[Read a while ago, forgot to post a review.]

THE TRAITOR GOD is the first novel in Johnston's interesting, engaging, and well-written Age of Tyranny fantasy series. It's a big fantasy novel, too: lots of magic, mayhem, and intriguing characters. A strong and nuanced protagonist, a well-paced story. I enjoyed this. Looking forward to more by the author.

I am surprised at the lower-than-expected levels of hype around this brilliant debut, that burst onto the scene last year - Traitor God by Cameron Johnston. Like how did this book, not make it into the Best-Of-2018 lists mushrooming around? Why didn't people read this absolute doozy of a grim-dark badassery with a bastardly wisecrack of a protagonist headlining the damaged act in a gorgeously realized, gutter-fest of a city that is seething with magic and roiling with horrors from the dark deep? Why didn't I read this earlier?

Anyways - with the second act of Acts of Tyranny coming right up, it was best that I do amends for the damages sooner than later. In the first few chapters of Traitor God, it is quickly established that Edrin Walker - professional loaded-dice player, peoplemancer and an inveterate drunk, is essentially an escapist. Having escaped from his birth city of Setharis - plagued with debts and chased by daemons, Walker is not (definitely not!) a blast of pleasant air. In fact, he seeks to avoid any confrontations or use his deadly gifts ("ability to manipulate minds") in any of the struggles he is dragged into. Also, his fogged up memory doesn't make it clear to the readers, the real reason as why Walker is a "wanted man" or a dead martyr. As the night that Edrin flees from Setharis, a God is killed, his mentor goes missing and he has a pact with some people that he doesn't remember, about keeping his two friends alive in the city of Setharis, provided he stays out of trouble.

But things turn on its head, (as it usually would in such cases!) when Walker who has a gift-bond (mental connection) with his brother Lynnas, is forced to return to the seething cauldron of crime, rampant dangerous magic and creepy horrors that is Setharis - because Lynnas is butchered and killed in a very savage manner. Rumors abound, of a serial killer dubbed Skinner whom the Arcanum haven't been able to contain yet. Because the Arcanum who are the controlling powers of the city are a sect of mages cocooned safely within the fort-walls of Old Town and are mostly, just old mages grown fat on peace and the notion of power. Who cannot be bothered by the murder of a failed mage, out in the dirty streets.

Well, not all of them are rotten apples as it turns out.
There are still a few, clinging to the notion of honor, like Eva - a fearsome warrior-mage of repute, who uses her body magic to power up and keep the criminals and enemies of this empire at bay. Then there is Shadea, one of the Elders, an accomplished Magus whom even Walker is scared of. As the story rolls into the final chapters of a protracted siege, there are a few more as well.

But coming back to the story itself, the first part of the story unravels as a procedural whodunnit, although the seedy settings of the underbelly of the crumbling city called Setharis makes for a very different background for this murder mystery. There are sleeping golem war-machines, feral shade-cats with crystalline bodies and an ability to sniff out magic and then the Worm of Magic itself that will eat the very soul of a mage who allows too much of that powerful magic to flow through them - all very interesting variants to the plethora of horrors that can obliterate the unwary and foolish in this city. But as Walker investigates the death of his best friend, he slowly discovers a deeply entrenched conspiracy that is taking shape and can grow to be a terrifying apocalyptic horror, rearing up from the underground gunk of this city to threaten all of humanity.

Well you have to read the rest of the narrative to understand how this horror unfolds. But the last few chapters of siege and bloodshed and the streaks of wild uncontrolled magic bring alive a long climactic battle, stretching over more than just a few chapters, peaking unto a fierce climax with a major twist that will gut you clean, guaranteed.

Done in first POV, we are up front and center inside Edrin Walker's head. And so we learn to hate/love this abominable rogue, slowly through flashback sequences, it is revealed as to how Walker became the vengeful spirit he is now. There are sequences detailing the friendship between him and Lynnas and Charra, a street tough girl who becomes his best friend/reason to survive after Lynnas is murdered. We are also introduced to this soul-bound weapon, a dagger called as Dissever which is forever bloodthirsty and "resides" within Walker. Johnston plays it slow, while alternating with the furious action set-pieces in the present with the sequences from Walker's past that help us understand what drives this broken man, hell bent on avenging his only friend in life and also some of his choices that make him what he is. He is no hero, but his intentions aren't wrong. Walker, is one of the few Gifted Magus who can control other people's minds and thus, is a liability - even to himself, as he denies his calling afraid that he will ultimately turn into a "Tyrant" himself, just as the Arcanum have reasons to fear.

Johnston is a gifted writer when it comes to world-building and the arcane twisted magical systems in the book but post that soul-satisfying magical and horrifyingly Pyrrhic victory for Walker, now things are poised very interestingly. The mysteries presented in book one are satisfyingly tied up but there are larger dangers looming ahead. Walker has his hands full and I definitely, want to be in on that ride into those blighted dangers as he takes on the system, Gods and horrors be damned. This first book outing that shines the light on the dregs of grim-dark humanity clinging onto threads of broken hope, underpinned by high-octane action and blistering magical fights, is just the shot in the arm, for fantasy readers. I do high expectations from this series now!

In a book store full of fantasies in which a lovable rogue, who's an unwilling hero, battles against a powerful wizard/mage/god, Cameron Johnston's <em>The Traitor God</em> comes out just slightly above average.

Edrin Walker has spent the last decade on the run. He's been avoiding debt as well as some of the people he's pissed off. He's a powerful magician and not afraid to mix it up when necessary, but he'd just as soon stay under the radar if possible. He also knows that by staying away from his home of Setharis his friends Lynas and Charra and their daughter Layla should be out of the danger that he, Edrin, constantly brings. But one night Edrin dreams of his friend Lynas being stalked by daemons and then being brutally tortured by a mysterious man. Edrin has long had a magical connection with Lynas and he knows that the dream might actually be something Lynas has suffered through.

Edrin heads back to an un-welcoming Setharis in order to do everything he can to protect Charra and Layla. Then he wants to know what Lynas was doing to attract the attention of magicians and gods to receive the torture that he went through. Finding that answer leads Edrin on an epic adventure and anyone standing in his way - gods included - will have to deal with his wrath.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. But I found it uneven. The opening pages, establishing Edrin's character, were fun and lively and I really knew that I would enjoy the book given the protagonist's manner. But I actually felt that once Edrin got to Setharis the book slowed down significantly. It picks up again, slowly, but builds and builds. Too much, in fact.

I understand the dramatic impact of having a protagonist/hero overcome unbelievable odds. To take a beating and keep on going is practically the definition of heroic. But there's a fine line between setting up a heroic measure and going too far and becoming laughable. For me, Johnston nudges the outside of that line. At one point I actually said, "Oh good grief. Really?" out loud as Edrin took an unbelievable beating after beating after beating.

It was a small moment, but it was the climax, and it let me down rather than built up, because it went too far.

There's enough good work in this story, and Johnston clearly sets us up for more epic adventure to come, that I look forward to the next adventure. But I hope it will have a better balance.

Looking for a good book? <em>The Traitor God</em> by Cameron Johnston is good, but uneven, epic fantasy.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The story that develops through The Traitor God is captivating, mysterious, and full of all kinds of magic—especially dark one. One of the main things I loved from Edrin Walker's story was the whole mess with the gods—who have suddenly gone missing and abandoned their people. The way we're able to see how important they are not only to the people of Setharis but also to our main character was something I really enjoyed, not only because it was interesting, but also because of how close the relationships between the gods and their worshipers feels. Another thing I really loved was the magic system and everything that's tied to it (and how they're tied). From the Arcanum and all of the different yet powerful kinds of mages that exist to Edrin Walker and his tyrant magic to the monsters that have been hot on his trail for years now, I found it all to be enthralling enough to leave you dying to know more about it and that doesn't happen very often—not to me anyways. Skipping over some spoilery goods, another thing I loved about The Traitor God was our main character Edriwn Walker himself, which, knowing how questionable and morally gray he is, ended up being a surprise for me. But the thing is that once you reach those last few pages, you can't deny anymore that you're not only attached to him but also rooting for whatever crazy thing he's planning to do next.

When it comes to the pace and the info dumps about the world, the city of Setharis, their enemy the Skallgrim, the gods, the magic and so on, I found that the author managed to do a smooth job with them. He made them easy to follow and I loved how things didn't felt rushed—not even around the end. In other words, I found the writing to be not only good but also consistent throughout the story and thanks the gods for that. Talking about the world, as we follow Edrin Walker as he makes his way back to the place he once called his home while looking for answers and revenge, we get to see how things either have changed (or not), and how Edrin's memories about it might be anything but pleasant. From running, hiding and surviving on the streets with his friends Lynas and Charra to being closed inside some catacombs and going through a rough and traumatizing experience down there, you can say that Setharis was anything but nice to him. But seeing things now, years later, I really loved how the powerful mages of the Arcanum have control on the highest part of the city while on the lower, gang streets like the Smilers are the ones in charge, which I think can already let you see how this place works. That and the fact that there's not only monsters prowling around following Edrin's scent but also some powerful secrets and beings that you wouldn't understand unless you get your hands on this book.

And last but not least, let's talk about some of the characters that we get to meet and know about besides Edrin and Lynas, and how I either loved them or just, you know, loved despising them. Charra and Layla were both fierce characters that I couldn't help loving since their first appearance. They've both been through so much and have so many secrets that I can't wait to see what they'll be up to in book two—if they're making an appearance at all. Then, we have Harailt, someone from Edrin's past that used to torment him and who, like it or not, is back in his life now. Seizing this opportunity, I'll admit that I really loved to hate this character and that I really, really enjoyed how things went down between Edrin and Harailt after what happened all that time ago. Now, jumping a few characters that will surely make me throw around some spoilers, we also have Cillian and Evangeline, whom I may have even loved a tiny bit more than I loved Edrin—sorry not sorry. I mean, two outstanding and powerful women who can not only kick ass on their own but also manage to deal with Edrin and drag him around everywhere until they realize that what's happening around them is way bigger and far more sinister than they thought...what's not to STAN?! 

Overall, I believe that you can tell that I really loved this book just by reading this review. The Traitor God, with its action and twists really left me hanging and dying for more. I mean, I still can't shut up about it nor can I stop recommending it to my friends so, I think that says a lot, right? If you're a fan of dark fantasy, action, magic, and the lovecraftian genre, you might want to give this one a try.

I DNF'd this at 30%.

Normally I enjoy horror and graphic violence, but Johnston's brand didn't sit right with me. The book had a meandering start and the only parts that seemed to want to grab the reader were its heavy depictions of violence. Shocking violence can work, but it didn't come across something earned -- only something to hold the reader's interest until the next gruesome scene. It didn't feel like it had a lot of substance underneath the action.

I did enjoy the world-building; the mind-connection between the powerful magicians is a cool idea. But, Edrin wasn't that compelling of a protagonist. If I were in a different headspcace I might have continued on with this. Perhaps I'll come back to it at a later date.

This book is full of slow build immersive world building, a really interesting magic system and what was supposed to be a dark amoral character struggling with himself. Unfortunately for me the slow build felt a bit too slow (evidently I need faster paced books) and the two sides of the main character felt disconnected to me almost as if two separate characters were narrating from sentence to sentence. It ended up jarring me and I DNF'd at 35% which is a shame because I was really looking forward to this book.

Enjoyable and action-packed. Gritty and brutal adult fantasy read. The story mixes some of better elements from high fantasy settings together with modern grimdark themes.

Fantasy is a genre that many people think of as quite simplistic falling into the "there's a hero, he goes out, kicks some butt and that's about it" camp or "Its Elves, fairies and shit isn't it?" Well sorry to disappoint but we've evolved as a genre, yes we do still have that sort of stuff but then you get kickass titles like this debut from Cameron Johnston who gives the reader a book of vengeance, high octane action, political double dealing and overall characters that really help to drive not only the story but the world involved forward.


The pose is solid enough and the world is definitely one of interest but for me, its the characters that stand out. I loved the principle hero who whilst dislikeable at the beginning demonstrated the complexities of his situation who whilst seperated from a lot of others within due to his abilities, also has a caring side alongside being distanced. Its well done, brings a lot of differing aspects to the fore and for me, I loved every minute of it.


All round a cracking debut and with a few twists and turns is a book that I hope will lead on to others for the author as I really did get a lot from it. Magic.

(went live on 20th June)

The Traitor God by Cameron Johnston is best described as an action-packed video game come to life; a thrill ride of adrenaline, action, blood, and intrigue wrapped up in a story centered on one man’s pursuit of justice. Not every second of the book will dazzle you, but overall you will find yourself having a fun time and wanting more, more, MORE!

Edrin Walker is a liar, a scoundrel, and a damn dangerous magician. His past misdeeds and a deal with the rulers of his home city of Setharis having sent him into ten years of exile; these years spent wandering around the wilds, hiding from daemons who constantly pursue him and attempting to find some form of excitement to pass the time. His dangerous and dull existence only made tolerable by the knowledge that his absence from Setharis keeps his friends Lynas and Charra and their daughter Layla safe.

Then tragedy strikes!

Edrin and Lynas have always shared a magical connection, able to feel each other, sense the other’s joys and pains, even catch fleeting visions from each other’s eyes. And this is generally a good thing until the night Lynas is killed!

Without warning, Edrin is jarred by a vision of his best friends frantic flight from a daemon; the creature stalking Lynas down the alleys of Setharis, finally cornering and taking him down. A mysterious man then appearing to torture and skin Lynas alive. The final thoughts of the dying man that he must get a message to Edrin, warn him of what is going on in the city.

Brutal shock. Bottomless grief. Towering rage. And a touch of deep fear and confusion fills Edrin. His first thoughts that Setharis’s masters have broken their part of the old bargain, allowed harm to befall his friend, even though he has stayed away. The next is an overpowering sense that Charra and Layla will be in danger and that he must go to them, protect them. And, finally, Edrin wonders what exactly was his friend doing to attract the attention of such a heartless killer and whether his past deeds were the real cause of Lynas’s death.

Naturally, the rest of the book chronicles Edrin’s return to Setharis, his search for Lynas’s family, his investigation into the murder of his friend, and a descent into mysterious matters which will reveal the past to Edrin and cause him to question many things he thought he knew.

As I alluded to in the opening, The Traitor God is an action-packed thrill ride where the author drops you down into the middle of the maelstrom, doesn’t waste time explaining every facet of the story, and expects you to ride the wave of controlled chaos as it ebbs and flows from the beginning to the end. Or to put it another way, there is never a dull moment in this story. And it mostly works, providing an exciting tale filled with mystery, twists, magic, and loads of fantastical mayhem.

The main triumph of the novel would have to be the main character, Edrin Walker, whom I can’t say I really liked very much at the beginning of the story. Sure, he had some charm and a mysterious feel to him, but his egotistical nature was a bit too much for me. However, Cameron Johnson actually takes this guy on a real character arc, starting at the aforementioned egotistical loner start line before steadily molding him into a much deeper, more complex, and interesting character by the end.

The only real complaint I’d make toward the story would be the tendency of the author to tell not show, especially in the beginning of the book. I realize it is difficult to resist the urge to cast out proverbial life preservers in the form of paragraphs of explanation to readers after you’ve thrown them into the middle of a story maelstrom, but if you’ve determined to start in the middle of the action, you really have to let your audience survive on their own. Trying to split the difference between fans of slow, methodical plots and sink or swim lovers only serves to frustrate both types; neither of whom feel you’ve totally committed to their preferred narrative pace.

Overall, The Traitor God is a damn fine read. Sure, it is more oriented toward action lovers, having a tendency to skim over intricate plot or subtle character development in favor of more bloody fights or magical explosions, but if you are craving a fast paced, magical fantasy with plenty of action and more than a few twists, then this novel will not disappoint you.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

The Traitor God is a debut fantasy from Cameron Johnston. It’s a cynical, dark, bloody tale, with flashes of hope, and some terrifying and spectacular magic, in a vivid, well realised world.

Speaking of the world: it’s a wonderfully strange, terrifying place. Magic courses through the blood of a social elite, one which struggles to empathise with or indeed even think about the majority of the populace. The magicians have lifespans extended by their magic, and their powers extend from incinerating everything in a wide radius to control of water, or even superhuman strength and endurance. Those who can control magic are rulers, whose length of life leads them to slough off emotional attachment over time. As a consequence, they tend to be ruthless, pragmatic, and, broadly speaking, not overly nice people. It doesn’t help that using magic is addictive and comes with side-effects, driving practitioners further away from their humanity every time they exercise it.

These are the oligarchs of a failing empire, ensconced in power and privilege, and either unaffected by or unwilling to embrace a changing world. Still, their personal power is considerable, and if their empire no longer shapes the world, its capital is a thriving metropolis, seething with commerce and vice. The book isn’t shy about exploring the themes of power and accountability, examining the kind of decisions which can be made when absolute power is assured, and the compromises of judgment necessary to reach that level – and whether or not those compromises are justified. Anyway, this is a world of demons and creeping, corrosive magic, which is willing to provide great power in return for a slow and inevitable cost. There’s a lot being unpacked here – a city in decay, an empire indecline, an oligarchy in thrall to their own legend. There’s external factors too – murderous others, and hints of a geopolitical situation which is very far from under control.

This is a tightly written, believable world, one which will make you sit up and take notice. It’s not pretty, by any means, but it’ll seep off the page and into your pores.

Into this rather turbulent space steps Edrin Walker. Walker is a man with demons, both figuratively and rather more physically. Walker isn’t what one would generally think of as a hero. He’s quick witted, sure, but also bitter. This tends to manifest as scathing sarcasm and a penchant for running his mouth when he shouldn’t. The words are razors, and you can feel an edge lurking in everything Edrin says. That said, it’s hard not to feel for a man who speaks the unpalatable truth to power. It helps that despite (or perhaps because of) this tendency to talk big, Walker is also ruthless and pragmatic – willing to leave acquaintances behind if need be, or to threaten, to maim, to kill. That said, this bubbling spring of violence is channelled in service to his goals. Walker also realises his own flaws. Understanding his lack of compassion, knowing that magic has broken something inside of him, he struggles to hold on to his humanity, while being appalled at the actions and careless disdain of greater monsters than he. Walker is complicated. Walker is more than a little broken. Walker is scarred, emotionally and physically, by his past – and despite that, if he’s not trying to do the right thing, exactly, he’s at least not actively trying to do the wrong thing.

In this effort Walker is assisted by friends who are at least as strange as he is. From all walks of life, they seem to share a certain no-nonsense attitude to problem solving, and a more positive view of the protagonist than he has of himself. In his friendships we see facets of Walker less evident in the man we have before us – a more compassionate, friendlier individual (albeit one with a penchant for acerbic remarks), perhaps one with less to lose. This is Walker’s book, but the ensemble around him is built of well-rounded, believable characters, acting on their own agenda’s. I would have liked to see more of some of them, to be sure; for example, Walker’s oldest friend and her daughter make great foils for our lead, but seem to be straining at the seams of their scenes, trying to take over the stage. That said, they have a surfeit of competence and agency, and tightly written, believable and complex characterisation – so if I want to see more, it’s only a good thing.

The plot? Well, it’s a story of blood, betrayal and despair. It’s also a mystery, as Walker tries to piece together exactly why so many people are trying to kill him. I mean, some of it is because he has a habit of smarting off to authority, but not all of it. There’s a strong strand of noir running through the narrative, and thematically some strong beats on love, friendship and loss which hit like a punch in the gut. It’s emotionally riveting, complex work, a story that ties its character’s reconstruction to the slow revelation of the mysteries at the heart of the plot. It’s…also got a lot of demons, mad wizards, thoroughly explosive magic, and smart-arse remarks. There’s banter, the occasional stabbing, chases, dramatic betrayals…really, something for everyone. It snappy, tautly written prose kept me turning pages until far too late in the night.

It’s a cracking debut, and if you want a well done dose of fantasy-noir, this one’s for you.

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

the traitor god (Cameron Johnston)
Title: the traitor god
Author: Cameron Johnston
Publisher: Angry Robot
Publication Date: TODAY!!! (paperback/e-book)
ISBN: 978-0857667793
Source: NetGalley

This was one of those times where the stars aligned and the read was the perfect fit for me mood. I read it in one sitting. It was entertaining, engrossing, and a bit violent (Arrr!!). I even refused to get shut-eye and instead stayed up into the wee hours of the morn turning pages because I just had to know how it ended.
The story follows Edrin Walker, a magician, who has been on the run for over 10 years. He left his hometown in order to keep his two friends and their daughter safe. The price - his memories of the reason why. Talk about a fun set-up!

His time on the run is brought to a sudden halt when his friend Lynas is murdered. Edrin feels his death through the secret mind-link that they share. He is so far away that there is scant information on the who and why of the murder. The how however was all too clear. Edrin is determined to avenge his friend no matter what the consequences. He just has to figure out who killed him first.

Edrin is infamous, distrusted, and a rascal. I absolutely loved him. I adored how loyal he is to his friends. I enjoyed the magic in the world and especially how Edrin uses it. I thought it was fantastic that Edrin had an intense phobia that he struggled to overcome. I loved that daemon cats are out to kill him. I frickin' loved his dagger - seriously it is awesome.

This is seemingly a standalone but I wouldn't mind having other novels written in this world. Pick this one up and hopefully enjoy it as much as I did.

So lastly . . .
Thank you Angry Robot!

Goodreads' website has this to say about the novel (with spoilers removed):

A city threatened by unimaginable horrors must trust their most hated outcast, or lose everything, in this crushing epic fantasy debut.

After ten years on the run, dodging daemons and debt, reviled magician Edrin Walker returns home to avenge the brutal murder of his friend . . . Now nothing will stop him from finding the murderer. Magi, mortals, daemons, and even the gods - Walker will burn them all if he has to . . .

To visit the author’s website go to:
Cameron Johnston - Author

To buy the novel go to:
the traitor god - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:
Yer Ports for Plunder List

This is a deep, gritty fantasy that gets its teeth in your scruff and doesn't let go. The stakes are immediate and high from the first chapter, and the narrator is unapologetic in his thirst for revenge over the death of his best friend. I love this book, and I can't to hold physical copy in my hands!

I really enjoyed this. It was quite dark throughout, but it almost had a feel of an urban fantasy book, probably due to the setting being one city.

I did feel that it dragged in places. There was a lot of description of fight scenes and tentacles that I felt could have been shortened, but overall this is a fairly solid effort.

What drew me towards The Traitor Gods was initially the cover; I mean, it’s beautifully illustrated, and it’s so interesting. There’s so much to look at! The second thing that drew me towards this novel was the title: The Traitor God. The title alone sparks my imagination. I can honestly say that when the title drop happened, I did not expect it to happen in the way it did!

I also made a couple predictions along the way while reading, and one came true while the other was only half right. Anywho! The Traitor God is a High Fantasy novel, and something that I deeply appreciate is that the novel pretty much got underway a few pages into the book.

The Traitor God was certainly interesting, and at 15% into the novel there was already so much that had happened. I was almost overwhelmed honestly. If I hadn’t told myself that I was reading this book to the end, then I might have had trouble finishing this book.

The only thing that I didn’t particularly enjoy was that a lot of history is thrown into this novel. So much so that the dialogue between characters was disrupted so that we could learn some history. What I particularly didn’t like about this was in some instances, this history telling would end up taking chapters sometimes. Nevertheless, I understand that there was a lot to pack into The Traitor God though, so in the long run, I’m okay with it.

I truly liked seeing the gentler side to Walker. I especially enjoyed seeing the scene between Lynas and Walker when they were children.

There were a few times where the story picked up. The first, to get the story really going was at 15%. Then again around the 65% mark. After the 65% mark the story has quite a few ups and downs in the sense of plot. However, after the 65% mark, the story really picks up. Anytime before then was just leading up to it and my friends, it felt so long. I feel like I read 3 books with this one.

Something that I should have expected with The Traitor God was all of the foul language that was spoken in this novel. There’s so much of it.

The Traitor God felt like such a long book. There was so much history packed into this story—-both the world’s history as well as Walkers history. Something that I truly enjoyed was the fact that even though Walker’s story is one of revenge, I felt like Walker’s story is also one of redemption.

Reading Traitor God by Cameron Johnston. A good foray into #fantasy with a renegade Mage and a Troubled land.

A gritty fantasy novel that lays groundwork for a grand saga.

This novel follows magus Edrin Walker as he seeks revenge for his friend. Our anti-hero is a man with very few qualms about getting his hands dirty in search of his answers.

I found this to be a fairly engaging read once I managed to get a few chapters into it. For quite a while though, I was put off by the frequent usage of cliches, and ideas being repeated within the same paragraph. There was great detail in the world-building, that showed promise of an extensive history and lore that could be delved into with future novels. I was also interested to see how the story would play out.

However, I did find the ending quite rushed in some regards. This book was not listed as first in a trilogy or anything like that. It ended in a way that resolved the main plot. It just feels like somewhere through the writing process a decision was made to leave room to continue with the introduced characters and plots.

I enjoyed reading this book, and I would consider reading more from Cameron Johnstone - particularly if the writing improves with the next installment. However, I am not rushing out to recommend this novel as the next must read title.

Honestly, this book. It's a no go for us. We could not deal with the voice. The first line struck a we're not going to like this chord and it just kept get plucked as we attempted to read, but really skimmed the remainder of the book. We're really disappointed because the concept seemed so far up our alley that we were so sure we were going to love this novel. But when you don't like the voice, you don't like the voice and nothing's going to change that.

This one drops you right into the action, a little confusing at first but quickly drags you along. Edrin Walker drunken, violent and running from everything is free to wreak havoc when his closest friend is murdered. I like how smooth and crooked he is, you can tell how he lived the decade on the run and what he’s done to survive. I liked how loyal he was to Lynas and the way the past memories flow. Most of all I liked Dissever, blood thirsty and always hungry. From start to finish it’s enjoyable and fast paced with a mind controlling magi who doesn’t know his own dark secrets or his own strength. Contains strong language, violence, magic and endangered manhood.

I was given the opportunity by Angry Robot to have an ARC of The Traitor God by Cameron Jonhston, in exchange for my honest review.
It's a mystery, fantasy and action combined. It is Edrin's battle against time, daemons, gods, his own choices and himself. A story of be who you are expected to be or be who you want yourself to be.

So,the cover, I just love it. It looks so rugged, it reminds of the Book of Eli with Denzel Washington.
The world building is good, though I prefer to have a map illustration (I love maps in my fantasy world). I'm very much satistisfied with the characters. I loved how Edrin's character developed, Charra's resolve and Eva's strenght, though I longed for Edrin and Layla's bond build up. I loved that he is not the story's typical underdog at the beginning. Actually he is not an underdog at all.

Almost all of my questions were answered on the last few chapters.. The mystery keeps building up. You wont find an answer even a tiny bit in the middle of the story, but mind you, that didnt stale the story. I was amazed how the author did that, I'm not a writter, though I believe it is hard to keep piquing a readers interest without giving away 'too much' of something, and he did that to me. I have a few guesses, some I got right(not the entire context) but the mystery still remained until those last part. So yes, it is a good read.. I highly recommend it.

I loved that book very very much!
I am amazed at the writing of the author and I loved the action and the characters.
The first thing that got to me was the title and I immediately decided that I wanted this book ad that I wanted to read it ^^
I am not disappointed and I hope everybody else gets to enjoy it as much as I did.