Review: Dark Sea's End by Richard Nell

 

Dark Sea's End (Beyond Ash and Sand #1) by Richard Nell
Independently Published
Publication Date: June 1st, 2021
Ebook.

About Dark Sea's End:

"Feared pirate and scoundrel ‘Lucky’ Chang has a dirty secret: he loves his crew, and would die to protect them. As he’s dragged from prison to face the dark sea and a dangerous new world, he just might have to.

 

Zaya, warrior and skald from the land of ash, knows she has a destiny. Having left her homeland with only a knife and a dream of adventure, she finds herself captured by pirates. To discover her fate, and become a hero from the book of legends, she must first survive the sea.

 

With a monstrous pilot as guide, and an ex-assassin as captain, Chang, Zaya, and the crew of the mighty Prince sail into uncharted waters. There they may find new lands and wealth, as well as glory beyond their dreams, or nothing but their doom.

 

Set in the same epic world as the award winning Kings of Paradise...this new series from author Richard Nell can be read on its own, or as a continuation of the Ash and Sand trilogy."

Dark Sea's End is an adventurous new short fantasy novel from Richard Nell and it felt like such a breath of fresh air to read. It takes place in the same universe as the Ash and Sand trilogy Nell previously wrote (and which I highly recommend)–but don't worry, there's no need to have read the first trilogy to enjoy this one. There are a few characters you may recognize from the first trilogy, but otherwise there's a great new cast of characters to meet and get to know. 

This is a fairly short novella-sized story, but it feels like a full novel and is not at all lacking in plot, adventure, or character development. This story is also not as dark as the Ash and Sand trilogy, so if you're looking for somoething slightly less intense but still from Nell, then this is your go to. The writing is perfectly balanced between action, description, and dialogue, and the story itself alternative perspectives between three main characters: that of Chang, Zaya, and Yucat. 

 Chang is the first character we meet, and we do so after he has been arrested and likely soon to be hanged. Fortunately, there's a bit of a turn in the plot and we end up getting to spend a lot more time with Chang as he works on a new ship with his loyal crew in exchange for their freedom. Chang is a bit of an abrasive person overall, but in a way that's a bit endearing and where you can't help but appreciate how well he fits his role as a tough captain who would do anything for his crew and, although he seems like a bit of a mess at times, actually has a pretty good head on his shoulders. 

Zaya's character has an interesting connection to the Ash and Sand trilogy that I'll leave you to discover yourself if you desire, and I found that she added a great additional personality to this book. She is a great foil to Chang's character, though the get along in a some weird and oddly fitting ways. One of the first things we learn about Zaya is that she's a bit of a wannabe-adventurer and free spirit, and that she has a deep admiration for Ruka. Zaya's perspective added some great elements and personality to the narrative, and I particularly liked getting to see her perspectives in contrast to Chang's, as well as some later events that happen that I won't mention due to spoilers. 

Lastly is Yucat, a foreign prince whose role doesn't show up right away, but as soon as it did I was immediately hooked on his particular storyline. Yucat is one where I don't really want to say too much because the amount of enjoyment I got from learning about him and his culture is something that I want any new reader to experience as well. Suffice to say, Yucat was one of my favorite and most interesting characters to follow, and I found his conflicts and obligations some of the most compelling. 

The world this story is set in was already familiar to me, but if you're new to the world then I have no doubt you'll find this a great introduction that covers some exciting areas and a brief bit of history here and there to firmly build up the world. One thing that I always love about Nell's writing is just how welcoming it feels; some fantasy books have such intricate worlds that it can be hard to dive into them and feel comfortable, but Nell somehow manages to write them in such a way that they still feel (and are) intricate and complex in development but also in a way that allows me to feel right at ease and understand things that are going on, which I greatly appreciate and admire in any author.

If you, like me, are sometimes just looking for a less intense and exciting adventure story with pirates, great characters, and an intriguing plot, then Dark Sea's End is absolutely the next book you should check out. Overall, I've given Dark Sea's End four stars!

 *I received a copy of Dark Sea's End courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon

Review: Kings of Ash (Ash and Sand #2) by Richard Nell

Kings of Ash (Ash and Sand #2) by Richard Nell

Self-Published

Publication Date: September 8th, 2020

Hardcover. 448 pages

About Kings of Ash:

"The much anticipated continuation of the Ash and Sand trilogy...

Follow the long, bloody journey of Ruka, son of Beyla through the islands of Pyu and the frozen wastes of the Ascom; see the return home of Ratama Kale Alaku, the 'Sorcerer-Prince', and the terrifying rise of his 'miracles'. Before the end, a shocking history will unravel, ancient connections unfold, and all will learn the cost of unleashing the Kings of Ash..."

I'm a little behind on this series considering the third and final book in the Ash and Sand trilogy just came out on September 1st, but fortunately that doesn't take anything away from the fact that Kings of Ash was just as incredible as Kings of Paradise and I can't wait to finally get to Kings of Heaven! A quick note before diving into this review: I'll keep it spoiler free for this book and I'll try to keep things vague so as not to spoil too much from the first book, but the nature of this review might lead to inadvertent plot developments and spoilers from the first book, so just be aware of that if you plan to read this trilogy and don't want to know anything!

Where do I even start reviewing this epic fantasy tome? Kings of Paradise was a large and complex story that grabbed me from the very first page, and Kings of Ash does just that--and maybe even more. Richard Nell first made my experience that much better by including a "the story so far" sort of recap, which I am endlessly grateful for, especially seeing as it's been about two years since I read the first book. The next things that I discovered and quickly grew excited about is that this book is told largely from Ruka's POV, and Ruka is a character that I find deeply compelling and oddly enjoyable to follow. Those two things really set the stage for my expectations and enjoyment in this book, and it was just as good as I'd hoped it would be.

Since this book is largely told from Ruka's POV, I'll start by talking about this incredibly conflicting and highly captivating character. Although we do get a few other POVs sprinkled throughout the story, we spend most of the time in Ruka's head following his experiences, and I found this such an interesting journey. Ruka is a rather violent and unpredictable fellow, but at the same time he has that sort of honesty and blunt, clear view of the world that makes him someone you can't help but feel oddly connected to and almost want to root for. He's done some awful things, but there's weird sense of morality connected to it based upon his own perspectives that makes for a fascinating story, as well as makes him a really worthwhile character to become invested in.

Additional familiar faces such as Kale and Dala also make appearances, but their chapters are far much sparser than Ruka's and it's clear that they are not meant to be the main focus of this story. Still, I did really like their roles from the first book so I appreciated getting to see them again. Kale in particular has such a drastic change in roles in this book versus the first and I found it particularly exciting to see how he handles his new goals. Dala continuous to be an incredible badass who is always quick to grab to my attention in all of her scenes. We also get to learn more about King Farahi, a man that I find to be one of those who are so complex that you just are never really sure what to expect from that. I loved getting to learn more about his character and story.

Nell's world-building is once again truly superb. I thought the first book had expansive world-building with so many intricate details and fleshed out ideas, and somehow this book takes that to the next level with even more to explore and learn about. I noticed a much larger focus on weaponry in this book in different parts and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed these details and inclusions. I felt as though it really added a sense of authenticity and intrigue to the world and culture. And speaking of cultures, I continue to enjoy seeing the different ones that emerge in this world and how established and real they feel.

For being such a large book, the pacing is pleasantly consistent and I don't really have many complains about it. There were a few small pockets here and there where I felt it dwelled a bit longer in certain parts than I might've liked, but it was never anything that dragged on too long or really infringed upon my reading experience. Regardless of how much time might be spent on a certain scene, plot development, or character development, Nell has a compelling way of crafting his narrative that still makes it entertaining to follow.

Overall, this is another success from Richard Nell! If you're into grimdark, character-focused fantasy, expansive world-building, or simply great storytelling, you really need to check out the Ash and Sand trilogy--and the best part is that it's already completed so you can read the entire thing without waiting! As before, this is still a pretty dark and occasionally violent story, so just be aware of that going into it if you're not as open to those themes. I cannot recommend this trilogy enough and I think it continues to be one of the best examples of why there should be less judgment and more open-mindedness about the incredible quality and validity of self-published novels. Richard Nell is a master writer and storyteller.

*I received a copy of Kings of Ash in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

Buy: Amazon

Review: Kings of Paradise by Richard Nell

Kings of Paradise by Richard Nell

Self-Published, 2018

Ebook. 601 pages.

I am making room on my (metaphorical) big league fantasy author shelf and clearing out a space for Richard Nell, because Kings of Paradise was absolutely incredible. This book was everything I didn't know I wanted, and I am so incredibly impressed by it and what Nell has managed to accomplish in such a unique and unexpected way.

This book is a huge, complex story that makes it extremely hard for me succinctly review without writing a small essay, but I am going to try my best to do so. In brief: I loved this book, and since I don't a better way to begin this review, we're just diving in.

Kings of Paradise centers around three main characters whose perspectives are alternated throughout the book. There are many other characters in this book--seriously, I made a list of people I thought were important and it is long--so I'm just focusing on our main ones: Ruka, Kale, and Dala. Up first is Ruka, a coldhearted, or rather, heartless, beast of a boy who actually starts out as a fairly normal boy, but due to circumstances in his life slowly turns into a ruthless man. I loved reading his descent into the man he is at the end of the story; it was fascinating and horrible, but also oddly understandable. The way Nell wrote about Ruka's feelings and revelations in the beginning of the book were incredible, and I actually found myself highlighting huge passages that I knew I wanted to add to my long list of saved book quotes. Ruka's journey in this book takes a lot of turns and I found myself engaged in every one. He was truly an unpredictable character and I really couldn't guess at any point what he would do next. If you like really morally questionable characters, Ruka is your man.

The next character we meet is Kale, the youngest son of the King of Sri Kon. Although I loved all of the characters, Kale was probably the most entertaining and engaging characters. Kale is sort of 'expendable' in the sense that his other brothers hold higher statuses and Kale is just sort of... there. His father, of course, still has plans for him, but he's not the immediate heir or anything and therefore not as useful. He's also a little rebellious, but he's rebellious in a somewhat responsible and clever manner (you'll figure out what I mean if when you read the book). Kale, to me, acted as a major foil to Ruka's character. Where Ruka sort of loses himself and becomes a madder and more horrible person, Kale grows immensely throughout this book and eventually becomes much more mature, stronger, responsible, and, well, persuasive. He learns his strength and his role in the world in the same vein as Ruka, but the two are at opposite ends of the personality spectrum. Kale's transformation is subtle, but impossible to look away from.

The third character I'd like to mention in some detail is Dala, a character that I wasn't sure how I felt about at first, but slowly grew on me and I loved by the end. I most admire Dala's strength and clear frame of mind. This is a girl who knows what she wants and knows--or will figure out--what she  needs to get it. She is not without her faults, and her methods of obtaining what she wants are not generally honorable (another morally questionable character), but that only makes her more compelling. A common trait that ran amongst all three of these characters seemed to be their cleverness, which is a trait that I always like explored among protagonists, especially when the cleverness is used in unique ways. The rest of the characters in this book are just as well-drawn and interesting as the three main protagonists, and I think that is one area where Nell really excelled in this his writing; the chemistry and varying personalities were all done so well.

The plot in Kings of Paradise is pretty wide-ranging and I'm not sure I can nicely sum it up, but suffice to say it's incredibly well-written and will absolutely make it hard for you to even put this book down. This is the sort of plot that really takes its time to fully unfold and is honestly fairly slow-paced when looked back on as a whole, but it doesn't feel slow. There is constantly something happening in this book so I was never bored, but Nell still really took his time in slowly building up his world and characters. That, I think is the best aspect of this book: Nell writes in a way that lets the reader see every aspect of his characters and watch as they develop throughout the book, much in the same way the world itself is slowly explained and we understand how everything works. The three different perspectives seemed so incredibly separate at first that I was honestly unsure how they would ever fit together, and then, somehow, they just did. Some seamless force (Richard Nell) came in and slowly started picking up every loose thread and tying it quietly to another loose thread and suddenly everything fell into place.

Overall, I was floored by Kings of Paradise. The character were fascinating, the plot was strong, the world was huge and detailed, and I just think everyone should read this book. Five stars! I'm no seer, but I see great things in both Richard Nell's and Kings of Paradise's futures.

*I received a copy of Kings of Paradise courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review. This book was part of TBRindr. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

Buy the book: Amazon 

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