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The Thief of Chaos: A Tale of Seduction, Betrayal and Dark Magic
Jaxon is the disinherited son of an impoverished nobleman. The prostitute Maelleen is his beautiful lover. The Witch who rules Val d'Ossa and her apprentice Venessta need Jax's skills as a thief, and have taken them both captive to ensure his cooperation. Jax and Maelleen must navigate the politics of Val d'Ossa's High Noble Houses, where lies and deceit drip from every tongue, seduction is a mere means to an end, and betrayal is the norm. What is Jax's connection to the ancient figurine they all covet? Can Jax and Maelleen survive the machinations of their betters? If they fail, death will be preferable to the fate that awaits them. The paths of chaos lead only to damnation.
284 pages, Paperback
Published April 10, 2021
About the author
J.L. Doty
23 books89 followersJim is a full-time SF&F writer, scientist and laser geek (Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, specialty laser physics), and former running-dog-lackey for the bourgeois capitalist establishment. He's been writing for over 30 years, with 15 published books. His first success came through self-publishing when his books went word-of-mouth viral, and sold enough that he was able to quit his day-job, start working for himself and write full time--his new boss is a real jerk. That led to contracts with traditional publishers like Open Road Media and Harper Collins Voyager, and his books are now a mix of traditional and self-published.
The four novels in his new hard science fiction series, The Blacksword Regiment, are scheduled for release in July 2020. Right now he’s fleshing out ideas for the next book in The Dead Among Us, he’s writing another episode in The Treasons Cycle, and he’s working on a new fantasy series The Deck of Chaos.
Jim was born in Seattle, but he's lived most of his life in California, though he did live on the east coast and in Europe for a while. He now resides in Arizona with his wife Karen and three little beings who claim to be cats: Tilda, Julia and Natasha. But Jim is certain they're really extra-terrestrial aliens in disguise.
The four novels in his new hard science fiction series, The Blacksword Regiment, are scheduled for release in July 2020. Right now he’s fleshing out ideas for the next book in The Dead Among Us, he’s writing another episode in The Treasons Cycle, and he’s working on a new fantasy series The Deck of Chaos.
Jim was born in Seattle, but he's lived most of his life in California, though he did live on the east coast and in Europe for a while. He now resides in Arizona with his wife Karen and three little beings who claim to be cats: Tilda, Julia and Natasha. But Jim is certain they're really extra-terrestrial aliens in disguise.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 18, 2021
I received an ARC of this in return for an honest review.
I would of liked a lot more magic and fantasy in this personally - and a lot less sex and pet names. More, this book seemed to be move about class interplay and manoeuvring. The story itself is well written and while prolly not my sort of usual novel, it was interesting.
I would of liked a lot more magic and fantasy in this personally - and a lot less sex and pet names. More, this book seemed to be move about class interplay and manoeuvring. The story itself is well written and while prolly not my sort of usual novel, it was interesting.
July 13, 2021
I am on Doty’s beta reader team, but only read through drafts of the story before its release date. It’s been fantastic to see the progress!
Sixteen-year-old Jax is disinherited after his father dies and his older half-siblings (his sister being nasty) push him out of the house. Dad was of minor nobility, but the family still lived in comfort. Jax is forced to leave the District of Noble Houses and head to the slums. There, he learns how to fend for himself and not fully act like a victim.
He makes mistakes along the way. Some are minor inconveniences and simply put his pride at risk; others hurt his soul and a few put his life in danger. He learns from them all and keeps watch for others who are in similar situations. Still, desperation and hunger make people do things they wouldn’t normally do. Sometimes these things are good, like befriending a girl named Maelleen who is just a year younger than him...who wants to be a whore. Her parents aren’t happy with this because they own an inn, but it allows her to help them get extra help (and buy herself nice dresses).
While Maelleen first bothers me, she quickly grows on me. She’s smarter than she seems, and like Jax learns a lot from mistakes. She also cares for others even when they don’t have money.
One of Jax’s own errors leads him to better understand his “instinct,” something that is enhanced a lot more in this final version than the beta. Doty has done a great job showing just how important this is. Jax barely escapes with his life, and enough money to clean himself up after living in the slums. It also leads him back to Maelleen, and into her arms. Her initial reaction to this is perfect, but then she realizes Jax is an educated man. So she makes a deal: He helps her learn to read, write, and act like a proper lady and she gives him sex for free.
It’s a no-strings attached relationship regarding feelings, but as the years pass (the passing of time is else Doty has done well) it’s obvious the two grow to love each other, even if they don’t say it.
As he’s teaching Maelleen etiquette, Jax learns how to be a thief. But when a job that targets a noble house opens up for Jax, his work (and denial) are scrutinized by The Witch, the ruler of all Val d’Ossa and the inhabitant of the Witch Palace. And when the Witch wants you to do something, she leaves little choice but to do her will.
The Witch sometimes acts a bit odd. She gives into her emotions a bit too quickly. Her apprentice, Venessta, is quite annoying--though Maelleen provides a great possible reason for that. Still, she throws herself at Jax even though she doesn’t want to, and doesn’t give up the pretense even when the Witch isn’t around. Then the Witch talks about spanking her bare bottom, which is all sorts of creepy.
But trust between the four (because of course Maelleen is dragged in) slowly evolves as time passes and Jax proves his worth. There IS a lot of sex that goes on, or at least talk about sexual things...but given that Maelleen is a whore, it’s to be expected. The book is also heavy in sexual superfuge. Again though, once Maelleen is introduced as a mid-teen wanting to be a whore, that part of the plot is expected.
I read another reviewer commenting on the “Deck” part of the Deck of Chaos series, and while there is mention of a card game between Jax and a person guarding his cell, the reason for the series name is a bit ambiguous. It’ll be quite interesting though to see how Doty continues with the series, and I’m looking forward to it.
Sixteen-year-old Jax is disinherited after his father dies and his older half-siblings (his sister being nasty) push him out of the house. Dad was of minor nobility, but the family still lived in comfort. Jax is forced to leave the District of Noble Houses and head to the slums. There, he learns how to fend for himself and not fully act like a victim.
He makes mistakes along the way. Some are minor inconveniences and simply put his pride at risk; others hurt his soul and a few put his life in danger. He learns from them all and keeps watch for others who are in similar situations. Still, desperation and hunger make people do things they wouldn’t normally do. Sometimes these things are good, like befriending a girl named Maelleen who is just a year younger than him...who wants to be a whore. Her parents aren’t happy with this because they own an inn, but it allows her to help them get extra help (and buy herself nice dresses).
While Maelleen first bothers me, she quickly grows on me. She’s smarter than she seems, and like Jax learns a lot from mistakes. She also cares for others even when they don’t have money.
One of Jax’s own errors leads him to better understand his “instinct,” something that is enhanced a lot more in this final version than the beta. Doty has done a great job showing just how important this is. Jax barely escapes with his life, and enough money to clean himself up after living in the slums. It also leads him back to Maelleen, and into her arms. Her initial reaction to this is perfect, but then she realizes Jax is an educated man. So she makes a deal: He helps her learn to read, write, and act like a proper lady and she gives him sex for free.
It’s a no-strings attached relationship regarding feelings, but as the years pass (the passing of time is else Doty has done well) it’s obvious the two grow to love each other, even if they don’t say it.
As he’s teaching Maelleen etiquette, Jax learns how to be a thief. But when a job that targets a noble house opens up for Jax, his work (and denial) are scrutinized by The Witch, the ruler of all Val d’Ossa and the inhabitant of the Witch Palace. And when the Witch wants you to do something, she leaves little choice but to do her will.
The Witch sometimes acts a bit odd. She gives into her emotions a bit too quickly. Her apprentice, Venessta, is quite annoying--though Maelleen provides a great possible reason for that. Still, she throws herself at Jax even though she doesn’t want to, and doesn’t give up the pretense even when the Witch isn’t around. Then the Witch talks about spanking her bare bottom, which is all sorts of creepy.
But trust between the four (because of course Maelleen is dragged in) slowly evolves as time passes and Jax proves his worth. There IS a lot of sex that goes on, or at least talk about sexual things...but given that Maelleen is a whore, it’s to be expected. The book is also heavy in sexual superfuge. Again though, once Maelleen is introduced as a mid-teen wanting to be a whore, that part of the plot is expected.
I read another reviewer commenting on the “Deck” part of the Deck of Chaos series, and while there is mention of a card game between Jax and a person guarding his cell, the reason for the series name is a bit ambiguous. It’ll be quite interesting though to see how Doty continues with the series, and I’m looking forward to it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews