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erdicooper's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy Grimluk's stories. How could I not? The premise is super fun and the books just ooooze heart. This one though, this was something special. With THE DEMONS WITHIN I feel live I've finally connected with Armestrong's vision for this series and its just so exciting.
With this book, this series has turned into something that genuinely means a lot to me. I can't wait to see where this goes next.
(P.S. Do forgive any messiness in this review, I should've been asleep three hours ago >_>)
With this book, this series has turned into something that genuinely means a lot to me. I can't wait to see where this goes next.
(P.S. Do forgive any messiness in this review, I should've been asleep three hours ago >_>)
fastasashark's review against another edition
3.0
3.25/5 stars
This was the third book in the self-published Grimluk Demon Hunter series. I enjoyed this one more than the second book (Demon Haunted) but not as much as the first book (Demon in the Desert).
What I enjoyed most in this one were the Lovecraftian aspects (early Shoggoth chapters and Shoggoth povs overall were quite cool...and the cover of this book was really awesome, btw). I'd say the first half of this book was my favourite for sure and on par with the first book of the series (which I thought was the strongest), but it kind of started to drag a bit in the second half. The battle scenes were all well done and I think even improved from the previous. Also loved all the references to other fantasy series (Witcher 3, LotR, Dragon Age, Conan etc) incorporated into this, made it really feel like pulpy fantasy written for fantasy nerds :D
I also like how Ashe has pretty seamlessly incorporated queerness and gender diversity into these books. In that respect, I do actually think I'd recommend these as good fantasy for middle school age queer/trans teens and early high school age queer/trans teens. Though gender and sexual diversity aren't the main focus, Ashe incorporates them in a way that makes them feel normal and a part of the world, rather than make those characters anomalies or always in danger of persecution and ridicule. Not many other fantasy series featuring genderqueer orcs or queer elven or dwarven couples as a normal and accepted part of the world!
Similar to the dialogue in Demon Haunted, I also found the dialogue in this one tended to read more as though it were written for a younger audience, so I do think it would work as a decent rec for young queers/trans folks...especially those into fantasy of course.
So that last part is one of the things that also made me feel a bit less connected to this book. Though all the characters were adults, the dialogue still read quite young for me. Some things just felt overexplained or characters' voices seeming younger than their age. For example, there were times where it felt like Emerald and Manyara spoke in an almost child-like way/very similarly to Gwen from previous books, despite that Gwen was around 8 years old and Emerald and Manyara full adults.
The other thing was that I found the middle of the book dragged a bit. It improved from Demon Haunted for sure, but still seemed to suffer a bit from that issue mid-book.
Also what I've consistently found in the Grimluk books so far, is that they always leave me wanting to learn more about the lore as well as the world itself. Ashe drops a lot of references to various bits or hints of lore or aspects of the world, but I always feel myself craving more and wishing more time were spent on it. From what we do learn, there is a lot of promise behind the world Ashe has created for some very cool worldbuilding.
Overall this was a "good but not amazing" book for me. There were aspects that I really liked and that got me excited, but also sections that lost my interest or that I thought could be done better. Good is still good though, not every book needs to be a favourite, and I'd definitely read more Grimluk in the future.
This was the third book in the self-published Grimluk Demon Hunter series. I enjoyed this one more than the second book (Demon Haunted) but not as much as the first book (Demon in the Desert).
What I enjoyed most in this one were the Lovecraftian aspects (early Shoggoth chapters and Shoggoth povs overall were quite cool...and the cover of this book was really awesome, btw). I'd say the first half of this book was my favourite for sure and on par with the first book of the series (which I thought was the strongest), but it kind of started to drag a bit in the second half. The battle scenes were all well done and I think even improved from the previous. Also loved all the references to other fantasy series (Witcher 3, LotR, Dragon Age, Conan etc) incorporated into this, made it really feel like pulpy fantasy written for fantasy nerds :D
I also like how Ashe has pretty seamlessly incorporated queerness and gender diversity into these books. In that respect, I do actually think I'd recommend these as good fantasy for middle school age queer/trans teens and early high school age queer/trans teens. Though gender and sexual diversity aren't the main focus, Ashe incorporates them in a way that makes them feel normal and a part of the world, rather than make those characters anomalies or always in danger of persecution and ridicule. Not many other fantasy series featuring genderqueer orcs or queer elven or dwarven couples as a normal and accepted part of the world!
Similar to the dialogue in Demon Haunted, I also found the dialogue in this one tended to read more as though it were written for a younger audience, so I do think it would work as a decent rec for young queers/trans folks...especially those into fantasy of course.
So that last part is one of the things that also made me feel a bit less connected to this book. Though all the characters were adults, the dialogue still read quite young for me. Some things just felt overexplained or characters' voices seeming younger than their age. For example, there were times where it felt like Emerald and Manyara spoke in an almost child-like way/very similarly to Gwen from previous books, despite that Gwen was around 8 years old and Emerald and Manyara full adults.
The other thing was that I found the middle of the book dragged a bit. It improved from Demon Haunted for sure, but still seemed to suffer a bit from that issue mid-book.
Also what I've consistently found in the Grimluk books so far, is that they always leave me wanting to learn more about the lore as well as the world itself. Ashe drops a lot of references to various bits or hints of lore or aspects of the world, but I always feel myself craving more and wishing more time were spent on it. From what we do learn, there is a lot of promise behind the world Ashe has created for some very cool worldbuilding.
Overall this was a "good but not amazing" book for me. There were aspects that I really liked and that got me excited, but also sections that lost my interest or that I thought could be done better. Good is still good though, not every book needs to be a favourite, and I'd definitely read more Grimluk in the future.
fastasashark's review
medium-paced
3.25
This was the third book in the self-published Grimluk Demon Hunter series. I enjoyed this one more than the second book (Demon Haunted) but not as much as the first book (Demon in the Desert).
What I enjoyed most in this one were the Lovecraftian aspects (early Shoggoth chapters and Shoggoth povs overall were quite cool...and the cover of this book was really awesome, btw). I'd say the first half of this book was my favourite for sure and on par with the first book of the series (which I thought was the strongest), but it kind of started to drag a bit in the second half. The battle scenes were all well done and I think even improved from the previous. Also loved all the references to other fantasy series (Witcher 3, LotR, Dragon Age, Conan etc) incorporated into this, made it really feel like pulpy fantasy written for fantasy nerds :D
I also like how Ashe has pretty seamlessly incorporated queerness and gender diversity into these books. In that respect, I do actually think I'd recommend these as good fantasy for middle school age queer/trans teens and early high school age queer/trans teens. Though gender and sexual diversity aren't the main focus, Ashe incorporates them in a way that makes them feel normal and a part of the world, rather than make those characters anomalies or always in danger of persecution and ridicule. Not many other fantasy series featuring genderqueer orcs or queer elven or dwarven couples as a normal and accepted part of the world!
Similar to the dialogue in Demon Haunted, I also found the dialogue in this one tended to read more as though it were written for a younger audience, so I do think it would work as a decent rec for young queers/trans folks...especially those into fantasy of course.
So that last part is one of the things that also made me feel a bit less connected to this book. Though all the characters were adults, the dialogue still read quite young for me. Some things just felt overexplained or characters' voices seeming younger than their age. For example, there were times where it felt like Emerald and Manyara spoke in an almost child-like way/very similarly to Gwen from previous books, despite that Gwen was around 8 years old and Emerald and Manyara full adults.
The other thing was that I found the middle of the book dragged a bit. It improved from Demon Haunted for sure, but still seemed to suffer a bit from that issue mid-book.
Also what I've consistently found in the Grimluk books so far, is that they always leave me wanting to learn more about the lore as well as the world itself. Ashe drops a lot of references to various bits or hints of lore or aspects of the world, but I always feel myself craving more and wishing more time were spent on it. From what we do learn, there is a lot of promise behind the world Ashe has created for some very cool worldbuilding.
Overall this was a "good but not amazing" book for me. There were aspects that I really liked and that got me excited, but also sections that lost my interest or that I thought could be done better. Good is still good though, not every book needs to be a favourite, and I'd definitely read more Grimluk in the future.
What I enjoyed most in this one were the Lovecraftian aspects (early Shoggoth chapters and Shoggoth povs overall were quite cool...and the cover of this book was really awesome, btw). I'd say the first half of this book was my favourite for sure and on par with the first book of the series (which I thought was the strongest), but it kind of started to drag a bit in the second half. The battle scenes were all well done and I think even improved from the previous. Also loved all the references to other fantasy series (Witcher 3, LotR, Dragon Age, Conan etc) incorporated into this, made it really feel like pulpy fantasy written for fantasy nerds :D
I also like how Ashe has pretty seamlessly incorporated queerness and gender diversity into these books. In that respect, I do actually think I'd recommend these as good fantasy for middle school age queer/trans teens and early high school age queer/trans teens. Though gender and sexual diversity aren't the main focus, Ashe incorporates them in a way that makes them feel normal and a part of the world, rather than make those characters anomalies or always in danger of persecution and ridicule. Not many other fantasy series featuring genderqueer orcs or queer elven or dwarven couples as a normal and accepted part of the world!
Similar to the dialogue in Demon Haunted, I also found the dialogue in this one tended to read more as though it were written for a younger audience, so I do think it would work as a decent rec for young queers/trans folks...especially those into fantasy of course.
So that last part is one of the things that also made me feel a bit less connected to this book. Though all the characters were adults, the dialogue still read quite young for me. Some things just felt overexplained or characters' voices seeming younger than their age. For example, there were times where it felt like Emerald and Manyara spoke in an almost child-like way/very similarly to Gwen from previous books, despite that Gwen was around 8 years old and Emerald and Manyara full adults.
The other thing was that I found the middle of the book dragged a bit. It improved from Demon Haunted for sure, but still seemed to suffer a bit from that issue mid-book.
Also what I've consistently found in the Grimluk books so far, is that they always leave me wanting to learn more about the lore as well as the world itself. Ashe drops a lot of references to various bits or hints of lore or aspects of the world, but I always feel myself craving more and wishing more time were spent on it. From what we do learn, there is a lot of promise behind the world Ashe has created for some very cool worldbuilding.
Overall this was a "good but not amazing" book for me. There were aspects that I really liked and that got me excited, but also sections that lost my interest or that I thought could be done better. Good is still good though, not every book needs to be a favourite, and I'd definitely read more Grimluk in the future.
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