Better & better.

Ken Lange’s Nine Realms saga simply gets better & better, with each new title. This book is no different, introducing us to an entirely different kind of anti-hero (with reasons aplenty for his attitude & primal behaviour) than the preceding titles.

The storyline is expanding, always, with threads a plenty fo follow & take note of, as the tapestry is woven by Lange’s deft mind & immense creativity. His world building skills are excellent, with the world(s) of the StoneBorn, et al, being formed in greater definition, breadth & richness of originality k concept. Perhaps his confidence is increasing? Or perhaps he is merely operating to an incredibly accomplished & complex framework, which he has created, both for himself & his fortunate readers.

I will not provide any spoilers - I loathe the very notion - but to any reader of Urban Fantasy, you really should cast an eye (or ear!) over this unique sun-genre which Ken has hewn from the ‘wordface’, namely Mythological SciFi. It’s a blend that takes every world mythology going, adding them to the technological background, which Lange has given to his characters & his worlds.

It works and it’s bloody wonderful.

That’s my take on it, anyway.

I was already a huge fan, before this, of a fine writer & an attentive & responsive correspondent, once engaged (by a bothersome fan, such as myself).

I am even more of a fan, having enjoyed everything this book has to offer - including a very fine performance by Mr Pond, providing yet another distinct & distinctive voice for a character more primal & ruthless than his peers, and which Pond manages to reflect in his clipped, biting and sometimes harsh delivery. It’s very effective & like the rest of this affair, it works, and works exceptionally well.

It’s another five star affair from me. A no-brainer, really.

Unique, fascinating, enthralling, exciting, interesting & best of all, it has at its core, my favourite mythology, taking me right back to my childhood, but in a mature & exciting way.

I simply cannot wait for the next novel in the Cain series!

Now to move on to his next Randall novel, “Shattered Peace” - Vigiles Urbani Chronicles IV!!

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“Redemption can go f*ck itself”

If you’ve read any of Ken’s other books then you know exactly how good this is going to be! You get all of Ken’s usual grit and brutal fight scenes alongside his subtle and complex, interlocked storylines. This one’s perhaps even darker at times and the tech/sci-fi aspect definitely gets more ink than the previous books.
Such a good story and it may even answer a few questions you have left over from his previous books... as well as leaving you with even more!
Andrew yet again comes up with more unique voices for this story and even when Cain meets some of the other book’s MC’s, it leaves you wondering how he switches so effortlessly between them and how they can be so different. I can’t believe he’s so new to the audiobook scene!
Looks like I’ve found my favourite books for another year in a row!

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Nine Realms just gets better and better

Superb new character POV as Cain’s backstory emerges and we delve the depths of his personal history and continuing transformation as he figures out what his role will be in saving the future from endless doomed loops.

A month ago I came across the Warden Global chronicles and so began my all-consuming need to immerse myself in Ken Lange’s Nine Realms. When I find myself walking or driving a longer route home just to keep listening to the audiobook, I know I’m onto a great story weaver!

I’ve no idea if there’s a particular order in which one should read the books. Maybe by publication date? However, I read all the books to date in Warden Global, then went on to the Vigiles books, and finally on to Plague Bearer. As a result, when reading Vigiles (and this book) I already knew some events and character “reveals” but it didn’t detract from the whole in any way. Simply fleshed out the details in a supremely satisfying way.

As a fan of epic fantasy, mythology and of science fiction, these worlds, characters and storylines created absolutely feed my soul and mark Lange as an outstanding word/world builder.

I’d definitely not suggest anyone reads this book first as it is quite a way into the Nine Realms Saga. But if you found this book first, font despair as you’re just ahead on some fronts. I absolutely recommend gorging yourself on the other books in the series to bring you up to speed! Good value if you buy the omnibus Warden and Vigiles editions as several books gained for only 2 credits!!

Great sense of humour comes through in Lange’s writing, I care about the characters and the clear connectivity between the protagonists. Metaphorically, I’m simply on tiptoes awaiting the next instalments!

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Enjoyable Story

The concept is interesting and well written. The characters are likeable and the narration is good.

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