easy to get lost. I certainly hope Munden continues on this series, because there's clearly a lot of story to be told in the world of Tavern, but perhaps just a bit more judiciously.

[Dave Deickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tavern is such an incredible and important novel in the fantasy genre! Tavern is a well-written original with a colorful setting, memorable characters, and clever witty banter that many fantasy writers struggle to achieve. This book was refreshing, original, and a book that i feel answered the desperate call to break the usual mold. The plot was thick and flowed with elegence and while the book was colorful and full of lightheartedness, the danger felt immersively real.
I sincerely look forward to reading more of Mr. Munden's work and to see what comes next in the next dargath chronicle

[Jon Adams]

SPFBO5 book. DNF at 28%. Waaaay too descriptive. No rating since I didn't finish.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book. The characters, plot, writing style - they all hit the top marks for me. The world Deston J. Munden has created is one you can sink yourself inside and thoroughly enjoy being taken deeply into. I'm surprised this hasn't been snapped up by a publisher yet, as it has so much to offer and I wish more people knew about this book. I'm eagerly awaiting book 2 (soon, please!).

My thanks to the author and Booktasters. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Steven Guglich · Rating 5 out of 5]

He had me at "Xelnath of the Gnarled Root..."
This was a fun romp through a well-built fantasy world. This book has great characters that just get you in the feels.
Munden's D&D roots shine through with some classic tropes done well.
If you're looking for a fun, feel-good fantasy that goes from cozy to epic adventure, this is the book for you.

[Sonia P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I definitely look forward to the next one!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free audiobook copy from the author courtesy of Reddit. Thank you to the author.

t took me an incredibly long time to finish Tavern in part because I needed to be in the right mood to read it.

The strength of this novel definitely lies in the world-building. The author has created a unique fantasy world unlike any other I have read. Everything from the hair color of the characters to the surroundings they inhabit is dripping with life and color and vivid imagination. I loved it! The action scenes were also very unique. I never knew what was going to happen next and the fighting styles were unlike anything I usually see, even as an avid fantasy reader. The creativity oozes out of this novel.

So why only 3.5 stars? I'll explain.

I am quite accustomed to reading epic fantasy novels with numerous characters and moving parts, complete with various POVs to follow. Keeping track of large casts of characters is usually no problem for me. In Tavern, the author incorporates a varied cast but sticks to providing only one POV. This is different from how a lot of large case fantasy books operate and while I can appreciate a risk, it did not resonate with me here.

The side characters simply did not connect for me. I felt like a lot of them were typecast, and that's actually how I had to keep them straight at first. The Noble. The Assassin. The Assassin's boyfriend. They just didn't feel like fully realized and fleshed out characters and I think declining to give their POVs hurt my ability to connect with them or understand their motivations.

This also had the impact of making it seem like everything these characters did was all about Xel. They seemingly have no lives of their own, no individual motivations or ambitions. Everything is just about how they can aid Xel. And I know that the author tried to avoid this by adding in little throwaway lines about how they didn't all get to see each other often (implying they were busy with their own thing) and he created a relationship between two of the characters. But it still did little to minimize this effect. If anything it felt forced.

I remember a scene where it was explicitly told to the reader that it was nice that everyone could get together for lunch because they so rarely got to all see each other. But it felt hollow because it felt like every scene I'd read thus far had most of the crew all together and this continued throughout the book. They rarely see each other except for a giant portion of the book when they are all indeed, together. The author seemed to rely on these types of throwaway lines as a crutch. We can't say that the side characters have no motivations of their own if we imply they are busy! We can't say that the characters have no personality if he tells us what it is! And that brings me to my next point...

Then character introductions also hurt from an awful lot of telling and a lack of showing. One scene that stood out was when the author explained that Rynn (the noble) is always acting like "the mother" of the group. This was news to me because nothing she had done up until that very moment felt motherly. And nothing that she did after felt motherly either.

But this was much worse when it came to introducing minor characters. A new character would be introduced and then it would proceed into a full character explanation describing their personality traits and motivations in 3 sentences or less. It completely took the excitement out of meeting someone new, eradicated all sense of mystery, and took away any need to learn or observe anything about the characters. I understand that as a Tavern owner and accomplished spymaster(?) Xel needs to know the major players in the city. I could even get on board with it if we were presented with something akin to a character file. Maybe the reader could see in real-time the intel that Xel has on the person. A statement of their title, a brief catalog of the dirt/blackmail that Zel has against them and their known acquaintances. That would be a lot more engaging. But meeting people the way we did in the books made it feel exceedingly tedious.

As other reviewers pointed out, another problem is that the introductions never stop. You're just constantly getting new people thrown at you, some major and some minor. And whether or not they are major or minor they seem to get about the same (overly long in my opinion) diatribe. First, you get a head-to-toe description of what they look like before moving on to what they are wearing. Oftentimes this is preceded by a paragraph about the setting that they are meeting in. And be it one room or a garden, about the same number of words, is utilized in the description. Then we get a few sentences telling us everything about their personality and motivations and then we can finally start the part where they talk to each other (which may or may not be interesting).

This level of description I felt often derailed the pacing and halted any sense of suspense. I may have been excited at first to meet this character but by the time we get past the extensive description of everything in the room I'm struggling to remain engaged. And that person may have five lines of dialogue and never show up again. Or they may be revealed to be a major villain at the end of the book. So I hope you remember them!

Tavern actually made me realize how much of the way I connect with characters is through the MC. Xel automatically knowing everyone who walked on page just hurt my interest in getting to know the characters. The character I became most interested in was Set and that was in large part because he was a mystery to Xel and their relationship was budding on page instead of pre-established.

Then we get to Xel himself. Xel definitely has "flaws" in that he faces inner turmoil in struggles. The problem for me, is that there didn't seem to be a ton of character development in these areas. Xel is such a nice guy it becomes unbelievable at times. He is so nice that he paid the assassins hired to kill him because it was really unfair that they were given such an impossible job (I wish I were making this up). Xel wants to see the good in everyone, even the enemies who are attempting to kill him. His biggest flaw is that he runs into danger alone to protect the people closest to him. And he has frequent flashbacks to his traumatic childhood which still impacts how he sees himself now. But by the end of the novel I didn't necessarily see growth in these areas. In fact, the end of the novel just saw Xel and friends lean into the idea that he needs to face down the baddies alone.

In addition, there were times where Xel would seem to launch into some sort of philosophical diatribe and everyone around him took it seriously. I appreciated the deeper meaning behind what it means to have "a tavern" and there was some attempt at deeper introspection. But why some of these villain characters would stand there and listen to Xel launch into a diatribe I can't imagine. And some of the "deepness" that was supposed to come out just felt corny.

And finally, the dialogue. The problem with the dialogue is that it was the primary building block of both the relationship between the characters and a way to give the reader information about what the cast was going to do next. You have this odd mixture of plot development and humor that did not blend naturally. And the humor itself felt so forced.

A particular part that became painful was at the end. One of the characters states that he "knows a guy" who may be able to help them out. Another character quips "that sounds ominous." I got it the first time but instead, the characters fully dissect the joke. The first guy doesn't get it. Another character pipes up to explain to them why the way they worded their statement sounded ominous. And it just goes on and on and on. I got it the first time! This was how a lot of "in-jokes" between the characters worked. They couldn't just be said and move on, the author felt like he needed to hold our hands through the entire thing.

Now it may seem like this is more of a rant than an endorsement. But the truth is, many of the things I did not like may be things that other people enjoy quite a bit. This book didn't hit the right notes for me but there is undoubtedly a market out there for the story that was told in the manner it was.

I would really like to see the author improve on his character work however. And the way that he introduces new characters to the reader.

[Swordofmytriumph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm gonna start off by saying I really enjoyed this book. This is a difficult review to write because of the fact that many of the reasons I loved it I can't tell about due to spoilers, so I'll try to do it justice without actually talking about some of my favorite bits.

The book is the story of Xel; tavern owner, guildmaster, spymaster, and orc. Yes, our main character is an orc! Also, I really like that our main character is asexual (this is referred to later in the story though it isn't a plot point), and he also struggles with anxiety. As someone who has anxiety, I feel Xel's daily struggle with it was very well handled.

Where we are dropped into the story, Xel is coming home after a long day doing...something. Something that has clearly angered someone else enough that they have sent street toughs to rough him up. What exactly he has done, along with the circumstances surrounding it, is revealed in more detail as the story progresses. We are dropped into Xel's life and learn more about him through what he does, his thoughts and actions. There are no awkward expository sections, the author deftly works in tidbits of information and background as they become relevant that paint a more complete story of Xel's life throughout the book. This is a very intrigue-heavy book with a hefty chunk of mystery thrown in, and as Xel and his friends unravel the plot surrounding what happened (no spoilers I promise) the day he got roughed up, they realize it is connected to a bigger plot that threatens not only them, but the city as a whole. There is action, but it does happen somewhat later in the book.

Xel's guild members are also his best friends, and they are a very skilled bunch. Xel has managed to surround himself with some really interesting people, not because he is powerful (which he is), or because he is really good at his job (hint, he is), but because he is a good person. We learn bits and pieces about the rest of the guild members and their history and all of them develop a bit more as characters as they work together, but by far the main character is Xel. His anxiety means he has very low self-esteem, and his friends continually remind him that he is good at his job, and that they do care about him, and are very supportive of his failings, as he is supportive of theirs. There are no Mary Sues here. I would have loved to get to know his friends better as we are only given the barest glimpses of their pasts (again as relevant), but not including it was definitely a good decision as it would seriously bog down the plot.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book that I should have seen coming, because the clues were there but I didn't, and it was such a fun surprise to discover where they were going.

Lastly the magic system in this book was awesome. Basically, everyone has a rune that allows them to do magic, and no two are the same. There are some similar ones, but everyone's journey to master their individual rune is different.

There were some minor grammar issues, but the book was so good it was easy to overlook.

All in all, it was an awesome book, and I can't wait for book two.

[Reamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it.

Just finished reading this, and I can't wait for more from this author! It's now well past my bedtime, and I'm all hyper and giddy from reading such a good story. Definitely getting a physical copy to add to my collection ASAP!

[Catherine Girard-Veilleux · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to BookTasters and Deston J. Munden!*


Introduction:
I was kindly offered by BookTasters to review one of the books they had, and Tavern’s blurb stood out to me. It sounded so fantasy-like and magical… How could I resist? So, here I am, reviewing it with pleasure!

I hope many of you will find this read to their liking as I did.

Shall we go on a quest together and explore this book in more details?

Come, dear reader…


Blurb:
Information, Power. Respect.

Xelnath of the Gnarled Root—a tavern owner, information broker, healer, and guildmaster of the Blackwind Company—has found a place, far better than the forest from which he came in the magical metropolis and city-state of Lladad in the Magiian Empire.

When a simple act of kindness draws the ire of a troubled assassin, his love-stricken Archmage father and an army of magically constructed golems, Xel must scheme with vipers of the high court, mingle with royalty at the castle, blackmail drug dealers in the slums, and fight assassins and mercenaries in the streets.

He needs to lean on the support of his motley crew of a dark elf assassin, a dragon pirate, a high elf royal, and a talking dog artificer to keep him from his own inner demons and doubts.


The Positive Sides:
For starters, may I say this lad writes excellent descriptions of fights and action scenes? Because it’s true. They were so engrossing and immersive! Moreover, the whole reading experience was amusing and thrilling (despite the first confusing chapter, though). The quest Xelnath embarks on is fun and so are the other, smaller adventures in his path.

Another magnificent point is how really exotic the story and settings are! There is an orc for a main character, as well as other creatures and tribes. And magic! Did I talk about this one yet? Nope. Here goes: I love the nature-based magic system found in Tavern. All this variety gives me the feeling I am reading The Witcher, which is amazing as I love this series. (I’m even reading it in Polish! Yup, that’s a polyglot for you.)

I loved being on this reading adventure with Xelnath the orc and his motley crew. It reminded me of why I enjoy High and Epic fantasy (I’ve been falling out of touch with it lately, but now I want to resume The Witcher books—still in Polish—and go back to Lord of the Rings). I call this a win by this book and author!


The Negative Sides:
However, I found that the text was sometimes too telling and not showing enough—it was rather straightforward in multiple occasions, but I’m not sure whether it’s a fault or the author’s intention. Hmmm… Also, the first chapter was confusing as h.

It took me a while to get used to the whole situation, the world, and the orc main character! Everything was too vague, and while I understand the strategy to keep his MC’s nature a mystery at the beginning, it doesn’t help the confusion. I had a hard time immersing myself or believing the story at first. But then after the first chapter, I had a blast reading!


In Conclusion:
What can I say? It rekindled my flame for this genre. I’ve had a blast (except that damn first chapter) and I can’t wait to read the next one in this series! I will definitely follow this series and author (already doing so on his Amazon Author’s page, yup). All in all, I give Tavern by Deston J. Munden a rating of 4 stars out of 5! If you enjoy high or epic fantasy, a big and varied cast of characters, and an intricate story with amusing parts, this is the read for you!

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Temporarily?) Dropped @ 35%. I wanted to give this book a fair go, it sounded really good and it is a book with a diverse and uncommon protagonist, but 35% in and I can't say there's anything that's really interesting me, that's really driving me to speed through this book. Or anything particularly compelling.

This was a free copy received from Voracious Readers.

"Don't feel inferior when someone achieves something higher than you. Learn and overcome. Never forget your own progress."

Tavern is a fantasy novel with an orcish protagonist who has a mental health condition that he has learnt to manage. He works 3 jobs: as an innkeeper, a priest and as a spymaster of the Blackwind Company who do secretive missions in the 6-tiered city of Lladad (circular in design, each ring with a royal son governing). He has a close friendship with his exceedingly competent company members but I can't really say much more than that. It seems they do missions for some powerful people in the city; so far it's a blend between the everyday life of an innkeeper with the addition of night-time pursuits as a spymaster.

Xelnath is admittedly a very interesting protagonist and has his own magic that can kill if not controlled properly. He is overweight, not very strong but has some muscles underneath and isn't very tall. We learnt about his culture (in the form of tribal clothing and clan names), his condition (which other orcs may suffer from), his magic and in general the world magic system, which reminded me of the magic in The Blade Itself. I liked learning about the city and appreciate that there is a map. The few fight scenes were well-written and action-packed. Rynn was pretty cool - an adept female assassin who is not sexualised and comes from a good background.

Other than his beaten brown rags, he wore thick purple bruises, a bloodied lip and a black eye swelled closed by pus.

I ended up dropping the story once we were introduced to a character for the first time that is a furry (Why does he appear as a dog? What's the point of this? Why is it better than being a human?). After several new characters popping up I just got so lost and over it. The story has a really messy structure and every new character is described in detail regardless of whether we meet them more than once. These clunky descriptions about what they're wearing or what they look like left me confused and required rereads. Several (admittedly unique and wild) races are introduced in the book: goroi and levia for example but where the descriptions would have really helped, I found them lacking or generally unclear.

Furthermore this copy of the book had so many typos and generally incorrect English that really ruined the immersion...and sentences that sort of really say nothing?

"Robes tended to make someone look bigger or smaller than they were."
A small party of people gathered near the {Artic} Tusk.(Referred to as the Arctic Tusk in the previous paragraph.)
a small cup of wine, the clanking liquid - when does liquid make this noise?
{'}You don't have the power to. Look around you; I can have you killed in a minute.{"}
"Some people have hopes that sitting near a holy man that they are too holy" - or why not, that they, too, (become) holy / that they, too, are holy.
"Not only that, do you think that Lord and Lady Ashthorn {is} gonna come back to your dinners?" - {are} gonna come back.

Anyway, maybe I'll come back to it...but not right now.

[Ernest Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good fantasy and an author who can twist tropes just enough to make the story interesting. The main character in Tavern, Xelnath of the Gnarled Root Clan, or Xel, is such a relatable character, full of flaws and self-doubt. A stout heart, loyal to his friends, and genuinely wants to protect his adopted home. All of this and he is not above using its secrets to make a living. He faces adversity despite his anxieties and depression while maintaining a positive feel to the story. You will quickly find yourself cheering and rooting for Xel rather than pitying him. In the first chapter, you learn what I mean by how well Deston Munden twists tropes in Tavern.
Xel isn't the only well developed, every character is fleshed out, and you get to know them. The villain is one of my favorite types, they are the hero of their own story. You can see their point and still ask what made you think this was a good idea?
Tavern is the first of a planned series set in the world of Dargath. The world-building in this first book is impressive. Primarily set in the city of Lladad, a major seaport, you hear and see many of the different inhabitants of Dargath and their cultures. The city is alive in this story as you wander markets, slums, and royal abodes. Fear not, in Tavern, Deston Munden has resisted the urge to be overly detailed. There is enough description to set your imagination flowing while the characters and their dialogue drive the plot.
Role players who cut their gaming teeth on Chainmaile and Dungeons & Dragons while quoting Tolkien will find many characters they have known or played. If this series gains a following, campaign settings for D&D, Pathfinder, or any other fantasy RPG setting would be fun. I know I would play in them. Dargath is already a world where I would vacation and explore. That Tavern by Deston Munden reads like a game probably shouldn't be a surprise considering his degree in Game Art and Design. Here is a description of the entire party assembled before a battle with the villain.
"Two forest orcs on the wrong side of the world, a tribeswoman assassin, a former dragon pirate turned mercenary, a lady from the Glade's court, and a brilliant engineer in the shape of a dog. They were as rag-tag as they could get."
These are my kind of people for an adventure.
The plot is well-paced, without being too fast or bogging itself down. This is a book in which the story is a joy to read. Tavern was edited by Dominion Editorial. I commend Deston Munden for seeking editors, so many independents do not, and sound editing makes a difference. The content editing and continuity are quite good in Tavern. The copy editing came up short. Dominion offers various packages for their service, and I don't know if a copy edit was included. Any book can miss a couple of things, often minor enough your mind fills in or corrects for it. These don't tend to pull you out of the story. There are enough words missed, or incorrectly inserted, I was drawn out of the story multiple times. Fortunately, the story is strong enough and compelling enough to pull you back into it.
Tavern by Deston J. Munden is a book I recommend. The story is good. The characters are well rounded and developed, the subplots are well executed, and with all the elements combined, this is a book I can see becoming a favorite.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the other reviews have mentioned this is a slow read, and that it's more political intrigue than action. That is part of it, but mainly this took me a month to read bc paragraphs aren't allowed to be any less than fifteen lines. Every single paragraph is dense as hell, with dialogue tossed in, maybe with quotes around it but maybe not. So not only does it drag to read, it's sometimes difficult to keep track of who's speaking and when they start speaking.

I'm tempted to write this review all in one fuck you paragraph as an example.

Aside from being grumpy about how inaccessible this is to anyone with ADHD or dyslexia or any type of processing issues, the problem with the missing quotes to indicate when someone has started or stopped speaking is just sloppy editing. There's a lot of that here, btw. Tons of punctuation errors and a few misspelled or missing words.

To be fair, the STORY is very good and managed to keep my interest enough for me to slog all the way through it, but it very much did feel like a chore by the end of the book.

I did take off another star for actual writing criticism: there's a LOT of telling. Not necessarily as telling instead of showing, just that we are told. Everything. About. Everything. Nothing is ever allowed to just be one sentence. The MC's father figure apparently carries daggers on him and they're both named. This seems like such a petty example, but that's because I just condensed down an entire, I think it was 5-7 lines, paragraph into a single sentence. This has no relevance, never comes back up again, but the author still takes us out of the moment to give side props their own individual names.

Seriously, the level of detail in this goes beyond impressive world-building and into "please edit your first draft." Every single side character has a Backstory(tm). Every description takes *at least* a paragraph, usually multiple paragraphs. We are told so, so much information. To the point that it actually made it difficult for me to get immersed in the world or picture anything in my head, because before I can picture the city, I need to know about every statue on the street and the history of the people they were and the politics they did and how the statues were constructed and which prince paid for it and--

and we haven't even gotten past the description of the fucking street. Please god, just tell me if it's cobblestone or not and move on.

For something that isn't a criticism: I actually found there was a lot more action than I expected from the warnings about how slow this book is. It is!! But that's not a story problem. It's a writing problem. Again, the *story* is very good, and the main character is great. I really loved how his strength was information, knowing people, and befriending people in a way that wasn't cheesy "the power of friendship." It was well done and made him seem badass enough to go toe-to-toe with the bigger political players without being OP.

If you value the story and characters more than writing, literal readability, and a slow-ish pacing, then this book is worth a read. I just hope the next book gets a better editor that can help that story come through.

[Emmet Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deston J. Munden caught me a little by surprise with his novel, Tavern. I can admit that I have rarely, if ever, found myself interested in stories built around an Orc character as the main protagonist. I have nothing against the idea, it was just not in my usual comfort zone. Xelnath was captivating from the opening sequence and it was fascinating to find my footing with him and his inner thoughts. There are hints to events in the past that lead me to believe that there is far more story here than Munden is ready to unleash this early in his Chronicles. Being introduced to an Orc who struggles with his own insecurities and troubled past was unexpected, but it was clear that Munden felt it important to create a fully realized character, full of flaws and weaknesses, and the story is better for it.

There is an unmistakable joy and love of creativity that leaps off Munden’s pages. His world building - from races, kingdoms, politics, and magic systems are all compelling. The magic in particular is fascinating. This is a fully fleshed out world and there’s no hiding that a great deal of work went into the details Munden scatters throughout different sections of the great city, let alone the wider world of Dargath. Each race is varied and captivating; in fact, I often found myself wondering about something that a character might nonchalantly mention, a place perhaps, or character, or group that piqued my interest. There are characters met fleetingly that I desperately want to meet once again and others, like the Blackwing Company that I really found endearing.

This book has a few bumps in the road, slowing down after an incredible battle sequence and sometimes meandering along when it could have been tightened just a bit here and there, but those smatterings are to be expected as a new author finds their voice. Munden has talent and I found myself certainly satisfied and more than a little surprised at how this story ends - all of which were good things.

There are many places Munden can take his Chronicles and many characters with stories to tell. For a debut novel, it’s a great way to set the stage for what I am sure Munden has planned. I will definitely be picking up the next installment.

[Lou Elusiveink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was offered a free copy of Tavern in exchange for a review!

A big, fat, juicy fantasy with a fantastic cast of characters (even if they're a little difficult to keep track of) and packed full of worldbuilding and detail.

For people who love fantasy, there are some really bloody cool elements and some really great lines that I just had to stop reading and highlight - and then sit and think about for a while. The different orc clans, for example, and the individual cultures and characteristics of each - and how they tend to get smooshed into one generic race by outsiders (an aspect that was really well-written throughout the book). The orcish rage being cold rather than hot. The Hollows. The magic system was interesting, particularly protagonist Xel’s nature powers.

Despite its sprawling plot, Tavern absolutely feels like a character-driven novel. Xel’s personal development and the found-family relationships between the characters were really what I stayed for. The depiction of anxiety, self-doubt and self-esteem was honestly brilliant, and Xel’s growth was satisfying to read.

In a lot of ways, the book as a whole feels indulgent; it’s clear to see how much passion has been poured into it. The worldbuilding walks the line between being richly detailed to being overwhelming and occasionally falls to the wrong side. It certainly isn’t a light read, but not necessarily in a bad way. Besides, with a lot of us spending God-knows-how-long stuck inside with little to do, a distraction is very much needed.

Overall, it certainly isn’t as polished as a traditionally published book - a risk that comes with self-publishing. I found it difficult to keep track of some of the characters - it has a big cast of a diverse range of characters - and there were some aspects of the plot that I wished had been expanded on further. (Perhaps, though, I’ll have to wait for the next one to find out more.)

If you’re not a fan of fantasy already, this probably won’t be the book that draws you in. It does, however, know fantasy very, very well, and if you’re already a fan of the genre and looking for something new and different to sink your teeth into (and want to support indie authors!), I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tavern follows Xelnath, or Xel, an orc priest who also happens to be a tavern owner, a healer, and the mastermind behind a covert mercenary guild called the Blackwind Company. Tavern is a character-driven fantasy adventure wrapped in rich worldbuilding and filled with witty dialogue, deep friendships, and a good bit of magical ass-kicking. From shady alleys to political schemes, the story flows through layers of intrigue, touching on themes like found family, trauma, identity, and self-worth.

I didn’t expect to fall so hard for the characters, especially Xel. He isn’t your typical fantasy protagonist. He’s overweight, scarred, introspective, and surprisingly gentle for a guy who can summon magical tree roots and crush bones with a staff. I loved the emotional layers the author gave him. His self-doubt, his craving to protect his found family, and the way he hides his pain behind sarcasm and kindness. Munden’s writing feels warm and lived-in, especially when characters are just talking. There’s a weight to their pasts that makes the small moments between them hit harder than the action scenes. The action is no slouch either. It’s visceral, fast, and packed with tension. Some chapters, especially the early fight scenes and Xel’s quiet, vulnerable monologues, really stuck with me.

The story doesn’t follow a typical structure, which I actually liked, but it might throw off readers who want a clear-cut hero's journey. The book feels more like a slice-of-life with high stakes than a straight fantasy epic. I found that refreshing, especially with all the time spent on tavern life and casual conversations. Those slower parts often carried the emotional weight. The prose itself has a unique rhythm. Sometimes poetic, sometimes conversational, sometimes just plain weird in a good way.

Tavern is perfect for readers who care more about character depth and emotional payoff than nonstop action. It’s for folks who love a messy, flawed hero, and for those who don’t mind their fantasy with more heart than fireballs. If you’re into found-family stories, secret guilds, or cozy settings with dark undertones, you’ll find a lot to love here. I walked away from this book feeling like I knew these characters. And honestly? I miss them already.

[BBA322 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare I am able to dig right into a fantasy featuring things outside my normal reading of a strict focus on dragons. "Tavern" was able to provide me with a wonderful surprise element to start off with, in who the races of the world shape your overall look of the story as a whole. You wouldn't realize it at first, but it's a unique break away from the standard fair of traditional fantasy stories for sword and sorcery. The main character Xelnath or "Xel" as well as the group of people he comes to rely on frequently, left a reader like myself, often smiling a number of times for how mmuch the atmosphere around them made me realize just what it's like having a group of longtime friends become like family.
Xel himself is such a big heart of a character, despite how he has to go about things that might paint a different picture to others, he is always looking for the best in those another might find despicable or incapable of being redeemed, and is not just your typical hero ready to do good for the world because it's right. He has his faults and own personal outlook for what he could see as a way to better himself, but he never forgets to stay true to what brought him to the life he lives, and who would happily keep near and dear to him.
The rest of the cast of characters that help in cementing more of the story, frequently left me wanting to know more about them, weather it was how they came together, their own past with each other, or just how they go about each of their own personal walks of life when not doing a job. I hope to see more than one of them able to get their own short stories or even just a little more added depth than what was sprinkled and hinted at throughout the story.

I honestly can't wait to read the next installment of the Dargath Chronicles, and I hope any other reader enjoys the multiple cast of various characters, races, relationships, and true depth of individual heart that this book tries to portray with each person you're introduced to. It's a fantasy story I feel should sit on any fan's shelf, and one I will happily buy a hardcover of, whenever it is released, to go alongside this paperback version.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing premise that could have benefitted from some strict editing. To me there were three main issues.

My first issue is that the same sequence of events seems to happen over and over again. The main character underestimates his abilities, meets mentor/enemy/friend, and then gets praised by said mentor/enemy for being impressive/important, and if it’s an enemy there is an extra step of trying to bring them over to the light. Repeat like 10 times, sometimes back to back. The insecurity of the man character just becomes grating and uninteresting after it happens over and over again.

The second issue I have is I don’t understand the relationships between these main characters. Why are they so loyal to this random orc who appears to be considerably less skilled/useful than they are? I just don’t understand how this main character got into a leadership role with all of these other stronger characters. Also why does this orc have to be protected all the time? Half the book is about how “special” he is and how is can take care of himself so why do they baby him?

The last issue I have is the sheer amount of details thrown at you without context. Sometime you just need to write those mentor/mentee scenes where the wise older person explains just straight up explains some of the backstory/world building stuff to the hero/trainer character. There were just way too many details thrown at me in random places and I could tell what was actually important for the future plot and what was filler. For example, in some parts the author is clearly setting up a reveal that you as the reader should realize at the same time as or right before the main character does, but most of this moments just went over my head because there was just too much for me to retain. I had to wait for it to be spelled out for me and even then I was just like who are these people and what is going on.

This book could have easily cut out at least 20-30% of filler and would have made for a better read.

[Margaret Adelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author described this to me as a D&D slice of life high fantasy and you can very obviously see that. Xelnath is a very unique protagonist, an orc with severe self esteem struggles. And the interactions with his guild, his "found family" were adorable. There was a very light-hearted tone for the whole thing. I could almost imagine a group of friends sitting around a table, rolling for initiative.

A lot of the plot reads almost like a series of short stories, a tense scene necessary to the plot followed by a lighthearted scene "wingboarding" (aka high fantasy skate boarding). In face, I would love to read a series of short stories, told in this world.

There were a few couple twists that I really loved. Allies with ulterior motives, enemies that could turn into friends. There was some nice queer rep added in, as well as special needs rep (*might* have been meant to be autism, but I'm not entirely sure.)

The one factor that keeps it from being a 5 star for me is the lack of tension. Many social/interaction problems were solved by Xel fairly quickly. He would enter a conversation with someone that disliked him or one of his guild mates and (most of the time) come out with a new friend or ally. He's very quick to give second chances and, while the other characters warn him not to trust everyone so easily, he's very rarely burned by it. Most of the characters also state their feelings rather directly, in ways most people wouldn't. I got the feeling the author enjoys those breakthough emotional moments, and got too impatient to build up to them.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable read. I would highly suggest for anyone that's a fan of high nerd games like D&D and Magic The Gathering. But with much more emotion.

[Joseph Samaniego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tavern is a new take on orcs!
Xel is a complex, competent and mysterious orc. The crafty tavern owner and mercenary captain has many talents and Deston does a wonderful job in building a world around a new direction that is orc centered.

Orc lovers, there are many of us, will love Xel and his band. An orc who is just as comfortable in a royal court as he is with highwaymen and thugs. At times the complex storytelling might bog the story down or slow down the pace but that fixes itself as you read on with some action packed excitement. Xel's wit is a charming addition to the story and his personality brings a relatable character for many readers.

Deston's skills as a writer shows through the complex narrative that weaves in a modern flare for wordplay into a medieval world. What he shows the reader is that not all fantasy has to be set in a Tolkien or Martin narrative. Though, Deston does create a world just as imaginative as their worlds.

Tavern is a soon to be classic in fantasy literature and one that shows great promise to a new an up and coming author. 4.5 out of 5!

[Monika Singla · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔷 BOOK: Tavern
🔷 AUTHOR: Deston Munden

QOTD: Do you love reading fantasy stories?

If yes, then this book is for you. The protagonist of the story is a tavern owner Xel. He was an orc. In this story you will get to know about the adventures of an orc and his crew. Xel's character is my favourite from the book and obviously it will be your favorite character as well once you read it. The world building is nice so you will love that. The psychological battle that Xel fought made this book interesting for me.

My Review:
1) The cover page of the book is simple and connects to the storyline.
2) Title of the book is apt as it is the story of an orc who is a tavern owner.
3) Pace of the book is medium considering its long length.
4) There are so many characters in the story but they are well described.
5) It is an epic fantasy with an amazing magical world that will make you enjoy this story more.

I am eagerly waiting for the next installment in this series.

Rating: 4/5

[A Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author created a fascinating world with interesting explanations of the magic and people within it. This fantasy story is heavy on navigating political intrigue and situations, making it a different kind of fantasy novel. It does get dense in places, making it better to skim those pages than to read every little detail - this mostly had to do with including background information that while interesting, really hampered the flow of the story.

There are a significant number of typos in this work, ranging from grammatical errors to major misuse of punctuation. Often the punctuation was so bad that it made it difficult to understand who was saying what, as the quotation marks were either left off or placed somewhere that didn't make sense.

I received a complimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.