The Corpse King (Tale of Eisengoth #1) by Christopher Kellen
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Fantasy, Dark
After years of nothing but grueling training and the desperate dance of death that is the life of an acolyte Arbiter, D'Arden Tal has been named an apprentice. He has been assigned to learn from Havox Khaine, one of the greatest Masters in living memory.
For two years they have traveled across the known world, and now they enter a tiny kingdom on the edge of nowhere. Rumors abound that the monarch of this kingdom is insane, and has created a demented puppet court... of the dead. D'Arden must learn what it truly means to be an Arbiter, as he makes his first real confrontation with the horrors of corruption. Something much worse lurks within the shadows of the king's mind than simple madness, and D'Arden will find reason to call him... The Corpse King.
3 out of 5 (good)
The Corpse King is a novella designed to be an introduction to Tale of Eisengoth, however, it felt like I'd been dropped into their world with no idea of what was what. They have flaming blue "manna" swords. They stab themselves in the heart with a crystal needle. They are called Arbiters, but no clear understanding of who or what they are is given. Maybe I need everything given to me on a plate, but instead of world building, it was already fully formed by the time I started to read.
It was written well, with no editing or grammatical errors to be seen. With detailed and sometimes gruesome descriptions, this is not for the young or faint of heart. A good story that I enjoyed, but without enough world building for me.
* Verified Purchase - October 2012 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Christopher Kellen has been working on weaving words for as long as he can remember. While in school he dreamed of being a published author, and spent lots of time reading and re-reading publisher submission guides, just wishing that he could finish something, certain that it would be better than most of the other stuff that was out there. Of course, at the time, he had no idea just how difficult it actually is to get published by the big guys - and not only that, he'd never finished anything! Fast-forward to today, when he can now finish work and it's good, but the publishing industry is no longer the way to connect with fans. Chris is a storyteller at heart, someone who wants to share his stories, not sit behind the wall of a massive publisher and be told what he can and cannot say. Having decided to go independent with his first completed, revised and edited work, Chris is now pursuing his writing as an indie author... and he couldn't be more excited!
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