This book has been on my radar for a long time, and I finally got around to reading it. I'm so glad I did! I love when a fantasy combines great characters with an epic story.

When a group of raiders approaches remote Black Keep, the people living there feel doomed. However, the raiders came with the intent to settle, not to raid. The major part of this book focuses on how this works out, mostly from the point of view of the raider chief Saana Sattistutar and the knight-leader of Black Keep, Daimon Blackcreek. Of course, all is not smooth - the cultures of the two are very different and people on both sides resent having to co-exist. The author does an excellent job with all of this, and I kept resenting real life things that prevented me from having reading time.

We also get glimpses of the larger outside world - a demonic leader rising on the islands and problems with the royal lineage are two. I'm really excited to read the next books and see what happens.

Epic, wonderful world building, and the story keeps pulling me back in for another read. I rushed to buy this and read it every few months.

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and I liked the plot twists. Hopefully a sequel will be released soon.

This is a great read with a compelling cast of characters who are all different from each other but all equally interesting to read about. I felt like there could have been more depth overall, and each chapter is so short before we go on to follow a different character, so we don’t get as much of a chance to get to know the characters as we could, but the political intrigue was great.

Just couldn't get into this one. It might be other people's cup of tea, but not mine unfortunately. I may look into the author's books in the future though.

DNF at 51%

This book suffers from the first book in a series syndrome. The author is so excited to introduce the reader to his brand new world, that he throws everything but the kitchen sink into the first book. This leads to a book that is a hefty 700 pages long... that are a slug to read. 

I know there is a story there, but it's so muddled by the different side-stories and a multitude of different POVs that it progresses at a glacial pace. Well, glaciers move faster than this story, actually. I mean, when I called it quits at 50%, only two weeks narrative time had passed, and only a handful things had happened.

As I already mentioned, this story has too many narrators. I counted at least 8 or 9 different protagonists whose POVs we are privy to. That would work if they all contributed to the same story. Unfortunately, at least 4 of them (that I remember) are narrating events that don't even happen on the same continent, that I could tell. And have no connection whatsoever to the main events in the story. Maybe the connection becomes evident later in the book, but seriously, if I can't tell why half of the characters are even in the story after reading half of the book, something is wrong with the plotting. 

It doesn't help that of all the protagonists, I was truly interested in maybe 2 or 3. Daimon, Saana, and her daughter. They felt fleshed out. I could understand their motives and desires. The rest of the cast? Cardboard cutouts, all of them. I couldn't care less about them or their stories, especially since they mostly had nothing to do with the main story.

This book would have benefited with sticking with the main story of the Raiders coming to ask asylum from the very people they had been pillaging for generations. Cut all the other POVs out. Put them in the next book in the series if you want, but don't muddy the waters unnecessarily. This forced cohabitation story was so ripe with conflicts and possibilities! It had so much potential for violence, reconciliation, and character growth! It would have made an excellent book all by itself.

My other problem with this book is the dialogue. I get what the author tried to do, and the idea that different cultures have different languages and different ways to defining genders (one culture has 9 of them) is fun and exciting in theory… but the execution of that was less than stelar.

How do the character define which gender they are and where they stand in the hierarchy of their society? By talking about themselves in third person. I mean seriously! After the tenth “This lord wants you to do this” or “This woman/sister/daughter is telling her brother/father this”, I wanted to scream. After 400 pages of this? I wanted to throw the book at the wall. Since it’s an eBook on my kindle, I had to refrain myself.

This doesn’t sound natural. It makes for stilted and convoluted dialog that grated so much on my nerves that it took me out of the story every time.

Finally, since so little time was spent on the main storyline, the author didn’t explore any of the cultural and historical conflicts that should have arisen between the two people. Oh, some of those conflicts are mentioned… then resolved in what seems like minutes. It’s all too tidy and civilized, when it’s never so in real life. I mean slavery was abolished over 200 years ago, but the repercussions are still felt in modern USA even now. Don’t underestimate the potential for violence the human race has. This easy resolution makes the story less believable and it lessens the stakes. 

But even though I DNFed this, I cannot give this story a one star rating. There is potential here. The world seems really interesting. And dragons! Well, more like dinosaurs, but still. This book would have benefited from a good developmental edit that would have cut the fat, tightened the plot, and moved the extraneous storylines out. As it stands, however, I am not interested enough to continue with the series.

PS: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A slow start to this series, but it definitely builds!

Pros: a fleshed out world with LGBTQIA representation.

Cons: several POVs and gore galore.

Read if you like Game of Thrones!

The Black Coast is a multiple viewpoint fantasy that shares a few plotlines amongst its chapters, but the main parts of the story take place in two areas: the Black Keep, a Naridan coastal fort, and ‘the City of Islands’, which is a place where many cultures have melted into one. what stands out to me here is not only the stunning character work, but also the sheer scale and intricacy of the worldbuilding. Each character is so clearly the product of their upbringing, and for us to be able to know that speaks volumes about how well this world is depicted.
Full review to come on YouTube.

I really, really wanted to get into this book. I'm not sure if the fantasy was just too much for me, but the writing and story couldn't capture my attention.

I think the book was well written, just didn't hook me. If you are looking at this book, give it a shot.

Review to come. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date March 16, 2021
#TheBlackCoast #NetGalley

I found the pronouns etc tiresome and felt that it took away from the writing and the story. While I want to enjoy epic fantasy, I just couldn't get into this title.

One of the things that authors love about fantasy and science fiction is that they can introduce new dynamics into a story without having to conform to the norms and strictures of existing society. In my review of The Left Hand of Darkness, I expressed doubt that Ursula K. Le Guin was a science fiction writer, saying “I suspect that she is really a sociologist who writes about how people interact in societies, using imaginary distant worlds as the medium by which she explores how her subjects react in a given situation.” Written in 1969, when the concept of gender dysphoria was in its infancy, LDoH successfully managed to discuss gender identity without creating a controversy.

In the first book of a new series, Mike Brooks is using the same tactics to again address gender identity. As with Le Guin, readers can easily read and enjoy this story without focusing on gender issues, but for those who want more meat in their fiction, Brooks delivers.

The story has two distinct story lines. In the first, Tjakorshan raiders (think Vikings) land their ships near Black Keep, a Naridan village (think England) causing panic until the Tjakorshan chieftain explains that they are not there to plunder. They only wish to settle. Fearing that if they refuse, they would all be slaughtered, The Naridans grudgingly agree. The social dynamics between these two peoples makes this story a lot of fun to read. What is most interesting is that when disagreements occur, they do not happen in the way that most readers will expect. The staunchly religious Naridans thought nothing of same sex relationships but thought of women practicing the healing arts as witches. The pagan Tjakorshan, on the other hand, considered homosexual relationships an abomination that should be punished harshly. Is it possible for populations so different to coexist peacefully? There is only one way to find out.

In the other story line, assassins are sent to kill a potential claimant to the God-King’s throne. In this country, there are four genders, based on both biology and self-identification, which known by the accent over the words ‘shè’, ‘shé’, ‘hè’ and ‘hé’. It’s an intriguing idea that suggests that the differences between peoples can be simultaneously slight and consequential.

Bottom line: I thoroughly enjoyed this book although I found the chapters set in Black Keep more entertaining. I look forward to reading future volumes in this series.

* This review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.

FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.s
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.

With 'The Black Coast,' Mike Brooks has given us an interesting epic fantasy series opener. What I love about it are the substantive details in his worldbuilding, specifically within the illustration and interplay between cultures, which will pique the interest of any linguist/linguistic anthropologist fantasy readers out there. For example, one regional group interprets gender identity and expression completely differently than the binary gender-normative, with several different genders which are expressed with tonally-inflected pronouns, which Brooks has marked using diacritics in the text. Another culture's linguistic norms preclude the usage of personal pronouns, demanding the use of third-person, even when referring to oneself, according to strict social hierarchy. Beyond the language-based aspects of the various cultures, the story is ripe with sociocultural conflict and examination of several keystone human social constructs around which taboos and biases abound: gender identity and norms, sexuality, socioeconomic structure, political structure, religious structure, class structure, etc.

These issues are examined via a POV that shifts among protagonists from each of the various cultural groups. Each group is satisfyingly grey and complex, with flawed characters. Perspective is lent even to a character of the group of clear antagonists in the story. Overall, the perspectives are balanced: enough POV characters to make it complex and interesting, not enough to be confusing or overwhelming. Some might argue that certain characters or relationships were not as well developed, making it harder to identify with them. This may be true to an extent, but Brooks clearly set up those characters to be featured more prominently in a sequel or sequels, and one could argue that developing all of the characters equally would have yielded a bloated story.

Brooks's prose was clear, with good pacing, flow, and just enough detail. The battle scenes, in particular, stand out to me: they are excellent, with every movement and reaction vividly detailed.

Also, there are dragons. Rendered in believable, dinosaurish, land-based form, they strike a nice balance between the mystical and the mundane.

In all, a by-no-means perfect but by-all-means compelling read, and I look forward to the sequel.

4 stars, worth it!

Really enjoyed this take on fantasy. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good fantasy novel.

Dnf at 20%. I am someone who usually does not dnf. I tried very very hard to read this one at many different times but I just couldn’t get invested either in the characters or the plot. This one just wasn’t for me.

The sight of the ships stirred alarm among the Naridans living in Black Keep. Decimated by plague and remember the last visit of the Tjakorsha raiders, they prepare for a desperate fight. Then leaders of the Tjakorsha come ahead under a flag of parley. Lord Asrel and his sons Darel and Daimon come to meet them. Saana Sattistutar, the woman warrior leading the clan doesn’t propose surrender, but rather peaceful co-existence of their two peoples. Asrel breaks the truce of the parley in striking out against the Tjalkorsha. Slaughter and a war resulting in the likely defeat of the Naridans is averted by Daimon, Asrel’s adopted son, who takes charge, imprisoning his brother and father.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this book, the first in The God-King Chronicles, are the encounter of these two peoples, two cultures with two differing religions, two differing moral codes. The Tjakorsha have men and women who only mate with each other. The Naridans have six shades of gender between any two of which sex is acceptable. Yet Narida is patriarchal while Tjakorsha’s women lead and fight alongside men. Are their differences too great for co-existence to be possible.

Daimon and Saana try to work out their differences, against a backdrop of other events that could change their world. Conspirators from Black Creek send an emissary to report on the blasphemous alliance of the two peoples, with the objects of bringing a force of Naridans who could end up wiping out both peoples, except for the conspirators. Then their are the concerns of the family of the God-King. Natan, the current God-King loves men, and has no successor. His sister is far more Machiavellian than he, recognizing the threat of the Splinter King, and acts to remove it while a rich young man becomes romantically involved with the thief who had picked his pocket. The most sinister of all is the demonic tyrant, The Golden, who subjected all the Tjakorsha except for Saana’s clan, who fled. His lieutenant, Rikkut is sent with a large force after her, another threat to Saana’s people and those of the Black Keep.

This book caught me by surprise. It started out with Natan and Tila which was kind of ho-hum until the scene shifts to the confrontation of those of the Black Keep and the Tjakorsha. For a while it was hard to keep all the different characters and plotlines straight, and then it started making sense and I found myself getting more and more drawn into the world Brooks was building. Then there are the war dragons and the kraiks, sea monsters that threaten every voyage! The cultures, the creatures, the characters, and the plot all come together to make this a page-turner. Even secondary characters like Darel or Saana’s daughter Zhanna are interesting and play crucial roles.

Dang, another series to follow! But this looks to be a good one.

________________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

This first volume of The God-King Chronicles sets out an original, dense, convoluted and interesting world of people who fight others simply because they are different or through a lack of understanding. I was quickly drawn into this world and enjoyed the alternating chapters telling of the different groups which at first were confusing but eventually became clear. I look forward to seeing how they all relate in forthcoming volumes that follow #theblackcoast. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Loved, loved, loved! It's the excellent start for a new fantasy series, a gripping and highly entertaining story.
I loved the excellent world building and characters and the plot that kept me hooked.
Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

4.5 stars

This took me a long time to read, not because it was bad, but because other priorities came up. Still, I just finished and it was a very satisfying read. Although this story has the usual fantasy themes of different factions fighting for power, a God-King in one land and a Demon King in another (well, it's a Draug, but you get the idea), plenty of battles, and different cultures clashing as some fight to live peaceably, the author also takes on the theme of gender fluidity, in a way that I haven't seen before. Yes, I've read other books that cover the same theme, but he gave a lot of thought to it, to the length that one country has 5 or 6 genders depending on how you count it. He explains some of this at the very beginning in an excerpt from a book that adds more information at the beginning of some of the chapters. There are several storylines in this book, some of which don't develop very much, but will likely move forward in future books. Most of this book centered around Damian and Saana, which is good, because they were definitely my favorite part of the story. There were times I became frustrated by the interruptions of the other characters, but as we moved further into the story, I could see why their story is being told and how it will affect the world of Damian and Saana, and I found that I didn't mind the interruptions quite as much. Ultimately, I would say this book was about two very different cultures with natural hate for each other and leaders of each group working desperately to find a way to live together. I felt the author really succeeded in telling this story and I honestly didn't want it to end. I look forward to future books in this series because I got enough of a taste of what's going on outside the world of Blackcreek to want to know what's going to happen next. Would I recommend this? Yes, definitely. But be prepared to devote some concentration to figure out how this world works and who all the players are.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I picked up this arc not knowing much about it or the author, and the story ended up really pulling me in. It didn’t take long before I was fully invested in all the characters and binging chapter after chapter. Genre-wise, this book feels like classic fantasy in many ways (large cast of characters, political and military conflict, expansive world-building, timeless themes, DRAGONS!) while the characters and conflicts speak to today’s reader. I honestly loved this book and would recommend it to teens and adults with even a passing interest in fantasy.