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Of Metal and Magic
Pariah's Lament
"So often it's the forgotten who possess the power to change the world."
When an attempt is made on the life of Ashara, Keeper of Yurr, his young, hapless advisor Edvar must uncover and stop those behind it.
With enemies in the capital city and the belligerent Tesh, Keeper of neighbouring nation Karrabar stirring trouble in the Borderlands, can Edvar hold together Ashara's brittle reign?
The troubles ripple throughout Yurr, affecting an ancient race of people known as the Amast, who in their time of utmost need, turn to pariah Isy for salvation. Rejected by society, kith and kin, can Isy guide the Amast to safety during the greatest turmoil Yurr has known since the War of the Damned?
Pariah's Lament will take you on a rollercoaster of an adventure ‘that will keep you spellbound as you traverse the world alongside Isy and Edvar’ (Books Behind The Title). And along the way you’ll experience ‘intense fighting scenes, a little romance and flawed characters’ (Sarah Lillian Books).
If you love to explore fantasy worlds, this book won’t disappoint. Part of a shared universe populated by other authors, the setting in Pariah’s Lament has proven a huge hit with readers, with some praising the ‘insane level of detail’ (The Book Suite) and vividness of its descriptions.
◆ Reviews ◆
“I went from being hooked to utterly absorbed into the story. I picked up the book every moment I could snag a free minute or two.“ Geeks Under Grace
“A great read that will keep you spellbound as you traverse the world alongside Isy and Edvar,” Books Behind The Title
“I think this book really shines in the details, though, giving each character something to work through personally while also trying to sort out the external situations.” E.G. Stone, Quill and Pen Society
“A tale of acceptance and confidence with breathtaking worldbuilding.” Jessica Mack, Jem Edits Book Blog
“The story was perfectly paced and I was so wrapped up in the story, wanting to know how it was going to end that I read the entire thing in one go.” Worlds Unlike Our Own
“There is a glorious balance of elements in Pariah’s Lament. You have deep political intrigue, strong, engaging characters, humour in even the darkest moments, and dynamic pulse-quickening action.” Bookends and Bagends
“Other than Brandon Sanderson, Billing has written my favourite battle scenes where they’re epic, grand, but not confusing, leaving me lost.” Sarah Lillian Books
“Pariah’s Lament is a book full of political intrigue, warfare, and action. However, it is also a book about the dispossessed and rejects of a society finding the courage in themselves to save the world that rejects them.” Bibliophilia Book Reviews
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
426 pages, Paperback
Published March 17, 2021
20 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Richie Billing
17 books60 followersFollow on Patreon for lots more short stories, novellas and novels - https://www.patreon.com/cw/RichieBilling
Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales often explore real-world issues, zooming in on the characters and their troubles.
His short fiction has been widely published, with one story adapted for BBC radio.
His debut novel, Pariah's Lament, was published by Of Metal and Magic Publishing in March 2021. His latest novella, Together We Rise, is a political fantasy that tells the tale of a people's revolution against a corrupt government.
Richie also hosts the podcast The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, a venture inspired by the requests of readers of his acclaimed craft book, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook.
When not writing, Richie works as an editor and digital marketer and teaches creative writing both online and in his home city of Liverpool.
Most nights you can find him up into the early hours scribbling away or watching the NBA.
Find out more at www.richiebilling.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 26, 2022
The author approached me with a review request of this early in 2021 and the timing was really not good for me (When my family got infected with Covid) so we agreed that I get an E-Book and review it when possible and I am finally doing it a year and a half later.
The main reason that made me accept the request is that the author mentioned Joe Abercrombie’s books and that this appealed to the fans of the latter author’s works. To be honest, I did not see much similarities and I think Billing has his own style and prose and it is a good thing to be yourself rather than someone who is successful.
The story is told through the POV of two main characters who both are underdogs (Edvar and Isy) and I think it was great to see them growing through the story. I believe it was fast paced and I liked the atmosphere. The story is part of a larger universe which contains stories from multiple authors and I think that is cool.
The story is similar to many adult fantasy stories and this was kind of problematic for me since I got the feeling it was an enjoyable story that would not stick in mind and unfortunately I am writing this review two months after finishing the book and I don’t recall much of it.
The main reason that made me accept the request is that the author mentioned Joe Abercrombie’s books and that this appealed to the fans of the latter author’s works. To be honest, I did not see much similarities and I think Billing has his own style and prose and it is a good thing to be yourself rather than someone who is successful.
The story is told through the POV of two main characters who both are underdogs (Edvar and Isy) and I think it was great to see them growing through the story. I believe it was fast paced and I liked the atmosphere. The story is part of a larger universe which contains stories from multiple authors and I think that is cool.
The story is similar to many adult fantasy stories and this was kind of problematic for me since I got the feeling it was an enjoyable story that would not stick in mind and unfortunately I am writing this review two months after finishing the book and I don’t recall much of it.
March 20, 2021
"Fear can control your life, paralyze you..to beat it, you must fight back. Take the first step beyond the threshold with courage in your heart and curiosity in your mind." - Richie Billing, Pariah's Lament
This book is MAGIC!!!🤩🔮 It has a bit of everything - intense battles, politics, humor, and romance💖. I really appreciate the well-built character arcs, especially of Isy, who was considered an outcast. She was bullied to the point that she started doubting her own abilities. To see her grow into someone who not only fully accepted herself and had confidence in herself, but also displayed extraordinary strength every single time, was so satisfying and so inspiring.😌
The story begins with an assassination attempt on Ashara, the keeper of Yurr. He was a well-respected, brave and wise leader. His advisor, Edvar, who just like Isy always doubted his abilities, then made it a mission to find that mysterious assassin. Edvar was a determined and highly reliable advisor but somehow he always felt inadequate for the role that he was assigned. He always felt that he wasn't as great and responsible as his father.
Edvar and Isy are the two main protagonists and it is so amazing to see both of them transform into their confident selves by the very end.
Be it the kingdom of Karrabar or of Yurr, the author has done a wonderful job in crafting a real-world-like but MAGICAL universe🤩. To be honest, it feels so real and believable, which I guess is because of all the intricate details about the structures, traditions, and culture of its inhabitants. My favorite bit was reading about Amast, an ancient race in need of help.
More than anything, I feel I was most invested in the ongoing politics. It made this book an incredible page-turner. Even more, as I was approaching the end.
It was also refreshing to see great character arcs of the secondary characters as well and to have an antagonist you feel sympathy for.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would like to thank the author Richie Billing for providing me a copy of this brilliant fantasy to read and review.
This book is MAGIC!!!🤩🔮 It has a bit of everything - intense battles, politics, humor, and romance💖. I really appreciate the well-built character arcs, especially of Isy, who was considered an outcast. She was bullied to the point that she started doubting her own abilities. To see her grow into someone who not only fully accepted herself and had confidence in herself, but also displayed extraordinary strength every single time, was so satisfying and so inspiring.😌
The story begins with an assassination attempt on Ashara, the keeper of Yurr. He was a well-respected, brave and wise leader. His advisor, Edvar, who just like Isy always doubted his abilities, then made it a mission to find that mysterious assassin. Edvar was a determined and highly reliable advisor but somehow he always felt inadequate for the role that he was assigned. He always felt that he wasn't as great and responsible as his father.
Edvar and Isy are the two main protagonists and it is so amazing to see both of them transform into their confident selves by the very end.
Be it the kingdom of Karrabar or of Yurr, the author has done a wonderful job in crafting a real-world-like but MAGICAL universe🤩. To be honest, it feels so real and believable, which I guess is because of all the intricate details about the structures, traditions, and culture of its inhabitants. My favorite bit was reading about Amast, an ancient race in need of help.
More than anything, I feel I was most invested in the ongoing politics. It made this book an incredible page-turner. Even more, as I was approaching the end.
It was also refreshing to see great character arcs of the secondary characters as well and to have an antagonist you feel sympathy for.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would like to thank the author Richie Billing for providing me a copy of this brilliant fantasy to read and review.
March 24, 2021
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🌸 Click here to see the review on my blog, and click here to see my interview with the author! 🌸
“Our enemies may rob us of everything, but they cannot strip us of hope. The only person who can take that away is you.”
Pariah’s Lament follows Isy and Edvar. Isy has to help the Amast, an ancient race in dire need of help if they are to survive. Rejected by her own family as the Amast were rejected by society, she helps them find the salvation they so desperately need while facing her. After an attempt on his Keeper’s life, Ashara, Edvar must overcome his feelings of doubt to find out who was behind the attempt and hold together the kingdom.
Thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC!
My excitement to read this was off the charts! Let’s get into it!
First, the worldbuilding in Pariah’s Lament was executed thoughtfully and with care.
The world felt very well-thought-out and the system overall made sense. Sometimes it’s hard balancing this and I think it was done so well.
Adding a map in a book is so convenient, but the amount of worldbuilding Billing put into his writing astounded me! I really felt like I was there!
The character descriptions were beautifully done. I could really see the characters in the story, such as the Amast.
One thing I found lacking, however, was the characterization.
This was why I ultimately had to give it 3.5 stars. I felt like I was told so many things that happened rather than experienced with the characters.
For example, when Isy said she had trained with the other women archers, I really wanted to be there with her in that moment to feel her grow.
This happened quite often; I was told these characters were growing but I wasn’t in the moment with them, and that made me sad.
Another thing that bothered me specifically at the beginning were the characters repeating things constantly rather than unveiling them over time.
For example, Isy is curious rather than scared about being kidnapped for a time before the scent of bodies reminds her that—oh—she’s kind of being kidnapped, and then she gets scared all over again. But then, once again, she has the same thoughts as before, just worded differently.
After around 45% the book really picks up. Everything prior is just lying out the groundwork for the main issue: the invasion of Karrabar.
Most of the time, invasions happen because kingdoms want territory. In this case, there is a much personal reason for this, and I loved it!
I will admit I found everything prior to be a bit slow and hard to get through, but boy was it worth the wait… because those fight scenes were so good!
I found the writing in-depth and invigorating with Billing’s thoughtful touch.
Wow, just wow. The dark, gritty reality was not held back, that’s for sure. And I’m so glad for it.
What I’m finding lately in a lot of books is that we’re often spared from the nitty-gritty, and instead given the lucrative, “cool” details. But honestly, sometimes we just need to see it all, and Pariah’s Lament did just that.
I also really loved the themes that were presented: acceptance (Isy and the Amast) and confidence (Edvar). At times they seemed a little too obvious and thrown in your face, but at other times they were extremely moving.
Pariah’s Lament by Richie Billing introduces us to a wonderful plethora of characters backed by even better worldbuilding. If you enjoy historical fantasy with well-meaning themes of acceptance and confidence, this read is for you!
October 27, 2023
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
Pariah's Lament is a well written fantasy book that sets the scene for a new, fresh fantasy series.
We follow Isy and Edvar, who are both underdogs who join forces. Edvar is an advisor for Ashara (the Keeper of Yurr), and after an assassination attempt on Asharas life, sets out to find the assassin and hold them to justice. Edvar isn't very confident in himself or his abilities, and neither is Isy. The pair together start to bring out more confidence in each other.
The author did an amazing job at plotting the story and bringing the magical fantasy world to life. Each scene was vividly told, and I often felt like I was there in the book. The characters were likeable and realistic, and I can't wait to see them progress in book two after seeing them blossom so much over the course of this book.
Pariah's Lament is a well written fantasy book that sets the scene for a new, fresh fantasy series.
We follow Isy and Edvar, who are both underdogs who join forces. Edvar is an advisor for Ashara (the Keeper of Yurr), and after an assassination attempt on Asharas life, sets out to find the assassin and hold them to justice. Edvar isn't very confident in himself or his abilities, and neither is Isy. The pair together start to bring out more confidence in each other.
The author did an amazing job at plotting the story and bringing the magical fantasy world to life. Each scene was vividly told, and I often felt like I was there in the book. The characters were likeable and realistic, and I can't wait to see them progress in book two after seeing them blossom so much over the course of this book.
October 24, 2023
At the beginning of this book, there is a note that explains the concept which I think is such an amazing idea.
This book is an Of Metal and Magic Core story and this means that the world has been created by a group of different authors who then write their own series' within this same world.
I love this idea and think it would be great to read around the different series and immerse yourself without having to totallyearn a new world every time you pick up a different author or different fantasy series.
Maybe this is quite common, but this is the first I've heard of this concept and definitely the first book I've read.
So, as the start of a new fantasy series, obviously there is some world building to be done.
Generally the most difficult part of a fantasy for me to connect with, but I feel that this was done really well here.
We meet the characters, the world and the storyline is introduced as we read and this flowed really well and didn't make me feel bogged down by all the information.
I loved the descriptions of both the land and the different peoples, which gave me a clear and vivid image of the setting and the different societies.
Isy had been rejected from her own kin due to a birthmark which made her different and therefore unaccepted.
When she's kidnapped by the Amast, I worried that this was going to be the start of the conflict, but it was lovely to see the two different people and cultures combining and the new relationships being built.
The story really mirrors societies of today and I think that this wil be a relatable read for many people who feel like they don't fit in.
Although a genre that I often struggle with, I found this a quite an easy read and really enjoyed it.
I'm hoping that there will be more to come from this author and am keen to see what other series like within this world too.
This book is an Of Metal and Magic Core story and this means that the world has been created by a group of different authors who then write their own series' within this same world.
I love this idea and think it would be great to read around the different series and immerse yourself without having to totallyearn a new world every time you pick up a different author or different fantasy series.
Maybe this is quite common, but this is the first I've heard of this concept and definitely the first book I've read.
So, as the start of a new fantasy series, obviously there is some world building to be done.
Generally the most difficult part of a fantasy for me to connect with, but I feel that this was done really well here.
We meet the characters, the world and the storyline is introduced as we read and this flowed really well and didn't make me feel bogged down by all the information.
I loved the descriptions of both the land and the different peoples, which gave me a clear and vivid image of the setting and the different societies.
Isy had been rejected from her own kin due to a birthmark which made her different and therefore unaccepted.
When she's kidnapped by the Amast, I worried that this was going to be the start of the conflict, but it was lovely to see the two different people and cultures combining and the new relationships being built.
The story really mirrors societies of today and I think that this wil be a relatable read for many people who feel like they don't fit in.
Although a genre that I often struggle with, I found this a quite an easy read and really enjoyed it.
I'm hoping that there will be more to come from this author and am keen to see what other series like within this world too.
October 23, 2023
Pariah's Lament is an epic fantasy novel by Richie Billing.
I was hooked from the very first page. The author's writing is flawless. The pace of the novel was perfect and it flowed along easily, which made it easy to follow.
Richie's writing is so good that I felt like I was in the novel. I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. A brilliant novel that I highly recommend. I can't wait to read more by the author.
💖 Thank you to the author, Richie Billing and @zooloobooktours for my ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I was hooked from the very first page. The author's writing is flawless. The pace of the novel was perfect and it flowed along easily, which made it easy to follow.
Richie's writing is so good that I felt like I was in the novel. I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. A brilliant novel that I highly recommend. I can't wait to read more by the author.
💖 Thank you to the author, Richie Billing and @zooloobooktours for my ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2021
~About
When Keeper Ashara is attacked by a mysterious assassin, his young advisor Edvar is tasked with finding out who is behind the betrayal.
When Isy, a young outcast is kidnapped by two members of an unusual race, she finds herself asked to help a suffering people, the Amast.
Together, both Edvar and Isy are forced to undergo journeys that will test the limits of their character.
~Characters
Edvar proved to be a determined sort of man, always trying to prove himself to others. He was passionate toward his duty to the keeper and refused to be swayed from his true values, which made me admire him more and more as the story progressed.
Isy, a social outcast and book lover, developed beautifully during the course of the story. Although timid and unsure of herself at first, she gradually grew into a courageous and strong young woman, who persisted in doing what she considered to be the right thing.
Ashara (Keeper of Yurr) was a brave, wise, and determined man. He was like a father figure to Edvar, always providing support when Edvar doubted himself. At times, I questioned Ashara’s character as alternative accounts of him were given by others. His past held a lot of mystery, which made me consider him from various people’s perspectives.
Tesh, the Keeper of Karrabar (the lead antagonist) was driven purely by the rage that had built up within him over the years from a perceived betrayal. Blinded by his hatred, he seemed content only with the destruction of Yurr and its keeper. However, as the ashes of his great battle settle, we see a different side to Tesh, a side kept hidden from others as he did his best to seek revenge against a perceived foe.
Overall, the characters in this story each had their own troubled pasts, which helped to shape their character and motives. Each was well thought out and simply conveyed, adding layers of nuance to the story at large.
~Likes
There was much I liked about Pariah’s Lament.
The choice of narration was interesting, switching mainly between Edvar and Isy’s perspectives, with the addition of Tesh’s perspective later on in the story. This combination of unique perspectives helped to better explore the main story, while simultaneously weaving in the character’s own personal turmoil, to enhance the emotionality of the book.
I also loved how the story explored Edvar and Isy’s innermost fears: how they held them back in life, and how they could only move forward with their quest by shedding them. The discussion of these various emotional issues helped to emphasize the main conflict without taking centre stage.
The tension building was done exceedingly well, gradually peaking throughout the novel, while providing unexpected twists that made me question what could possibly happen next. The story ended with a wonderful sense of unity that tied everything neatly together. That, along with the imaginative worldbuilding and backstory, made for an exciting adventure.
~Memorable Quotes
It was truly a challenge to pick out just a few quotes from Pariah’s Lament. In the end, I had noted down at least ten quotes which had wound their way into my heart and mind. After some time examining them, I was able to settle on the following five.
1) ‘Life is a struggle, is a fight in itself.’
2) ‘There are some things that you can’t learn from books. Some things you must do and feel to truly understand.’
3) ‘Fear can control your life, paralyse you- To beat it, you must fight back. Take the first step beyond the threshold with courage in your heart and curiosity in your mind.’
4) ‘Some things are just beyond our control- we have to make the best of it, even when it seems impossible. All we can do is pick ourselves up and take the next step forward. If we fall down again, we get up, until we fall for good.’
5) ‘Whoever controls the flow of information can manipulate things however they please. They can re-write history, erase people and nations from time.’
Each of these five quotes holds an important message for modern readers. They discuss how life is never easy, how we must work hard to survive, experience the world for ourselves and learn to shed our own fears, to achieve all that we are capable of. We must keep going, even when we feel like giving up. We must be aware of the information we take in and whether it can be trusted.
~Overview
With themes of vengeance, betrayal, and unity, Pariah’s Lament made for an exciting and adventurous read. The raw emotional concerns of the characters added a much needed touch of humanity throughout, something you don’t get with a lot of modern books.
I loved exploring the world of Soria and can’t wait to learn more about the various lands and their people.
My Rating: 5 stars.
Recommended to: Fantasy lovers, especially those who enjoy a war-inspired story, with intricate backstory.
March 21, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Pariah’s Lament is an epic fantasy novel, set in the shared Of Metal and Magic universe.
The two main characters, Isy and Edvar, are both isolated from those around them – Isy by a facial birthmark that her fellow villagers view as a curse, and Edvar by his reputation for intelligence and his role as right hand to the Keeper. Both have to step out of their (dis)comfort zones and fight for what matters most to them. But first, they have to work out what that might be.
The plot blends politics, romance and battles in strands that feel familiar to fans of this genre, but the worldbuilding really stands out, with the Amast, the Keepers, and the backstory of the magical daggers that must be contained to avoid further separation of the world’s races. I found the temptation and rejection of the power of the daggers was a fascinating and compelling backbone to the story, and really enjoyed the way it was woven through the plot without ever overshadowing the more personal struggles that form the heart of the story.
I found the main characters a little harder to engage with. Isy is a little bit too good to be true; she never really falters, always doing the right thing, always likable, above reproach. Edvar, in contrast, is introduced as being the Keeper’s super-intelligent advisor, but what we mostly see from him is self-doubt and self-abasement. He spends much of the story berating himself for everything he does, doesn’t and can’t do, and little time actually dispensing the sage advice he is famed for. The side characters were far more interesting to me – Vil, the Amast, Ashara – as they had a more realistic blend of flaws and virtues that made them less predictable.
The story’s ending ties up the immediate plot neatly, but still leaves the bigger picture (especially the concept of those dangerous daggers) open to further exploration. Personally, I would love to see a prequel that delves into the ‘corruption’ of the races by the daggers and their original containment.
This is a good introduction to the OMAM world, and a solid addition to the epic fantasy genre. I look forward to seeing more from both Richie Billings and the OMAM wider world in future.
'Why is that bastard always right? Edvar thought, cursing his informant, Mag. Soldiers emerged from doors, pulling on armor, buckling belts and baldrics. Officers yelled orders and led men and women up the motte. How did they reach him? Poison seemed most likely. Always poison. Edvar had practically interrogated those working in the kitchen and stores to ensure they could be trusted. Guards were stationed day and night at the well and outside the wine cellar, and teams checked the food that came into the keep. Had someone betrayed him? Had he missed something? He must have. I’m as useless as a fingerless archer.'
– Richie Billing, Pariah’s Lament
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Pariah’s Lament is an epic fantasy novel, set in the shared Of Metal and Magic universe.
The two main characters, Isy and Edvar, are both isolated from those around them – Isy by a facial birthmark that her fellow villagers view as a curse, and Edvar by his reputation for intelligence and his role as right hand to the Keeper. Both have to step out of their (dis)comfort zones and fight for what matters most to them. But first, they have to work out what that might be.
The plot blends politics, romance and battles in strands that feel familiar to fans of this genre, but the worldbuilding really stands out, with the Amast, the Keepers, and the backstory of the magical daggers that must be contained to avoid further separation of the world’s races. I found the temptation and rejection of the power of the daggers was a fascinating and compelling backbone to the story, and really enjoyed the way it was woven through the plot without ever overshadowing the more personal struggles that form the heart of the story.
I found the main characters a little harder to engage with. Isy is a little bit too good to be true; she never really falters, always doing the right thing, always likable, above reproach. Edvar, in contrast, is introduced as being the Keeper’s super-intelligent advisor, but what we mostly see from him is self-doubt and self-abasement. He spends much of the story berating himself for everything he does, doesn’t and can’t do, and little time actually dispensing the sage advice he is famed for. The side characters were far more interesting to me – Vil, the Amast, Ashara – as they had a more realistic blend of flaws and virtues that made them less predictable.
The story’s ending ties up the immediate plot neatly, but still leaves the bigger picture (especially the concept of those dangerous daggers) open to further exploration. Personally, I would love to see a prequel that delves into the ‘corruption’ of the races by the daggers and their original containment.
This is a good introduction to the OMAM world, and a solid addition to the epic fantasy genre. I look forward to seeing more from both Richie Billings and the OMAM wider world in future.
'Why is that bastard always right? Edvar thought, cursing his informant, Mag. Soldiers emerged from doors, pulling on armor, buckling belts and baldrics. Officers yelled orders and led men and women up the motte. How did they reach him? Poison seemed most likely. Always poison. Edvar had practically interrogated those working in the kitchen and stores to ensure they could be trusted. Guards were stationed day and night at the well and outside the wine cellar, and teams checked the food that came into the keep. Had someone betrayed him? Had he missed something? He must have. I’m as useless as a fingerless archer.'
– Richie Billing, Pariah’s Lament
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
October 25, 2023
I have always enjoyed fantasy since first reading The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Forgotten Realms and so on when young. I was excited to read a high fantasy set in an expanding world and for the most part I found it worked really well. Pariah’s Lament focuses mainly on two underdog characters Edvar and Isy. Both have their own reasons of being underdogs and both join forces. I would say as a reader of a lot of fantasy and high fantasy this does have a lot of the typical tropes but focuses more on political intrigue and battles than other high fantasy themes. This is by no means a bad thing but if you prefer less battles and politics in your fantasy it may be a bit off putting until you get in the flow of the novel.
For me this is a solid four stars. The writing is engaging and has moments that a truly wonderful. I did find once or twice the style did feel a little clunky or box ticking, and some of the dialogue of the side characters did seem a tad stilted to my taste but it didn’t put me off reading. The characters themselves are likeable and I did enjoy that they were both from opposite ends of the spectrum, socially speaking at least. I also enjoyed that in the midst of the battles that we also got humour and a little romance. It made the characters feel more human and realistic.
The plot was good and kept me engaged, it does follow a pretty standard fantasy novel plot but that isn’t by any means a bad thing. The one thing it does do that I like is reference other works in the world and other characters while remaining standalone. It gives the world a more fleshed out feel. I think any fans of high fantasy will enjoy this one and this series and I will certainly look into other works set in the world created and built upon by different authors.
For me this is a solid four stars. The writing is engaging and has moments that a truly wonderful. I did find once or twice the style did feel a little clunky or box ticking, and some of the dialogue of the side characters did seem a tad stilted to my taste but it didn’t put me off reading. The characters themselves are likeable and I did enjoy that they were both from opposite ends of the spectrum, socially speaking at least. I also enjoyed that in the midst of the battles that we also got humour and a little romance. It made the characters feel more human and realistic.
The plot was good and kept me engaged, it does follow a pretty standard fantasy novel plot but that isn’t by any means a bad thing. The one thing it does do that I like is reference other works in the world and other characters while remaining standalone. It gives the world a more fleshed out feel. I think any fans of high fantasy will enjoy this one and this series and I will certainly look into other works set in the world created and built upon by different authors.
March 4, 2021
Pariah's Lament was a delight to read. The characters had great depth and the story itself was engaging and fast paced.
My favourite aspects of all were the settings. They were well-written yet utterly unobtrusive so that I felt like I'd lived in them, that they were a part of my neighborhood.
Thank you for the wonderful story, Richie Billing.
My favourite aspects of all were the settings. They were well-written yet utterly unobtrusive so that I felt like I'd lived in them, that they were a part of my neighborhood.
Thank you for the wonderful story, Richie Billing.
February 4, 2021
If I had to sum up this book in one word it would be inconsistent. There were flashes of absolute brilliance, then those same aspects would fall flat just pages later. Therefore, the book averaged out as a fairly average read for me. Nevertheless, there is an argument to be made that those moments of excellence, which I’ll expand on below, make it a worthwhile read, if you are inclined that way.
The book is pretty typical high fantasy, albeit one that leans less into the fantasy elements, and more into the warfare and politics of a fictional world. It seems to be set just as the industrial revolution is beginning, but the world is substantially the medieval style one that is typical of the genre.
The first thing to mention is definitely the writing style. Richie Billing consciously uses a high level of vocabulary in order to make the book engaging, and when it comes together, it’s phenomenal. The issue is it can feel clunky and unnatural in places. He also uses small snippets of dialogue to enhance the realism of the soldiers, and to add some humour to lighten the darker scenes. However, I also found that in places the dialogue was too similar to the other parts of the prose, which didn’t allow the characters to fully come to life.
I thought the plot was reasonably good, if a bit formulaic toward the end. I really enjoyed the political intrigue that was peppered throughout the novel, as well as Isy’s relationship with the Amast. However, I always felt the plot was just a tool for deepening characterization in this novel. I felt some of the scenes, particularly battle and journey scenes, within the novel could be stripped away, to give a more compact feel without substantially losing anything.
Of the two main characters, I preferred Edvar to Isy, although both were decent. I feel I just connected to Edvar’s issues more than Isy’s, yet they are both probably relevant to a wide audience. However, I felt these issues were dealt with in quite a heavy-handed way sometimes. By that, I mean the key elements of their characters were repeatedly brought up, which unfortunately created the impression that they lacked depth, which they certainly didn’t. Again, shortening the novel might alleviate this problem somewhat.
I appreciate that Billing always tried to create nuanced secondary characters, even if he didn’t always succeed. Of them all, I think Vil was the best, as he felt the most genuine. His emotions were shown well through his actions without being over-explained, and his unrequited love was painful. For most of the book, I found Ashara, the keeper (essentially the monarch of the land), to be quite simplistic, but there was a moment in the final section of the book that completely made me rethink him, which was great to see. Nevertheless, the villain, Tesh, didn’t really work for me. He had well-developed motives, and was morally grey to an extent, but I just didn’t find him very believable unfortunately.
The book has some strong themes. There are some comments about what it means to be part of a community, and the social exclusion of people who look different. There’s also a decent amount about the brutality and pointlessness of war. Thinking back, the themes are actually quite well developed, although they are by no means subtle.
Overall, I give the book 4 out of 7. As I said at the beginning, it is inconsistent, but Billing clearly has potential. I can see the reasoning behind many of his stylistic choices, and, as this is his debut novel, I’m sure his writing will grow. If you like high fantasy, then this certainly has good elements within it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The book is pretty typical high fantasy, albeit one that leans less into the fantasy elements, and more into the warfare and politics of a fictional world. It seems to be set just as the industrial revolution is beginning, but the world is substantially the medieval style one that is typical of the genre.
The first thing to mention is definitely the writing style. Richie Billing consciously uses a high level of vocabulary in order to make the book engaging, and when it comes together, it’s phenomenal. The issue is it can feel clunky and unnatural in places. He also uses small snippets of dialogue to enhance the realism of the soldiers, and to add some humour to lighten the darker scenes. However, I also found that in places the dialogue was too similar to the other parts of the prose, which didn’t allow the characters to fully come to life.
I thought the plot was reasonably good, if a bit formulaic toward the end. I really enjoyed the political intrigue that was peppered throughout the novel, as well as Isy’s relationship with the Amast. However, I always felt the plot was just a tool for deepening characterization in this novel. I felt some of the scenes, particularly battle and journey scenes, within the novel could be stripped away, to give a more compact feel without substantially losing anything.
Of the two main characters, I preferred Edvar to Isy, although both were decent. I feel I just connected to Edvar’s issues more than Isy’s, yet they are both probably relevant to a wide audience. However, I felt these issues were dealt with in quite a heavy-handed way sometimes. By that, I mean the key elements of their characters were repeatedly brought up, which unfortunately created the impression that they lacked depth, which they certainly didn’t. Again, shortening the novel might alleviate this problem somewhat.
I appreciate that Billing always tried to create nuanced secondary characters, even if he didn’t always succeed. Of them all, I think Vil was the best, as he felt the most genuine. His emotions were shown well through his actions without being over-explained, and his unrequited love was painful. For most of the book, I found Ashara, the keeper (essentially the monarch of the land), to be quite simplistic, but there was a moment in the final section of the book that completely made me rethink him, which was great to see. Nevertheless, the villain, Tesh, didn’t really work for me. He had well-developed motives, and was morally grey to an extent, but I just didn’t find him very believable unfortunately.
The book has some strong themes. There are some comments about what it means to be part of a community, and the social exclusion of people who look different. There’s also a decent amount about the brutality and pointlessness of war. Thinking back, the themes are actually quite well developed, although they are by no means subtle.
Overall, I give the book 4 out of 7. As I said at the beginning, it is inconsistent, but Billing clearly has potential. I can see the reasoning behind many of his stylistic choices, and, as this is his debut novel, I’m sure his writing will grow. If you like high fantasy, then this certainly has good elements within it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
March 5, 2021
More of a 3.5, but the more I think about it the more I think it deserves to be rounded up.
This one is really hard for me to review. It's a solid debut novel that forms part of the Of Metal and Magic canon. There were some wonderful moments in this book, but then there were other parts that fell flat for me.
The world building was handled really well. I felt like I had entered a complex society with a believable power structure. I also really appreciated the detailed descriptions of places and information about the society. It made me feel more connected with the world without becoming overwhelming.
I found the characters the hardest part of the novel. I honestly didn't feel all that connected to any of them. I wanted to care about them, but it was like there was distance between us. Having said that, there were definitely bright moments when I could clearly understand the motivations at play. It's hard because it's a character driven novel but at the same time I just could not connect with them like I wanted to.
I did have issues with the plot. I found the storyline with the Amast a little confusing, mostly why the Keeper would help them. He's just been deposed by his own council, so surely he'd have bigger problems than helping a small group of people? Of course it's great that he did help them, and is morally the right thing to do. But when has politics ever been morally right? I wanted to understand why he was helping them, what drove him to listen to Isy and find a safe place for them? I liked the idea of the council overthrowing the Keeper but in the end I found the politics lacking somewhat.
The last quarter of the book was, in my opinion, the strongest. That's not to say the rest wasn't good, it was, but I liked getting to see Edvar, Isy and the others figuring out how to retake the city. I love a good battle and it definitely delivered on that front. Having said that, I found the very ending, after the battle, a little too neatly resolved.
I definitely recommend this to readers of fantasy who enjoy complex worlds and societies which are made up of people that are both like, and yet so different, from our own. I think if you typically read this kind of thing you may enjoy it more than I did. The writing really was very good and I think a lot of my issues with the book come down to my own personal preference and the need to connect with the characters.
I would pick up future books by this author because I feel that it's a strong debut, and was overall written very well.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This one is really hard for me to review. It's a solid debut novel that forms part of the Of Metal and Magic canon. There were some wonderful moments in this book, but then there were other parts that fell flat for me.
The world building was handled really well. I felt like I had entered a complex society with a believable power structure. I also really appreciated the detailed descriptions of places and information about the society. It made me feel more connected with the world without becoming overwhelming.
I found the characters the hardest part of the novel. I honestly didn't feel all that connected to any of them. I wanted to care about them, but it was like there was distance between us. Having said that, there were definitely bright moments when I could clearly understand the motivations at play. It's hard because it's a character driven novel but at the same time I just could not connect with them like I wanted to.
I did have issues with the plot. I found the storyline with the Amast a little confusing, mostly why the Keeper would help them. He's just been deposed by his own council, so surely he'd have bigger problems than helping a small group of people? Of course it's great that he did help them, and is morally the right thing to do. But when has politics ever been morally right? I wanted to understand why he was helping them, what drove him to listen to Isy and find a safe place for them? I liked the idea of the council overthrowing the Keeper but in the end I found the politics lacking somewhat.
The last quarter of the book was, in my opinion, the strongest. That's not to say the rest wasn't good, it was, but I liked getting to see Edvar, Isy and the others figuring out how to retake the city. I love a good battle and it definitely delivered on that front. Having said that, I found the very ending, after the battle, a little too neatly resolved.
I definitely recommend this to readers of fantasy who enjoy complex worlds and societies which are made up of people that are both like, and yet so different, from our own. I think if you typically read this kind of thing you may enjoy it more than I did. The writing really was very good and I think a lot of my issues with the book come down to my own personal preference and the need to connect with the characters.
I would pick up future books by this author because I feel that it's a strong debut, and was overall written very well.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2023
“Pariah’s Lament” is a fantasy tale full of political intrigue and warfare, but perhaps the most interesting thing about this book is that it is part of a universe that is shared by several other authors all with individual stories to tell. I’ve read books with multiple authors before, and have heard of some romance books that are written by other authors in a shared universe, but this is the first time I came across such a thing in a traditional fantasy novel. We start our journey with a failed assassination attempt on the leader of a country, the Keeper to which one of our main characters is an advisor to. And while they are attempting to figure out who was behind the assassination attempt and all the machinations around that, we also get the story of a young woman, an outcast amongst her village, who is snatched away by an ancient race desperate for her help in preserving what is left of their people. These two groups need each other to survive, even if they don’t realize it until close to half way through the book…
While the concept of a shared world with multiple authors is an interesting one, I don’t know how well it worked for this particular novel. I haven’t read any of the other books in this world, so I don’t know where the world is originally set up, or the start of the story, if you will. While all these books can be read individually, the reader is, supposedly, in for a treat if they read them all to see how they are all connected. But without knowing where to start, I’m not sure how that works. Ultimately, I just felt like I got plopped into the second book in a series and was playing catch up. Eventually that feeling went away, but it does take a bit so the book felt slow to me at times as I was constantly wondering how the two different story-lines were supposed to be connected. Once that all gets laid out the book really does fly by and I vastly enjoyed the final confrontation, but it just took me a bit to get to that point.
The book has some very typical fantasy tropes and beats, which I personally like, but it’s main focus is its character driven story, which is even better. We get to watch Edvar and Isy really come into their own which is a treat made doubly exciting with the high stakes that they have to deal with, and then excel at in order to survive. I thought the conflict between the two Keepers was a bit too simplistic given the war they engage in, but that just may be me, and I wish we had seen more of Vil so I could have connected to him more before the end of the story. The plot itself may be a little forgettable (which isn’t helped by the slow start to the book, hence the 4 stars), but the characters were unforgettable! All in all, if you like political intrigue and warfare wrapped up in a fantasy world, then you’ll enjoy this book and the others in its shared world. And thanks to the author for providing me a copy for an honest review!
While the concept of a shared world with multiple authors is an interesting one, I don’t know how well it worked for this particular novel. I haven’t read any of the other books in this world, so I don’t know where the world is originally set up, or the start of the story, if you will. While all these books can be read individually, the reader is, supposedly, in for a treat if they read them all to see how they are all connected. But without knowing where to start, I’m not sure how that works. Ultimately, I just felt like I got plopped into the second book in a series and was playing catch up. Eventually that feeling went away, but it does take a bit so the book felt slow to me at times as I was constantly wondering how the two different story-lines were supposed to be connected. Once that all gets laid out the book really does fly by and I vastly enjoyed the final confrontation, but it just took me a bit to get to that point.
The book has some very typical fantasy tropes and beats, which I personally like, but it’s main focus is its character driven story, which is even better. We get to watch Edvar and Isy really come into their own which is a treat made doubly exciting with the high stakes that they have to deal with, and then excel at in order to survive. I thought the conflict between the two Keepers was a bit too simplistic given the war they engage in, but that just may be me, and I wish we had seen more of Vil so I could have connected to him more before the end of the story. The plot itself may be a little forgettable (which isn’t helped by the slow start to the book, hence the 4 stars), but the characters were unforgettable! All in all, if you like political intrigue and warfare wrapped up in a fantasy world, then you’ll enjoy this book and the others in its shared world. And thanks to the author for providing me a copy for an honest review!
January 8, 2024
If fantasy on a grand scale is your cup of tea, then Pariah’s Lament may just be for you.
The story tells the story of Isy and Edvar. Two very different people from the opposite ends of society. One an outcast, one an advisor to the highest echelons of society.
Their paths meet when an ancient race of people called the Amast who in order to approach the Keeper of Yurr and help save them from a terrible blight that is affecting their people.
The story initially follows two main separate points of view (although there are others that at some point have an effect on the story in some way.
The book has some intricate world building, along with some good characters. Especially the character of Isy, who kidnapped from her home by the Amast in order to teach them the Yurrish language so that they can get aid for the devastation that is affecting their people. Throughout the story we come to learn that Isy is shunned by her people, including those that should accept her for what she is, due to some form of facial deformity. It seems that her face is affected by a blemish across her skin.
The other main character is Edvar, an advisor to the Keeper of Yurr, who is thrusted into the limelight after an assassination attempt on the Keeper.
Whilst the story has expansive themes of war and treachery, the tale itself is distilled into the two main characters finding their strength and determination despite the obstacles that they find thrown their way.
One of the main aspects of the book was the world building. It was very intricate and had a similar feeling to the anthropological themes that are taken up Steven Erikson in his Malazan series. I think that this mainly is due to the fact that not only is the book telling a story, it is establishing a thematic setting, and when I discovered that the book was set in a shared world that others can share too, this made sense to me.
The book is written in an interesting episodic manner rather than overarching chapters and has a kind of serialisation feel to it. Throughout these episodes, the spotlight is pointed to events and characters and how these will have an effect on the immediate story of the episode and the overarching storyline as a whole.
As a reader, I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, the structure of the book and the world building.
The story tells the story of Isy and Edvar. Two very different people from the opposite ends of society. One an outcast, one an advisor to the highest echelons of society.
Their paths meet when an ancient race of people called the Amast who in order to approach the Keeper of Yurr and help save them from a terrible blight that is affecting their people.
The story initially follows two main separate points of view (although there are others that at some point have an effect on the story in some way.
The book has some intricate world building, along with some good characters. Especially the character of Isy, who kidnapped from her home by the Amast in order to teach them the Yurrish language so that they can get aid for the devastation that is affecting their people. Throughout the story we come to learn that Isy is shunned by her people, including those that should accept her for what she is, due to some form of facial deformity. It seems that her face is affected by a blemish across her skin.
The other main character is Edvar, an advisor to the Keeper of Yurr, who is thrusted into the limelight after an assassination attempt on the Keeper.
Whilst the story has expansive themes of war and treachery, the tale itself is distilled into the two main characters finding their strength and determination despite the obstacles that they find thrown their way.
One of the main aspects of the book was the world building. It was very intricate and had a similar feeling to the anthropological themes that are taken up Steven Erikson in his Malazan series. I think that this mainly is due to the fact that not only is the book telling a story, it is establishing a thematic setting, and when I discovered that the book was set in a shared world that others can share too, this made sense to me.
The book is written in an interesting episodic manner rather than overarching chapters and has a kind of serialisation feel to it. Throughout these episodes, the spotlight is pointed to events and characters and how these will have an effect on the immediate story of the episode and the overarching storyline as a whole.
As a reader, I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, the structure of the book and the world building.
February 8, 2021
This here, is a near perfect book. There's intense fighting scenes, a little romance and flawed characters, near perfect, I say! Richie Billing is a fantastic writer. The book has an easy flow to it even switching between characters and different storylines, it's done artfully. Billing was able to create cliffhangers within the book by the different storylines. My favourite example of this is with Jem and his storyline. Other than Brandon Sanderson, Billing has written my favourite battle scenes where they're epic, grand, but not confusing, leaving me lost.
I really loved the characters, especially Edvar, he had a big heart, which melted mine. I'm more of the type of person to help others and always wanting to help others so both Isy and Edvar were very relatable in that regard. Isy, I think, is the most relatable character out there. As unfortunate as it is for people to get bullied, it happens and the victims of bullying will love Isy. I don't know how I feel about how Billing handled Isy's birthmark. It was handled okay, but it could have still been better. I did love how she grew to find acceptance and strength, especially with the Darts of Pleasure. The only thing I wish that would have made the book overall better is if the history between Tesh and Ashara was mentioned earlier. I spent too much time during the first part of the book wondering who Tesh was other than another Keeper and why I had to care, why him and his people were attacking Ashara's land and people. On the other hand, the Amast were so well done it almost made up for anything lacking. They were interesting creatures that was truly amazing to read about them from Isy's perspective.
A few quotes I really loved, "Something I've learned these past few weeks is that fear can control your life, paralyze you... To beat it, you must fight back. Take the first step beyond the threshold with courage in heart and curiosity in your mind. We've both done things we'd never thought we'd do. Who'll ever believe our stories?" p.193
"Too never feel true satisfaction is a flaw of man." p.263
"...I can do things the world tells me I cannot, things that even my own mind tells me I'm unable or too weak to do." p.326
I really loved the characters, especially Edvar, he had a big heart, which melted mine. I'm more of the type of person to help others and always wanting to help others so both Isy and Edvar were very relatable in that regard. Isy, I think, is the most relatable character out there. As unfortunate as it is for people to get bullied, it happens and the victims of bullying will love Isy. I don't know how I feel about how Billing handled Isy's birthmark. It was handled okay, but it could have still been better. I did love how she grew to find acceptance and strength, especially with the Darts of Pleasure. The only thing I wish that would have made the book overall better is if the history between Tesh and Ashara was mentioned earlier. I spent too much time during the first part of the book wondering who Tesh was other than another Keeper and why I had to care, why him and his people were attacking Ashara's land and people. On the other hand, the Amast were so well done it almost made up for anything lacking. They were interesting creatures that was truly amazing to read about them from Isy's perspective.
A few quotes I really loved, "Something I've learned these past few weeks is that fear can control your life, paralyze you... To beat it, you must fight back. Take the first step beyond the threshold with courage in heart and curiosity in your mind. We've both done things we'd never thought we'd do. Who'll ever believe our stories?" p.193
"Too never feel true satisfaction is a flaw of man." p.263
"...I can do things the world tells me I cannot, things that even my own mind tells me I'm unable or too weak to do." p.326
March 17, 2021
I was given an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Someone tried to murder the Keeper of Yurr and Edvar is supposed to find out why. Battling with doubt and the fear of being followed, he tries to help where he can. At the same time Isy is kidnapped in another city by creatures she’s never heard of before. Now she is asked to help them, keep their folk alive and bring them to the Keeper of Yurr.
My thoughts:
The story set off slowly, but was interesting, with twists and lots of suspense. The end was very satisfying to read and different from other books I know. I felt, though, that in the last quarter, battles and war dominated the story and I grew a little tired of the constant fighting and its sometimes rather lengthy descriptions. Thats probably just my preference though.
I liked some characters, like Isy, who fought her fears and self-doubt and grew a lot in this novel. I also enjoyed reading about the Amast and the Keeper, while the enemy honestly didn’t impress me that much. The Keeper grew and still stayed true to his principles, something I really enjoyed seeing!
The world is different, with people possessing furry ears or the Amast being giants with frog like eyes and hair all over their body. Those aspects were interesting, as well as the idea of the Daggers. I would’ve liked to read more about the religion or festivals, since that wasn’t featured in this book. I would’ve also liked to see more female characters, especially since the army was referred to as “sisters and brothers in arm”, but most soldiers or guards were men, as were many other important persons.
Emotions and thoughts are described quite detailed. The style felt a little clunky especially in the beginning, but got better in the end. In my opinion the dialogue was my main point of discontent.
At times, it felt a bit too forced or too honest and self-aware. Few people really know how exactly they feel at a given time, and what their fears or hopes are. And even if they do, most couldn’t put it into words eloquently. In this book there was no stumbling over your words, no “you know/like…/I mean/ that probably doesn’t make sense” , just a perfect flow of words. And that just felt rather unrealistic.
All in all I enjoyed the book though, especially the plot and the Amast. The cover is also a little bonus and so it earns 4 stars.
Synopsis:
Someone tried to murder the Keeper of Yurr and Edvar is supposed to find out why. Battling with doubt and the fear of being followed, he tries to help where he can. At the same time Isy is kidnapped in another city by creatures she’s never heard of before. Now she is asked to help them, keep their folk alive and bring them to the Keeper of Yurr.
My thoughts:
The story set off slowly, but was interesting, with twists and lots of suspense. The end was very satisfying to read and different from other books I know. I felt, though, that in the last quarter, battles and war dominated the story and I grew a little tired of the constant fighting and its sometimes rather lengthy descriptions. Thats probably just my preference though.
I liked some characters, like Isy, who fought her fears and self-doubt and grew a lot in this novel. I also enjoyed reading about the Amast and the Keeper, while the enemy honestly didn’t impress me that much. The Keeper grew and still stayed true to his principles, something I really enjoyed seeing!
The world is different, with people possessing furry ears or the Amast being giants with frog like eyes and hair all over their body. Those aspects were interesting, as well as the idea of the Daggers. I would’ve liked to read more about the religion or festivals, since that wasn’t featured in this book. I would’ve also liked to see more female characters, especially since the army was referred to as “sisters and brothers in arm”, but most soldiers or guards were men, as were many other important persons.
Emotions and thoughts are described quite detailed. The style felt a little clunky especially in the beginning, but got better in the end. In my opinion the dialogue was my main point of discontent.
At times, it felt a bit too forced or too honest and self-aware. Few people really know how exactly they feel at a given time, and what their fears or hopes are. And even if they do, most couldn’t put it into words eloquently. In this book there was no stumbling over your words, no “you know/like…/I mean/ that probably doesn’t make sense” , just a perfect flow of words. And that just felt rather unrealistic.
All in all I enjoyed the book though, especially the plot and the Amast. The cover is also a little bonus and so it earns 4 stars.
November 13, 2023
Fantasy lovers, I've found your next favorite book, and probably series. This book is amazing, and it is interconnected to a series of other books by other authors in a shared world. And, I for one, can't wait to see what else the world has to offer.
I could not put this down. I really love this concept of a shared world. I frequently dislike the main characters, but I adored Isy. She is strong, independent, and fierce. Despite a horrible home life growing up, she flourishes with the life she's found. I am so excited to see what happens to her next! I also adored Kora and Edvar. I've never been a "monster romance" kind of girl, but I hope I wasn't the only person in the world who read this and have a bit of a Kora/Isy ship going. But I might be the odd woman out here.
The one thing about high-fantasy that always gets me is the world-building. I do not like it when writers dump all the information on you at once, and this author didn't. He weaved it in as we went, and it was seamless. It left me a little confused sometimes, though. For example, I'm not entirely sure if the two fighting countries were different species of people, and if Kora's people were as well. Or if they were all just different flavors of humanoids but basically the same?
The storytelling kept me turning pages all day. We had a bit of a sick weekend, and that gave me extra time to read. And I soaked up every minute. Frequently, a book like this would take me a long time to read, because high fantasy can be dense, but this was easier and quick to read. I can't wait to see what comes next.
Who's It For?
If you love fantasy, you will love this book. If you cut your teeth on Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and "A Wrinkle in Time," you'll love it. Also, if you're into tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, you'll also probably enjoy this book.
Content Warnings: Violence, War, Racism/Xenophobia, Child Abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, and More. This is not meant to be a complete list of all subjects that an individual may find triggering.
I could not put this down. I really love this concept of a shared world. I frequently dislike the main characters, but I adored Isy. She is strong, independent, and fierce. Despite a horrible home life growing up, she flourishes with the life she's found. I am so excited to see what happens to her next! I also adored Kora and Edvar. I've never been a "monster romance" kind of girl, but I hope I wasn't the only person in the world who read this and have a bit of a Kora/Isy ship going. But I might be the odd woman out here.
The one thing about high-fantasy that always gets me is the world-building. I do not like it when writers dump all the information on you at once, and this author didn't. He weaved it in as we went, and it was seamless. It left me a little confused sometimes, though. For example, I'm not entirely sure if the two fighting countries were different species of people, and if Kora's people were as well. Or if they were all just different flavors of humanoids but basically the same?
The storytelling kept me turning pages all day. We had a bit of a sick weekend, and that gave me extra time to read. And I soaked up every minute. Frequently, a book like this would take me a long time to read, because high fantasy can be dense, but this was easier and quick to read. I can't wait to see what comes next.
Who's It For?
If you love fantasy, you will love this book. If you cut your teeth on Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and "A Wrinkle in Time," you'll love it. Also, if you're into tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, you'll also probably enjoy this book.
Content Warnings: Violence, War, Racism/Xenophobia, Child Abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, and More. This is not meant to be a complete list of all subjects that an individual may find triggering.
June 8, 2021
As my first introduction to the Of Metal and Magic universe this debut novel has certainly peaked my interest in learning more about this world.
Mr. Billing has an excellent world building and character development style. Adventure, political intrigue, warfare and even a bit of romance made this a very enjoyable read.
What I loved most about this was how the main characters of Isy and Edavr found within themselves the fortitude to overcome the self doubt and insecurities that had plagued them. Each of these characters have their own journey to self enlightenment but yet perfectly entwined with one another to help each other through their self discovery.
I would have liked to learn more about the adversity between Ashara and Tesh earlier in the storyline but must say when it was revealed further in the storyline things began to make more sense.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and found it hard to put down. I would recommend to anyone that enjoys an action packed adventure to give this debut novel a try.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mr. Billing has an excellent world building and character development style. Adventure, political intrigue, warfare and even a bit of romance made this a very enjoyable read.
What I loved most about this was how the main characters of Isy and Edavr found within themselves the fortitude to overcome the self doubt and insecurities that had plagued them. Each of these characters have their own journey to self enlightenment but yet perfectly entwined with one another to help each other through their self discovery.
I would have liked to learn more about the adversity between Ashara and Tesh earlier in the storyline but must say when it was revealed further in the storyline things began to make more sense.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and found it hard to put down. I would recommend to anyone that enjoys an action packed adventure to give this debut novel a try.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 17, 2021
I highly recommend Richie Billing’s novel, Pariah’s Lament – it is an engrossing fantasy novel that takes the reader on an exciting journey through a fascinating world with well-drawn characters and scenery, building a vivid picture that intensifies and elevates the descriptions of the adventure.
At the very beginning of Episode One, Billing introduces us to an important premise of this story, a premise that is returned to and discussed again and again during the inner struggles of all the characters: ��To hold faith in one’s self, in one’s convictions and choices, is, when you come to think of it, a curiously difficult thing.”
The characters are well constructed and believable, their thoughts and dialogue drawing the reader on through the story – not wanting to put the book down until it is finished. Isy is my favourite character, and I enjoyed travelling with her along her path to confidence and believing in herself. And the relationships and romance along the way were definitely a bonus!
The world-building is complex and fascinating – it is intricate and detailed with a well-written history that makes the world intriguing and leaves the reader in no doubt that there will be room for more CORE stories from Of Metal and Magic!!
Congratulations, Richie Billing on an excellent novel! I look forward to the next one!
At the very beginning of Episode One, Billing introduces us to an important premise of this story, a premise that is returned to and discussed again and again during the inner struggles of all the characters: ��To hold faith in one’s self, in one’s convictions and choices, is, when you come to think of it, a curiously difficult thing.”
The characters are well constructed and believable, their thoughts and dialogue drawing the reader on through the story – not wanting to put the book down until it is finished. Isy is my favourite character, and I enjoyed travelling with her along her path to confidence and believing in herself. And the relationships and romance along the way were definitely a bonus!
The world-building is complex and fascinating – it is intricate and detailed with a well-written history that makes the world intriguing and leaves the reader in no doubt that there will be room for more CORE stories from Of Metal and Magic!!
Congratulations, Richie Billing on an excellent novel! I look forward to the next one!
November 12, 2023
‘Pariah’s Lament’ is a fantastic fantasy book with an interesting world and great main characters. I found the politics of the world to be really interesting and I really felt for the Amast when they came across people who didn’t want to help them because they were different. I liked the main two characters - Edvar and Isy, especially Isy as it was refreshing to have a main female character who wasn’t picture perfect. Isy was born with a black mark across part of her face and she is shunned by the other people in her town as they believe her to be cursed. It was great to see her character develop and grow in confidence throughout the novel. I think this is a great book for anyone who enjoys fantasy worlds and characters who are the underdog.
I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
June 16, 2021
Pariah's Lament is a standalone epic fantasy story but can also be read as part of the Of Metal and Magic Publishing "Core Stories."
I found myself very quickly immersed in Isy and Edvar's world. This novel is richly descriptive, well paced, filled with interesting, realistic characters, excellent detailed world building, and just a hint of magic.
I don't normally love extended battle scenes, but the author created these grand and horrifying vistas and I couldn't stop reading! Definitely a five-star book and I would love to read more from this author in the future.
I found myself very quickly immersed in Isy and Edvar's world. This novel is richly descriptive, well paced, filled with interesting, realistic characters, excellent detailed world building, and just a hint of magic.
I don't normally love extended battle scenes, but the author created these grand and horrifying vistas and I couldn't stop reading! Definitely a five-star book and I would love to read more from this author in the future.
November 5, 2023
The first chapter instantly caught my attention. It gripped me into wanting to find out more. I was constantly on edge wanting to find out what happened next. It was something about the whole book, there was something about it, that kept me from reading. The writing style, I loved it seemed that it flowed nicely throughout the book. I enjoyed the fact that there was two Povs throughout the book, there was something about it that I couldn’t help what happened to them every time I read something in their pov. The way in this book ended, I absolutely loved.
December 20, 2023
The book extends beyond political machinations, touching the lives of the Amast, an ancient people facing a dire crisis. Here enters Isy, a societal outcast, who becomes an unexpected beacon of hope for the Amast. Her journey from pariah to protector is as compelling as it is inspiring, adding a profound depth to the tale. A perfect blending intense action, subtle romance, and multi-dimensional characters into a rich tapestry.
January 18, 2021
Richie Billing’s debut novel is fantastic. There is something here for everyone in this book. The world building is interesting and engaging and the characters are well built and intriguing.
Highly recommend this book and honestly anything from Richie.
Give a new author a shot you won’t be disappointed.
Highly recommend this book and honestly anything from Richie.
Give a new author a shot you won’t be disappointed.
April 22, 2021
I thought this was a good read and I enjoyed it and read it from the very beginning to the very end.
I thought the story line was done nicely and explained alot to me in my opinion.
The characters were very good fit to the story and explained a lot to me in my opinion.
I got this book for free with an honest review freely given.
I thought the story line was done nicely and explained alot to me in my opinion.
The characters were very good fit to the story and explained a lot to me in my opinion.
I got this book for free with an honest review freely given.
November 22, 2023
Talk about a sweeping high fantasy. This is a world that was built on by several authors, and the story following Isy and Edvar is amazing. There is political discourse, intense battles, a little romance, something for every reader in it's pages.
I did receive a copy in exchange for an honest review :)
I did receive a copy in exchange for an honest review :)
January 20, 2021
Couldn't put this down. Billing really pulls you into the world of Soria with compelling characters and really vivid world building. I honestly think it has something for everyone. Lots of exciting/gorey battle scenes but also romance. I loved the Amast too. Makes me want to read more of the Of Metal and Magic books now so the to be read pile grows!
March 3, 2024
This story is told through the eyes of Edvar and Isy, both compelling characters with interesting backgrounds. It was an adventure to follow them both through their journey in Pariah's Lament. It is a character-driven story and highlights many of the issues that real people face today, it's easy to feel what is at stake for these two heroes as they deal with their worries and feelings and how they deal with their confidence in their abilities with so much depending on them. I found I was rooting for them both and at times found myself stressing with them. If you feel like an outsider, or you don't fit in you may empathize with these main characters, Richie does a great job of showing us the emotions while delivering a captivating story.
The world itself is rich and you can tell from the detailed descriptions of the city of Yurr and the history that is mentioned throughout the book, it is obvious a lot of work has been put in to make this a rich and detailed world. I love some good world-building and this is it. The only thing I think I would have liked more was for the relationship between Edvar and Isy to have gone further, maybe this is something we will see in the future :)
This book is a Core story from the Of Metal and MAgic world and the idea is many authors writing stories based in the same world, it's a great idea and something that makes me want to read more about this world and other stories written in it.
The world itself is rich and you can tell from the detailed descriptions of the city of Yurr and the history that is mentioned throughout the book, it is obvious a lot of work has been put in to make this a rich and detailed world. I love some good world-building and this is it. The only thing I think I would have liked more was for the relationship between Edvar and Isy to have gone further, maybe this is something we will see in the future :)
This book is a Core story from the Of Metal and MAgic world and the idea is many authors writing stories based in the same world, it's a great idea and something that makes me want to read more about this world and other stories written in it.
February 23, 2021
Before I say anything else, I must praise Billing’s talent for world-building. Seriously, it just blew me away. The attention to detail was insane; even the smallest nuances of this fictional world, down to the games popularly played by children, were fleshed out. Since, in my opinion, world-building can either make or break a book, Billing’s skill with this solidified Pariah’s Lament as great in my mind.
Following that, the politics involved in this story left me so, so satisfied. I know I say this too often, but books that involve scheming and political intrigue are my absolute favorite. And because of that, I have read many books of that nature. So, you can trust me when I say that Billing truly does have a knack in this area. Sometimes, I feel authors can make claims about the slyness and cunning of the politicians, court members, or councilors in their books, but then don’t fully show it in action. But that definitely wasn’t the case with this one!
Those definitely made up my favorite aspects of Pariah’s Lament, but I do want to say that I greatly enjoyed the characters, as well. Personally, I loved Edvar, mainly because I could relate to some of his inner struggles. And the only reason I wouldn’t say the characters were my favorite part of the novel was that I felt there could have been a little less telling in their characterizations. Don’t get me wrong; Billing is very talented at showing. But there were times when that was backed by redundant telling that I could have done without. It definitely didn’t ruin the book, but it could have been a little bit better in that area. Though, I also must say that I loved the varying perspectives; Billing used a lot of different points of view, something I always enjoy.
I can’t end this without saying anything about the plot, though! And I can happily say that I enjoyed it very much. To be honest, it didn’t follow the story arc I expected it to at the beginning, but that wasn’t a bad thing at all. The story took turns I didn’t foresee, making it everything but boring.
All things considered, I fully enjoyed this book. With the stunning backdrop of Billing’s masterful world-building, top-notch political maneuvering, and all the classic elements that make epic fantasy so amazing, Pariah’s Lament left me thoroughly satisfied. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good epic fantasy!
(Many thanks to Richie Billing for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions in this review are unbiased and entirely my own.)
Following that, the politics involved in this story left me so, so satisfied. I know I say this too often, but books that involve scheming and political intrigue are my absolute favorite. And because of that, I have read many books of that nature. So, you can trust me when I say that Billing truly does have a knack in this area. Sometimes, I feel authors can make claims about the slyness and cunning of the politicians, court members, or councilors in their books, but then don’t fully show it in action. But that definitely wasn’t the case with this one!
Those definitely made up my favorite aspects of Pariah’s Lament, but I do want to say that I greatly enjoyed the characters, as well. Personally, I loved Edvar, mainly because I could relate to some of his inner struggles. And the only reason I wouldn’t say the characters were my favorite part of the novel was that I felt there could have been a little less telling in their characterizations. Don’t get me wrong; Billing is very talented at showing. But there were times when that was backed by redundant telling that I could have done without. It definitely didn’t ruin the book, but it could have been a little bit better in that area. Though, I also must say that I loved the varying perspectives; Billing used a lot of different points of view, something I always enjoy.
I can’t end this without saying anything about the plot, though! And I can happily say that I enjoyed it very much. To be honest, it didn’t follow the story arc I expected it to at the beginning, but that wasn’t a bad thing at all. The story took turns I didn’t foresee, making it everything but boring.
All things considered, I fully enjoyed this book. With the stunning backdrop of Billing’s masterful world-building, top-notch political maneuvering, and all the classic elements that make epic fantasy so amazing, Pariah’s Lament left me thoroughly satisfied. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good epic fantasy!
(Many thanks to Richie Billing for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions in this review are unbiased and entirely my own.)
March 6, 2021
Pariah's Lament is a fantasy novel worthy of everything the genre expects. Political intrigue, a war bred from hatred, finding courage when the odds are stacked against you.
Keeper Ashara needs a good advisor, he had it in Edvar's father. When Edvar takes over that role he does not believe in himself even though Ashara does and continually compares himself to the father who he loved and who held the respect and admiration of so many.
The book opens on action and excitement and keeps a swift pace throughout as Edvar searches both for those who would move against the Keeper, and his own abilities to advise and keep Yurrish safe. Tesh, Keeper of the Karrabans has nursed hatred against Ashara for many years and when he declares war, the cost for both sides is horrendous.
We meet Isy, a young woman who is despised by her own family for being different, and who is introduced to the Amast in strange circumstances. They too are outcasts, a dying race and she pledges to help them, alongside her best friend Vil.
The battle scenes are intense with some heart stopping moments that are beautifully crafted to take you into the moment.
The book explores relationships, acceptance, has some humour, is full of well rounded characters that the reader instantly cares about and like all good fantasy novels, there are heart breaking losses. Highly recommend.
Keeper Ashara needs a good advisor, he had it in Edvar's father. When Edvar takes over that role he does not believe in himself even though Ashara does and continually compares himself to the father who he loved and who held the respect and admiration of so many.
The book opens on action and excitement and keeps a swift pace throughout as Edvar searches both for those who would move against the Keeper, and his own abilities to advise and keep Yurrish safe. Tesh, Keeper of the Karrabans has nursed hatred against Ashara for many years and when he declares war, the cost for both sides is horrendous.
We meet Isy, a young woman who is despised by her own family for being different, and who is introduced to the Amast in strange circumstances. They too are outcasts, a dying race and she pledges to help them, alongside her best friend Vil.
The battle scenes are intense with some heart stopping moments that are beautifully crafted to take you into the moment.
The book explores relationships, acceptance, has some humour, is full of well rounded characters that the reader instantly cares about and like all good fantasy novels, there are heart breaking losses. Highly recommend.
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