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The Eternal's Chosen (Ravenslayer #1)

P.J. Ashton

Start date: July 1, 2024

Finish date: September 30, 2024

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What Members Thought

Dec 04, 2023 Kat rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-unlimited

THE ETERNAL’S CHOSEN is a sweeping epic fantasy that is the first in a planned nine book series. Marcus, the Ravenslayer, is chosen by the Eternals for a special destiny and after a devastating orc attack in his village, sets off along with a band of fellow travelers to fulfill his quest.

Author PJ Ashton does an amazing job with world-building and descriptions. Everything from battle scenes to the local tavern to his mother’s house is described in intricate detail. This does make the book quite ...more

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Jan 25, 2024 Ed Morawski rated it liked it

For Mature Audiences Only

An alcoholic whore monger kills a Lot of monsters and is Chosen by gods for their mission.

This is a mash up of fantasy and horror with a generous coating of sex and violence.

Marcus slays a lot of monsters (?), has a guilty conscience, attempts to drink it off as he chases everything in skirts back in his village. The village women (from very young to old) can’t wait to literally roll in the hay and get his ‘seed’. And on and on for 500 pages. I didn’t like Marcus and the ...more

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Mar 16, 2024 Gary Stringer rated it really liked it

The Eternal’s Chosen is an epic fantasy focusing on Marcus Blackthorne, in the aftermath of a huge battle against the orcs. He was instrumental in the victory, but it has come at a huge personal cost. And as it turns out, the victory may not be as complete as he thought.

First thing to say about this novel is that it is definitely for mature audiences only. It’s something I wasn’t expecting, going into this, and I feel it’s something that ought to have been made clear on the cover or in the blurb The Eternal’s Chosen is an epic fantasy focusing on Marcus Blackthorne, in the aftermath of a huge battle against the orcs. He was instrumental in the victory, but it has come at a huge personal cost. And as it turns out, the victory may not be as complete as he thought.

First thing to say about this novel is that it is definitely for mature audiences only. It’s something I wasn’t expecting, going into this, and I feel it’s something that ought to have been made clear on the cover or in the blurb. The worldbuilding, making it clear that polygamy is the norm in this culture, was a bold choice, but I would have liked the author to have shown a little more subtlety in showing this. Sex scenes in general tend not to interest me – I tend to skip past them – and I have to say that there were significant portions that made me uncomfortable. The way certain words and phrases are thrown around so casually was off-putting and a particularly graphic violent rape scene was, in view, going too far.

That being said, when it came to the fantasy side of things, there was much to enjoy. The plot, when it wasn’t getting interrupted, was engaging. The relationships – when they didn’t revolve around sex – were strong and interesting. Particularly between Marcus and his father. The best character out of the band of heroes was Isabella who was fun and engaging. More than any of the others, it felt like she had a life of her own beyond the serving the plot.

The battle scenes were well handled, making it clear what was going on, and the solutions to problems seemed to flow naturally from what had gone before. Opening the book with a flashback told in present tense was a brilliant idea, making events seem so much more visceral and alive. Something that the author returned to later in the book, to similar effect.

One of the big questions for me in any series is, will I come back for the next book? And, unusually for me, I’m not sure. The thought of sitting through more of that extreme adult content is putting me off. Yet, on the other hand, the developments at the end did leave me wanting to know more – even if the plot twist itself was a bit too well signposted, in my opinion.

Time will tell.

In conclusion: If you’re a fan of epic fantasy adventure, there’s a lot to enjoy here. Your level of enjoyment will very much depend on how you get on with adult content. ...more

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Feb 11, 2024 Marco Santucci rated it really liked it

A story of adventure from beginning to end, plays out on battlefields and beyond throughout the pages. With a wide array of interesting characters, most interacting with each other sexually; monogamy didn't exist, humans, elves, and beings to be had.
The story flows being as well written, imagery pulls you right in to the book itself.

The outrageous and horrific rapes scenes carried out by the dark side are overkill and constant through the book, not for the faint of heart making it most certain ...more

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Nov 22, 2023 Juliette Godot rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If you like sex, blood, and guts, The Eternal's Chosen: The Ravenslayer Chronicles is a must for you. The world-building is first-rate, the characters are likable, and the plot is fast-paced. I especially liked Isabella's revenge.

The book was way more graphic than I would have liked, and I found myself skipping large sections. However, it was enticing enough to keep reading. I would have liked a bit of an ending instead of a cliffhanger, but when there's another book in the works, I guess you h ...more

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Jan 02, 2025 Joseph Minart rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Eternal's Chosen (Ravenslayer, #1) by P.J. Ashton is catered to a mature audience. We follow Marcus--the Ravenslayer, Elara, and others in a world where orcs and elves are commonplace. Also, in their world, the land is split into different regions where the characters travel across. I liked the action scenes and the good pacing of the book, given it's around 580 pages for the version I read. I also admired the author's fictional language for spellcasting. ...more

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Dec 30, 2023 Patricia Bates rated it it was amazing

A new to me author I was t sure what to expect when i picked this book up. I was pleasantly surprised. Fast paced with enough historical realism to keep me hooked this is a must read.
Well developed characters that are relatable and.
A well planned out plot, and enought depth to make it interesting. I would highly recommend this book.

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Jul 15, 2024 Dimitry Orlov rated it really liked it

Eternal’s Chosen – P.J. Ashton

Eternal’s Chosen is an Adult Oriented Lord of the Rings.
Very ambitious and captivating at the same time.
The action is fast paced and entertaining.
All the races from Middle Earth are here arrayed against the Dark Lord. Mages, Elves, Dragon Born, Humans, Orcs, and Dragons.
The author has written a compelling tale of good vs evil.
The main characters are well defined and interesting.
The battle scenes are carefully described, the reader almost feels like they are in the b ...more

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Dec 04, 2023 Seth Hobbs marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Nov 07, 2023 P.J. Ashton added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, fantasy, epic-fantasy, high-fantasy, dark-fantasy, grimdark

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