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A review by secre
Deathborn by C.E. Page
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
C.E. Page isn't an author I had come across before, but is certainly an author I will be following with interest in the future. Deathborn is an absolutely riveting epic fantasy that teases with darker edges, but never quite throws itself into the dark end. The characters are wonderfully portrayed, leaping off the page at you and the world is expansive and complex, yet with a magic system that will feel reasonably familiar to anyone with a decent number of fantasy notches on their belt.
It's a fascinating narrative as well; it starts off with small, almost individualist stakes as Garret follows his King's commands to find a specific necromancer who very much doesn't want to be found. Only along the way, he is forced to face some hard truths and re-assess his priorities and his allegiances. But after things are taken out of his hands, there is a distinct sense of urgency. His King is mad, dangerous and a complete psychopath. Everything he holds dear is at stake and yet an even larger danger looms; the rising cases of corruption first amongst mages but spreading further afield is enough to destroy everything he knows.
Done through split perspectives, this novel flits between Garret, Nea and Margot's perspective. This was done well, with all of the characters having equally interesting narratives and characterisations. You get a wide range of magics on display, with Nea's necromancy definitely being the star of the show. All of the characters felt distinct and unique, with there being no issues in following which character's perspective you are in at any given time. The interactions and relationships that build between them are also excellently done, with dialogue that sparkles. There's some nice LGBTQ representation in the Margot perspective as well.
My only minor niggle is that the bad characters are so very, very bad it's almost caricatured at times. There's no morally grey bad guys who you can kind of see where they're coming from even if you don't necessarily agree. Some of the bit players have tragic back stories that have led them to a place of hate and cruelty, but for most of them, they are just plain nasty and it's as simple as that. It seemed a bit odd, particularly given how well the author depicts the humanity of the other characters.
But despite that, this was an excellent read and I am absolutely already on Amazon to order the sequel. The world building is multi-layered and interesting, there's a certain amount of intrigue and politics, a lot of action and characters who I couldn't help but fall in love with. Another five star read.
It's a fascinating narrative as well; it starts off with small, almost individualist stakes as Garret follows his King's commands to find a specific necromancer who very much doesn't want to be found. Only along the way, he is forced to face some hard truths and re-assess his priorities and his allegiances. But after things are taken out of his hands, there is a distinct sense of urgency. His King is mad, dangerous and a complete psychopath. Everything he holds dear is at stake and yet an even larger danger looms; the rising cases of corruption first amongst mages but spreading further afield is enough to destroy everything he knows.
Done through split perspectives, this novel flits between Garret, Nea and Margot's perspective. This was done well, with all of the characters having equally interesting narratives and characterisations. You get a wide range of magics on display, with Nea's necromancy definitely being the star of the show. All of the characters felt distinct and unique, with there being no issues in following which character's perspective you are in at any given time. The interactions and relationships that build between them are also excellently done, with dialogue that sparkles. There's some nice LGBTQ representation in the Margot perspective as well.
My only minor niggle is that the bad characters are so very, very bad it's almost caricatured at times. There's no morally grey bad guys who you can kind of see where they're coming from even if you don't necessarily agree. Some of the bit players have tragic back stories that have led them to a place of hate and cruelty, but for most of them, they are just plain nasty and it's as simple as that. It seemed a bit odd, particularly given how well the author depicts the humanity of the other characters.
But despite that, this was an excellent read and I am absolutely already on Amazon to order the sequel. The world building is multi-layered and interesting, there's a certain amount of intrigue and politics, a lot of action and characters who I couldn't help but fall in love with. Another five star read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault