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Season of Kings
War is upon the land and the throne sits empty. Who will claim it?
Elbert of Artanzia finds himself in a precarious position. After stealing the throne from his older brother, he finds himself newly crippled and low on friends. The nobles want to undermine him, while the populace wants to depose him. In a desperate attempt to keep his power, he launches a campaign against the barbarian islanders to the north, something that no king has ever done.
In the forest to the south of the capital, lives Anna and her father. While raised in isolation, Anna is taught how to hunt and kill everything that makes its home in the monster-infested forest. However, her quiet life is torn apart when a group of visitors pay her father an unexpected visit. Forced to flee to the capital city, she must find her long-lost aunt, all while fighting to protect herself and socializing with other teenagers for the first time.
Grimm White-Eyes, a legendary barbarian warrior and Shield of the Isles, is accused of murdering the Islander High King's brother. With a price on his head, he must flee his homeland and find refuge on the continent. Yet no ship will risk carrying someone of his notoriety. Unable to leave, he is forced to ally himself with the enemy, in hopes that he can continue to live his life as the gods intended, free.
Elbert of Artanzia finds himself in a precarious position. After stealing the throne from his older brother, he finds himself newly crippled and low on friends. The nobles want to undermine him, while the populace wants to depose him. In a desperate attempt to keep his power, he launches a campaign against the barbarian islanders to the north, something that no king has ever done.
In the forest to the south of the capital, lives Anna and her father. While raised in isolation, Anna is taught how to hunt and kill everything that makes its home in the monster-infested forest. However, her quiet life is torn apart when a group of visitors pay her father an unexpected visit. Forced to flee to the capital city, she must find her long-lost aunt, all while fighting to protect herself and socializing with other teenagers for the first time.
Grimm White-Eyes, a legendary barbarian warrior and Shield of the Isles, is accused of murdering the Islander High King's brother. With a price on his head, he must flee his homeland and find refuge on the continent. Yet no ship will risk carrying someone of his notoriety. Unable to leave, he is forced to ally himself with the enemy, in hopes that he can continue to live his life as the gods intended, free.
- GenresFantasy
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2022
6 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Rettger
3 books18 followersA.J. Rettger is a grimdark fantasy author from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. His debut novel, Oathbreaker, quickly became a bestseller and stayed on the FriesenPress Bestseller's list for two weeks. His Second book, Season of Kings - the first installment of The Raven's War Trilogy - was critically acclaimed and was named a semi-finalist in the 2024 Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO). When he is not hard at work on his next book, A.J. can be found playing Dungeons and Dragons, exploring the corners of the world, or unwinding with his friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 21, 2025
A campaign of the greatest magnitude. Invasion of the hardened Islanders. With an unexpected ally too dangerous to trust. A deadly season of kings.
Fantastic! A grimdark treat! Lots of fun horribleness. Ready for book 2!
Fantastic! A grimdark treat! Lots of fun horribleness. Ready for book 2!
October 23, 2024
This is a story which I picked up as a judge for the #SPFBO and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It is an epic fantasy following quite a few characters, and luckily all of them were well-written and interesting to me. This meant that I ended up devouring this book over just one day, and I think that’s high praise in itself.
The story follows a bunch of characters, some of those included:
- Grimm, the self-exiled left hand man to the king of the islanders. His life was ruined after his family were viciously murdered and he’s been on a revenge quest to kill those responsible. His tale starts off somewhat stereotypical but when he meets Sara things start to shift a bit for him. He’s powerful and knowledgeable and not to be trifled with.
- Elbert, the wanna-be king who hopes to rule despite having an older brother who has been trained for the role. He believes he’s the better fit and he might stop at nothing to get himself there.
- Anna, a young girl trained from birth to defend herself and take care of herself by her father. She’s resourceful if a little naive, and she has grit and determination needed to survive a world she never expected to have to navigate.
Alongside this set of interesting characters we have a pretty brutal world of wars, murder, fights and entrails (a lot of entrails). The plot felt fast and engaging and all the characters brought something fun to it, without opening up the world to be too vast. On the whole I really enjoyed my time with this and I wanted to continue on with the series when I’d finished, but this is the only one which is out so far. Solid 4/5 which is 8/10 for #SPFBO and I’d say this counts as a semi-finalist for sure.
The story follows a bunch of characters, some of those included:
- Grimm, the self-exiled left hand man to the king of the islanders. His life was ruined after his family were viciously murdered and he’s been on a revenge quest to kill those responsible. His tale starts off somewhat stereotypical but when he meets Sara things start to shift a bit for him. He’s powerful and knowledgeable and not to be trifled with.
- Elbert, the wanna-be king who hopes to rule despite having an older brother who has been trained for the role. He believes he’s the better fit and he might stop at nothing to get himself there.
- Anna, a young girl trained from birth to defend herself and take care of herself by her father. She’s resourceful if a little naive, and she has grit and determination needed to survive a world she never expected to have to navigate.
Alongside this set of interesting characters we have a pretty brutal world of wars, murder, fights and entrails (a lot of entrails). The plot felt fast and engaging and all the characters brought something fun to it, without opening up the world to be too vast. On the whole I really enjoyed my time with this and I wanted to continue on with the series when I’d finished, but this is the only one which is out so far. Solid 4/5 which is 8/10 for #SPFBO and I’d say this counts as a semi-finalist for sure.
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June 7, 2022Below is more of an endorsement, as opposed to my standard review, based on the ARC generously provided by the author, however it is based on my honest opinions of this book. Thank you AJ Rettger for the opportunity to read "Season of Kings"!
"Season of Kings" is the newest grimdark fantasy release from talented author AJ Rettger, and the beginning of a new series.
The three main POVs are that of Grimm, Elbert, and Anna.
Grimm is a fearsome warrior from barbarian tribes, whose physcially imposing frame, haunted past, and gruff demeanor will immediately bring to mind Logen Ninefingers of Joe Abercrombie's fabulous First Law series.
Elbert is a prince of Artanzia, whose single-minded aspiration is to be king, though he is not the rightful heir: his charismatic, beloved, battle-proven brother is. But that's not going to stop Elbert from getting the throne at all costs.
Meanwhile, Anna, 14 years old, raised in a rural environment, is orphaned, but she is far from powerless. Trained in the deadly arts by her soldier father, Anna must find a way to survive in a stark world, where even the worst out there who seek to take all kinds of liberties and advantage with a young, vulnerable girl are not as bad as those who shelter her and lend her aid.
Rettger takes his time in deftly weaving the story ARCs of the three main characters together, with devastating results.
There will be times that perhaps some of the characters' actions may seem incongrous with their nature, but the more the reader gets to know them, the more the reader may realize that the reason for these apparent inconsistencies are because Rettger does not have any truly noble and completely upstanding characters whatsoever in this book, save perhaps the dwarven child, Sara. Rettger excels at depicting characters who, ultimately, cannot escape the moral responsibility of their actions, but seem to try their damndest to do so anyway.
These characters are extremely flawed, and extremely complicated, with their avarice, selfishness, and often callousness for the life of others, laid bare right beside these moments of insecurity, compassion, and courage.
To be clear, Grimm, Elbert, and Anna - and those who surround them - are painted in whorls of grey and mist, as they have to wade through the blood of those who seek their life, or perhaps merely those stand in the way of their naked ambition.
There is zero safety for any of the chracters in this book, and reminiscent of all the great grimdark novels, that sense of uncertainty of who will live and who will die makes for thought provoking, tense, and exhilirating reading. Rettger will have the reader wide-eyed and reading deep into the night to see the fates of the main and auxiliary characters, such as Thames, Sara, Randall, and more.
As in "Oathbreaker" Rettger fearlessly tackles of some very challenging and disconcerting topics. Sexual assault, racisim, bigotry, and slavery, are some of those topics explored in the novel, so readers be warned. And, as in his previous book, Rettger places these distressing scenes in the book strictly as part of the realism of the novel, not as a reflection of his beliefs.
In "Season of Kings" Rettger builds on his strengths - as evidenced in "Oathbreaker" - of painting extremely gritty, bleak, and disillusioned worlds, exploring compelling themes, and venturing into the potential heartlessness and cynicism of the human soul, combined with pulse-pounding, raw, vicious action scenes.
In my review of Rettger's debut novel, "Oathbreaker", I commented that Rettger is obviously a highly talented new writer who will only get better, and readers looking for a very young Andrzej Sapkowski or Joe Abercrombie-type author would do well to check out AJ Rettger's writing. "Season of Kings" has done nothing to change my assessment of Rettger, but rather re-affirmed it. As this author continues to develop, he could become a real force in the sub-genre of dark fantasy.
"Season of Kings" is the newest grimdark fantasy release from talented author AJ Rettger, and the beginning of a new series.
The three main POVs are that of Grimm, Elbert, and Anna.
Grimm is a fearsome warrior from barbarian tribes, whose physcially imposing frame, haunted past, and gruff demeanor will immediately bring to mind Logen Ninefingers of Joe Abercrombie's fabulous First Law series.
Elbert is a prince of Artanzia, whose single-minded aspiration is to be king, though he is not the rightful heir: his charismatic, beloved, battle-proven brother is. But that's not going to stop Elbert from getting the throne at all costs.
Meanwhile, Anna, 14 years old, raised in a rural environment, is orphaned, but she is far from powerless. Trained in the deadly arts by her soldier father, Anna must find a way to survive in a stark world, where even the worst out there who seek to take all kinds of liberties and advantage with a young, vulnerable girl are not as bad as those who shelter her and lend her aid.
Rettger takes his time in deftly weaving the story ARCs of the three main characters together, with devastating results.
There will be times that perhaps some of the characters' actions may seem incongrous with their nature, but the more the reader gets to know them, the more the reader may realize that the reason for these apparent inconsistencies are because Rettger does not have any truly noble and completely upstanding characters whatsoever in this book, save perhaps the dwarven child, Sara. Rettger excels at depicting characters who, ultimately, cannot escape the moral responsibility of their actions, but seem to try their damndest to do so anyway.
These characters are extremely flawed, and extremely complicated, with their avarice, selfishness, and often callousness for the life of others, laid bare right beside these moments of insecurity, compassion, and courage.
To be clear, Grimm, Elbert, and Anna - and those who surround them - are painted in whorls of grey and mist, as they have to wade through the blood of those who seek their life, or perhaps merely those stand in the way of their naked ambition.
There is zero safety for any of the chracters in this book, and reminiscent of all the great grimdark novels, that sense of uncertainty of who will live and who will die makes for thought provoking, tense, and exhilirating reading. Rettger will have the reader wide-eyed and reading deep into the night to see the fates of the main and auxiliary characters, such as Thames, Sara, Randall, and more.
As in "Oathbreaker" Rettger fearlessly tackles of some very challenging and disconcerting topics. Sexual assault, racisim, bigotry, and slavery, are some of those topics explored in the novel, so readers be warned. And, as in his previous book, Rettger places these distressing scenes in the book strictly as part of the realism of the novel, not as a reflection of his beliefs.
In "Season of Kings" Rettger builds on his strengths - as evidenced in "Oathbreaker" - of painting extremely gritty, bleak, and disillusioned worlds, exploring compelling themes, and venturing into the potential heartlessness and cynicism of the human soul, combined with pulse-pounding, raw, vicious action scenes.
In my review of Rettger's debut novel, "Oathbreaker", I commented that Rettger is obviously a highly talented new writer who will only get better, and readers looking for a very young Andrzej Sapkowski or Joe Abercrombie-type author would do well to check out AJ Rettger's writing. "Season of Kings" has done nothing to change my assessment of Rettger, but rather re-affirmed it. As this author continues to develop, he could become a real force in the sub-genre of dark fantasy.
October 6, 2022
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I first finished the debut novel Oathbreaker, I knew that any additional books published by this author would need to be read. This series takes place in the same world as Oathbreaker but on a new continent and explores a completely new cast of characters as they struggle for survival, power, and revenge. There will be alot of pain in misery in these pages so I would proceed with caution as the wild ending will keep you guess for what else is about to come.
We follow three POV characters in Season of Kings and I found myself enjoying all three at various points. More so to the point that my favorite characters would often shift as I kept reading. First we have Grimm, a brute of a man being hunted by his king for rape and murder. At least that is what the king believes happened. Grimm is the most fierce warrior in the land and no small group of soldiers can keep him at bay. Grimm wants nothing more than to leave his land until he comes across a dwarf child with the slave brand on her body. Against his better judgement, Grimm decides to look after the girl on his journey no matter how bloody it may get.
Anna lives in the wilds with her father. Trained as a hunter and survivor in the even the most darkest of circumstances. When Anna’s world turns upside down, she travels to the city of Winterhelm to find her long lost aunt. Little does Anna know that her world will be turned upside down forever. Finally we have Elbert, stuck up and self-centered jackass who becomes King of Winterhelm after his fathers death. Soon after, he looses the ability to use his legs and his rule is percieved to be weak. In order to gain back control of the city, he must clean house of the treachery and launch a war against the northern clans even though it is a suicide mission. Don’t blink for one second or your will miss all the action!
A.J. Rettger is not afraid to explore the darkest aspects of human behavior. Whether that being vengence, pride, betrayals, slavery, and so much more for you are in for some very grim pages. The begining of the story is slow and didn’t grip me right away until the midway point where I could see the puzzle pieces starting to come together. Writting style is reader friendly and very action oriented but you need to give the plot several chapters to breath. I must say that Season of Kings is an excellent second novel by A.J. Rettger and If you enjoyed Oathbreaker then this is a must read.
With two active series now in the works, A.J. Rettger is certainly making a name for himself in the fantasy community. Grimdark fans will get a kick out of these two series so do yourself a favor and strike while the iron is hot!
Cheers!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I first finished the debut novel Oathbreaker, I knew that any additional books published by this author would need to be read. This series takes place in the same world as Oathbreaker but on a new continent and explores a completely new cast of characters as they struggle for survival, power, and revenge. There will be alot of pain in misery in these pages so I would proceed with caution as the wild ending will keep you guess for what else is about to come.
We follow three POV characters in Season of Kings and I found myself enjoying all three at various points. More so to the point that my favorite characters would often shift as I kept reading. First we have Grimm, a brute of a man being hunted by his king for rape and murder. At least that is what the king believes happened. Grimm is the most fierce warrior in the land and no small group of soldiers can keep him at bay. Grimm wants nothing more than to leave his land until he comes across a dwarf child with the slave brand on her body. Against his better judgement, Grimm decides to look after the girl on his journey no matter how bloody it may get.
Anna lives in the wilds with her father. Trained as a hunter and survivor in the even the most darkest of circumstances. When Anna’s world turns upside down, she travels to the city of Winterhelm to find her long lost aunt. Little does Anna know that her world will be turned upside down forever. Finally we have Elbert, stuck up and self-centered jackass who becomes King of Winterhelm after his fathers death. Soon after, he looses the ability to use his legs and his rule is percieved to be weak. In order to gain back control of the city, he must clean house of the treachery and launch a war against the northern clans even though it is a suicide mission. Don’t blink for one second or your will miss all the action!
A.J. Rettger is not afraid to explore the darkest aspects of human behavior. Whether that being vengence, pride, betrayals, slavery, and so much more for you are in for some very grim pages. The begining of the story is slow and didn’t grip me right away until the midway point where I could see the puzzle pieces starting to come together. Writting style is reader friendly and very action oriented but you need to give the plot several chapters to breath. I must say that Season of Kings is an excellent second novel by A.J. Rettger and If you enjoyed Oathbreaker then this is a must read.
With two active series now in the works, A.J. Rettger is certainly making a name for himself in the fantasy community. Grimdark fans will get a kick out of these two series so do yourself a favor and strike while the iron is hot!
Cheers!
December 31, 2022
I listened to the audiobook for Season of Kings and it was a quick-paced and relatively short book, meaning I was able to finish it in just a couple of days.
It had a good overall storyline with the individual parts pulling together quite well. I think the narrator was quite good as well, and in parts came across as very enthusiastic, echoing the emotions of the characters he was describing, which added a little something to the narration as a whole.
The story wasn’t really anything new, but it was enjoyable and pulled together a good cast of characters into a well-written piece. I don’t know anything about a second book in the series, but I’ll definitely be interested in taking a look at any follow-up book, as I had a good time with this one.
It had a good overall storyline with the individual parts pulling together quite well. I think the narrator was quite good as well, and in parts came across as very enthusiastic, echoing the emotions of the characters he was describing, which added a little something to the narration as a whole.
The story wasn’t really anything new, but it was enjoyable and pulled together a good cast of characters into a well-written piece. I don’t know anything about a second book in the series, but I’ll definitely be interested in taking a look at any follow-up book, as I had a good time with this one.
August 10, 2022
Score: 4.25 out of 5 points
Find the full review here: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Interview with the author: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Season of Kings is the first installment of The Raven's War, which is planned to be a trilogy. It's the second novel from A.J. Rettger, and it shows how he can become one of the voices in grimdark fantasy.
It is written as a succession of different POVs, which is something that I particularly like when it comes to showing a world without forcing the info. We see it through the eyes of three different characters mainly: Grimm, Anna, and Elbert.
Grimm is the archetype of a grey moral character, one which is definitely hit by life and that has become the worse just to survive, as he is forced to flee to the islands. Even at the start, you can see how his actions speak for him, and also it serves as a way to make the reader understand that we are into a grimdark book and that gritty and brutal situations will happen. But even from him, we can see positive things, and how he can be protective of others.
Elbert is an interesting character, and also a representation of disability in the novel. As a king who has reached power unexpectedly, he will have to fight against all his political enemies, which throws him into trying the conquest of the Northern Islands. I always admired brilliant characters who try to overcome their disabilities with intelligence and machinations, and I think he fits perfectly in that spot.
Anna is the third character, and probably the one who has the hardest story. Living with his father in the forest until circumstances force her to a travel to find her uncle, had to experiment a harsh world, and had most of her first contacts with the human race.
Plotwise, it's a really fast book. Things are always happening, and the fight scenes are really well painted, despite it has a small chaos element that can be not of the taste for all people. It doesn't waste time at all trying to dump info at you, and as said before, that's something I enjoy.
If you are a person who likes hard worlds, grey moral characters, and a ton of action, this book is for you. Any grimdark fan will enjoy Season of Kings and would recommend them to give it a try. I think A.J. Rettger has great potential, and I want to see what more he is capable of.
Find the full review here: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Interview with the author: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Season of Kings is the first installment of The Raven's War, which is planned to be a trilogy. It's the second novel from A.J. Rettger, and it shows how he can become one of the voices in grimdark fantasy.
It is written as a succession of different POVs, which is something that I particularly like when it comes to showing a world without forcing the info. We see it through the eyes of three different characters mainly: Grimm, Anna, and Elbert.
Grimm is the archetype of a grey moral character, one which is definitely hit by life and that has become the worse just to survive, as he is forced to flee to the islands. Even at the start, you can see how his actions speak for him, and also it serves as a way to make the reader understand that we are into a grimdark book and that gritty and brutal situations will happen. But even from him, we can see positive things, and how he can be protective of others.
Elbert is an interesting character, and also a representation of disability in the novel. As a king who has reached power unexpectedly, he will have to fight against all his political enemies, which throws him into trying the conquest of the Northern Islands. I always admired brilliant characters who try to overcome their disabilities with intelligence and machinations, and I think he fits perfectly in that spot.
Anna is the third character, and probably the one who has the hardest story. Living with his father in the forest until circumstances force her to a travel to find her uncle, had to experiment a harsh world, and had most of her first contacts with the human race.
Plotwise, it's a really fast book. Things are always happening, and the fight scenes are really well painted, despite it has a small chaos element that can be not of the taste for all people. It doesn't waste time at all trying to dump info at you, and as said before, that's something I enjoy.
If you are a person who likes hard worlds, grey moral characters, and a ton of action, this book is for you. Any grimdark fan will enjoy Season of Kings and would recommend them to give it a try. I think A.J. Rettger has great potential, and I want to see what more he is capable of.
January 28, 2023
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For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.25/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
Mr. Rettger was gracious enough to send me an audio version of Season of Kings to review, when I saw that it was whispersync’d, I decided to purchase the ebook as well so that I could listen and read. There were a few things I enjoyed about this book, for starters, this is a very dark book! If you’re a fan of Joe Abercrombie, then this is right up your alley. Speaking of Abercrombie, there was an unintentional easter egg that I caught, “different colored eyes, one green, one blue” that made my First Law heart jump for joy! This story shows the very dark moralities of man with slavery, vanity, betrayal and manipulation but even in the darkest of places, there’s always a sliver of light. With that said, Rettger did not hold back on the sheer brutality of the world he created, because Season of Kings is action packed, and almost from the get-go! The first chapter left me saying “wow, he just did that…”
I really enjoyed the 3 main characters of Grimm, Anna, and Elbert, each extremely flawed in their own ways. Grimm is my favorite character of the bunch, he is a fierce warrior being hunted by the king and he travels with a dwarven girl that he has a type of fatherly dynamic with that reminds me a bit of Wolverine and X-23 in Logan. Anna is a 14 year old girl that is trained as a hunter and survivor by her father, her story-line really escalates quickly and she actually reminds me a little of Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, at least the show. Finally, there’s Elbert, a stuck-up self-centered p.o.s who becomes King of Artanzia, not to make another Game of Thrones connection, but he does kind of remind me of Ramsay Bolton a bit with some of the things he’s done thus far.
Cad Delworth does an incredible job with the narration, I love his accent and a lot of the voices chosen. He does a great job of finding the personality of the charcaters and really gets into the moments. Another thing that I enjoyed that I haven’t really heard much before is when characters “speak in unison” and the narration actually has them do exactly that! But my only issue with the audio has more to do with the production side. The time between the end of a paragraph and the beginning of the next felt more like the end of a sentence. I bring this up because i listen at 1x speed and it made it difficult to get to a stopping point because you had to time the pause just right or it would start the next paragraph that quickly.
The only issue I had about the writing is that the dialogue between characters could use some work. There were times where it just didn’t feel right, as if the conversations just didn’t flow right with a few of the characters. That also could’ve been due to the production timing issue that I had as well. Regardless of that, I definitely enjoyed this and will be continuing this series, especially with that ending! I have to know what happens next, and I also plan to check out his debut novel, Oathbreaker as well.
For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.25/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
Mr. Rettger was gracious enough to send me an audio version of Season of Kings to review, when I saw that it was whispersync’d, I decided to purchase the ebook as well so that I could listen and read. There were a few things I enjoyed about this book, for starters, this is a very dark book! If you’re a fan of Joe Abercrombie, then this is right up your alley. Speaking of Abercrombie, there was an unintentional easter egg that I caught, “different colored eyes, one green, one blue” that made my First Law heart jump for joy! This story shows the very dark moralities of man with slavery, vanity, betrayal and manipulation but even in the darkest of places, there’s always a sliver of light. With that said, Rettger did not hold back on the sheer brutality of the world he created, because Season of Kings is action packed, and almost from the get-go! The first chapter left me saying “wow, he just did that…”
I really enjoyed the 3 main characters of Grimm, Anna, and Elbert, each extremely flawed in their own ways. Grimm is my favorite character of the bunch, he is a fierce warrior being hunted by the king and he travels with a dwarven girl that he has a type of fatherly dynamic with that reminds me a bit of Wolverine and X-23 in Logan. Anna is a 14 year old girl that is trained as a hunter and survivor by her father, her story-line really escalates quickly and she actually reminds me a little of Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, at least the show. Finally, there’s Elbert, a stuck-up self-centered p.o.s who becomes King of Artanzia, not to make another Game of Thrones connection, but he does kind of remind me of Ramsay Bolton a bit with some of the things he’s done thus far.
Cad Delworth does an incredible job with the narration, I love his accent and a lot of the voices chosen. He does a great job of finding the personality of the charcaters and really gets into the moments. Another thing that I enjoyed that I haven’t really heard much before is when characters “speak in unison” and the narration actually has them do exactly that! But my only issue with the audio has more to do with the production side. The time between the end of a paragraph and the beginning of the next felt more like the end of a sentence. I bring this up because i listen at 1x speed and it made it difficult to get to a stopping point because you had to time the pause just right or it would start the next paragraph that quickly.
The only issue I had about the writing is that the dialogue between characters could use some work. There were times where it just didn’t feel right, as if the conversations just didn’t flow right with a few of the characters. That also could’ve been due to the production timing issue that I had as well. Regardless of that, I definitely enjoyed this and will be continuing this series, especially with that ending! I have to know what happens next, and I also plan to check out his debut novel, Oathbreaker as well.
September 9, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
.This story has a good character lineup with plenty of growth. The three main characters, Elbert, Grimm, and Anna, go through emotions that, as the reader, were felt. You will find twists and turns in this story. Some you may see coming, some you may not. This well-written book kept me interested and intrigued throughout. The author has done a great job of bringing this book alive in my imagination.—great world-building, detailed and specific, and easy to see, hear and feel. Wrap up warm and get ready for a chilling adventure.
.This story has a good character lineup with plenty of growth. The three main characters, Elbert, Grimm, and Anna, go through emotions that, as the reader, were felt. You will find twists and turns in this story. Some you may see coming, some you may not. This well-written book kept me interested and intrigued throughout. The author has done a great job of bringing this book alive in my imagination.—great world-building, detailed and specific, and easy to see, hear and feel. Wrap up warm and get ready for a chilling adventure.
June 27, 2023
Season of Kings
I give this 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s
A very foul .. did I say foul!!! mouthed over the top Grey World , very cheeky at times.
Grimm holds the medieval of the Warrior in the story . he has plans until he comes across a little dwarvin girl.
Anna lives with her father in the woods very monster infested woods, until past troubles comes knocking in the morning.
Elbert, is the prince who wants to become king. His future is challenged by a visit with a Wish.
It’s a defective Gray world with characters as effective, and unsound as they can be !! if you like the world of Abercrombie… I think you like this as well.
I give this 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s
A very foul .. did I say foul!!! mouthed over the top Grey World , very cheeky at times.
Grimm holds the medieval of the Warrior in the story . he has plans until he comes across a little dwarvin girl.
Anna lives with her father in the woods very monster infested woods, until past troubles comes knocking in the morning.
Elbert, is the prince who wants to become king. His future is challenged by a visit with a Wish.
It’s a defective Gray world with characters as effective, and unsound as they can be !! if you like the world of Abercrombie… I think you like this as well.
May 20, 2022
Stunningly brutal; refreshing in its commitment to realism.
A.J. Rettger is a new and powerful voice in Grimdark. His daring prose and evocative world-building remind me why I fell in love with the fantasy genre. Rettger doesn’t shy away from the realities of war, whether it is waged on far-flung isles or in the destitute streets of a nation’s capital.
Season of Kings opens with a question. What would you sacrifice for power?
This exciting first installment follows the stories of three main characters: Elbert of Artanzia, the crippled king, desperate to hold his position while the scheming peerage and hostile peasantry seek to depose him; Anna, a teenaged orphan who's better with a blade than dealing with others her age entering a city for the first time; and Grimm White-Eyes, the former hero of the Barbarian Isles, who is now reviled and on the run with no allies or hope for survival.
Rettger weaves each of their stories and chance meetings into a tapestry of raw emotion that jumps off the page. First kills and first kisses meet in the unique character that is Anna. Grimm White-Eyes is the anti-hero I’ve always wanted; a harsh-handed murderer who still has a soft heart for a young dwarven slave in need. And Elbert, the conundrum of a king, whose entire character will have you questioning your own morals.
Season of Kings is a fantastic exploration of human nature, and what it means to hold power. Read it today and ask yourself, what would you do to rule?
A.J. Rettger is a new and powerful voice in Grimdark. His daring prose and evocative world-building remind me why I fell in love with the fantasy genre. Rettger doesn’t shy away from the realities of war, whether it is waged on far-flung isles or in the destitute streets of a nation’s capital.
Season of Kings opens with a question. What would you sacrifice for power?
This exciting first installment follows the stories of three main characters: Elbert of Artanzia, the crippled king, desperate to hold his position while the scheming peerage and hostile peasantry seek to depose him; Anna, a teenaged orphan who's better with a blade than dealing with others her age entering a city for the first time; and Grimm White-Eyes, the former hero of the Barbarian Isles, who is now reviled and on the run with no allies or hope for survival.
Rettger weaves each of their stories and chance meetings into a tapestry of raw emotion that jumps off the page. First kills and first kisses meet in the unique character that is Anna. Grimm White-Eyes is the anti-hero I’ve always wanted; a harsh-handed murderer who still has a soft heart for a young dwarven slave in need. And Elbert, the conundrum of a king, whose entire character will have you questioning your own morals.
Season of Kings is a fantastic exploration of human nature, and what it means to hold power. Read it today and ask yourself, what would you do to rule?
August 1, 2022
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review, so here it is.
Mr. Rettger has no problem painting a world that draws readers in. His wordcraft is solid and I felt that I had a good grasp on the world and story as it unfolded. It was very polished, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to find his work on the bookshelves of a Barnes & Noble. This novel was combination of a Dragonlance setting matched with the violence of a Tarantino film. Loads of action with larger-than-life characters that defy the means of mere mortals (especially from Grimm). That said, I did struggle through some of it because I don't generally connect with those types of stories. Again, this had nothing to do with the quality of his work and was very much the fault of my own taste.
I am very eager to see how Rettger's writing career plays out. Cheers!
Mr. Rettger has no problem painting a world that draws readers in. His wordcraft is solid and I felt that I had a good grasp on the world and story as it unfolded. It was very polished, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to find his work on the bookshelves of a Barnes & Noble. This novel was combination of a Dragonlance setting matched with the violence of a Tarantino film. Loads of action with larger-than-life characters that defy the means of mere mortals (especially from Grimm). That said, I did struggle through some of it because I don't generally connect with those types of stories. Again, this had nothing to do with the quality of his work and was very much the fault of my own taste.
I am very eager to see how Rettger's writing career plays out. Cheers!
February 29, 2024
Prepare yourself for a gruesome and emotional adventure!
Yet again, A. J. Rettger makes another story that is so amazing and deep that gets an instante 5 stars in my opinion.
After his work in Oathbreaker, I honestly thought that he couldn't possibly surpass such quality, but here it is, Season of Kings is even better! Which means that my preaching must begin now.
Season of Kings is a Grimdark story, full of dark themes, dark actions, dark emotions! In his own style, A. J. Rettger brings to life characters that are so full of emotion and personality that it'll leave you questioning if it was really just a story!
It's very character driven and the cast in this book is diverse and amazing, specially little Anna and Grim White-Eyes! Those are the most mysterious and yet more deeply developed in terms of emotions.
There's blood everywhere and lots of it! It's very gory and detailed, plus it also depicts (not often) situations that'll turn your stomach from being so monstrous!
In the end, it's just my cup of tea! Not a lot of monsters (besides humans), but there's loads of tension and epic battles and fighting scenes!
The plot is large and stands across the world A. J. Rettger created, leaving the end open for a possible book 2? Maybe... Please! Pleeeeeeease!
The setting itself of the world is very cold, snow everywhere and the descriptions leave us almost feeling the icy snow under our feet! The "age" of it all I'd say it's a medieval one with large Nordic influences on the Islanders.
Thank you A. J. Rettger for this awesome read! I can't wait to read your next one!
This ebook was freely provided by BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Yet again, A. J. Rettger makes another story that is so amazing and deep that gets an instante 5 stars in my opinion.
After his work in Oathbreaker, I honestly thought that he couldn't possibly surpass such quality, but here it is, Season of Kings is even better! Which means that my preaching must begin now.
Season of Kings is a Grimdark story, full of dark themes, dark actions, dark emotions! In his own style, A. J. Rettger brings to life characters that are so full of emotion and personality that it'll leave you questioning if it was really just a story!
It's very character driven and the cast in this book is diverse and amazing, specially little Anna and Grim White-Eyes! Those are the most mysterious and yet more deeply developed in terms of emotions.
There's blood everywhere and lots of it! It's very gory and detailed, plus it also depicts (not often) situations that'll turn your stomach from being so monstrous!
In the end, it's just my cup of tea! Not a lot of monsters (besides humans), but there's loads of tension and epic battles and fighting scenes!
The plot is large and stands across the world A. J. Rettger created, leaving the end open for a possible book 2? Maybe... Please! Pleeeeeeease!
The setting itself of the world is very cold, snow everywhere and the descriptions leave us almost feeling the icy snow under our feet! The "age" of it all I'd say it's a medieval one with large Nordic influences on the Islanders.
Thank you A. J. Rettger for this awesome read! I can't wait to read your next one!
This ebook was freely provided by BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2022
Had the pleasure of beta reading this book. Great story, great characters, and good world building as well. It's dark, gritty and has great depth. If you're a fan of the Witcher Series or A Song of Ice and Fire, you'll like this.
June 19, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of Season of Kings by AJ Rettger. There is a lot of potential in this author’s work, but unfortunately the book didn’t quite land with me.
I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers, but will mark any that come up.
What Worked:
- There were 3 POV characters in the story, and each had a distinct voice. Major kudos to the author for managing that.
- The author has a strong grasp of what it means to write grimdark - the story was relentlessly grim, and it really did feel like no one was safe or guaranteed happiness.
- The story began with 3 distinct storylines. The author managed to connect those disparate stories together in ways that felt both earned and well-developed.
- There were elements of many great types of fantasy/grimdark stories that were all weaved together, the author pulling on much that is wonderful about those genres.
What Didn’t Work For Me:
TW: Sexual assault
- The story contained multiple instances of attempted rape/sexual assault. In 2022, I just don’t feel like this is necessary, even in the grimdark sub-genre. I can understand that, historically, this is something that would likely have happened in a setting such as the one in the story, but I feel like we need to move beyond this.
- Many of the instances of rape/sexual assault centred around two characters who were minors. Again, historically probably likely, but I’m over this in my fiction.
- *Spoiler* One character is crippled early on in the story, and is repeatedly derided throughout after the fact. Now, this character’s disability rarely impacts his ability to interact in his world, but the commentary around it still felt unnecessary.
- In general I felt that the author held onto too many ‘old school’ fantasy tropes and, as a result, the book felt dated. It did not read like a book set to launch a new series in 2022.
- A lot of the dialogue throughout the book felt as if it were written rather than spoken. Many of the characters spoke very similarly to one another, and too often their dialogue didn’t feel as if it would actually be spoken by people in real life.
- A large issue that I felt the book really suffered from was pacing. Events happened in a very quickfire manner and there was rarely time spent on either developing the stakes surrounding those events nor exploring their repercussions. I would have loved to hear some of the characters speak to one another about their experiences and emotions, rather than simply jumping to the next event.
- Another issue was the inconsistent worldbuilding. The story begins in a pseudo-Norse setting and we meet characters based heavily in those tropes. Then we jump to a medieval/Dickensian city setting. The two did not feel congruent with one another. There were a few instances where fantastical elements were introduced to the story and quickly abandoned. As this is the first installment in a planned series, I would hope that these fantastical elements will become important once again. But, for the story to be considered standalone, I would have liked for those elements to have had more meaning and impact within the story.
- My final issue was around inconsistent/weak characterizations. Anna repeatedly demonstrated skill and strength that a character of her age should not have possessed while, at the same time, fawning over every boy she crossed paths with. Other characters were young children and teens, but acted with the poise and political prowess of someone who had served a life at court. Elbert waffled between being emotionally torn over his actions one moment and acting viciously and erratically the next. Most of the female characters were incredibly vapid and superficial. Finally, while the world was presented in such a grim manner, it felt like our characters repeatedly met up with others who were immediately overly friendly and welcoming. It felt very inconsistent.
As I stated at the beginning, I do believe that this author has great potential. He handled multiple storylines well, and weaved them together in an impactful manner, and he was able to manage three separate and distinct voices for each of his POV characters. Overall this was an enjoyable and solid read. I just want more from my stories in 2022.
I do hope AJ has a long career ahead of him, and look forward to seeing even greater growth and development in his writing of future books.
I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of Season of Kings by AJ Rettger. There is a lot of potential in this author’s work, but unfortunately the book didn’t quite land with me.
I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers, but will mark any that come up.
What Worked:
- There were 3 POV characters in the story, and each had a distinct voice. Major kudos to the author for managing that.
- The author has a strong grasp of what it means to write grimdark - the story was relentlessly grim, and it really did feel like no one was safe or guaranteed happiness.
- The story began with 3 distinct storylines. The author managed to connect those disparate stories together in ways that felt both earned and well-developed.
- There were elements of many great types of fantasy/grimdark stories that were all weaved together, the author pulling on much that is wonderful about those genres.
What Didn’t Work For Me:
TW: Sexual assault
- The story contained multiple instances of attempted rape/sexual assault. In 2022, I just don’t feel like this is necessary, even in the grimdark sub-genre. I can understand that, historically, this is something that would likely have happened in a setting such as the one in the story, but I feel like we need to move beyond this.
- Many of the instances of rape/sexual assault centred around two characters who were minors. Again, historically probably likely, but I’m over this in my fiction.
- *Spoiler* One character is crippled early on in the story, and is repeatedly derided throughout after the fact. Now, this character’s disability rarely impacts his ability to interact in his world, but the commentary around it still felt unnecessary.
- In general I felt that the author held onto too many ‘old school’ fantasy tropes and, as a result, the book felt dated. It did not read like a book set to launch a new series in 2022.
- A lot of the dialogue throughout the book felt as if it were written rather than spoken. Many of the characters spoke very similarly to one another, and too often their dialogue didn’t feel as if it would actually be spoken by people in real life.
- A large issue that I felt the book really suffered from was pacing. Events happened in a very quickfire manner and there was rarely time spent on either developing the stakes surrounding those events nor exploring their repercussions. I would have loved to hear some of the characters speak to one another about their experiences and emotions, rather than simply jumping to the next event.
- Another issue was the inconsistent worldbuilding. The story begins in a pseudo-Norse setting and we meet characters based heavily in those tropes. Then we jump to a medieval/Dickensian city setting. The two did not feel congruent with one another. There were a few instances where fantastical elements were introduced to the story and quickly abandoned. As this is the first installment in a planned series, I would hope that these fantastical elements will become important once again. But, for the story to be considered standalone, I would have liked for those elements to have had more meaning and impact within the story.
- My final issue was around inconsistent/weak characterizations. Anna repeatedly demonstrated skill and strength that a character of her age should not have possessed while, at the same time, fawning over every boy she crossed paths with. Other characters were young children and teens, but acted with the poise and political prowess of someone who had served a life at court. Elbert waffled between being emotionally torn over his actions one moment and acting viciously and erratically the next. Most of the female characters were incredibly vapid and superficial. Finally, while the world was presented in such a grim manner, it felt like our characters repeatedly met up with others who were immediately overly friendly and welcoming. It felt very inconsistent.
As I stated at the beginning, I do believe that this author has great potential. He handled multiple storylines well, and weaved them together in an impactful manner, and he was able to manage three separate and distinct voices for each of his POV characters. Overall this was an enjoyable and solid read. I just want more from my stories in 2022.
I do hope AJ has a long career ahead of him, and look forward to seeing even greater growth and development in his writing of future books.
April 19, 2025
Let’s start with the fact that I listened to this audiobook a while ago, and I was certain I had written a review for it. I moved on, only now to discover, I never did. There’s still some weird pocket dimension in my mind where I had written it, but that dimension is pretty useless. So here I am, writing this review, of an awesome book/audiobook, that I listened to several months ago. So really, assume I’m not doing it the justice it deserves, as the fog of time distorts all.
A.J. Rettger’s Season of Kings is the first book in the Raven’s War Trilogy (of which I am eagerly, yet patiently, awaiting the second book!) and follows the stories of three main characters:
Elbert, a prince, quickly rising to power, with a lot to prove. His own decisions, as much as the nature of the world he exists in, at constant odds with him.
Anna, a fourteen-year-old girl from the woods, is forced out into the bluster of civilization where she must struggle to survive. Though her father brought her up in the woods hunting monsters, nothing could have prepared her for the monsters that are mankind.
And then we have Grimm White-Eyes… let’s just say Grimm is a vicious badass… a madman, if you will. Hunted by his own, with an unexpected burden to protect. Perhaps he does have a heart after all? Aside from the many he’d, likely, gladly rip from the chests of his enemies.
Rettger establishes a vivid, grim world and populates it with believable well-rounded, albeit at time absurd characters. The sort of characters that take a beating and keep getting up for more.
It’s brutal, it’s bloody, it is fucking mayhem! And I’m here for it.
The audiobook is narrated by Cad Delworth, who really goes the extra mile in the production, adding various effects to immerse the reader/listener into the violent world Rettger has built.
It’s great!
So check out Season of Kings… it’s fuckin’ metal!
A.J. Rettger’s Season of Kings is the first book in the Raven’s War Trilogy (of which I am eagerly, yet patiently, awaiting the second book!) and follows the stories of three main characters:
Elbert, a prince, quickly rising to power, with a lot to prove. His own decisions, as much as the nature of the world he exists in, at constant odds with him.
Anna, a fourteen-year-old girl from the woods, is forced out into the bluster of civilization where she must struggle to survive. Though her father brought her up in the woods hunting monsters, nothing could have prepared her for the monsters that are mankind.
And then we have Grimm White-Eyes… let’s just say Grimm is a vicious badass… a madman, if you will. Hunted by his own, with an unexpected burden to protect. Perhaps he does have a heart after all? Aside from the many he’d, likely, gladly rip from the chests of his enemies.
Rettger establishes a vivid, grim world and populates it with believable well-rounded, albeit at time absurd characters. The sort of characters that take a beating and keep getting up for more.
It’s brutal, it’s bloody, it is fucking mayhem! And I’m here for it.
The audiobook is narrated by Cad Delworth, who really goes the extra mile in the production, adding various effects to immerse the reader/listener into the violent world Rettger has built.
It’s great!
So check out Season of Kings… it’s fuckin’ metal!
June 17, 2022
Fair warning: Season of Kings is certified grimdark: on the 2nd page one of our protagonists brutally kills 3 dogs set upon him. If that kind of thing doesn’t put you off…you’ll enjoy this book (1st in a series, I think).
The thing I enjoy about grimdark is you’ve no idea what will come next: characters alternate between atrocities and kind deeds, if something can go wrong it will…just not how you expect. This is broadly the story of a crippled usurping king waging war against brutal Northmen to shore up his political base, getting the reluctant help of one of the most brutal Northmen who needs a ride. As well as a teenage girl trying to survive in a city’s underbelly. The author doesn’t do anything particularly fresh with the genre (setting and archetypes are v. familiar), but I found the book entertaining.
Favourite character was the spoiled Prince Elbert, I found him the most complex of the protagonists. Some of his palace protocols seemed a bit lack/unbelievable though! (Do those in first or second line to the throne really get to wander the rampants unguarded? And how soon can you call a royal wedding?) The subplot with Elbert’s wife were a little shaky too - I would have liked more of her.
All in all, an entertaining blood-soaked tale fans of Abercrombie will enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The thing I enjoy about grimdark is you’ve no idea what will come next: characters alternate between atrocities and kind deeds, if something can go wrong it will…just not how you expect. This is broadly the story of a crippled usurping king waging war against brutal Northmen to shore up his political base, getting the reluctant help of one of the most brutal Northmen who needs a ride. As well as a teenage girl trying to survive in a city’s underbelly. The author doesn’t do anything particularly fresh with the genre (setting and archetypes are v. familiar), but I found the book entertaining.
Favourite character was the spoiled Prince Elbert, I found him the most complex of the protagonists. Some of his palace protocols seemed a bit lack/unbelievable though! (Do those in first or second line to the throne really get to wander the rampants unguarded? And how soon can you call a royal wedding?) The subplot with Elbert’s wife were a little shaky too - I would have liked more of her.
All in all, an entertaining blood-soaked tale fans of Abercrombie will enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 12, 2022
A brutal world filled with war and violence, only the strong will survive.
Anna - a life alienated from the world with her father in the woods, no amount of training and determination that her father could give her will prepare her for the gruesome road she will travel.
Grimm - once a man born to kill and pillage, has left that life behind after a horrific murder. He is forced to flee his homeland and find peace, however he befriends someone that’ll change his life forever.
Elbert - never the most enchanting man of the room, more an eye roll of a human. He wants to be king but the kingdom may not want him.
All characters go from strength to strength, growing with every chapter. My favourite would probably have to be Elbert, however all 3 POV characters had their pros and cons.
I would liked to have heard more about the mythical beasts that were in the woods, it feels like it was glossed over and forgotten.
I’m not sure if I found the ending satisfying or not. I really didn’t want certain things to happen but I trust the authors process and look forward to book 2.
Overall 3.5/5 - promising start to the series, rounded up to 4 as I’m left excited for book 2.
Anna - a life alienated from the world with her father in the woods, no amount of training and determination that her father could give her will prepare her for the gruesome road she will travel.
Grimm - once a man born to kill and pillage, has left that life behind after a horrific murder. He is forced to flee his homeland and find peace, however he befriends someone that’ll change his life forever.
Elbert - never the most enchanting man of the room, more an eye roll of a human. He wants to be king but the kingdom may not want him.
All characters go from strength to strength, growing with every chapter. My favourite would probably have to be Elbert, however all 3 POV characters had their pros and cons.
I would liked to have heard more about the mythical beasts that were in the woods, it feels like it was glossed over and forgotten.
I’m not sure if I found the ending satisfying or not. I really didn’t want certain things to happen but I trust the authors process and look forward to book 2.
Overall 3.5/5 - promising start to the series, rounded up to 4 as I’m left excited for book 2.
December 16, 2024
"Season of Kings" by A. J. Rettger was one of the 2024 Semifinalists for the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off book awards. I decided to read the preview (about 30%) of each Semifinalist to help me decide on my 2025 TBR!
This is another story opening with an older character, a seasoned veteran with no empathy for those who nip his heels with threats of blood. We don't get to learn much of his true past in the preview, but we shift forward to reveal his daughter, Anna, a free spirit of the forest. As brave as her father, Anna is tough, strategic, capable. This opening was powerful, and I cannot wait to learn more.
This book will be on my TBR!
This is another story opening with an older character, a seasoned veteran with no empathy for those who nip his heels with threats of blood. We don't get to learn much of his true past in the preview, but we shift forward to reveal his daughter, Anna, a free spirit of the forest. As brave as her father, Anna is tough, strategic, capable. This opening was powerful, and I cannot wait to learn more.
This book will be on my TBR!
June 30, 2022
I fell in love with this first book in this series. The story is complex, compelling and very well written. Grimm is a fantastic character that you root for and Anna is proving herself as a strong and capable girl that you can count on. Can’t wait until the next book!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2022
A very interesting read.
Good start to a trilogy. The world building and writing style was easy to catch and characters are interguining and so was the storyline.
I am looking forward to read whole of this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Good start to a trilogy. The world building and writing style was easy to catch and characters are interguining and so was the storyline.
I am looking forward to read whole of this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 8, 2023
It is a wonderful story that is very fast-paced. If you enjoy classic elements of fantasy along with modern brutal grim dark tales, this is the book for you. At times, it moves a but too fast for me, but for those wanting lots of action, this book will scratch that itch. The multiple points of view on a converging story work really well, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
June 12, 2022
I liked the characters and the plot, but would have preferred more showing instead of telling. Still I recommend reading the book.
July 8, 2022
This book is so good. It’s really brutal, even more so than Game of Thrones, with good writing and well-rounded characters.
July 1, 2022
A fantasy story about a king, a warrior, and a young lady. All three of them are escaping from their lives for different reasons. First the king, after defeating his brother for the throne, he has to prove to himself and others that he is the rightful king to his throne. He attacks a kingdom that no one dared to do before. The second one is a warrior, he’s running from a bounty that is placed on his head for a murder. Lastly, the young lady is escaping her isolated home to the capital city and searches for a long lost family member.
Each one of these characters are in search for their destinies that they long for and fight for the lives they’re living in now. The world building and characters are well written. This is a gratifying fantasy story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Each one of these characters are in search for their destinies that they long for and fight for the lives they’re living in now. The world building and characters are well written. This is a gratifying fantasy story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 27, 2023
An extremely impressive and thoroughly enjoyable book from a super talented newer SFF author. AJ Rettger has a NATURAL talent for writing Grimdark characters. One of his pov characters makes my top ten list of all time favorite characters. Fans of Kevin Wright, Mark Lawrence, and Joe Abercrombie have a high chance of enjoying this book. It has the uncompromising morally grey characters, grit, realism, black-hearted humor, nihilistic (but relatable) world, and well-written fight/battle scenes that you often find in the best Grimdark series out there. I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!
P.S. I also want to thank AJ Rettger for being open and willing to respond to fans (including me) that reach out to him. Not all authors are as available/appreciative of their readers as others
P.S. I also want to thank AJ Rettger for being open and willing to respond to fans (including me) that reach out to him. Not all authors are as available/appreciative of their readers as others
June 23, 2025
Every positive adjective used to describe great books needs to be used on this one. Tremendous world building, Tremendous characters and a great plot and an ending i never saw coming put this story on other level. I will always read A.J Rettger's books going forward and i cannot say enough good things about this one... cannot wait till book 2.. highly highly recommend!!!
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