Heroes aren’t born. They are forged.Over a thousand years since the death of the twin gods of Humanity, the land of Palnor endures, but not what it could be. A land bound to the Church of a Fallen God, it is ruled in all but name by a man who lusts for nothing but more power and wealth.In the city of the Reach, a young man, William Reis, wishes to fulfill a dream of generations, and become a … dream of generations, and become a member of the Smithing Guild, something no Reacher has ever done. Breaking a long-standing taboo to get a boost in his attempt, Will sets in motion a set of events that could bring a god back to life.
In the spirit of Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan and the Dragonlance saga, enter a world of dead Gods, curses, corruption, and the power of sacrifice for the greater good.
What Amazon Readers are saying about Blood of a Fallen God
“5.0 out of 5 stars Full of action and suspense!”
“5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Fantasy Novel!”
“5.0 out of 5 stars Redeemed the Fantasy Genre for me”
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Blood of a Fallen God (The Forgemaster Cycle Book 1), my first oh-so-enjoyable read from author Joshua C. Cook. Well-written epic fantasy with intriguing characters. 18-hours 16-minute/501-pages. Sometimes a book is just enjoyable, wait no spoilers here, buy the book, read & review the book. I was given an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Eric Bryan Moore’s excellent narration adds to the book’s enjoyment. I’ll be reading more from this author and eagerly anticipate the sequel. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
Wow! This story had me hooked from the start. I can’t believe everything that happens. Great plot. The trials and tribulations of Will and Duncan will have you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. The character development is fantastic, the story filled with action and suspense. There were also a lot of emotions brought out in this story. I was anxious, sorrowful, and angry but also filled with hope. The story keeps you full of anticipation and leaves you filled with wonder. I’m anxious to see what’s next.
This review is for the audio book.
This was a long story (18 hours) and not my normal genre (I like mysteries) so I wasn’t sure about this book but I wanted a change and the blurb sounded good, so I thought I would give it a go. Glad I did because I enjoyed the book and the time just flew by. With all the action and mystery as to who was going to survive, the story did not seem that long. The story does contain plenty of fighting and some unexpected deaths. It is told by multiple characters, so you follow both sides of the story as it unfolds. It is well written, the author has a way with words that make the scenes unfold before your eyes and the characters were likeable and left you hoping for a happy ending for them. The author has left the story with the possibility of a second book being released and I for one will be keeping an eye out for it.
After the death of his father and mother, William’s dream is to complete his father’s quest to become a member of the Smithing Guild. No one from his village has ever made it past the first stage but William is a Reis. His bloodline can be traced back all the way to the very last blacksmith that served the God before the epic battle that killed him. The reason for this is because the church are using items from the dead god to gain power and prestige and a Reis has the power to resurrect the God breaking there dominance over everything. William’s entry piece is good enough to get him in but with his name stopping him he and the master guilder smuggle him In under a new name. There is one more Reis left alive, his cousin Duncan who while helping him forge his entry piece pays the ultimate price. He gets cut by a sword he finds in the abandoned forge and gets infected by a blood curse, most men are driven mad by the curse but with Duncan’s Reis blood running through his veins he fights to battle the thirst for blood in order to help his beloved cousin. The two travel separately and take very different paths, one to join the master guilders and the other to save his cousin from being killed. With enemies and beasts trying to stop them at every turn the only way to save each other is the bring back a dead god. But he is not the only God who wants to be brought back to life because where there is good there is also evil.
I liked the narrator. I did find it very unusual for the two main characters (the cousins) to have Scottish accents but I thought the narrator did a good job with them.
*** NO SPOILERS ***
Joshua C. Cook has woven together a tale of a fantasy world with several unique aspects I’ve not read in others previous fantasy tales. It is a tale of two cousins in a small mining and smithing town, their bonds and their differences. They both lost their parents in a nearby area that has rampant evil but contains valuable items. The creatures, once human but warped by the dark magics are now fast bloodthirsty beasts. The cousins have talents. One is an exceptional smith. The other, though trained and gifted, has no interest in smithing, preferring the thrill of scavenging in the evil area. The smith has the impossible dream of becoming a smith that is trained by the guild. Two huge obstacles stand in is path. The first is crafting an item in his forge that is worthy enough to be considered for competition, judged by guild masters. The second is that for reasons unknown, it has been ordained that no one from this town can ever be guild trained. The story of how the two of them are able to combine their talents to start the process and confront the obstacles is also the story about two dead gods, the power they can exert into the world, their desire of each to return and the loyalty of their followers. If either or both are successful, the world as they know it will significantly change.
The story includes loyalty, deception, treachery, unexpected encounters, unlikely allies, sacrifices. I found it to hold my interest, move quickly, and left me wanting more. The main characters are well developed, and all have their own shortcomings, doubts and flaws. The forces against them are well designed and as evil as they come.
I really recommend you give this tale a read – you won’t be disappointed…AND there’s more to come! I’ve just started the first sequel.
Thrilling new world. Well written, performed excellently. I could almost forget that I was listening to only one narrator. Well made world, believable characters. This fantasy story has it all, action, terror, love, betrayal, intrigue, heroics and sabotage. Characters you can love and hate. Wonderful beginning to what I am sure will be a great series.
This book was a nice change of scenery for me. The world building and character development are great.
My only issue (very minor – not enough to remove a star) was in the narrator’s performance of the mid-chapter points where we went from following Duncan to William to anyone else. Sometimes it wasn’t immediately noticeable when we were switching from one to the other, which led to a bit of confusion for a sentence or two, but was quickly resolved.
This is the start of the fantasy series that is going to make my year! I related to both main characters in this story but Duncan really spoke to me the most. I loved the way the gods were portrayed. It was very original. I am so thankful to have gotten an advanced listener’s copy. I listened through Audible. The reader was great at diversifying the characters and it was well read. I highly recommend this book!
This story was Great! It was written so that it is a complete story with only the Epalolg giving you a hint that in might continue.
main character is a man of honor who is chasing after his and his late father’s dream of foraging well enough to be accepted to the Guild. The path to this dream is long, rocky, and full if deception. The Narrator did a great job of bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend this series.
I loved the story and the narrator did a good job. It shows how strong family bonds can be, and what we will do for family. It does get a little gory at times but that just shows the differences between the two gods. The story is well written and flows well, it keeps you interested and wondering what will happen next. The narrator did a good job in doing different inflections for each of the characters. Overall it is a good listen when you have a bit of time. I noticed at the end that the narrator said this was book one, I hope there will be another.
I received a copy of this audiobook from storyorigin for free for an honest review.
This book was so good! Excellent world building, great characters, fast paced. I had a hard time stopping. Perfect narration. Voice choices were so good. Excellent fantasy! I received a free copy for review.
I really enjoyed this book. The narration was wonderful and the story itself was engrossing and detailed. This was my first from this author and I was so pleased with the character development (it progressed as they went along, just like real people) and the story world. There was lots of action and lots of traveling. A true epic fantasy. I’d recommend this for all fans of epic fantasy or sword and sorcery type stories and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
I received this book free on audible and I am voluntarily doing a review. The author done an Outstanding job,
Im new to the author but loved his writing style and the imagination and thought he put into the storyline and characters. Im Still a newbe to audible but I really enjoy listening to the narrator bringing the authors work to life,he picked a good narrator. This is a Must read/listen. Can’t wait to read bk2
Blood of a Fallen God was excellent. If you are a fan of fantasy and mythology this is a book you shouldn’t miss. My first Joshua C. Cook novel will not be my last. I can’t wait to listen to the next book in the series.
For the record, I received an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of this book with the request that I leave a voluntary honest review for other potential readers. I try not to give any spoilers in my reviews so it is safe to read. Having said all of that, here is my honest opinion and review of this book. I loved this story! The plot is incredible and weaves a number of different threads together to create a full tapestry. Sword and Sorcery, Magic and Gods along with trials and tribulations make for excellent reading that just draws you in. It’s characters are beautifully developed and believable with well thought out personalities and clearly delineated motivations behind their actions. World building keeps pace with the character development giving us an incredibly detailed setting. All of this makes one feel as if they are truly part of the story. Will, Duncan, Haltim and Jaste make a great team in getting the story moving along. As for our villian, boy is she a nasty one, both conniving and totally devoid of redeeming characteristics (Malifecent, the Evil Queen and Cruela De Vil have nothing on her). The author’s writing style flows along nicely from start to finish and is very easy to read. As for the pacing of the story, it is smooth sailing with build ups of tension and then a brief release before the next build up as it flies towards the climax. So that is five out of five that I am giving for this book. It is absolutely well worth the time it takes to read it. I hope that the author writes more stories in this world.
This may be Joshua C. Cookx first book, but I know it is the first one I have ever read but it WILL NOT be the last one.
This book starts off fast paced and never slows down. If I didn’t go to church or need sleep, I don’t think I would have been able to put it down. I was really hooked from the beginning. I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the title or even some if the reviews I read, but it went well beyond what I thought it would. The majority of the characters are well thought and fleshed out. In my opinion you are going to love some and hate some, but that makes for an awesome novel.
William is a wonderful young man who just wants to make his deceased Da’ dream come true and make it to the Guild and even a bigger dream of being a Forgemaster. He just has no ideas how many forces are against him being able to accomplish that dream,
There was so much suspense and I have to admit I cried a few times. It is hard to believe that two gods who were so different, one evil and one good, could be brothers.
I do pull for Will and Duncan throughout the book. I feel I could write so much more but I hate spoilers and don’t want to give any either. All I can say at the end of this review is that this is a MUST READ
Received ARC. A read that you don’t want to end. Spent the entire night reading. Engaging characters and captivating plot. Nice storyline. Kept me on pins and needles.
This book will keep you turning pages to see what happens next!
I freaking loved this book! Reminded me so much of my favorite coming of age fantasy series, Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth.
I highly recommend you read this book! You will not be disappointed.
Fast read that kept in entertained the whole time!
Blood of a Fallen God is the first book I have read by Joshua C. Cook. I am very pleased I purchased and took the time to give this author a chance. The book was beyond my expectations. His descriptive detail is superb to say the least. His choice in narrative is outstanding. The book’s in-depth and strong characters brings this story to life. I found myself hanging on each page from the first page to the last. The storyline fascinated me completely. Mythology and gods and each authors take and spin on the subject is different and Joshua C. Cook’s choice is truly remarkable. It offers an array of characters, filled with action, tense moments, and constant intrigue. This is definitely an author I will read again. I highly recommend Blood of a Fallen God.
A Reacher must never become a Guild Master, especially the Reis family, although no one remembers why. The Priesthood is adamant, and set on ending the Reis line forever.
Will and Duncan Reis are cousins and inseparable, although they both want different things in life. They survived the same past tragedy and are the only family they each have left. But while Duncan wants to stay in the Reach, get married and have a family, metalsmith Will dreams of leaving the Reach and becoming a Guild Master. An ill-fated quest to find a special crystal to help in his application Trial connects Will to the lost god Amder, and he has visions of the last Forgemaster and the final battle between Amder and the god of blood and death, Valnijz. When a Guild Master comes to the Reach looking for Potentials, Will knows he has to make something special to show his worthiness to become a Guild apprentice. The hammer he makes starts him on his jouney toward his fondest wish, but the name Reis is anathema and he travels to the Guild under an assumed name.
The last thing anyone expected was two fallen gods determined to re-enter the mortal world, one to destroy and one to save. This is an epic fantasy of good vs. evil, a quest of self-discovery, and the fate of the world falling on the shoulders of two young, untried heroes.
This is darker than my usual read, a long winding tale of alternating POVs between several of the major players, including the high priestess of Valnijz. It shows people at their best and worst, and really tests the mettle of the Reis men. It explores the pros and cons of following your dreams–and what happens when the dream wasn’t what you thought it would be.
I enjoyed reading this book, the characters were interesting and there was enough action and tension to draw me through the story. I was disappointed, though, that the story wasn’t as technically clean as it could have been. There were a lot of typos and grammatical error I’d have thought would have been resolved during editing. But the story was great. I’d read more from this author.