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A Thung Toh Jig #1
Things They Buried
"The worldbuilding is nearly flawless in its execution... An empathetic, complex, and offbeat tale."
—Kirkus Reviews, (starred)
"The creepy threats and fierce fights this densely imagined novel will gratify fans of dark fantasy, especially those who want real depth in between thrills."
—BookLife
Under the dirty streets of Ismae's greatest port city, an old nightmare waits for Sylandair and Aliara, one that is stealing Dockhaven's children, one that only they can end.
When the pair escaped their owner and abuser years ago, they left him behind in a ball of blue flame, but as more children disappear near the city's desalinization plant, they believe he may not be dead. When they embark on an underground search for him with their less-than-reliable puka scout Schmalch, what they find is beyond any expectation. It will lead them into a twisting world of inheritances, experimentation and memories they never wanted to exhume.
Things They Buried is the first full length novel of Ismae, a planet where bodies can be re-crafted at the genetic level while photography remains a luxury available only to the rich. It is a world where science sometimes appears as magic and history as myth, where monsters make themselves and heroes are wholly unintentional.
This novel contains adult themes and violence.
—Kirkus Reviews, (starred)
"The creepy threats and fierce fights this densely imagined novel will gratify fans of dark fantasy, especially those who want real depth in between thrills."
—BookLife
Under the dirty streets of Ismae's greatest port city, an old nightmare waits for Sylandair and Aliara, one that is stealing Dockhaven's children, one that only they can end.
When the pair escaped their owner and abuser years ago, they left him behind in a ball of blue flame, but as more children disappear near the city's desalinization plant, they believe he may not be dead. When they embark on an underground search for him with their less-than-reliable puka scout Schmalch, what they find is beyond any expectation. It will lead them into a twisting world of inheritances, experimentation and memories they never wanted to exhume.
Things They Buried is the first full length novel of Ismae, a planet where bodies can be re-crafted at the genetic level while photography remains a luxury available only to the rich. It is a world where science sometimes appears as magic and history as myth, where monsters make themselves and heroes are wholly unintentional.
This novel contains adult themes and violence.
508 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2019
49 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Amanda K. King
3 books14 followersBoth a reporter and a communication consultant in previous lives, Amanda spent way more years than she wants to admit writing news stories and marketing drivel for other people. Her part-time fiction turned full-time when she and Michael R. Swanson wrote Things They Buried. She is a fan of words and grammar and enjoys exploring how perspectives and circumstances shape the way different people deal with the same world.
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If you'd like to be the first to know about promotions, exclusive short fiction, concept artwork, or new book releases, sign up for our mailing list at ismae.com.
https://linktr.ee/ismaebooks
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 3, 2022
The cover was what made me click on this audiobook to find out what it was a bout and the plot sounded intruging enough. This is definitely an hidden gem as I haven't seen anyone talk or review this! Good word building and intruging plot.
December 9, 2019
Things They Buried by Amanda K. King and Michael R. Swanson is the first in the Thung Toh Jig Science Fiction/Fantasy series.
First, let me thank the authors, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. My apologies for not posting sooner....
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The Port of Dockhaven is a strange city on the planet of Ismae, filled with all manner of beings. Although the world of science and mythology collided, and the residents may look different, have different skin colours (really different), and have different degrees of intellect, they mingle as one.
For Duke Sylandair Imythedralin and his lover Aliara Rift, a shared childhood owned by the monster Kluuta Orono has left them on edge. Orono was on a path seeking immortality, and he thought he may have found it. In his research, he experimented on children....often Aliara. Although assumed to have burned in the fires that they escaped, they have never been sure that Orono is really gone. When rumours surface of a possible sighting, Syl and Aliara, with the aid of a scavenger, Schmalch, follow Orono's trail. Soon they enlist the help of Haus, a member of the Thung Toh organization (as is Aliara), who is specially trained in combat, and other essential skills.
When they realize that children from Dockhaven have been disappearing, Syl and Aliara are sure that Orono is back. The group goes underground to find him. Along the way it becomes evident that they will need someone else to go over all the notes that Orono left behind, so they hire Hergis Savesti, a scientist/physician, to try to find information as to where Orono may be. Hergis involves his sister and another assistant.
Things get stranger.
My Opinions:
WOW, well this was a surprise. Not only did I step into the world of 2084....I stepped into a brand new world, and another planet. This planet has all sorts of new creatures, some having many human traits and characteristics, and others....not so much. This is not my normal genre, so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized how much I was enjoying this book, and when I realized there was a real story behind all these crazy individuals.
It was a tale of action and adventure, good guys and bad guys, and it is a tale of love and friendship.
The characters were just as interesting as the story itself. The love between Syl and Aliara was so strong, mainly because of their shared childhood of abuse. The friendship of the others grew as they learned to trust each other, and to trust in themselves.
Told from different points of view, the story unfolded easily, and although the characters may have had an extra nose, or limb, or whatever....it quickly became apparent that it was their story that was important.
Often it takes a while to really understand a book which has unfamiliar characters, places, creatures, words... The authors made everything clear. The writing was really excellent, the imagery vivid, and the plot was very good. I am looking forward to the second in this series.
June 24, 2021
This is how you write a dark fantasy world! This is how you deliver diverse and complex characters to your readers. This novel was excellent and a breath of fresh air. It is a mix of dark fantasy, sci-fi and horror. Everything had meaning and was backed up by strong dialogue between characters.
Duke Sylandair Imythedralyn and Aliara Rift escape together at a young age from their twisted owner and abuser thinking they’ve left him for dead. Eventually they start to believe this might not be the case, and so they enlist the services of the often drunk and always scavenging puka Schmalch. Together they find themselves dealing with unwanted inheritances, missing children, terrifying creatures, and the scars of their past and present.
While we primarily read from the POV of Aliara, Sylandair and Schmalch, we also get to experience the view of many different characters throughout the novel. I don’t always enjoy jumping from so many different POV’s, but it really worked for me here. Haus was one of my favourites! I always looked forward to his chapters. Overall I already miss the characters and can’t wait to explore more of the world of Ismae.
Duke Sylandair Imythedralyn and Aliara Rift escape together at a young age from their twisted owner and abuser thinking they’ve left him for dead. Eventually they start to believe this might not be the case, and so they enlist the services of the often drunk and always scavenging puka Schmalch. Together they find themselves dealing with unwanted inheritances, missing children, terrifying creatures, and the scars of their past and present.
While we primarily read from the POV of Aliara, Sylandair and Schmalch, we also get to experience the view of many different characters throughout the novel. I don’t always enjoy jumping from so many different POV’s, but it really worked for me here. Haus was one of my favourites! I always looked forward to his chapters. Overall I already miss the characters and can’t wait to explore more of the world of Ismae.
February 27, 2019
Things They Buried is a breath of fresh imagination. I would put it a kin to Philip K Dick, H.P. Lovecraft, and Robert E. Howard collaborating on a novel and asking Guillermo del Toro for creature design ideas. Amanda K. King and Michael R. Swanson have created a dark fantasy/ Sci-Fi world rich with fresh mythology, imaginative species, and a historical timeline that must have taken a decade or more to develop. The characters are very much antiheroes with wide diversity in morals and motives. The story follows Duke Sylandair Imythedralyn and Aliara Rift as they battle with their past. The flow of the novel gives me the feeling of watching a Quentin Tarantino movie. The authors use a very unique style of moving between the perspective of characters and even changing writing style in combination with the degree of the character’s intellect.. I was really blown away by the level of detail and thought that was utilized to create this flow. And please don’t be deterred by the new words, slang, and mythology you will have to learn, because the authors have created a glossary of terms on their website complete with dictation!!! WHAT?!?!
Two things: Buy this novel, then go to www.ismae.com and let these authors guide you through this amazing world. You will not regret it!!!
This novel will provoke you to really think and dissect each subtle interaction... I’m actually reading it a second time...
Two things: Buy this novel, then go to www.ismae.com and let these authors guide you through this amazing world. You will not regret it!!!
This novel will provoke you to really think and dissect each subtle interaction... I’m actually reading it a second time...
August 20, 2021
UNDERHYPED BOOK ALERT!! Seriously though, this book is SO GOOD. I don't actually understand why more people haven't read it. If you're into:
- fantasy stories
- science experiments
- peering into dark tunnels
- excellent world-building
- mysterious backgrounds
- things that go bump in the night
- explosive violence
- badass characters
- and Salad Fingers
then you have a strong chance of loving Things They Buried as much as I did.
Something is snatching the children, something that might just be hiding in the dark underbelly of Ismae's port city. Syl and Aliara thought that they had destroyed their captor and abuser years ago, but now they fear that he is very much alive. Together with an oft bumbling and scavenging helper, they must return to their old master's home once again to defeat him and save the children.
The authors did a fantastic job of making my skin crawl, making me feel the grittiness of this world, and absolutely freaking me out. It kind of reminded of a darker version of the world in Foundryside combined with the violence and creature horror of The Library At Mount Char. I could not put this one down and inhaled it in two days.
GO READ THIS BOOK!!
- fantasy stories
- science experiments
- peering into dark tunnels
- excellent world-building
- mysterious backgrounds
- things that go bump in the night
- explosive violence
- badass characters
- and Salad Fingers
then you have a strong chance of loving Things They Buried as much as I did.
Something is snatching the children, something that might just be hiding in the dark underbelly of Ismae's port city. Syl and Aliara thought that they had destroyed their captor and abuser years ago, but now they fear that he is very much alive. Together with an oft bumbling and scavenging helper, they must return to their old master's home once again to defeat him and save the children.
The authors did a fantastic job of making my skin crawl, making me feel the grittiness of this world, and absolutely freaking me out. It kind of reminded of a darker version of the world in Foundryside combined with the violence and creature horror of The Library At Mount Char. I could not put this one down and inhaled it in two days.
GO READ THIS BOOK!!
August 6, 2020
I was offered a chance to review this book on an open offer for reviews. I hadn't heard of it, but decided the premise looked intriguing, so agreed to review it. I am happy to say it was one of the best decisions of the year. I would have to class this as one of my top ten reads of the last year, and that's a year that included Kings of the Wild, Ravencry, Priest of Bones and Wraith Lord. It's mix of sci-fi, low fantasy and steampunk are seamlessly blended into a story I didn't want to end.
PLOT SUMMARY
In the island city of Dockhaven, greatest trading city on Ismae, a world where genetic engineering is common but something as common as photography is rare and expensive, children are disappearing, in the same pattern as they did years earlier. This is concerning to Aliara and Sylandair, who recognize the pattern, although it should be impossible, since the source of the original disappearances is supposedly dead. Aliara, thief and assassin, and Sylandair, Duke in another Empire, have a history with that source. Once, they were slaves to brilliant scientist Kluuta Orono, a man who used them for experiments and other more malignant uses. They helped bring him to an end, or so they thought, with the explosion at the desalination plant he was using to cover his experiments.
Going through the ruins of the plant, Aliara and Sylandair, along with their cowardly sometime assistant Schmalch, find the ruins of Orono's secret pleasure rooms, where he entertained the debauched rich of Dockhaven. They don't discover Orono himself, but they run across evidence that he may have survived after all. Barely escaping the underground lair, they make their way back to the surface and begin planning their next moves.
Sylandair decides the best way to find out what happened to Orono is to take his inheritance, which includes Orono's Mansion and grounds, which he had refused in the past. Bringing in a crew, led by an old associate of Aliara's named Haus, to clean out the squatters that had lived there, leads Sylandair, Aliara, Schmalch and Haus's crew into conflict with the hidden residents of the house: Orono's genetically modified monstrosities, who almost succeed in killing them all.
Bringing in an outside doctor, his sister/assistant and their pet monster, to try and find out what Orono was up to after the attack, they discover Orono was trying to use an ancient formula to become immortal. Unfortunately for Orono, he misread what was necessary, and things went very wrong indeed. When Sylandair is mysteriously kidnapped, Aliara, Haus and Schmalch must confront the evil that has him as well as the children. Even if they can get that done, the potential for an even worse evil may have arisen, threatening the whole world.
CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING
Things They Buried is one of those books that combines creative world building with fantastically drawn out characters. Sylandair is the roguish nobleman with a tortured past, but is so much more than that. He has flaws and strengths, and is compelling to read. Aliara is such a strong character, yet vulnerable and flawed as well. She has so many skills, and is death on two legs, and yet her past haunts her to the present. Schmalch is the comic relief, but has surprising depths in a character that could so easily be a parody. The rest of the characters are excellently written as well, even the minor characters. You really get a feeling this is a real place just from interacting with the characters.
The world building is very intricate. You get a sense of Dockhaven as if your walking down the streets yourself. It has such creative elements, with the sci-fi and steampunk elements intermixed with the lowest of fantasy elements in such a way they just fit, even when they shouldn't. It is definitely up there with some of the great fantasy settings.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It's not too often you run across a book that mashes genres together as seamlessly as Things They Buried. It never feels clunky, rushed or forced, and the characters and world building is so solid, you won't want to put the book down. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what comes next in the series, and highly recommend this book.
PLOT SUMMARY
In the island city of Dockhaven, greatest trading city on Ismae, a world where genetic engineering is common but something as common as photography is rare and expensive, children are disappearing, in the same pattern as they did years earlier. This is concerning to Aliara and Sylandair, who recognize the pattern, although it should be impossible, since the source of the original disappearances is supposedly dead. Aliara, thief and assassin, and Sylandair, Duke in another Empire, have a history with that source. Once, they were slaves to brilliant scientist Kluuta Orono, a man who used them for experiments and other more malignant uses. They helped bring him to an end, or so they thought, with the explosion at the desalination plant he was using to cover his experiments.
Going through the ruins of the plant, Aliara and Sylandair, along with their cowardly sometime assistant Schmalch, find the ruins of Orono's secret pleasure rooms, where he entertained the debauched rich of Dockhaven. They don't discover Orono himself, but they run across evidence that he may have survived after all. Barely escaping the underground lair, they make their way back to the surface and begin planning their next moves.
Sylandair decides the best way to find out what happened to Orono is to take his inheritance, which includes Orono's Mansion and grounds, which he had refused in the past. Bringing in a crew, led by an old associate of Aliara's named Haus, to clean out the squatters that had lived there, leads Sylandair, Aliara, Schmalch and Haus's crew into conflict with the hidden residents of the house: Orono's genetically modified monstrosities, who almost succeed in killing them all.
Bringing in an outside doctor, his sister/assistant and their pet monster, to try and find out what Orono was up to after the attack, they discover Orono was trying to use an ancient formula to become immortal. Unfortunately for Orono, he misread what was necessary, and things went very wrong indeed. When Sylandair is mysteriously kidnapped, Aliara, Haus and Schmalch must confront the evil that has him as well as the children. Even if they can get that done, the potential for an even worse evil may have arisen, threatening the whole world.
CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING
Things They Buried is one of those books that combines creative world building with fantastically drawn out characters. Sylandair is the roguish nobleman with a tortured past, but is so much more than that. He has flaws and strengths, and is compelling to read. Aliara is such a strong character, yet vulnerable and flawed as well. She has so many skills, and is death on two legs, and yet her past haunts her to the present. Schmalch is the comic relief, but has surprising depths in a character that could so easily be a parody. The rest of the characters are excellently written as well, even the minor characters. You really get a feeling this is a real place just from interacting with the characters.
The world building is very intricate. You get a sense of Dockhaven as if your walking down the streets yourself. It has such creative elements, with the sci-fi and steampunk elements intermixed with the lowest of fantasy elements in such a way they just fit, even when they shouldn't. It is definitely up there with some of the great fantasy settings.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It's not too often you run across a book that mashes genres together as seamlessly as Things They Buried. It never feels clunky, rushed or forced, and the characters and world building is so solid, you won't want to put the book down. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what comes next in the series, and highly recommend this book.
September 18, 2021
Things They Buried by Amanda K. King and Michael R. Swanson is one of the best indie books I’ve ever read. Combining sci-fi, fantasy, horror, steampunk, and the new weird, the world of Dockchaven is not easily pigeonholed. It feels like a mash up of Neil Gaiman, China Miéville, and Joe Abercrombie, while remaining unique and fresh. The worldbuilding is robust and fully lived in, without ever feeling overwhelming or reduced to info dumps. It’s the kind of genre-spanning book that illustrates what can make indie publishing so great.
We have four main viewpoint characters. (My favorite is the drunken puka, Smalch. How can you not love a character named Smalch?) All of the characters are deep into the darker end of the morally gray spectrum, though none of them lack their own sense of morality and goodness--its just well hidden under a lifetime of scars and trauma. And uncovering what traumas and abuses remain buried is both the metaphorical and literal heart of this story.
I’m already looking forward to the sequel. I highly recommend Things They Buried. Support some indie authors and don’t sleep on this one.
We have four main viewpoint characters. (My favorite is the drunken puka, Smalch. How can you not love a character named Smalch?) All of the characters are deep into the darker end of the morally gray spectrum, though none of them lack their own sense of morality and goodness--its just well hidden under a lifetime of scars and trauma. And uncovering what traumas and abuses remain buried is both the metaphorical and literal heart of this story.
I’m already looking forward to the sequel. I highly recommend Things They Buried. Support some indie authors and don’t sleep on this one.
Want to read
June 22, 2019TheFussyLibrarian
February 28, 2019
Enslaved by a cruel and perverse master at an early age, the two inseparable main characters eventually escape but are drawn back many years later to become ensnared in the legacy of a madman.
ThingsThey Buried takes the reader on a dark and dangerous journey through a richly developed world populated by carefully crafted characters. The imagery in the book is better than most novels I have ever read, making the reader feel truly engrossed in the scenes and action.
ThingsThey Buried takes the reader on a dark and dangerous journey through a richly developed world populated by carefully crafted characters. The imagery in the book is better than most novels I have ever read, making the reader feel truly engrossed in the scenes and action.
September 6, 2020
I'm bad at writing reviews but I very much enjoyed this book. The characters and setting seemed new and not the same old thing. It was a fun read, well written, and I look forward to more from these two authors.
September 21, 2021
Read for 2021 SPSFC
Overall Thoughts
I’ve been looking for a well-actualized secondary world story in this contest, and this one gave me what I was searching for. A quick note first, though, because I’d be remiss if I didn’t post a trigger warning. This story has a LOT of child abuse, sexual and physiological, and a fair bit of child death as well. BUT, if that doesn’t immediately push your “NO” button, I do want to add that it was all done, er, tastefully (if that can be done) and always the subject was treated as the vile act that is it. So basically, if you don’t mind people being justly punished for horrible things they did, then carry on!
There is a great depth of culture, species relations, and atmosphere in this story and I really want to read more in this world. This is billed as book 1, and from a quick search, looks like the second book came out in 2020, so I will likely look that one up after I finish with the contest. I can best describe this as The Lies of Locke Lamora crossed with Mos Eisley cantina. Though I was never completely sure on the extent of the setting—future, secondary, fantasy, or colony—there is a unique world expressed here and a fun romp of a story with plenty of monsters to fight and heroism to be done.
Plot
Most of the story centers around Syl and Aliara, who are on a mission of revenge against the person who owned and abused them as children, before they escaped to live their own lives. Considered an influential scientific mind, their abuser seems to still be around, though hiding for some reason, and continues experimenting on children (which is where a lot of the trigger warning comes from). Though the story does touch on some things in the larger world, most importantly what their captor’s original scientific objective is, this tale is largely centered on how Syl and Aliara come to terms with their pasts and make things right. There was one twist that came out later in the book I felt wasn’t telegraphed at all, which ties into the further story. I’m sure we’ll learn more, as it looks like later books will focus on the expanded world, and given the worldbuilding in this book, I’m eager to see what that entails.
Setting
The authors have created a rich world, less advanced in many cases than our own, but highly progressed in genetic engineering, where small animals can be turned into message senders and other helpers, and people can get new organs, limbs, and even new additions they weren’t born with. There are several sentient species in evidence, including small goblin like creatures, elvish or human-esque beings (including the main characters), a larger humanoid, and at least one other species, if not two or three. I had some small frustration in that it was never really clear if this world was insular, or had been visited by people from other worlds in the past, or if the species arose on their own, or if they were products of genetic engineering. That said, I’m content to learn more in future books. Swords and knives abound, but there are also guns ranging from pistols to rather technical rifles, making the setting an interesting timeless comparison to our own world. The city featured in the story is obviously old, and filled with all the beggars, thieves, and mad scientists of a swashbuckling tale.
Character
The emotional journey of the main characters travels a lot of ground, as the two come to terms with how they were abused in the past, and why. Side characters get their satisfying arcs, and everything develops as the mystery of the story unfolds. Various sexualities seem to be accepted in this society, and there is some good LGBTQIA representation both in the main characters and the side characters. I don’t think the depth of character advancement is as extreme as it could be, but given that this is less of a character story and more of a worldbuilding story, I think it suffices for the adventure tale that it is.
Score out of 10 (My personal score, not the final contest score)
Temporary score until more books in the contest are read: If you don’t mind (well revenged) child abuse, then this is a fun tale of adventure in an exotic, magical, steampunky world, filled with mad science. 8/10
Overall Thoughts
I’ve been looking for a well-actualized secondary world story in this contest, and this one gave me what I was searching for. A quick note first, though, because I’d be remiss if I didn’t post a trigger warning. This story has a LOT of child abuse, sexual and physiological, and a fair bit of child death as well. BUT, if that doesn’t immediately push your “NO” button, I do want to add that it was all done, er, tastefully (if that can be done) and always the subject was treated as the vile act that is it. So basically, if you don’t mind people being justly punished for horrible things they did, then carry on!
There is a great depth of culture, species relations, and atmosphere in this story and I really want to read more in this world. This is billed as book 1, and from a quick search, looks like the second book came out in 2020, so I will likely look that one up after I finish with the contest. I can best describe this as The Lies of Locke Lamora crossed with Mos Eisley cantina. Though I was never completely sure on the extent of the setting—future, secondary, fantasy, or colony—there is a unique world expressed here and a fun romp of a story with plenty of monsters to fight and heroism to be done.
Plot
Most of the story centers around Syl and Aliara, who are on a mission of revenge against the person who owned and abused them as children, before they escaped to live their own lives. Considered an influential scientific mind, their abuser seems to still be around, though hiding for some reason, and continues experimenting on children (which is where a lot of the trigger warning comes from). Though the story does touch on some things in the larger world, most importantly what their captor’s original scientific objective is, this tale is largely centered on how Syl and Aliara come to terms with their pasts and make things right. There was one twist that came out later in the book I felt wasn’t telegraphed at all, which ties into the further story. I’m sure we’ll learn more, as it looks like later books will focus on the expanded world, and given the worldbuilding in this book, I’m eager to see what that entails.
Setting
The authors have created a rich world, less advanced in many cases than our own, but highly progressed in genetic engineering, where small animals can be turned into message senders and other helpers, and people can get new organs, limbs, and even new additions they weren’t born with. There are several sentient species in evidence, including small goblin like creatures, elvish or human-esque beings (including the main characters), a larger humanoid, and at least one other species, if not two or three. I had some small frustration in that it was never really clear if this world was insular, or had been visited by people from other worlds in the past, or if the species arose on their own, or if they were products of genetic engineering. That said, I’m content to learn more in future books. Swords and knives abound, but there are also guns ranging from pistols to rather technical rifles, making the setting an interesting timeless comparison to our own world. The city featured in the story is obviously old, and filled with all the beggars, thieves, and mad scientists of a swashbuckling tale.
Character
The emotional journey of the main characters travels a lot of ground, as the two come to terms with how they were abused in the past, and why. Side characters get their satisfying arcs, and everything develops as the mystery of the story unfolds. Various sexualities seem to be accepted in this society, and there is some good LGBTQIA representation both in the main characters and the side characters. I don’t think the depth of character advancement is as extreme as it could be, but given that this is less of a character story and more of a worldbuilding story, I think it suffices for the adventure tale that it is.
Score out of 10 (My personal score, not the final contest score)
Temporary score until more books in the contest are read: If you don’t mind (well revenged) child abuse, then this is a fun tale of adventure in an exotic, magical, steampunky world, filled with mad science. 8/10
December 31, 2022
Loved the book. Having it from the different perspectives made it real interesting
May 15, 2022
A truly original dark fantasy horror story with elements of sci-fi - Things They Buried is a terrific beginning to a series I want to stay invested in.
The world building skill is incredible and I love how the authors have used their website to explain the different phrases used in the story and show pictures of the species (although, adding these elements to a special edition to the book could be nice as well).
Each protagonist seems to lean towards the morally grey / antihero type which only serves to make them all the more interesting! I hope to learn more about Syl and Rift in future books, as well as Haus and the Pukas.
And what a gift these authors have for writing scenes of terror! My skin was crawling during some scenes and one in particular was hard to read after dark.
This book is a perfect example of seamlessly writing multiple genres together. Definitely recommending to sci-fi, horror, and fantasy fans!
Thanks so much to the authors for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
The world building skill is incredible and I love how the authors have used their website to explain the different phrases used in the story and show pictures of the species (although, adding these elements to a special edition to the book could be nice as well).
Each protagonist seems to lean towards the morally grey / antihero type which only serves to make them all the more interesting! I hope to learn more about Syl and Rift in future books, as well as Haus and the Pukas.
And what a gift these authors have for writing scenes of terror! My skin was crawling during some scenes and one in particular was hard to read after dark.
This book is a perfect example of seamlessly writing multiple genres together. Definitely recommending to sci-fi, horror, and fantasy fans!
Thanks so much to the authors for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 27, 2020
Strong start to a truly otherworldly sci-fi fantasy and not at all what I expected from the cover. It gets dark, and fast, and there's a good heaping of horror in this book. It also meanders in places, dropping the plot for character exploration. This is not something I mind, as I love good character exploration, but in this case, it felt as if much of this exploration was thickening an otherwise thin plot that could have been resolved several chapters sooner.
May 25, 2019
A surplus good book,
Way off the beaten path when it comes to my usual genre,but so very well written it kept me enthralled until the very last word. I was loathe to see it end.
Way off the beaten path when it comes to my usual genre,but so very well written it kept me enthralled until the very last word. I was loathe to see it end.
September 13, 2021
3.5 weirdest good. Schmalch is everything
January 26, 2023
I read Things They Buried as part of a judging team for the second annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (#SPSFC2). My thoughts here are my personal opinion.
Overall, this dark sci-fantasy was a mixed bag. The premise wasn’t really a good fit for me personally, but I did enjoy the writing; there was a lot of showing-not-telling which I appreciate and it was very readable for a book on the longer side. The audiobook narration was also excellent, and kept me engaged through to the end.
The story follows two MCs who must face the monsters of their past…literally. There are heavy themes around childhood trauma, horrific medical experimentation (which offers the scifi element of this sci-fantasy), and prejudice among the various species in this secondary world.
There were some notable elements here and there that addressed these heavier themes with intention, but often I wanted a lot more nuance and a lot less trauma-as-plot-device to ensure they were meaningfully navigated.
In terms of character work, I was more intrigued by the side characters than the two MCs, who could’ve been fleshed out more and honestly felt a little too lusty for my taste given the setting. Surprisingly, the standout character was Schmalch, who starts out as a doormat the MCs treat terribly but has a compelling character arc of his own that had me rooting for him hard. He was the light in this otherwise grim tale.
While Things They Buried might not be my cup of tea, there were still aspects I enjoyed and could see this series working for fans of dungeon fantasy horror who don’t mind unlikeable MCs and darker themes.
Overall, this dark sci-fantasy was a mixed bag. The premise wasn’t really a good fit for me personally, but I did enjoy the writing; there was a lot of showing-not-telling which I appreciate and it was very readable for a book on the longer side. The audiobook narration was also excellent, and kept me engaged through to the end.
The story follows two MCs who must face the monsters of their past…literally. There are heavy themes around childhood trauma, horrific medical experimentation (which offers the scifi element of this sci-fantasy), and prejudice among the various species in this secondary world.
There were some notable elements here and there that addressed these heavier themes with intention, but often I wanted a lot more nuance and a lot less trauma-as-plot-device to ensure they were meaningfully navigated.
In terms of character work, I was more intrigued by the side characters than the two MCs, who could’ve been fleshed out more and honestly felt a little too lusty for my taste given the setting. Surprisingly, the standout character was Schmalch, who starts out as a doormat the MCs treat terribly but has a compelling character arc of his own that had me rooting for him hard. He was the light in this otherwise grim tale.
While Things They Buried might not be my cup of tea, there were still aspects I enjoyed and could see this series working for fans of dungeon fantasy horror who don’t mind unlikeable MCs and darker themes.
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February 5, 2022I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn’t work for me. The character development was often sidelined in order to keep the plot moving, which made it hard for me to care what happened to those characters. The narrative also focused on the dark/uncomfortable atmosphere and the elaborate world building. I think this style of writing would work for some people, but, unfortunately, I felt very detached from the story.
October 28, 2019
Barely made a three. Long "action" scenes that might have worked as script directions in a movie were far too long and numerous, detracting from the narrative. Easy to skip over, but who wants a book with so much to skip over? The main characters were interesting, but not fully developed. The vast array of different species never coalesced into a clear understanding of what they were about, why there were so many, and how to keep them apart--too many species. Still, the world building was sort of interesting--reminded me of dockside in Manila. I won't read any of the follow up stories.
December 9, 2022
I was given this book, by the author(s) in exchange for an honest review.
I am torn on this book. On one hand I appreciate the world building, characters and differing POV’s but on the other hand, this could be its vice. With so many things going on and altering views it becomes a little tedious to follow and can make interest in following it waver. The characters see a good amount of development, but they almost feel the same with little separating them besides dialogue choices. If you’re someone who liked the lore of Dune, you may like this book. But if you’re someone like me who struggles with overly complex storylines you may want to skip this one. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.
Thank you for the book Michael and Amanda!
I am torn on this book. On one hand I appreciate the world building, characters and differing POV’s but on the other hand, this could be its vice. With so many things going on and altering views it becomes a little tedious to follow and can make interest in following it waver. The characters see a good amount of development, but they almost feel the same with little separating them besides dialogue choices. If you’re someone who liked the lore of Dune, you may like this book. But if you’re someone like me who struggles with overly complex storylines you may want to skip this one. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.
Thank you for the book Michael and Amanda!
June 12, 2024
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That was a pleasant surprise, I’m glad I listened to this book, and can’t stop thinking that there was a huge possibility where I don’t discover it and I don’t like this idea lol. There are too many good books that we won’t be able to read in our lifetime 😩
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SUMMARY:
Under the dirty streets of Ismae's greatest port city, an old nightmare waits for Sylandair and Aliara, one that is stealing Dockhaven's children, one that only they can end. When the pair escaped their owner and abuser years ago, they left him behind in a ball of blue flame, but as more children disappear near the city's desalinization plant, they believe he may not be dead. When they embark on an underground search for him with their less-than-reliable puka scout Schmalch, what they find is beyond any expectation. It will lead them into a twisting world of inheritances, experimentation and memories they never wanted to exhume.
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First of all I didn’t expect horror in this book for some reason, even when I read the description and it says “dark” 💀 but that was a good thing because the scenes are written so well and they freaked me out in the beginning (in a good way).
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The world building is interesting and dense, it’s a different world than ours, which I’m used to since I’m a fantasy reader, what’s different about it were the different species it had I think; the Puka are my favorite lol.
This book also has good seamless mix of genres; fantasy, sci fi, and horror.
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We follow three main characters: Sylandair, Aliara and Schmalch, but we also get to see other side characters POVs as well.
I liked the relationship between Syl and Aliara, they have a lot of love for each other and they really understand each other because of the shared past and trauma.
My favorite out of three is Schmalch, I don’t care what he does and how he’s living his life, he is a good boss.
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I also liked Hergis and then Nihal (Idk if her name is intentionally an Arabic one but it made me excited 😭) and I’m interested to see what will happen to her in the next book
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Heather Masters (the audiobook narrator) is a great one, she has different voices for each character and you know who’s talking every time.
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I do recommend, if you want an interesting dark story, morally gray characters, and great genre blending.
.
And thanks to the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review.
That was a pleasant surprise, I’m glad I listened to this book, and can’t stop thinking that there was a huge possibility where I don’t discover it and I don’t like this idea lol. There are too many good books that we won’t be able to read in our lifetime 😩
.
SUMMARY:
Under the dirty streets of Ismae's greatest port city, an old nightmare waits for Sylandair and Aliara, one that is stealing Dockhaven's children, one that only they can end. When the pair escaped their owner and abuser years ago, they left him behind in a ball of blue flame, but as more children disappear near the city's desalinization plant, they believe he may not be dead. When they embark on an underground search for him with their less-than-reliable puka scout Schmalch, what they find is beyond any expectation. It will lead them into a twisting world of inheritances, experimentation and memories they never wanted to exhume.
.
First of all I didn’t expect horror in this book for some reason, even when I read the description and it says “dark” 💀 but that was a good thing because the scenes are written so well and they freaked me out in the beginning (in a good way).
.
The world building is interesting and dense, it’s a different world than ours, which I’m used to since I’m a fantasy reader, what’s different about it were the different species it had I think; the Puka are my favorite lol.
This book also has good seamless mix of genres; fantasy, sci fi, and horror.
.
We follow three main characters: Sylandair, Aliara and Schmalch, but we also get to see other side characters POVs as well.
I liked the relationship between Syl and Aliara, they have a lot of love for each other and they really understand each other because of the shared past and trauma.
My favorite out of three is Schmalch, I don’t care what he does and how he’s living his life, he is a good boss.
.
I also liked Hergis and then Nihal (Idk if her name is intentionally an Arabic one but it made me excited 😭) and I’m interested to see what will happen to her in the next book
.
Heather Masters (the audiobook narrator) is a great one, she has different voices for each character and you know who’s talking every time.
.
I do recommend, if you want an interesting dark story, morally gray characters, and great genre blending.
.
And thanks to the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2022
I read Things They Buried as part of a judging team for the second annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC2), where it was assigned to our first round allotment.
Honestly, this is a hard one to describe. It’s a sci-fi haunted house story in a secondary world? Possibly a dungeon crawl with special focus on the traumatic backstories of the lead characters? I’m not sure I have a good comparison. But it’s generally pretty well done, if you like this sort of story.
The story drops you into a world with a bunch of fantasy races, with a pair of lead characters who had been trafficked and abused as children by the society’s top scientist. He’s presumed dead, but they’re not so sure. So they explore his home and his business, and…let’s just say there’s a lot of danger, both physical dangers in the present and psychological dangers with trauma bubbling to the surface.
It runs a little long for having such a straightforward plot, and I’m not sure I really got a sense of scale with the places being excavated. But the writing is engaging throughout, there’s never a shortage of danger, and the side characters really come into their own. Plus the ending is pretty satisfying, minus a clumsy sequel hook.
Overall, this one didn’t blow me away, but it’s a solid 3.5 stars. My first impression is to round up.
First impression: 14/20. Full review and SPSFC score to come at www.tarvolon.com
Honestly, this is a hard one to describe. It’s a sci-fi haunted house story in a secondary world? Possibly a dungeon crawl with special focus on the traumatic backstories of the lead characters? I’m not sure I have a good comparison. But it’s generally pretty well done, if you like this sort of story.
The story drops you into a world with a bunch of fantasy races, with a pair of lead characters who had been trafficked and abused as children by the society’s top scientist. He’s presumed dead, but they’re not so sure. So they explore his home and his business, and…let’s just say there’s a lot of danger, both physical dangers in the present and psychological dangers with trauma bubbling to the surface.
It runs a little long for having such a straightforward plot, and I’m not sure I really got a sense of scale with the places being excavated. But the writing is engaging throughout, there’s never a shortage of danger, and the side characters really come into their own. Plus the ending is pretty satisfying, minus a clumsy sequel hook.
Overall, this one didn’t blow me away, but it’s a solid 3.5 stars. My first impression is to round up.
First impression: 14/20. Full review and SPSFC score to come at www.tarvolon.com
June 16, 2019
An example of how to take extraordinarily detailed world building blended with a page-turning adventure pace and exhaustively fleshed-out characters; a captivating dark fantasy with elements of horror and hinted-at science fiction. It's difficult to believe this is a first novel from Amanda King and Michal Swanson - they are true wordsmiths. I will be keeping my eyes open for the follow up novel.
March 29, 2022
Vivid imagery of a dark, hidden place that captures the reader and pulls them into its grand horror story full of relatable characters, set in a nightmarish world. I smiled at the ending.
August 2, 2023
This book is so underrated it's not even funny.
GORGEOUS cover
GORGEOUS cover
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews