Among the scattered fringe cities bordering the Cienbal desert, the true name of the Monster of Karth is spoken only in whispers… Raz i’Syul Arro. A sellsword of the utmost caliber, Raz is a killer of paramount skill and highest regard. Towering tall even amongst the atherian, he is the only of his kind to live free in the “civilized” confines of mankind’s varied cultures. He has no need of … has no need of loyalties, his sole affections pledged to the gold crowns that buy his time and skills. Wed to his blades, Raz’s only friends are the Moon and Her Stars and the shadows they bring with the night.
But Raz was not born to the mercenary’s way, to the butchery and battle of day-by-day survival. Raz, like a sword, was hammered from steel and fire and ashy smoke, forged on the ruins of an old life. And Raz knows who he owes this new path to, this carved way of blood and iron. The Monster of Karth, after all, would never forget who gave him that name.
And some debts can’t be paid in gold…
Book 1 in the critically acclaimed THE WINGS OF WAR series.
THE WINGS OF WAR:
Book 1: Child of the Daystar
Book 2: The Warring Son
Book 3: Winter’s King (coming soon)
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What a fun read! Raz is an unconventional protagonist, and he’s fun. He’s a bit OP, but he’s the Monster of Karth, what do you expect?
Overall it’s a good story arc. The writing at some points is down right poetic which is great, but sometimes it’s a tad bit too much. Syrah’s story arc is unfinished so it seems out of place, but it’s clearly being setup for book 2. Overall, looking forward to reading the next one.
Child of the Daystar (The Wings of War #1) by Bryce O’Connor is such an awesome epic fantasy novel that stole my brain can kept it locked in this book until I finished reading it, and I loved my prison! This had me right away and had to immediately buy book 2 when I finished this book. Raz, is a lizard-like species that is captured by slavers when he is a baby, just about 2 yrs old. As he is chained up, he attacks and kills some of those who captured him as they are taking him across the desert. They think they kill him too. Another traveling group see the dead group and they don’t want sand cats to come so they start to bury the bodies and find out the lizard boy is not dead just very wounded. He almost kills the men. They end up knocking him out and sedate him, healing him, and slowing he becomes part of the troupe. He grows up as part of one of the main family. There is lots of action, adventure, pain, loss, bits of humor, and epic fantasy. So wonderful! This is what I have been looking for! Loved it so much!!! I can’t tell you too much. These are just basics. Too much with this story…Just read it!
So far, this has been a great story. It’s very violent, but also interesting. I member of a species humans consider more animal that sentient being, Raz is a bit of an outcast, especially after tragedy and rage turn him into a true monster. So far, this has been great epic fantasy. I’m looking forward to more from the author.
I really, thoroughly, enjoyed this book. I loved the world building and the characters. I kept putting this book down to go and do something else and then coming back to it.
My main problem with the book, and what kept throwing me out, was every time the writer mentioned minutes.
This is a fantasy world. No one is wearing a watch. How the heck do the characters know minutes? That is a modern concept. They might be aware of hours, but only if there are bells or something to ring them in.
Generally, when a writer has this sort of slip, I stop trusting them. They’ll get other important details wrong. However, this was the primary thing that kept throwing me out. Everything else I could gloss over.
An incredbile epic fantasy adventure that explores what it truly means to be a decent human being…even when violence is warranted.