The City Stained Red
Bring Down Heaven Book 1
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- £3.99
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
Long before he was sent to hell, the Aeon known as Khoth-Kapira was the closest thing to a living god the world had ever known. Possessed of a vast intellect, he pioneered many of the wonders that persist in the world long after he was banished. Nearly every fragment of medical, economic and technological progress that the mortal races enjoyed could be traced back to him. But with his wonders came cruelty beyond measure: industrialised slavery, horrifying experimentations and a rage that would eventually force the world to bow to him.
Now, as Khoth-Kapira stirs, the world begins to shudder with disasters yet to come.The epicenter is the city of Cier'Djaal. A religious war between two unstoppable military juggernauts begins to brew. The racial fury among many peoples of the world is about to explode. Demons begin to pour from the shadows at the head of a vicious cult worshipping dark powers.
And Lenk finds himself in the middle once more, his fate and the fate of Khoth-Kapira interlinked as the demon attempts to convince him of his earnestness.
'Your world is breaking around you,' He Who Makes says, 'let me fix it. Let me help you. Let me out.'
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This dense, overwritten fantasy novel reunites the ragtag crew of adventurers from Sykes's Aeons' Gate series (Tome of the Undergates, etc.). Done with adventuring and the requisite tally of murders, Lenk a hardcore killer with an incongruously sweet face wants out, and he needs his team to help him collect his final payday. Unfortunately, things do not exactly go to plan, and it's up to this comically inappropriate group to save the day as their city descends into chaos and ruin. The fantastical, dangerous world and the creatures that populate it are packed with potential, different enough from standard fantasy fare to be exciting. The delivery is less appealing; Sykes struggles to get a handle on non-human perspectives and the mindset of people who kill for money, and characterization is inconsistent. Meanwhile, the potential for a rousing and gritty adventure is disappointingly smothered by pages of repetitive and meandering narrative.