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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was easily one of my least enjoyable reading experiences of the year. I did not hate the book, in fact I read this as part of a book club / buddy read and I think I was the most positive voice inside that group but I really had a hard time connecting to almost anything within this book.
The whole setting and plot feel very stereotypical and bland. There are not really any memorable characters aside from the protagonist who makes for a mildly compelling character which gets explored through her relationships, strong will and ability to ask the right questions (sometimes). She is the glue that holds everything together, does a good job at it and is probably the best part of the book.
The whole thing is supposed to be very dark and bleak and in parts it succeeded at that but in others it just comes around as very comical. It also ends up being probably unintentionally funny at times.
I’d like to draw a comparison the another book I read this year which also leaned pretty hard into the “Torture / Mysery Porn” and that was Kingdoms of Death. And well, where Ruocchio succeeds in making you really damn uncomfortable all the time, leading up to points where you just have to stop reading because you are so overwhelmed and shocked Hayes almost completely fails in that department. The stuff our protagonist has to go through is shocking to begin with but it quickly loses its impact and just gets jumbled together in this dull mush.
I get that this book is only supposed to be a small part to this really big saga consisting of three trilogies and if you have a little more context to the world and the whole history of it might make it a lot better but I feel like as a standalone novel it just mostly fails.
It is a pretty short book but also on the other hand it felt too long for the story it was telling. I get that you are telling the backstory of this probably very crucial character for the whole saga but man it was just pretty boring at times and felt like it could have been wrapped up way more quickly and still having the same impact.
It is a pretty short book but also on the other hand it felt too long for the story it was telling. I get that you are telling the backstory of this probably very crucial character for the whole saga but man it was just pretty boring at times and felt like it could have been wrapped up way more quickly and still having the same impact.
The ending was pretty cool but I don’t think that will be enough for me to go forward with this series. I heard good things about Rob J. Hayes as an author and this is my first book of his but I’ll probably have to look at some of his other series to make a judgement call.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The "God Eater Saga" is a bit unique in it's execution as it is a trilogy of trilogies that are being written in three phases. Phase 1 is Herald (Book one in "Age of the God Eater"), Deathless (Book one in "Annals of the God Eater"), and Demon (Book one in "Archive of the Death Eater").
Through the Archive of the God Eater series, we will experience events alongside of Dien Hostain and learn the truth of humanity's first interactions with the angels, roughly 3,000 years prior to the events of Herald. What were the "Demons" that humanity and divinity joined forces to battle? What caused them to join forces in the first place?
Through the Annals of the God Eater series, we will get the story of how and why the Hostain family besieged Heaven. This takes place roughly 1,000 years prior to the events of Herald.
Age of the God Eater, the main series, takes place in the "current" time.
While these three series can be read in any order, I would suggest reading each phase starting with Age of the God Eater and ending with Archive of the God Eater. This is because each book's story will affect how you view the characters and events of the others, and starting with the main series will allow you to read the story with the least amount of influence while reading it, and will allow for a different perspective on each series than you would get reading them in a different order.
Through the Archive of the God Eater series, we will experience events alongside of Dien Hostain and learn the truth of humanity's first interactions with the angels, roughly 3,000 years prior to the events of Herald. What were the "Demons" that humanity and divinity joined forces to battle? What caused them to join forces in the first place?
Through the Annals of the God Eater series, we will get the story of how and why the Hostain family besieged Heaven. This takes place roughly 1,000 years prior to the events of Herald.
Age of the God Eater, the main series, takes place in the "current" time.
While these three series can be read in any order, I would suggest reading each phase starting with Age of the God Eater and ending with Archive of the God Eater. This is because each book's story will affect how you view the characters and events of the others, and starting with the main series will allow you to read the story with the least amount of influence while reading it, and will allow for a different perspective on each series than you would get reading them in a different order.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5/5 Stars
Demon is my first read of The God Eater Saga, choosing to read in chronological order.
What a start. As I read, it felt like a 4/5 for me… until the ending sequence. That elevated it even more. I absolutely cannot wait to continue this trilogy of trilogies that Rob is creating. A dark, bloody, exciting ride.
Demon is my first read of The God Eater Saga, choosing to read in chronological order.
What a start. As I read, it felt like a 4/5 for me… until the ending sequence. That elevated it even more. I absolutely cannot wait to continue this trilogy of trilogies that Rob is creating. A dark, bloody, exciting ride.
Quick, dark, engaging and well-written start to a series I will definitely continue. Plot is not overly complicated and not a lot actually happens, yet I found myself interested in where it was going and invested in the characters alongside Dien’s journey.
I have no idea if reading Demon first is the best way to consume this trilogy of trilogies, but I liked having a quick way to see if I liked Hayes writing, and I definitely did! Looking forward to checking out Deathless next before diving into the bigger beast that is Herald.
I have no idea if reading Demon first is the best way to consume this trilogy of trilogies, but I liked having a quick way to see if I liked Hayes writing, and I definitely did! Looking forward to checking out Deathless next before diving into the bigger beast that is Herald.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book made me angry and equally interested to read more of this world. My experience of Rob J Hayes book has been mixed as he tends to go towards darker aspects but equally brilliant world building and characters as well. Onwards to the next book and exploring this unique trilogy set up.