A review by modkuraika
Shadow of the Conqueror by Shad M. Brooks

2.0

The ideas are there, the worldbuilding is there, but the characterization leaves a lot to be desired and the overall project feels like it needed another draft or two at minimum to really cook. Daylen is downright insufferable, and his unending woe-is-me prattling wouldn't be a problem if the execution didn't feel so immature in and of itself. Every time he wept or brought up his recurring offenses, I felt like a Linkin Park song had been added as backing track. While the power system and intrigue are also interesting, the constant info dumps undermine the pacing of the narrative. I just don't think it was ready for publication, independent or not.