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readtheblurb's review
4.0
A Sea of Cinders, the first book in The Voice of No Quarter, begins an epic fantasy tale that itches with nostalgia and sheer epicness.
Early on it’s quite clear that A Sea of Cinders is influenced by a number of well known fantasy, namely The Lord of the Rings, which while on the nose at times was very well done and did give it a classical fantasy atmosphere. Instead Adam Bishop has re-imagined a fantasy world (Cellagor) in his image and done it extremely well. This book is basically a version of what might have happened if the elves and humans did not get along, leading towards a rather brutal set of events that see humanity, or namely the power hungry and advanced kingdom of the Braxi attempting to rid the world of the elves, despite the many years of relative peace.
The book opens up with the main character William, captured and sent onto the front lines to the dirty work for the violent kingdom of Braxi. Unfortunately for William, betrayal is around every corner and he finds himself alone until by chance he meets a boisterous fellow by the name of Baldric, who has decoded the true plan of the Braxi. The two make it a mission to warn the elves of the Braxi’s plans before the humans deal anymore damage and get their hands on a particularly powerful artefact that could turn the tide of war against the elves. During that time, the more peaceful kingdom of Talfryn also finds itself on the wrong side of the Braxi, making things seem hopeless at best. Things continue to spiral quickly out of control, producing some fantastic and quite visceral action scenes.
Character wise I didn’t manage to get overly attached to any characters, despite them being very likeable. I think I’m more prone to a multifaceted anti hero type character rather than a typical good hero, which there was an abundance of in the book. I do think this is something that could be around the corner, especially in regards to Baldric, who seems to be quite a mysterious character. The ending of the book also presented a quite interesting turn of events with another character – which I won’t spoil the surprise for! I will say despite this, that the banter and friendship between the two main characters, while cheesy at times was very funny. I am hoping to see some of the side characters make even more of an appearance in the sequel.
I enjoyed the writing as it gave the story a nice pace and made the book feel like a high action-one-sitting type read. It’s also the type of writing that can pull anyone in very quickly and get them lost within this world.
If you’re looking for a short, well-paced fantasy read in the same shade as LOTR, with a more violent edge by a newly emerging indie author, then I highly recommend picking up A Sea of Cinders.
Early on it’s quite clear that A Sea of Cinders is influenced by a number of well known fantasy, namely The Lord of the Rings, which while on the nose at times was very well done and did give it a classical fantasy atmosphere. Instead Adam Bishop has re-imagined a fantasy world (Cellagor) in his image and done it extremely well. This book is basically a version of what might have happened if the elves and humans did not get along, leading towards a rather brutal set of events that see humanity, or namely the power hungry and advanced kingdom of the Braxi attempting to rid the world of the elves, despite the many years of relative peace.
The book opens up with the main character William, captured and sent onto the front lines to the dirty work for the violent kingdom of Braxi. Unfortunately for William, betrayal is around every corner and he finds himself alone until by chance he meets a boisterous fellow by the name of Baldric, who has decoded the true plan of the Braxi. The two make it a mission to warn the elves of the Braxi’s plans before the humans deal anymore damage and get their hands on a particularly powerful artefact that could turn the tide of war against the elves. During that time, the more peaceful kingdom of Talfryn also finds itself on the wrong side of the Braxi, making things seem hopeless at best. Things continue to spiral quickly out of control, producing some fantastic and quite visceral action scenes.
Character wise I didn’t manage to get overly attached to any characters, despite them being very likeable. I think I’m more prone to a multifaceted anti hero type character rather than a typical good hero, which there was an abundance of in the book. I do think this is something that could be around the corner, especially in regards to Baldric, who seems to be quite a mysterious character. The ending of the book also presented a quite interesting turn of events with another character – which I won’t spoil the surprise for! I will say despite this, that the banter and friendship between the two main characters, while cheesy at times was very funny. I am hoping to see some of the side characters make even more of an appearance in the sequel.
I enjoyed the writing as it gave the story a nice pace and made the book feel like a high action-one-sitting type read. It’s also the type of writing that can pull anyone in very quickly and get them lost within this world.
If you’re looking for a short, well-paced fantasy read in the same shade as LOTR, with a more violent edge by a newly emerging indie author, then I highly recommend picking up A Sea of Cinders.
the_dragon_reread's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
nclcaitlin's review
3.5
The King of Havelmir has burned down the eleven forest of Rand using methods of a pyromancer, bringing ruin and death in a bid for power.
The rest of the Elves are completely unaware of the approaching Braxi army. Nearly two centuries had passed since a war of this magnitude. Yet in that time the human armies had grown and so the age of tranquility was coming to an end.
Two unlikely friends, two mortals, set out on a journey to warn the elves.
This had the feeling of a classic fantasy with a very accessible modern narration which propels you forward.
For this, I would say this is a great book for readers who want to start dipping their toes into the classical style, or high fantasy. Or if you are seeking simple nostalgia.
“I never said you were a bad shot. Your aim is impressive. However, your father asked me to teach you the art of archery, not the art of aiming. A painter uses more than one colour, does he not? You're good at hitting the target. Now it's time we moved on to another colour."
One minor quibble of mine was the lacking inclusion of women, and most interactions involved a quip of sex. There were four named women throughout: one councillor, a wife, a daughter who would rather be a son, a barmaid, and right at the end, a beautiful elf.
There was also a fair amount of telling rather than showing where the omniscient narrator makes an appearance on occasion to offer up a perspective of the character rather than allow this develop naturally through interaction.
Whilst certain character arcs were left hanging in the air, there was a satisfying resolution to the main story with a revelation to keep readers eager for book two!
However, this was such an addicting read and I had to keep reading to see all the storylines meet up! Strong three stars!🌟
Thank you to the author for sending me a physical copy in exchange for a review!
The rest of the Elves are completely unaware of the approaching Braxi army. Nearly two centuries had passed since a war of this magnitude. Yet in that time the human armies had grown and so the age of tranquility was coming to an end.
Two unlikely friends, two mortals, set out on a journey to warn the elves.
This had the feeling of a classic fantasy with a very accessible modern narration which propels you forward.
For this, I would say this is a great book for readers who want to start dipping their toes into the classical style, or high fantasy. Or if you are seeking simple nostalgia.
“I never said you were a bad shot. Your aim is impressive. However, your father asked me to teach you the art of archery, not the art of aiming. A painter uses more than one colour, does he not? You're good at hitting the target. Now it's time we moved on to another colour."
One minor quibble of mine was the lacking inclusion of women, and most interactions involved a quip of sex. There were four named women throughout: one councillor, a wife, a daughter who would rather be a son, a barmaid, and right at the end, a beautiful elf.
There was also a fair amount of telling rather than showing where the omniscient narrator makes an appearance on occasion to offer up a perspective of the character rather than allow this develop naturally through interaction.
Whilst certain character arcs were left hanging in the air, there was a satisfying resolution to the main story with a revelation to keep readers eager for book two!
However, this was such an addicting read and I had to keep reading to see all the storylines meet up! Strong three stars!🌟
Thank you to the author for sending me a physical copy in exchange for a review!
hope97's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this one! I thought it was a fantastic debut novel and I was really invested from the start where there was quite an air of mystery to William and the situation he was in. I think the wider politics was well resprensented and it was well paced for the number of pages this book consisted of.
Some characters I loved, and some I hated. I was more invested in Williams chapters and less so in the other point of views but I think it was all based on who I liked most rather than the writing style or story. It was well written, especially for the first in a series!
Some characters I loved, and some I hated. I was more invested in Williams chapters and less so in the other point of views but I think it was all based on who I liked most rather than the writing style or story. It was well written, especially for the first in a series!
thewulverslibrary's review
4.0
A Sea of Cinders by Adam Bishop is the first in a series of books set in Cellagor - a land divided between humans and Elves that are drawing closer to an inevitable war. The War of the Fallen is nearly 100 years gone and now the Age of Tranquility is near its end. The King of Havelmir is ready to take up arms for power and revenge whilst the Elven minds are threatened by forces unknown. Will is a sailor residing in the King’s dungeon at the start of war. Given the chance of freedom, he and Baldric aim to survive the army and take important news to the Elven kingdom whilst King Dadro leans on a pyromancer in his effort to fight the Elves.
This epic fantasy tale shows us the story from multiple points of view. The cast is large but not hard to follow as Bishop weaves through different story perspectives. There are brilliantly crafted battle scenes that were structured well and really showed a threat between men and Elves. Will and Baldric were a key part to the story but also pivotal in keeping my interest. Their story from prisoners thrown into a political war but keeping a positive outlook really portrayed Bishops writing of a trusting friendship. There were some parts with these characters that seemed too abruptly convenient that may have been Bishop protecting them but they were fun to read and really picked up the pace in the story.
Bishop really caters for fans of the genre as he includes various staples but the way that the story was written was evident of a true fantasy fan. This spirit from Bishop really shone throughout this piece of art. You can tell when a writer has put a lot of work into a story when you can see the growth throughout. Not only in the characters and the intrigue but the writer also and this really gets me excited for book 2. This was a gritty example of classic fantasy rendered to a modern audience. Bishop has imagined various characters for numerous races that seem so different to each other but still so relatable and this is a hard thing to nail for a fantasy author. The story itself could have been expanded upon at a few points but as this is just the first novel, I'm hoping Bishop has much more lore planned because he has certainly laid the groundwork for this.
This book is the start of a great series and Bishop has crafted and improved throughout the story. I’m definitely invested in book 2 already and recommend this to sit on any fantasy fans shelf.
This epic fantasy tale shows us the story from multiple points of view. The cast is large but not hard to follow as Bishop weaves through different story perspectives. There are brilliantly crafted battle scenes that were structured well and really showed a threat between men and Elves. Will and Baldric were a key part to the story but also pivotal in keeping my interest. Their story from prisoners thrown into a political war but keeping a positive outlook really portrayed Bishops writing of a trusting friendship. There were some parts with these characters that seemed too abruptly convenient that may have been Bishop protecting them but they were fun to read and really picked up the pace in the story.
Bishop really caters for fans of the genre as he includes various staples but the way that the story was written was evident of a true fantasy fan. This spirit from Bishop really shone throughout this piece of art. You can tell when a writer has put a lot of work into a story when you can see the growth throughout. Not only in the characters and the intrigue but the writer also and this really gets me excited for book 2. This was a gritty example of classic fantasy rendered to a modern audience. Bishop has imagined various characters for numerous races that seem so different to each other but still so relatable and this is a hard thing to nail for a fantasy author. The story itself could have been expanded upon at a few points but as this is just the first novel, I'm hoping Bishop has much more lore planned because he has certainly laid the groundwork for this.
This book is the start of a great series and Bishop has crafted and improved throughout the story. I’m definitely invested in book 2 already and recommend this to sit on any fantasy fans shelf.
novoaust's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
This read was quite comforting. Cellagor is a land that is segregated and on the brink of war. Set nearly a hundred years after The War of the Fallen (a great battle between humans and elves), we are thrust into a story with ever rising tensions. This story feels familiar while still feeling unique. We have big battles, elves, multiple warring kingdoms, and a quest like path some of our MC's take, but Bishop manages to weave in some great and nuanced social commentary.
While I did enjoy the writing from the get go, it clearly improves as the story goes on. The dialogue is well written which is always impressive from a new author. Each character felt unique, often due to the words that they spoke and how they spoke them. I particularily loved following Will and Baldric due to the witty banter shared between the two of them.
As mentioned before, this book explores what is essentially racial prejudice in a great way. The themes are subtle yet effective, and we are able to see the importance of not judging groups based on what we have been told. Characters have their prejudices challenged and the development of these characters end up feeling natural and realistic.
The loss of stars comes primarily from two things.
- It took me a long time to actually get absorbed into the story. The beginning hundred or so pages were slow going, and I felt we had a ton of characters just thrown at us. Some of these characters may play a more important role in later books, but seemed odd to introduce here since they didn't seem to have much of a roll. It sadly just took me too long to get invested in the story.
- The ending was exciting, but it was done too fast in my opinion. The whole novel seemed to be converging to this epic battle where all the multiple POV's come together, and while it does happen, it is quite short lived. I just wanted more action, as I found it well written.
Overall, a really solid debut and a great start to The Voice of No Quarter.
While I did enjoy the writing from the get go, it clearly improves as the story goes on. The dialogue is well written which is always impressive from a new author. Each character felt unique, often due to the words that they spoke and how they spoke them. I particularily loved following Will and Baldric due to the witty banter shared between the two of them.
As mentioned before, this book explores what is essentially racial prejudice in a great way. The themes are subtle yet effective, and we are able to see the importance of not judging groups based on what we have been told. Characters have their prejudices challenged and the development of these characters end up feeling natural and realistic.
The loss of stars comes primarily from two things.
- It took me a long time to actually get absorbed into the story. The beginning hundred or so pages were slow going, and I felt we had a ton of characters just thrown at us. Some of these characters may play a more important role in later books, but seemed odd to introduce here since they didn't seem to have much of a roll. It sadly just took me too long to get invested in the story.
- The ending was exciting, but it was done too fast in my opinion. The whole novel seemed to be converging to this epic battle where all the multiple POV's come together, and while it does happen, it is quite short lived. I just wanted more action, as I found it well written.
Overall, a really solid debut and a great start to The Voice of No Quarter.
connorjdaley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is book one of The Voice of No Quarter, and a book that was on my radar for a while. The author very kindly sent me a copy for my reading enjoyment, and therefore I bumped it up the TBR stack!
The author sets up a world where humans and elves haven’t really ever been able to get along. The humans would much rather eradicate them instead. The elves, who are the more peaceful of the two, are still brutal warriors. I’ve kind of really been waiting for a story with elves that are kind of scary powerful, and I feel like this novel did teeter on that line (there are several TRIPLE headshots in this book).
The world the author created is nicely fleshed out. Cellagor is interesting and filled with places that were described in very easily pictured ways. I will admit I’d really like a map for book two though, not because I felt lost while reading, but because I’m actually interested in the world and land he created.
The characters are especially good in my opinion. They read as real and well thought out. Their conversations feel like people talking to me, and that’s not always how a book reads. The elves have some really awesome (very Tolkien-esque) names and are frankly all badass.
I will say that although I did enjoy William and Baldric giving the reader that authentic old school fantasy feel of a traveling journey, their chapters at times seemed to trouble the pacing for me. As a small criticism I would say that I think they should have ended toward the middle, with the other bits following as the climax. It kind of read as two full climaxes in a row the way.
The author sets up a world where humans and elves haven’t really ever been able to get along. The humans would much rather eradicate them instead. The elves, who are the more peaceful of the two, are still brutal warriors. I’ve kind of really been waiting for a story with elves that are kind of scary powerful, and I feel like this novel did teeter on that line (there are several TRIPLE headshots in this book).
The world the author created is nicely fleshed out. Cellagor is interesting and filled with places that were described in very easily pictured ways. I will admit I’d really like a map for book two though, not because I felt lost while reading, but because I’m actually interested in the world and land he created.
The characters are especially good in my opinion. They read as real and well thought out. Their conversations feel like people talking to me, and that’s not always how a book reads. The elves have some really awesome (very Tolkien-esque) names and are frankly all badass.
I will say that although I did enjoy William and Baldric giving the reader that authentic old school fantasy feel of a traveling journey, their chapters at times seemed to trouble the pacing for me. As a small criticism I would say that I think they should have ended toward the middle, with the other bits following as the climax. It kind of read as two full climaxes in a row the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, War, and Fire/Fire injury
literatiglitterati's review
3.0
It wasn’t bad, but kind of slow-moving, (and somehow also) overly brutal and filled with gratuitous violence… the story was interesting but I still wasn’t extremely captivated while reading. I also found myself a little irritated by the lack of female characters… there’s a couple token female characters who have very little to say or do in their brief appearances. I’m more than halfway through and still just very disengaged so this is going to be a DNF from me, unfortunately. The writing and plot are not bad; I would potentially read more by the author if it wasn’t a continuation of this story, because there does seem to be potential here… this book just wasn’t for me.
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