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Faithless
The temples of the Forgefather have fallen. The clerics and defenders that could once be found across the nine lands are no more. Priests huddle in the great temple, clinging to the echoes of their lost religion. But the Father has fallen silent. There are none who still hear his voice.
The mines of Aspiration lie far below the temple's marble halls. Slaves toil in the blackness, striving to earn their way into the church and the light. Wynn has been sold into this fate, traded for a handful of silver. In the depths of the mines, where none dare carry flame, he must meet his tally or die. But there are things that lurk in that darkness, and still darker things within the hearts of men.
When the souls bound to the great forge are released in a failed ritual, one novice flees down into the darkness of the mines. The soulwraiths know only hunger, the risen know only hate. In the blackest depths Kharios must seek a light to combat the darkness which descends.
The mines of Aspiration lie far below the temple's marble halls. Slaves toil in the blackness, striving to earn their way into the church and the light. Wynn has been sold into this fate, traded for a handful of silver. In the depths of the mines, where none dare carry flame, he must meet his tally or die. But there are things that lurk in that darkness, and still darker things within the hearts of men.
When the souls bound to the great forge are released in a failed ritual, one novice flees down into the darkness of the mines. The soulwraiths know only hunger, the risen know only hate. In the blackest depths Kharios must seek a light to combat the darkness which descends.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2017
64 people are currently reading
1734 people want to read
About the author
Graham Austin-King
15 books354 followersGraham Austin-King was born in the south of England and weaned on broken swords and half-forgotten spells. A shortage of these forced him to consume fantasy novels at an ever-increasing rate, turning to computers and tabletop gaming between meals.
He experimented with writing at the beginning of an education that meandered through journalism, international relations, and law. To this day he is committed to never allowing those first efforts to reach public eyes.
After spending a decade in Canada, learning what 'cold' really means, and being horrified by poutine, he settled once again in the UK with a seemingly endless horde of children.
To date he is the author of five novels, drawing on a foundation of literary influences ranging from David Eddings to Clive Barker.
Sign up to the spam-free mailing list to hear about upcoming releases and special discounts at http://www.grahamaustin-king.com/read...
Find Graham on facebook at http://on.fb.me/1pMyWmK He loves to chat with readers.
Follow him on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Grayaustin
What others are saying about Graham's books:
"Austin-King's writing is descriptive and layered, full of mystery and tension..." - Sarah Chorn, Bookworm Blues
"The action is great, the suspense is well done and the Fae are truly scary." - Leanne Ellis, Bloody Cake News
"...If you like fantasy books which you can really get stuck into then this one is for you!" - Bodicia, A Woman's Wisdom Blog
"...This is a fantastic fantasy! I loved it!" - Lynn Worton, Book Reviews by Lynn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
November 17, 2018
It’s really ironic that for a book titled ‘Faithless’, it instead did the opposite by restoring my faith in self-published fantasy.
My friend who recommended it to me told me that this is a “New fantasy seriously worth your time.” and hey, she’s damn right about it. I’ve read plenty of grimdark fantasy and in my opinion, this is one of the most original ones. In fact, I can safely say I’ve never read any grimdark fantasy like this book.
The plot in Faithless is quite dark, like the title, it deals a lot with heavy topics surrounding faith and religions. Honestly, I love the plot, it’s not a comfy read for sure, and it’s never meant to be. I’ll mention this part right from the start of the review, there’s a scene that happens off screen dealing with child molestations and pedophilia, these parts are not easy to read, seriously I’ll be surprised if anyone found it easy to do so. Do know however that this is appropriate for the story the author is trying to tell. It’s not there just for the sake of making the story darker, it’s not, these events provide a lot of color and meaning to the motivations of the characters in the book.
The pacing may be slow paced, and yet it’s very compelling to read. This is due to the growing tension of the story with the turn of each page until it eventually reached the eventful and thrilling climax sequence. Admittedly, there was one moment somewhere in the middle of the book where I feel the pacing drags a bit but that’s really the only minor con I had on this book. Unlike most books I’ve read in the genre, Faithless brought something new to the genre, which I’ll get into later on. However, as good as the plot is, it’s not the best factors of the book. Judging solely from the plot, it won’t make this book reached the marvelous quality it has. It’s all the other elements surrounding it that made Faithless burned brightly.
There are only two main characters to follow here. Wynn, a 15 years old innocent boy who was sold by his father to work in the mines of Aspiration, and Kharios, a novice in the Temple of the Forgefather who’s facing many obstacles, that I can’t tell to avoid spoilers. The characterizations towards these two characters are something I truly appreciate. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t lovable characters but they’re very realistic. These characters at the core are good people, but they made some questionable decisions that maybe from reading alone, you’ll probably think “what the hell?” cause I certainly did think so, but, let’s not hastily jump to conclusion. I always try my best to put myself in the character's situation to know whether their decisions, good or bad make sense or not and you know what? Thinking about it, I honestly have no idea what I’ll do if I were put in some of the characters shoes here. This is a sign of great characterization in the grimdark genre for me, combined with Graham’s beautiful prose; I really enjoyed reading how the main and side characters develop throughout the whole book.
The best part of the book for me hands down lies within its world-building. You won’t see the characters here travel the world; the setting of the book took place mostly in a maze of a gigantic mine. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking that there is no sense of history or mythologies to be found just because of the constricted setting. This is where Graham excels in, despite the setting being mostly in a mine, there is still enough history for you to dive into. Plus, as someone who has worked in a mining industry, I can guarantee you that Graham has successfully captured the darkness of the mine and the implication of the setting towards the characters greatly. Last but not least, Smithing. Personally, this is a huge plus for me because growing up as a gamer, I’ve always been intrigued by the process of weapon creation and strengthening. Up to this day I still follow and watch all Man at Arms videos on YouTube, obviously that’s about all the real knowledge I know on the topic, I’m not an expert here unless it’s in video games. The intricacy that was done towards its world-building shows how much research was done by the author, and in a way, it’s also what separates Faithless from other books in the genre and made it a new experience to read.
If you’re skipping on this book just because it’s labeled indie, I think you’re making a big mistake because it’s better than most published books out there and you ought to give this a try if you want something original in your grimdark read. The story also concludes itself within one book while saving some stuff in case there is a continuation, regardless whether it's a standalone or a series, this is definitely a great book. To compare it with other Indie fantasy I’ve read so far, I think of Faithless highly as I think of Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft. They’re totally different from each other, but both are some of the best Indie fantasy I’ve read so far and something I’ll definitely recommend to fantasy readers.
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
My friend who recommended it to me told me that this is a “New fantasy seriously worth your time.” and hey, she’s damn right about it. I’ve read plenty of grimdark fantasy and in my opinion, this is one of the most original ones. In fact, I can safely say I’ve never read any grimdark fantasy like this book.
The plot in Faithless is quite dark, like the title, it deals a lot with heavy topics surrounding faith and religions. Honestly, I love the plot, it’s not a comfy read for sure, and it’s never meant to be. I’ll mention this part right from the start of the review, there’s a scene that happens off screen dealing with child molestations and pedophilia, these parts are not easy to read, seriously I’ll be surprised if anyone found it easy to do so. Do know however that this is appropriate for the story the author is trying to tell. It’s not there just for the sake of making the story darker, it’s not, these events provide a lot of color and meaning to the motivations of the characters in the book.
“History is full of brutal and ruthless men. They usually call them ‘victors’.”
The pacing may be slow paced, and yet it’s very compelling to read. This is due to the growing tension of the story with the turn of each page until it eventually reached the eventful and thrilling climax sequence. Admittedly, there was one moment somewhere in the middle of the book where I feel the pacing drags a bit but that’s really the only minor con I had on this book. Unlike most books I’ve read in the genre, Faithless brought something new to the genre, which I’ll get into later on. However, as good as the plot is, it’s not the best factors of the book. Judging solely from the plot, it won’t make this book reached the marvelous quality it has. It’s all the other elements surrounding it that made Faithless burned brightly.
There are only two main characters to follow here. Wynn, a 15 years old innocent boy who was sold by his father to work in the mines of Aspiration, and Kharios, a novice in the Temple of the Forgefather who’s facing many obstacles, that I can’t tell to avoid spoilers. The characterizations towards these two characters are something I truly appreciate. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t lovable characters but they’re very realistic. These characters at the core are good people, but they made some questionable decisions that maybe from reading alone, you’ll probably think “what the hell?” cause I certainly did think so, but, let’s not hastily jump to conclusion. I always try my best to put myself in the character's situation to know whether their decisions, good or bad make sense or not and you know what? Thinking about it, I honestly have no idea what I’ll do if I were put in some of the characters shoes here. This is a sign of great characterization in the grimdark genre for me, combined with Graham’s beautiful prose; I really enjoyed reading how the main and side characters develop throughout the whole book.
“His faith was not built from a belief in the existence of the Forgefather, it was from a need to set things right.”
The best part of the book for me hands down lies within its world-building. You won’t see the characters here travel the world; the setting of the book took place mostly in a maze of a gigantic mine. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking that there is no sense of history or mythologies to be found just because of the constricted setting. This is where Graham excels in, despite the setting being mostly in a mine, there is still enough history for you to dive into. Plus, as someone who has worked in a mining industry, I can guarantee you that Graham has successfully captured the darkness of the mine and the implication of the setting towards the characters greatly. Last but not least, Smithing. Personally, this is a huge plus for me because growing up as a gamer, I’ve always been intrigued by the process of weapon creation and strengthening. Up to this day I still follow and watch all Man at Arms videos on YouTube, obviously that’s about all the real knowledge I know on the topic, I’m not an expert here unless it’s in video games. The intricacy that was done towards its world-building shows how much research was done by the author, and in a way, it’s also what separates Faithless from other books in the genre and made it a new experience to read.
If you’re skipping on this book just because it’s labeled indie, I think you’re making a big mistake because it’s better than most published books out there and you ought to give this a try if you want something original in your grimdark read. The story also concludes itself within one book while saving some stuff in case there is a continuation, regardless whether it's a standalone or a series, this is definitely a great book. To compare it with other Indie fantasy I’ve read so far, I think of Faithless highly as I think of Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft. They’re totally different from each other, but both are some of the best Indie fantasy I’ve read so far and something I’ll definitely recommend to fantasy readers.
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
October 23, 2017
I received a free copy of Faithless in exchange for an honest review and would like to thank Graham Austin-King for this opportunity.
Faithless is set in a dark and claustrophobic subterranean environment. The action mainly takes place within the temples, the underground cities, or within the literal darkness of the mines. Everyone within this cataclysmic domain revere and offer service to the Forgefather. We follow a 15-year-old lad called Wynn who has essentially been sold off as a slave to this mysterious cause by his father in exchange for a few coins. Wynn's under the impression that he's here to study and pay homage for what should only be 12-months. Perhaps the truth of the matter is a bit darker than that. The second point of view perspective is that of novice priest Kharios who has been within this territory below the surface for years and goes about his days working a forge.
The narrative commences at a slowish pace introducing the areas, creating depth to characters, and explaining the scenarios they find themselves within. Wynn, new to his role, learns about his duties and the place he finds himself in at the same time as we do which led me to feel a heightened affinity towards him. Likewise, with Kharios, we're introduced to his day to day routines. It's approximately 3 point of view chapters each before it reverts back to the other character. The despondent yet unique world presented here is admirable crafted. Although I found no aspect of this tale boring, the book gradually builds up pace and intensity until about 60% through where the whole atmosphere and direction of the narrative changes with potentially horrific consequences for all involved. There's also a stunning twist at about 85%. I did predict it but I'm apparently a member of a small minority that does. Unique as well is that it always seems that there's some great power all around that is just out of anybody's reach.
Faithless is a dark fantasy/ grimdark tale that isn't for the lighthearted. It features element some readers will not enjoy such as murder, seemingly needless brutality, grotesque characters, rape, and paedophilia. The final two are hinted at but not actually shown on the page. A typical grimdark trait is stories following characters who are bastards readers can love to hate. I didn't hate either of the main perspectives here. If anything the opposite and I'd have made similar decisions that they do which unfortunately often have terrible results. There are definitely a few horrific individuals worth looking out for too including Ossan and Garl.
Faithless is an utterly dark, unique, well-written, and deeply engaging grimdark story from a talented author who's definitely one to watch.
Faithless is set in a dark and claustrophobic subterranean environment. The action mainly takes place within the temples, the underground cities, or within the literal darkness of the mines. Everyone within this cataclysmic domain revere and offer service to the Forgefather. We follow a 15-year-old lad called Wynn who has essentially been sold off as a slave to this mysterious cause by his father in exchange for a few coins. Wynn's under the impression that he's here to study and pay homage for what should only be 12-months. Perhaps the truth of the matter is a bit darker than that. The second point of view perspective is that of novice priest Kharios who has been within this territory below the surface for years and goes about his days working a forge.
The narrative commences at a slowish pace introducing the areas, creating depth to characters, and explaining the scenarios they find themselves within. Wynn, new to his role, learns about his duties and the place he finds himself in at the same time as we do which led me to feel a heightened affinity towards him. Likewise, with Kharios, we're introduced to his day to day routines. It's approximately 3 point of view chapters each before it reverts back to the other character. The despondent yet unique world presented here is admirable crafted. Although I found no aspect of this tale boring, the book gradually builds up pace and intensity until about 60% through where the whole atmosphere and direction of the narrative changes with potentially horrific consequences for all involved. There's also a stunning twist at about 85%. I did predict it but I'm apparently a member of a small minority that does. Unique as well is that it always seems that there's some great power all around that is just out of anybody's reach.
Faithless is a dark fantasy/ grimdark tale that isn't for the lighthearted. It features element some readers will not enjoy such as murder, seemingly needless brutality, grotesque characters, rape, and paedophilia. The final two are hinted at but not actually shown on the page. A typical grimdark trait is stories following characters who are bastards readers can love to hate. I didn't hate either of the main perspectives here. If anything the opposite and I'd have made similar decisions that they do which unfortunately often have terrible results. There are definitely a few horrific individuals worth looking out for too including Ossan and Garl.
Faithless is an utterly dark, unique, well-written, and deeply engaging grimdark story from a talented author who's definitely one to watch.
August 1, 2017
*** 4.44 ***
Well that was something!!! I had never read a book by this author before and the gorgeous cover drew me to it, thinking it might have something to do with the Nordic Religions... It didn't, but I was not left disappointed.
A lot like the Cult of Thor, the Forgemaster Religion has to do with the fire and the gift of the G-ds to humans to work metals while communing with the G-d through chants and prayers as they work with the fire and the anvil. So, just as one of the characters asked "So, this is just a religion of smiths?", I thought of it in that simplistic manner when I started this dark tale... However, together with one of our protagonists, Wynn discovered, there is much more to this than meets the eye...
Wynn's family and their farm has been hit hard by the drought, as well as the taxes the government has added to support a war somewhere in far off lands. Having been left with nothing and In order to get money for starter seeds and lessen the load on the family, his father is selling him to the Temple of the Forgemaster. 17 years old Wynn doesn't want to be there, but has no choice and enters the Temple as an aspirant. He is not really sure what that would entail, but he thinks he will study with the priests. Turns out, that is not necessarily so. The temple is in a mountain and its gates serve as the only entrance and exit to a vast underground cave system, which is a whole settlement of its own. This underground world is created around a mining operation for different ore, including coal, copper, gold, and others... Everyone contracted to the Temple is marked and all of them become slaves to the grueling battle for survival of day-to-day life. Very few are given the chance to test and learn, thus going up to the temple and learn the duties of a priest. Most are stuck for life in the pits of darkness and coal dust, their lives prematurely ending in bodies worn out or crippled, skin of leather and undernourished, thinking only of making their tally, celebrating for making it through another month. Some of the young guard a hidden hope to go "up" and leave the mines behind, but this almost never happens. This is a world with very little hope, but full of strife for survival and life.
"...“The power is not given you by the Father. The power is the Father. He will not be shackled. He does not serve. He will not be bound."..."
Our other protagonist, Kharios, is one of those few given the chance to become novices and study the rituals, dogmas, and metal work which is unique to this religious order. However, there are some Priests, in this case Ossan, who use the young men as their private slaves, abusing them in all conceivable ways, making even the coveted life above the mines into a living hell. Kharios' experiences have left him disillusioned and damaged, heavy with guilt and empty of hope. He has learned very damaging lessons - better someone else than me and stay out of other's business, even if that will be detrimental to them, don't rock the boat... This is very painful to read about in several occasions, and although the reader wishes him to do more, to be better, to be less selfish, you still understand why he acts the way he does, and you wish you didn't... We all want to imagine ourselves as brave and valorous, unrelenting in our honor and selflessness if put in difficult situations... But we never truly know, do we... ?! This is what makes the characters in this book so relatable. They make us uncomfortable with the honesty of their survival instincts, which not always overlap with our ideas for goodness and bravery.
"...“You discovered a liar. An abomination. All those years we spent questioning the faith, and when finally the Father is found and we have our confirmation of his existence, we discover that he’s a monster.”..."
Then there is the setting, which is maybe the main charachter in the whole story. The author does an amazing job creating this dark and moody world, where the darkness, the stones and even the mushrooms and driftwood have personalities of their own. You can feel the breath of the stones, you can palpitate the darkness, you can see the glow of the mushrooms and the chems, you can feel the claustrophobia and labyrinthine nature of the cave systems, all of it making for one creepy and spooky microcosm. I was completely spellbound by it!!! It is a place I pray not to visit even in my nightmares. Add to that the Fallen religion of the Forgemaster, a G-d who has turned his back to his followers and doesn't communicate with them anymore, given his disappointment in his disciples, as well as the animated darkness which haunts the place, called Utterdark, throw in some spirit wraiths and undead walking, and you get an idea of the horrors our protagonists have to battle. If you like some horror in your fantasy, this is a perfect book for you!!!
"...“Can you imagine, ....? Your soul imprisoned inside the great anvil for all eternity? Unable to pass on to whatever lies beyond because our god,” he spat out the word, “had turned his back on his people? Can you blame them for their anger? For their madness?”
The corpse shook its head. “They were desperate in their hate and starved of vengeance. All I’ve done is offer them a little direction.”..."
The book was left somewhat open-ended with a possibility for sequels, which I would love to read, but I think it stands well on its own as well. The prose is beautiful and the story is addictive, despite some slower pacing, which was perfect for setting the mood. There were no romantic relationships, but plenty of human interaction and that part actually felt fine with me:) A romance would have been to unnatural at this point. You guys have to check it out:)
Now I wish you all Happy reading and my you always find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
Well that was something!!! I had never read a book by this author before and the gorgeous cover drew me to it, thinking it might have something to do with the Nordic Religions... It didn't, but I was not left disappointed.
A lot like the Cult of Thor, the Forgemaster Religion has to do with the fire and the gift of the G-ds to humans to work metals while communing with the G-d through chants and prayers as they work with the fire and the anvil. So, just as one of the characters asked "So, this is just a religion of smiths?", I thought of it in that simplistic manner when I started this dark tale... However, together with one of our protagonists, Wynn discovered, there is much more to this than meets the eye...
Wynn's family and their farm has been hit hard by the drought, as well as the taxes the government has added to support a war somewhere in far off lands. Having been left with nothing and In order to get money for starter seeds and lessen the load on the family, his father is selling him to the Temple of the Forgemaster. 17 years old Wynn doesn't want to be there, but has no choice and enters the Temple as an aspirant. He is not really sure what that would entail, but he thinks he will study with the priests. Turns out, that is not necessarily so. The temple is in a mountain and its gates serve as the only entrance and exit to a vast underground cave system, which is a whole settlement of its own. This underground world is created around a mining operation for different ore, including coal, copper, gold, and others... Everyone contracted to the Temple is marked and all of them become slaves to the grueling battle for survival of day-to-day life. Very few are given the chance to test and learn, thus going up to the temple and learn the duties of a priest. Most are stuck for life in the pits of darkness and coal dust, their lives prematurely ending in bodies worn out or crippled, skin of leather and undernourished, thinking only of making their tally, celebrating for making it through another month. Some of the young guard a hidden hope to go "up" and leave the mines behind, but this almost never happens. This is a world with very little hope, but full of strife for survival and life.
"...“The power is not given you by the Father. The power is the Father. He will not be shackled. He does not serve. He will not be bound."..."
Our other protagonist, Kharios, is one of those few given the chance to become novices and study the rituals, dogmas, and metal work which is unique to this religious order. However, there are some Priests, in this case Ossan, who use the young men as their private slaves, abusing them in all conceivable ways, making even the coveted life above the mines into a living hell. Kharios' experiences have left him disillusioned and damaged, heavy with guilt and empty of hope. He has learned very damaging lessons - better someone else than me and stay out of other's business, even if that will be detrimental to them, don't rock the boat... This is very painful to read about in several occasions, and although the reader wishes him to do more, to be better, to be less selfish, you still understand why he acts the way he does, and you wish you didn't... We all want to imagine ourselves as brave and valorous, unrelenting in our honor and selflessness if put in difficult situations... But we never truly know, do we... ?! This is what makes the characters in this book so relatable. They make us uncomfortable with the honesty of their survival instincts, which not always overlap with our ideas for goodness and bravery.
"...“You discovered a liar. An abomination. All those years we spent questioning the faith, and when finally the Father is found and we have our confirmation of his existence, we discover that he’s a monster.”..."
Then there is the setting, which is maybe the main charachter in the whole story. The author does an amazing job creating this dark and moody world, where the darkness, the stones and even the mushrooms and driftwood have personalities of their own. You can feel the breath of the stones, you can palpitate the darkness, you can see the glow of the mushrooms and the chems, you can feel the claustrophobia and labyrinthine nature of the cave systems, all of it making for one creepy and spooky microcosm. I was completely spellbound by it!!! It is a place I pray not to visit even in my nightmares. Add to that the Fallen religion of the Forgemaster, a G-d who has turned his back to his followers and doesn't communicate with them anymore, given his disappointment in his disciples, as well as the animated darkness which haunts the place, called Utterdark, throw in some spirit wraiths and undead walking, and you get an idea of the horrors our protagonists have to battle. If you like some horror in your fantasy, this is a perfect book for you!!!
"...“Can you imagine, ....? Your soul imprisoned inside the great anvil for all eternity? Unable to pass on to whatever lies beyond because our god,” he spat out the word, “had turned his back on his people? Can you blame them for their anger? For their madness?”
The corpse shook its head. “They were desperate in their hate and starved of vengeance. All I’ve done is offer them a little direction.”..."
The book was left somewhat open-ended with a possibility for sequels, which I would love to read, but I think it stands well on its own as well. The prose is beautiful and the story is addictive, despite some slower pacing, which was perfect for setting the mood. There were no romantic relationships, but plenty of human interaction and that part actually felt fine with me:) A romance would have been to unnatural at this point. You guys have to check it out:)
Now I wish you all Happy reading and my you always find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
September 24, 2017
From faeries and myths and folklore, to mines and priests and the sacred aspect of the forge, Graham Austin-King jumps from one trilogy to the next, and from good to impeccable.
The priests and warriors of the Forgefather once ruled the world in his name. Now they are but a shadow of their former selves, forced to obscurity as their God turned his back on them and stopped answering their prayers. Rendered to simple smiths and craftsmen, they can but reminisce the old days and of that which was lost. But when an experiment goes wrong, they will get far more than they ever asked for.
"The blackness was total. Not the velvet night of above ground, when even the faintest of stars will provide some light. That darkness can even be a comfort. This was a darkness that held no warmth. It fell unopposed. And all unchallenged, it ruled."
Faithless has already been reviewed on BookNest three times in the last couple of weeks, so I'll keep mine short. In his new novel, Austin-King explores some different aspects of fantasy, shifting through a lot of themes such as faith, slavery and the art of craftsmanship. This isn't a book of epic fights, exciting action sequences, mages and creatures of old - this is a journey of self-discovery and of a twisted pilgrimage.
Austin-King paid a lot of attention to every detail, and that, combined with his unique story-telling abilities resulted in a mesmerizing story that gripes you from the very first page. A lot of minor subplots were efficiently interlaced within the main storyline, playing a vital role to the self-growth of the protagonist(s), and paving the road for the events to come, as well as some shocking revelations; revelations that were part of two carefully planned plot-twists that although I saw them coming from a long way, I was still pleased to see them unraveling.
The pace of the story was steady and with a rising tempo, but the finale felt kinda anti-climatic. Nothing important, mind you; just an observation, and most certainly not significant enough to affect the pleasure you will get from finishing the book. Finally, Austin-King's prose was excellent, as a matter of fact one of the best I've ever seen, changing and adapting throughout the story.
All in all, Faithless is the high point of Austin-King's career, and I'm truly surprised that it wasn't snatched by one of the major publishers. I expect it to be a finalist of SPFBO 2017.
You can find more of my reviews over on http://BookNest.eu
The priests and warriors of the Forgefather once ruled the world in his name. Now they are but a shadow of their former selves, forced to obscurity as their God turned his back on them and stopped answering their prayers. Rendered to simple smiths and craftsmen, they can but reminisce the old days and of that which was lost. But when an experiment goes wrong, they will get far more than they ever asked for.
"The blackness was total. Not the velvet night of above ground, when even the faintest of stars will provide some light. That darkness can even be a comfort. This was a darkness that held no warmth. It fell unopposed. And all unchallenged, it ruled."
Faithless has already been reviewed on BookNest three times in the last couple of weeks, so I'll keep mine short. In his new novel, Austin-King explores some different aspects of fantasy, shifting through a lot of themes such as faith, slavery and the art of craftsmanship. This isn't a book of epic fights, exciting action sequences, mages and creatures of old - this is a journey of self-discovery and of a twisted pilgrimage.
Austin-King paid a lot of attention to every detail, and that, combined with his unique story-telling abilities resulted in a mesmerizing story that gripes you from the very first page. A lot of minor subplots were efficiently interlaced within the main storyline, playing a vital role to the self-growth of the protagonist(s), and paving the road for the events to come, as well as some shocking revelations; revelations that were part of two carefully planned plot-twists that although I saw them coming from a long way, I was still pleased to see them unraveling.
The pace of the story was steady and with a rising tempo, but the finale felt kinda anti-climatic. Nothing important, mind you; just an observation, and most certainly not significant enough to affect the pleasure you will get from finishing the book. Finally, Austin-King's prose was excellent, as a matter of fact one of the best I've ever seen, changing and adapting throughout the story.
All in all, Faithless is the high point of Austin-King's career, and I'm truly surprised that it wasn't snatched by one of the major publishers. I expect it to be a finalist of SPFBO 2017.
You can find more of my reviews over on http://BookNest.eu
August 4, 2017
Full review now up!
First, I would like to thank the author, Graham Austin-King, for sending me a review copy of this book.
Faithless was a wonderful surprise. It caught me totally off guard and unprepared. I was not expecting the tone and feel I got from reading this. OK! Let me slow down just a moment. To be completely honest I am not fond of caves, mines, or confined spaces. Most books I read that contain mines or caves don't bother me. Faithless, on the other hand, had me feeling completely creeped out at times. Mr. Austin-King's pros were fabulous when describing this world and the dark life that these people live. And while I may have been uncomfortable at times. I must applause him for making me feel so engaged to have these feelings.
'The blackness was total. Not the velvet night of above ground, when even the faintest of stars will provide some light. That darkness can even be a comfort. This was a darkness that held no warmth. It fell unopposed. And all unchallenged, it ruled.'
The faith of the Forgefather has been a shadow of its former self for centuries. The metalwork the priests could forge before the Fall was sought by kings and empires throughout the world. Now, the lone temple in Carnath and the mines beneath are all that holds the faith together. The mining city of Aspiration lies directly beneath the temple in a huge cavern, and supplies the priests in the temple the raw materials for their forges. The only source of light in Aspiration, besides the chemlamps, is a fissure in the ceiling that lets in enough light for only a section of the city. Most who enter Aspiration never leave….unless of course you can pass your trial.
’The Father spoke from the flame and revealed the truth to mankind. Our way lies lost to stone and darkness. Only by hammer and flame, by the grace of the Father, shall we find the true path.’
Wynn is an aspirant, the lowest level of miner in the city of Aspiration. Sold into servitude by his father to try and keep his farm. Kharios is an acolyte in the Temple of the Forgefather, and apprentice to Father Ossan. The story is told from both POV’s, and the author does a fabulous job with the situations these characters are thrown into and the emotional decisions that self-preservation will force on the human mind.
’The only loyalty you owe is to yourself. The choice is always the same. Either learn in the temple, or die in the mines.’
Faithless is a diverse novel that I felt crossed the boundaries of several genres: Fantasy, Thriller, and maybe a little Horror. The world building and character development were both great. It has a dark setting and an authentic feel that will appeal to a wide range of readers. I am not sure if this was intended as a stand- alone, but it is left open for another book….or more. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there is more to come after that ending. I strongly recommend this book to readers of all genres.
’History is full of brutal and ruthless men. They usually call them victors’.
4.5 stars ****
First, I would like to thank the author, Graham Austin-King, for sending me a review copy of this book.
Faithless was a wonderful surprise. It caught me totally off guard and unprepared. I was not expecting the tone and feel I got from reading this. OK! Let me slow down just a moment. To be completely honest I am not fond of caves, mines, or confined spaces. Most books I read that contain mines or caves don't bother me. Faithless, on the other hand, had me feeling completely creeped out at times. Mr. Austin-King's pros were fabulous when describing this world and the dark life that these people live. And while I may have been uncomfortable at times. I must applause him for making me feel so engaged to have these feelings.
'The blackness was total. Not the velvet night of above ground, when even the faintest of stars will provide some light. That darkness can even be a comfort. This was a darkness that held no warmth. It fell unopposed. And all unchallenged, it ruled.'
The faith of the Forgefather has been a shadow of its former self for centuries. The metalwork the priests could forge before the Fall was sought by kings and empires throughout the world. Now, the lone temple in Carnath and the mines beneath are all that holds the faith together. The mining city of Aspiration lies directly beneath the temple in a huge cavern, and supplies the priests in the temple the raw materials for their forges. The only source of light in Aspiration, besides the chemlamps, is a fissure in the ceiling that lets in enough light for only a section of the city. Most who enter Aspiration never leave….unless of course you can pass your trial.
’The Father spoke from the flame and revealed the truth to mankind. Our way lies lost to stone and darkness. Only by hammer and flame, by the grace of the Father, shall we find the true path.’
Wynn is an aspirant, the lowest level of miner in the city of Aspiration. Sold into servitude by his father to try and keep his farm. Kharios is an acolyte in the Temple of the Forgefather, and apprentice to Father Ossan. The story is told from both POV’s, and the author does a fabulous job with the situations these characters are thrown into and the emotional decisions that self-preservation will force on the human mind.
’The only loyalty you owe is to yourself. The choice is always the same. Either learn in the temple, or die in the mines.’
Faithless is a diverse novel that I felt crossed the boundaries of several genres: Fantasy, Thriller, and maybe a little Horror. The world building and character development were both great. It has a dark setting and an authentic feel that will appeal to a wide range of readers. I am not sure if this was intended as a stand- alone, but it is left open for another book….or more. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there is more to come after that ending. I strongly recommend this book to readers of all genres.
’History is full of brutal and ruthless men. They usually call them victors’.
4.5 stars ****
August 2, 2017
The book can be summed up in 6 words:
I. Did. Not. See. That. Coming.
So I'd noticed this book on my feed a fair few times recently. If you read fantasy, bet you have too. All glowing reviews. Even so, I'm picky about this genre so it took a while to convince me to give it a go.
Initially it looked like there was nothing that new here, but just because we have the same ingredients doesn't mean me and Mary Berry will bake an identical cake.
Instead of a well worn 'chosen one' story, this boots you in the face with gritty realism and complex morality. It's uncomfortable reading, each character's not so heroic choices become your own if you can only admit it to yourself. These people don't need you to like them, but they do demand a hefty dose of honesty to be understood.
Each and every time I became comfortable in the book, Austin-King woke me with a big open hand slap to the face. Partly this was because I hadn't read the blurb properly and I heartily recommend this as the surprises are way more fun that way. The rest of it was all the author making good choices. Some of those were the depth of the world, mine setting, and story of the Forgefather. Exquisite in detail yet never lost in itself, it's so richly relayed that you practically choke on the coal dust. Right down to the named hammer strokes and religious chants that make up part of the magic system, every moment and every piece of information has been thought through. It all has meaning and as a reader, I could feel it.
Then there's a whole load of shocks, horrible deaths, thrilling fight and escape sequences, more grisly deaths, and a crazy, brilliant end sequence that finishes the immediate story but leaves the future wide open. I already want more.
Highly recommended.
ARC via Netgalley.
I. Did. Not. See. That. Coming.
So I'd noticed this book on my feed a fair few times recently. If you read fantasy, bet you have too. All glowing reviews. Even so, I'm picky about this genre so it took a while to convince me to give it a go.
Initially it looked like there was nothing that new here, but just because we have the same ingredients doesn't mean me and Mary Berry will bake an identical cake.
Instead of a well worn 'chosen one' story, this boots you in the face with gritty realism and complex morality. It's uncomfortable reading, each character's not so heroic choices become your own if you can only admit it to yourself. These people don't need you to like them, but they do demand a hefty dose of honesty to be understood.
Each and every time I became comfortable in the book, Austin-King woke me with a big open hand slap to the face. Partly this was because I hadn't read the blurb properly and I heartily recommend this as the surprises are way more fun that way. The rest of it was all the author making good choices. Some of those were the depth of the world, mine setting, and story of the Forgefather. Exquisite in detail yet never lost in itself, it's so richly relayed that you practically choke on the coal dust. Right down to the named hammer strokes and religious chants that make up part of the magic system, every moment and every piece of information has been thought through. It all has meaning and as a reader, I could feel it.
Then there's a whole load of shocks, horrible deaths, thrilling fight and escape sequences, more grisly deaths, and a crazy, brilliant end sequence that finishes the immediate story but leaves the future wide open. I already want more.
Highly recommended.
ARC via Netgalley.
September 5, 2017
4.5 ⭐️
A slightly overdue review. Finally, I got a minute to pull some thoughts together. But will keep it brief if I can...and spolier free.
Quick confession to start. I really enjoy single book fantasy novels. I know many would have a different opinion, and the genre as a whole is infamous for its sprawling series. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a long 10 book story like a next guy, but it is only a limited number of series one can stay up to date with (this is why Malazan always slides away from my attention). And I have lots of respect for the authors that can reign in their imagination to produce a single volume story. Anyhow, the fact that Faithless is a 'one-shot' gives it a rating boost on 'my books'.
Overall Verdict
I truly enjoyed the book and strongly recommend others to give it a go. It is a grimdark story with highly inventive world-building behind it. It is brutal, gritty and low magic (mixed exactly to my liking).
[BTW, if you are a high fantasy fan, just imagine that everything that happens in the book takes place somewhere like Moria and all characters are dwarves (it would make perfect sense and be kinda fun this way as well)].
Comparison
I always think in terms of 'what does it remind me of?'. 'Faithless' is the closest thing to Rothfuss' 'Kingkiller Chronicle' (The Name of the Wind) I have come across so far. Particularly Kvothe at the University part. It has the same 'depth' and immersion in the details of the setting that sets it apart from others.
The Great
>) An incredibly well thought-through setting! Great kudos to the author! Unusual, unexpected and believable.
>) The faith/church/cult of Forgefather. The sheer detail and attention to small things are mesmerising. How is that not a real thing?!
>) Double helix of POV plotlines. There are two POVs in the story that eventually cross their paths. POV story line overlap is a bit predictable but still satisfying.
The Flaws
>) I felt that the main plot twist/culmination at the end was a little bit forced. I have praised the brevity of fantasy books earlier, but in this case, I wished it actually was 100 pages or so longer to make the transition of styles from 'atmospheric' to 'high octane' a little bit smoother
>) In fact, I would probably wish that a conflict at the end was less action-driven and more built around 'a mystery'. There are so many great hooks within the story: the Whisperers, the Utterdark, the Forgefather, the Priesthood. I think you could have done more with the ingredients available.
>) If this story was a D&D module - it has a perfect ending. But since it is not, I wish the author made different plot choices at the end of the novel. But this is based on personal preferences alone
Notice that all my Flaws remarks are concerned with the last 15% of the story. Everything else was a pure joy for me.
Strongly encourage you to give it a go! I will be definitely watching out for the new books from the Graham Austin-King. And The Riven Wyrde Saga is on my TBR.
PS: How on earth this is an indie publication?! Why this gem was missed by the publishing 'big names'? Given the type of stuff that you have to sift through in the bookstore to find a good story... I guess I will never understand how this works... Rant over.
This is a top quality product from both story and execution perspective.
A slightly overdue review. Finally, I got a minute to pull some thoughts together. But will keep it brief if I can...and spolier free.
Quick confession to start. I really enjoy single book fantasy novels. I know many would have a different opinion, and the genre as a whole is infamous for its sprawling series. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a long 10 book story like a next guy, but it is only a limited number of series one can stay up to date with (this is why Malazan always slides away from my attention). And I have lots of respect for the authors that can reign in their imagination to produce a single volume story. Anyhow, the fact that Faithless is a 'one-shot' gives it a rating boost on 'my books'.
Overall Verdict
I truly enjoyed the book and strongly recommend others to give it a go. It is a grimdark story with highly inventive world-building behind it. It is brutal, gritty and low magic (mixed exactly to my liking).
[BTW, if you are a high fantasy fan, just imagine that everything that happens in the book takes place somewhere like Moria and all characters are dwarves (it would make perfect sense and be kinda fun this way as well)].
Comparison
I always think in terms of 'what does it remind me of?'. 'Faithless' is the closest thing to Rothfuss' 'Kingkiller Chronicle' (The Name of the Wind) I have come across so far. Particularly Kvothe at the University part. It has the same 'depth' and immersion in the details of the setting that sets it apart from others.
The Great
>) An incredibly well thought-through setting! Great kudos to the author! Unusual, unexpected and believable.
>) The faith/church/cult of Forgefather. The sheer detail and attention to small things are mesmerising. How is that not a real thing?!
>) Double helix of POV plotlines. There are two POVs in the story that eventually cross their paths. POV story line overlap is a bit predictable but still satisfying.
The Flaws
>) I felt that the main plot twist/culmination at the end was a little bit forced. I have praised the brevity of fantasy books earlier, but in this case, I wished it actually was 100 pages or so longer to make the transition of styles from 'atmospheric' to 'high octane' a little bit smoother
>) In fact, I would probably wish that a conflict at the end was less action-driven and more built around 'a mystery'. There are so many great hooks within the story: the Whisperers, the Utterdark, the Forgefather, the Priesthood. I think you could have done more with the ingredients available.
>) If this story was a D&D module - it has a perfect ending. But since it is not, I wish the author made different plot choices at the end of the novel. But this is based on personal preferences alone
Notice that all my Flaws remarks are concerned with the last 15% of the story. Everything else was a pure joy for me.
Strongly encourage you to give it a go! I will be definitely watching out for the new books from the Graham Austin-King. And The Riven Wyrde Saga is on my TBR.
PS: How on earth this is an indie publication?! Why this gem was missed by the publishing 'big names'? Given the type of stuff that you have to sift through in the bookstore to find a good story... I guess I will never understand how this works... Rant over.
This is a top quality product from both story and execution perspective.
July 30, 2017
You can find this, and other reviews like it at our blog Tome Raider.
Actual rating: 4.75. Rounded up to 5 because of how original it is and that awesome end sequence!
I couldn't have been more surprised by how good this book was! Sure, it kind of bogged down around the middle, but not due to bad writing. It kind of had to. But I wasn't even bored during the slow parts, just hungry for more of his well written action scenes!
This story follows 2 POV's: Wynn and Kharios. Wynn is the son of a farmer who has hit hard times due to draught and has sold his son to the church in exchange for the Father's Blessing. Wynn thinks he's going to serve the church to become a priest, but he couldn't be more wrong. He's sent down to the mines to mine ore for the church. Once he's down there he does find out that people do get chosen, by the priests, to take the Trials. If you pass the Trials you get the chance to become a novice to a priest and train at the Forge to possibly rise up in the ranks and eventually/hopefully become a priest. Kharios is currently a novice who is having a bit of trouble with the priest he was/is studying under, due to their rocky past. Saying any more than that is spoiler territory, so I'll leave it at that.
The Faith and the whole premise of the book is what made me give this book such a high rating. His writing, too, but I think that goes without saying. The Faith revolves basically around blacksmithing. Their god is called the Forgefather and it's a pretty badass religion, minus a certain priest. I really love blacksmithing, so this greatly appeals to me. From all I know about smithing, he was actually really accurate with the craft. I loved how he was able to take something as beautiful as smithing and use every aspect of the art to create a religion from it. One of the most original ideas I've come across in Fantasy.
The characters were pretty well written. I personally didn't care much for them in the beginning, but I grew to really love them. I had a hard time connecting with the main character and that took away from my enjoyment a bit, in the beginning at least. But the smithing and mining held me over til I started to enjoy them.
I really liked the economy and world he set up. It definitely felt like what a little mining town would've felt like. He was so great at making his scenes really vivid without bogging you down with excess info. That's one of my biggest pet peeves: spending tons of time explaining things that make no difference. I never came across any parts of the book like that. I would have to say that some people might feel like his blacksmithing scenes are like this, but I'm not the best judge of that. He spends a bit of time talking about setting the fires and some technical jargon, but I think he did a good job of not lingering on these parts of the scenes.
The prose was my cup of tea. Like I said above, he doesn't use 2 pages to say things that could be said in a paragraph. His prose is crisp and to the point. That's something I really appreciate. As I have trouble not rambling just in my reviews, so I can't imagine how hard that must be in your book.
One thing I do want to mention is that it does deal with child molestation/rape. Most of it is hinted at, but there is one scene where it deals with it very closely. I know this is a very touchy subject for many, so I wanted to include this. It's handled about as well as you can handle something like this, though.
With that said, this is such an original, fun, and refreshing read. You'll get tons of great action scenes and some really dark scenes. Highly, highly recommend this one!
Actual rating: 4.75. Rounded up to 5 because of how original it is and that awesome end sequence!
I couldn't have been more surprised by how good this book was! Sure, it kind of bogged down around the middle, but not due to bad writing. It kind of had to. But I wasn't even bored during the slow parts, just hungry for more of his well written action scenes!
This story follows 2 POV's: Wynn and Kharios. Wynn is the son of a farmer who has hit hard times due to draught and has sold his son to the church in exchange for the Father's Blessing. Wynn thinks he's going to serve the church to become a priest, but he couldn't be more wrong. He's sent down to the mines to mine ore for the church. Once he's down there he does find out that people do get chosen, by the priests, to take the Trials. If you pass the Trials you get the chance to become a novice to a priest and train at the Forge to possibly rise up in the ranks and eventually/hopefully become a priest. Kharios is currently a novice who is having a bit of trouble with the priest he was/is studying under, due to their rocky past. Saying any more than that is spoiler territory, so I'll leave it at that.
The Faith and the whole premise of the book is what made me give this book such a high rating. His writing, too, but I think that goes without saying. The Faith revolves basically around blacksmithing. Their god is called the Forgefather and it's a pretty badass religion, minus a certain priest. I really love blacksmithing, so this greatly appeals to me. From all I know about smithing, he was actually really accurate with the craft. I loved how he was able to take something as beautiful as smithing and use every aspect of the art to create a religion from it. One of the most original ideas I've come across in Fantasy.
The characters were pretty well written. I personally didn't care much for them in the beginning, but I grew to really love them. I had a hard time connecting with the main character and that took away from my enjoyment a bit, in the beginning at least. But the smithing and mining held me over til I started to enjoy them.
I really liked the economy and world he set up. It definitely felt like what a little mining town would've felt like. He was so great at making his scenes really vivid without bogging you down with excess info. That's one of my biggest pet peeves: spending tons of time explaining things that make no difference. I never came across any parts of the book like that. I would have to say that some people might feel like his blacksmithing scenes are like this, but I'm not the best judge of that. He spends a bit of time talking about setting the fires and some technical jargon, but I think he did a good job of not lingering on these parts of the scenes.
The prose was my cup of tea. Like I said above, he doesn't use 2 pages to say things that could be said in a paragraph. His prose is crisp and to the point. That's something I really appreciate. As I have trouble not rambling just in my reviews, so I can't imagine how hard that must be in your book.
One thing I do want to mention is that it does deal with child molestation/rape. Most of it is hinted at, but there is one scene where it deals with it very closely. I know this is a very touchy subject for many, so I wanted to include this. It's handled about as well as you can handle something like this, though.
With that said, this is such an original, fun, and refreshing read. You'll get tons of great action scenes and some really dark scenes. Highly, highly recommend this one!
March 21, 2021
And now we are closer to publication - here is the full review! Note that there could be some changes between the beta version I was given by the author and the finished book.
------------
I already loved the first series of the author, so when I was asked if I wanted to beta read Faithless I was quite excited. And the book didn't disappoint.
First off all - I love Austin-Kings prose. Besides Rothfuss' (and no, the books are nothing alike) his are some the few books I actually notice the prose itself for it's beauty. It flows with the story. More purple in some parts, where it fits the story and matter of fact in other parts. It felt very natural and made the reading incredibly fluid for me.
I was instantly hooked by the worldbuilding in this story. I love the religion of the forgefather, and the way that temple and mine are linked. It is a tiny part of the world, and yet a really big place to explore! It wasn't a blank backdrop to set the plot in front of - but rather an important part of the story. The balance between in-depth knowledge and avoiding infodumps was perfectly met. I was never bored with the story, and felt like I was really there, breathing the stale air, feeling the hot air and hearing the hammers. Especially the details of forging and mining were a joy to read!
The characters were varied and very realistic. I liked the main protagonists, and despised the villains. The characters do change over the course of the book and you can really see them grow in front of your eyes.
Some of the things happening are pretty grim and I want to put a trigger warning here, for it containing some sexual abuse. It was very well handled though - a part of the story, and not just put there for the sake of it, or to make the story darker.
While the world was dark, there is also friendship, loyalty and people making the best of what they have and some really beautiful moments in the book. It isn't just bleak, but has a counterbalance of good things too.
Be warned - this book is not an "And they all lived happily ever after" kind of story.
100 goody points for it being a book WITHOUT a love interest! It was such a nice break - and I really loved (pardon the pun) that it was about relationships and interactions between all the characters, and not just one couple trudging around each other.
All in all I really enjoyed the whole book and can only wholeheartedly recommend it!
It is resolved enough to be a standalone, but has enough things left open to allow a sequel. I for one really hope for a sequel, as I would love to see more of this world!
------------
I already loved the first series of the author, so when I was asked if I wanted to beta read Faithless I was quite excited. And the book didn't disappoint.
First off all - I love Austin-Kings prose. Besides Rothfuss' (and no, the books are nothing alike) his are some the few books I actually notice the prose itself for it's beauty. It flows with the story. More purple in some parts, where it fits the story and matter of fact in other parts. It felt very natural and made the reading incredibly fluid for me.
I was instantly hooked by the worldbuilding in this story. I love the religion of the forgefather, and the way that temple and mine are linked. It is a tiny part of the world, and yet a really big place to explore! It wasn't a blank backdrop to set the plot in front of - but rather an important part of the story. The balance between in-depth knowledge and avoiding infodumps was perfectly met. I was never bored with the story, and felt like I was really there, breathing the stale air, feeling the hot air and hearing the hammers. Especially the details of forging and mining were a joy to read!
The characters were varied and very realistic. I liked the main protagonists, and despised the villains. The characters do change over the course of the book and you can really see them grow in front of your eyes.
Some of the things happening are pretty grim and I want to put a trigger warning here, for it containing some sexual abuse. It was very well handled though - a part of the story, and not just put there for the sake of it, or to make the story darker.
While the world was dark, there is also friendship, loyalty and people making the best of what they have and some really beautiful moments in the book. It isn't just bleak, but has a counterbalance of good things too.
Be warned - this book is not an "And they all lived happily ever after" kind of story.
100 goody points for it being a book WITHOUT a love interest! It was such a nice break - and I really loved (pardon the pun) that it was about relationships and interactions between all the characters, and not just one couple trudging around each other.
All in all I really enjoyed the whole book and can only wholeheartedly recommend it!
It is resolved enough to be a standalone, but has enough things left open to allow a sequel. I for one really hope for a sequel, as I would love to see more of this world!
January 23, 2019
4.5 out of 5
The story of FAITHLESS takes place in one of the more original settings that I have ever encountered. A city network of caverns and tunnels named Aspiration lies beneath the Temple of the Forgefather. Within this underground city, novices are forced into servitude by the temple priests in order to mine for the precious metals that are the lifeblood of their religious order. More a cult really than an actual religion, the priests who serve the Forgefather believe that the only way that they can communicate with the now silent god is through the burning and working of the metals that are dug out daily by the novice slaves. By working the metals in the forge, the priests say that they can speak with the Forgefather and eventually revive their fallen faith. To say that this religion is one of brutality and merciless persecution would be more than accurate as they impose daily tallies that if not met, result in harsh punishment. Wynn is a 17 year-old novice who is sold to the temple by his father who is left impoverished as a result of the harsh taxes imposed by the corrupt government. He is soon put to work in the mines and joins a team that literally works day and night seeing very little of the world outside. Forced servitude is something that Wynn wasn't entirely prepared for at such an early age and he is quickly disillusioned by what has befallen him. Kharios is a novice of the temple studying the arts of metal work and the doctrine of the temple priests. Although his life is somewhat more privileged than Wynn's, he is still every bit a slave, just in a different form. For the priests of the Temple of the Forgefather are not kind, and in some cases they use their authority to take advantage (both mentally and physically) of their young pupils. Both Wynn and Kharios serve the temple in their own way, yet both are beginning to doubt the necessity of the work they do and even start to question their roles as it pertains to serving the long dead god who no longer speaks. Worse still, the mines are not wholly safe and there are quiet murmurings of those who have wandered too far and been "taken" by the Utterdark, the pitch blackness in the very bowels of Aspiration that call the young miners to their deaths. When Wynn and Kharios' paths cross, what follows is a revelation of secrets that neither were prepared to discover and a horror far worse in the form of the risen. What are the risen you may ask? You will just have to read FAITHLESS to find that out.
I am a huge fan of dark fantasy and FAITHLESS fits that description to an absolute tee. This is a book that I devoured completely and voraciously as I found every excuse in the world to steal more time to turn some pages. The idea of a ruthless religion that puts young miners to work as slaves so that they can gain the materials needed to communicate again with a long silent god is just such a cool storyline and concept. There are times when this book makes you feel hopeless and even a little depressed, yet Graham Austin-King never leaves you with the impression that all hope is lost, regardless of the dire circumstances that the main characters are placed in. Yes the priests are about as evil as they come and the mysterious Utterdark is a menace that is to be utterly feared, but Wynn and Kharios are determined to make sense of their situation and overcome it. We see two characters who don't want to conform to the daily regimented harsh running of things. To that point, the world building in FAITHLESS is deep and multi-layered with a very intriguing history behind it. The history of the Forgefather is one that kept me interested because I wanted to find out if indeed this was an actual real thing or if it was just a fairy tale concocted by the priests and religious leaders of the temple for some other nefarious purposes. All in all I really loved FAITHLESS and am so glad that I read it. It gave me hours and hours of incredible enjoyment. If you want to be taken to a deep dark place and have a lot of fun in the process, pick up Graham Austin-King's FAITHLESS and give it a read now. I promise you that it will be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I truly hope that there is a sequel in the works because I need to be transported back to the pitch-black depths of Aspiration in the very near future. Meanwhile, I definitely have to seek out more books by this author.
The story of FAITHLESS takes place in one of the more original settings that I have ever encountered. A city network of caverns and tunnels named Aspiration lies beneath the Temple of the Forgefather. Within this underground city, novices are forced into servitude by the temple priests in order to mine for the precious metals that are the lifeblood of their religious order. More a cult really than an actual religion, the priests who serve the Forgefather believe that the only way that they can communicate with the now silent god is through the burning and working of the metals that are dug out daily by the novice slaves. By working the metals in the forge, the priests say that they can speak with the Forgefather and eventually revive their fallen faith. To say that this religion is one of brutality and merciless persecution would be more than accurate as they impose daily tallies that if not met, result in harsh punishment. Wynn is a 17 year-old novice who is sold to the temple by his father who is left impoverished as a result of the harsh taxes imposed by the corrupt government. He is soon put to work in the mines and joins a team that literally works day and night seeing very little of the world outside. Forced servitude is something that Wynn wasn't entirely prepared for at such an early age and he is quickly disillusioned by what has befallen him. Kharios is a novice of the temple studying the arts of metal work and the doctrine of the temple priests. Although his life is somewhat more privileged than Wynn's, he is still every bit a slave, just in a different form. For the priests of the Temple of the Forgefather are not kind, and in some cases they use their authority to take advantage (both mentally and physically) of their young pupils. Both Wynn and Kharios serve the temple in their own way, yet both are beginning to doubt the necessity of the work they do and even start to question their roles as it pertains to serving the long dead god who no longer speaks. Worse still, the mines are not wholly safe and there are quiet murmurings of those who have wandered too far and been "taken" by the Utterdark, the pitch blackness in the very bowels of Aspiration that call the young miners to their deaths. When Wynn and Kharios' paths cross, what follows is a revelation of secrets that neither were prepared to discover and a horror far worse in the form of the risen. What are the risen you may ask? You will just have to read FAITHLESS to find that out.
I am a huge fan of dark fantasy and FAITHLESS fits that description to an absolute tee. This is a book that I devoured completely and voraciously as I found every excuse in the world to steal more time to turn some pages. The idea of a ruthless religion that puts young miners to work as slaves so that they can gain the materials needed to communicate again with a long silent god is just such a cool storyline and concept. There are times when this book makes you feel hopeless and even a little depressed, yet Graham Austin-King never leaves you with the impression that all hope is lost, regardless of the dire circumstances that the main characters are placed in. Yes the priests are about as evil as they come and the mysterious Utterdark is a menace that is to be utterly feared, but Wynn and Kharios are determined to make sense of their situation and overcome it. We see two characters who don't want to conform to the daily regimented harsh running of things. To that point, the world building in FAITHLESS is deep and multi-layered with a very intriguing history behind it. The history of the Forgefather is one that kept me interested because I wanted to find out if indeed this was an actual real thing or if it was just a fairy tale concocted by the priests and religious leaders of the temple for some other nefarious purposes. All in all I really loved FAITHLESS and am so glad that I read it. It gave me hours and hours of incredible enjoyment. If you want to be taken to a deep dark place and have a lot of fun in the process, pick up Graham Austin-King's FAITHLESS and give it a read now. I promise you that it will be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I truly hope that there is a sequel in the works because I need to be transported back to the pitch-black depths of Aspiration in the very near future. Meanwhile, I definitely have to seek out more books by this author.
June 4, 2021
💀 DNF at 22%.
And the greatest book slump in the history of shrimpkind continues! So what was wrong with this one, you ask? Well this, mostly:
And also this:
September 21, 2018
"Beautifully written, full of exquisitely described settings and well wrought characters, exciting as it is dripping with lingering dread and brooding tension..."
See my full review at Mighty Thor Jrs.!
https://mightythorjrs.wordpress.com/2...
See my full review at Mighty Thor Jrs.!
https://mightythorjrs.wordpress.com/2...
June 26, 2017
I'm going to get a little personal with you here, guys. I've been really, incredibly poor for a couple of years now. Virtually everything I earn, after basic necessities, has been going towards getting my degree. Why am I telling you this in a book review? To explain why I don't do book reviews. Put simply, I don't buy books to read for pleasure, nowadays, because that's a luxury I've had to put on hold. No books means no book reviews.
While this kept me sane during the first SPFBO (when you can't read the competition, you can avoid obsessing about whether another's prose is better or worse), it's been a bit of a disappointment since then. I wanted to read everyone's SPFBO books, afterward. And someday I will. After the degree is paid for.
So along comes Graham Austin-King the other day (one of my SPFBO cohort), and he says “Psst, hey kid, wanna read an advance copy of Faithless?” To which I replied “Yup.” And then he said “So let it be written, so let it be done.” (Okay, I might be paraphrasing.) It didn't hurt a bit that Sarah Chorn had edited it. Sarah was, is and will be one of the ten bloggers who judge the SPFBO, if you aren't aware, and while “Trouble's Braids” wasn't one of her favorite books from the competition, her review of it is one of my favorite reviews to this day.
Wow, okay, that's three paragraphs and I still haven't started talking about the book. I should probably do that.
Faithless is a lot of things. It's an exercise in word-building, an exploration of faith and the loss of faith, and perhaps especially, it's a kind of meditation on morality. All of this is experienced through the lens of Wynn, a boy sold by his father to the Temple of the Forgefather to be an “aspirant” – one who might someday become a priest. As Wynn quickly learns, what this really means is he's to be a slave in the mines below the temple. And while there's a real, if pathetically slender, chance of him making it out of the mines and up to the temple, the troubles he would leave behind underground would only be swapped for other, less straightforward dangers in the temple's candle-lit halls. There is a very good reason that the religion of the god of smiths has gone into steep decline, and why the Forgefather turned his face away from his priesthood.
I'm a writer. I can't help but read with a writer's eye. To me, the most striking thing about Faithless is the world building. Graham has created, in Faithless, a meticulous microcosm of a world where the wider, outside world is barely a rumor. There is a claustrophobic, inward-turning flavor to the book that, while uncomfortable, is perfect for the material. The world of Faithless is divided into three parts: The Temple of the Forge Father, the makeshift cavern-town of Aspiration below it, and the mines and caverns below that. And for the first book in a possible series, that's quite enough. Wynn's world is grim, and literally and figuratively dark.
In such a world, it's little wonder that the main character is often faced with terrible choices. It's also not surprising that some of the choices he makes echo the title of the book. In the world Wynn finds himself in, the placing of faith in others is a necessity for survival – but keeping faith others have placed in you means never escaping a hellish existence. Ultimately Wynn is an engaging protagonist because of his flaws, his faithlessness, and his own recognition of them.
So, to sum up, I found Faithless to be an engaging fantasy in an unusual, well-executed secondary world, which is something that I love. I also have a fondness for the exploration of religion in fantasy, which is often glossed over. In Faithless, religion is one of the main themes, and it provides the central mystery and the basis for a creepy and bloody third act. What's not to like?
Many thanks to Graham Austin-King for providing an advance reading copy. I truly enjoyed it.
While this kept me sane during the first SPFBO (when you can't read the competition, you can avoid obsessing about whether another's prose is better or worse), it's been a bit of a disappointment since then. I wanted to read everyone's SPFBO books, afterward. And someday I will. After the degree is paid for.
So along comes Graham Austin-King the other day (one of my SPFBO cohort), and he says “Psst, hey kid, wanna read an advance copy of Faithless?” To which I replied “Yup.” And then he said “So let it be written, so let it be done.” (Okay, I might be paraphrasing.) It didn't hurt a bit that Sarah Chorn had edited it. Sarah was, is and will be one of the ten bloggers who judge the SPFBO, if you aren't aware, and while “Trouble's Braids” wasn't one of her favorite books from the competition, her review of it is one of my favorite reviews to this day.
Wow, okay, that's three paragraphs and I still haven't started talking about the book. I should probably do that.
Faithless is a lot of things. It's an exercise in word-building, an exploration of faith and the loss of faith, and perhaps especially, it's a kind of meditation on morality. All of this is experienced through the lens of Wynn, a boy sold by his father to the Temple of the Forgefather to be an “aspirant” – one who might someday become a priest. As Wynn quickly learns, what this really means is he's to be a slave in the mines below the temple. And while there's a real, if pathetically slender, chance of him making it out of the mines and up to the temple, the troubles he would leave behind underground would only be swapped for other, less straightforward dangers in the temple's candle-lit halls. There is a very good reason that the religion of the god of smiths has gone into steep decline, and why the Forgefather turned his face away from his priesthood.
I'm a writer. I can't help but read with a writer's eye. To me, the most striking thing about Faithless is the world building. Graham has created, in Faithless, a meticulous microcosm of a world where the wider, outside world is barely a rumor. There is a claustrophobic, inward-turning flavor to the book that, while uncomfortable, is perfect for the material. The world of Faithless is divided into three parts: The Temple of the Forge Father, the makeshift cavern-town of Aspiration below it, and the mines and caverns below that. And for the first book in a possible series, that's quite enough. Wynn's world is grim, and literally and figuratively dark.
In such a world, it's little wonder that the main character is often faced with terrible choices. It's also not surprising that some of the choices he makes echo the title of the book. In the world Wynn finds himself in, the placing of faith in others is a necessity for survival – but keeping faith others have placed in you means never escaping a hellish existence. Ultimately Wynn is an engaging protagonist because of his flaws, his faithlessness, and his own recognition of them.
So, to sum up, I found Faithless to be an engaging fantasy in an unusual, well-executed secondary world, which is something that I love. I also have a fondness for the exploration of religion in fantasy, which is often glossed over. In Faithless, religion is one of the main themes, and it provides the central mystery and the basis for a creepy and bloody third act. What's not to like?
Many thanks to Graham Austin-King for providing an advance reading copy. I truly enjoyed it.
June 29, 2017
I've read and enjoyed Graham Austin-King before... or rather listened to an awesome narrator tell a couple of Graham's tales. So, when the man himself offered me an ARC of Faithless, I snapped it up.
This, of course, was in exchange for an honest review and rating:
Faithless is set in a subterranean land, where honest, hard-working folk graft in the mines to keep a temple of forge-fancying priests and acolytes in ore (very basic version of what is what, down there).
It's an intriguing setting to say the least, especially for anyone (like me) who's visited caves or mines. It's also interesting and bloody obvious how much research Graham has done with regards to smiths and their trade. There's a whole religion and community built around it here, and the forge-work detailing is exquisite!
As well as the aforementioned intrigue and eye-opening level of detail in the setting, Graham has woven in some 'real' characters. Not overly heroic, nor bastards (although there's at least a couple of those), but folk who don't always make the right choice and certainly don't put others before themselves when fear - and ambition - is a factor, but the sort who do still feel for others, and struggle with past choices.
It's these characters and their journey (although there's a heart-skipping twist in what I just said. If you've read it, you'll get it) that lead you through daily life, training, troubles and betrayals. All very 'real' (once again) problems...
And then the fantasy element really kicks in, almost out of the blue, but with a sudden, steady pace that carries the rest of the story through to a climatic conclusion of powers and blood and bodies and, well, a god, or thereabouts.
Safe to say I thoroughly enjoyed this. Safe to say it's Graham's best yet, imho, hence my 5 stars!
Read it and enjoy, because it's out within the week - so go pre-order and see for yourself, because I want to read reactions to *that* revelation ;-)
Cheers,
JP
This, of course, was in exchange for an honest review and rating:
Faithless is set in a subterranean land, where honest, hard-working folk graft in the mines to keep a temple of forge-fancying priests and acolytes in ore (very basic version of what is what, down there).
It's an intriguing setting to say the least, especially for anyone (like me) who's visited caves or mines. It's also interesting and bloody obvious how much research Graham has done with regards to smiths and their trade. There's a whole religion and community built around it here, and the forge-work detailing is exquisite!
As well as the aforementioned intrigue and eye-opening level of detail in the setting, Graham has woven in some 'real' characters. Not overly heroic, nor bastards (although there's at least a couple of those), but folk who don't always make the right choice and certainly don't put others before themselves when fear - and ambition - is a factor, but the sort who do still feel for others, and struggle with past choices.
It's these characters and their journey (although there's a heart-skipping twist in what I just said. If you've read it, you'll get it) that lead you through daily life, training, troubles and betrayals. All very 'real' (once again) problems...
And then the fantasy element really kicks in, almost out of the blue, but with a sudden, steady pace that carries the rest of the story through to a climatic conclusion of powers and blood and bodies and, well, a god, or thereabouts.
Safe to say I thoroughly enjoyed this. Safe to say it's Graham's best yet, imho, hence my 5 stars!
Read it and enjoy, because it's out within the week - so go pre-order and see for yourself, because I want to read reactions to *that* revelation ;-)
Cheers,
JP
January 22, 2019
A fabulous blend of epic, grimdark and horror. The author definitely took this in a completely different direction than I was expecting. The book was engaging from page one and the writing was terrific.
The darkness of a faith gone wrong, a corrupt systems of salary, a god forgotten and a priest of no moral essence whatsoever make this a very dark tale. The author also coalesces two different story lines in a crafty manner that keeps the reader engage and thinking where this might go next.
There was an opening for a sequel which I hope comes to fruition.
The darkness of a faith gone wrong, a corrupt systems of salary, a god forgotten and a priest of no moral essence whatsoever make this a very dark tale. The author also coalesces two different story lines in a crafty manner that keeps the reader engage and thinking where this might go next.
There was an opening for a sequel which I hope comes to fruition.
June 6, 2017
Claustrophobic, dark, thoughtful, and full of tension. I enjoyed it.
January 1, 2018
“The only loyalty you owe is to yourself. The choice is always the same. Either learn in the temple, or die in the mines.”
Quite some book! I tried to read this book slowly, but I could never put it down for long before being pulled back to it. It drew me right in - which was surprising because for the first half of the book I really wasn’t that taken with it. I wasn’t particularly rooting for either of the main characters. But the rich,immersive world building and the uniqueness of the setting demanded my attention. The second half flew by. Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
Quite some book! I tried to read this book slowly, but I could never put it down for long before being pulled back to it. It drew me right in - which was surprising because for the first half of the book I really wasn’t that taken with it. I wasn’t particularly rooting for either of the main characters. But the rich,immersive world building and the uniqueness of the setting demanded my attention. The second half flew by. Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 26, 2017
I was offered an ARC by Graham Austin-King before the recent launch, and as I’ve heard nothing but good things about his work from multiple authors and readers, I leapt at the chance to get a copy. I was not disappointed.
Faithless is a dark and grimy standalone with a great level of detail, world-building, and (thank the gods) well-rounded and believable characters. All throughout the plot, the pair of protagonists felt, well… real! They were not shining examples of purity, nor were they villainous creatures, but in between and therefore human in my eyes. Believable characters are a great vehicle for page-turning, and Graham’s set up that vehicle well with Wynn and Kharios.
What also entertained me was the world-building. Part Mines of Moria, part Red Faction, the world is subterranean and revolves around an intricate religion that is almost Christian. There are two sides of society, each embodied by a vast mine and a temple. Through the explanations of the mine-work, you can tell there’s a huge amount of research that went into the book, and that always gets a thumbs up for me. Even though the world is confined largely to these two settings, it doesn’t feel stunted, as there’s so much rich detail right there, and plenty of fantastical elements to dig into further into the plot.
Overall, Faithless is a rich and compelling novel that keeps you hooked through detail and mystery, as well as rewardingly flawed protagonists. Well worth a read! Hell of a cover too…
Faithless is a dark and grimy standalone with a great level of detail, world-building, and (thank the gods) well-rounded and believable characters. All throughout the plot, the pair of protagonists felt, well… real! They were not shining examples of purity, nor were they villainous creatures, but in between and therefore human in my eyes. Believable characters are a great vehicle for page-turning, and Graham’s set up that vehicle well with Wynn and Kharios.
What also entertained me was the world-building. Part Mines of Moria, part Red Faction, the world is subterranean and revolves around an intricate religion that is almost Christian. There are two sides of society, each embodied by a vast mine and a temple. Through the explanations of the mine-work, you can tell there’s a huge amount of research that went into the book, and that always gets a thumbs up for me. Even though the world is confined largely to these two settings, it doesn’t feel stunted, as there’s so much rich detail right there, and plenty of fantastical elements to dig into further into the plot.
Overall, Faithless is a rich and compelling novel that keeps you hooked through detail and mystery, as well as rewardingly flawed protagonists. Well worth a read! Hell of a cover too…
June 25, 2017
Faithless by Graham-Austin King is the kickoff of a brand new grimdark series and is due self-publication soon. The author had kindly offered an ARC in exchange for my honest review and did not forge or mine anything valuable enough to influence my opinion.
King has done some solid research on smithing and mining. The strong of hammer on the anvil, the scorching heat of the forge, everything feels real and authentic. As if a temple of the Forgemaster exists in real life and the Forgemaster himself speaks to King's ears.
The perfect cover by Pen Astridge, a detailed and engrossing world, compelling prose, and absorbing narrative by Graham-Austin King, grimdark in theme. How could it have been other than mind-blowing?
Want more, Mr. King. Not enough.
5 Bohostars. Check out the detailed review of this book and more on A Bohemian Mind at Work
An interview with Graham will be posted on this blog next week in installments. We will talk about books, coffee, and how his family has to hide behind the sofa when he goes all writer-zilla on them.
King has done some solid research on smithing and mining. The strong of hammer on the anvil, the scorching heat of the forge, everything feels real and authentic. As if a temple of the Forgemaster exists in real life and the Forgemaster himself speaks to King's ears.
The perfect cover by Pen Astridge, a detailed and engrossing world, compelling prose, and absorbing narrative by Graham-Austin King, grimdark in theme. How could it have been other than mind-blowing?
Want more, Mr. King. Not enough.
5 Bohostars. Check out the detailed review of this book and more on A Bohemian Mind at Work
An interview with Graham will be posted on this blog next week in installments. We will talk about books, coffee, and how his family has to hide behind the sofa when he goes all writer-zilla on them.
May 3, 2024
https://beforewegoblog.com/review-fai...
I was a big fan of Graham Austin-King's Riven Wyrde Saga which was a darker-than-normal story about child-stealing, sex-slave using, murderous fairies attacking a Medieval fantasy world. In that novel, the Catholic Church stand-in is revealed to be nothing more than a catspaw for the sidhe in order to provide them with a method for covering up their crimes as well as keep the public from panicking. Knowing this was a story about religion and faith, plus the title, I was wondering if something similar would be the case here.
In fact, Faithless paints a complicated and multi-faceted (albeit very cynical) interpretation of religion. The Forgemaster's faith is one which has degenerated to a massive protection racket and slave-trade where converts to the religion are forced to mine various minerals while only a small number are brought up to join the clergy proper. One of the highest ranking priests, Ossan, is also a pedophile who leverages his position to satisfy his depraved appetites.
The protagonists, Wynn and Kharios, are two individuals caught up in the corrupt power struggles between the priesthood as well as the mine bosses. Kharios is the more cynical of the pair, being willing to do almost anything to escape the mines. Wynn is more naive, having been taken from his home and dumped into a situation far darker than he expected. Both do things which are reprehensible in order to try to better themselves.
The church of the Forgemaster is a repulsive faith which is exploiting the belief the locals have in them in order to enrich themselves. However, interestingly, Graham Austin-King doesn't leave it at that. The crimes of the clergy does not appear to be the sum-total of the faith and it manages to inspire a few characters even as they're ground underneath its boot. Whether the Forgemaster exists, has ever existed, or his moral disposition is left ambiguous--which I think makes the questions raised by certain characters more interesting.
Is the story grimdark? Oh, I think so. It just takes a different tact than is usually taken in the story. Instead of the characters being tough anti-heroes, they're good people who are just willing to do evil deeds. It's an interesting take as it allows you to be genuinely surprised when they do what they have to do to survive. Even the most reprehensible characters also show layers as Ossan's crimes are unforgivable but he desires to find the truth of his faith.
The atmosphere Graham Austin-King creates for the mines is suitably terrifying and he really creates a great feeling of banal evil. The fact the miners can mine gold, coal, iron, copper, and other minerals all in the same mine goes unexplained. I also felt the book's timeline jumped around too much with some sections being before the previous ones and others moving far in the future before going back again to the past. I also felt the last third of the novel became less interesting when it became, essentially, a fantasy zombie story. I would have preferred if the story had remained about the church's evil. Indeed, "pedophile priest" is a bit of an overused cliche and one which I felt weakened the story rather than strengthened it.
The supporting cast for the book is a well-balanced group of individuals each adapting to life underground in various ways. We had the cynics, the ambitious, the resigned, and those just trying to make their tally. I was a little surprised there was a thriving drug and prostitution trade, which I would have liked to have known more about since I didn't know how that would survive in a slave-society like the one depicted in the book. I was especially fond of the temple chef who's blind eye to the evils within was even worse than the actual participants in it.
So is Faithless worth your time? I think so. The first two thirds of the novel are exceptional. I felt the world-building and detail going into the Forgemaster's faith as well as life in the minds was well-handled. The characters are, at times, unlikable but that's a good thing if you're trying to avoid traditional fantasy cliche.
I was a big fan of Graham Austin-King's Riven Wyrde Saga which was a darker-than-normal story about child-stealing, sex-slave using, murderous fairies attacking a Medieval fantasy world. In that novel, the Catholic Church stand-in is revealed to be nothing more than a catspaw for the sidhe in order to provide them with a method for covering up their crimes as well as keep the public from panicking. Knowing this was a story about religion and faith, plus the title, I was wondering if something similar would be the case here.
In fact, Faithless paints a complicated and multi-faceted (albeit very cynical) interpretation of religion. The Forgemaster's faith is one which has degenerated to a massive protection racket and slave-trade where converts to the religion are forced to mine various minerals while only a small number are brought up to join the clergy proper. One of the highest ranking priests, Ossan, is also a pedophile who leverages his position to satisfy his depraved appetites.
The protagonists, Wynn and Kharios, are two individuals caught up in the corrupt power struggles between the priesthood as well as the mine bosses. Kharios is the more cynical of the pair, being willing to do almost anything to escape the mines. Wynn is more naive, having been taken from his home and dumped into a situation far darker than he expected. Both do things which are reprehensible in order to try to better themselves.
The church of the Forgemaster is a repulsive faith which is exploiting the belief the locals have in them in order to enrich themselves. However, interestingly, Graham Austin-King doesn't leave it at that. The crimes of the clergy does not appear to be the sum-total of the faith and it manages to inspire a few characters even as they're ground underneath its boot. Whether the Forgemaster exists, has ever existed, or his moral disposition is left ambiguous--which I think makes the questions raised by certain characters more interesting.
Is the story grimdark? Oh, I think so. It just takes a different tact than is usually taken in the story. Instead of the characters being tough anti-heroes, they're good people who are just willing to do evil deeds. It's an interesting take as it allows you to be genuinely surprised when they do what they have to do to survive. Even the most reprehensible characters also show layers as Ossan's crimes are unforgivable but he desires to find the truth of his faith.
The atmosphere Graham Austin-King creates for the mines is suitably terrifying and he really creates a great feeling of banal evil. The fact the miners can mine gold, coal, iron, copper, and other minerals all in the same mine goes unexplained. I also felt the book's timeline jumped around too much with some sections being before the previous ones and others moving far in the future before going back again to the past. I also felt the last third of the novel became less interesting when it became, essentially, a fantasy zombie story. I would have preferred if the story had remained about the church's evil. Indeed, "pedophile priest" is a bit of an overused cliche and one which I felt weakened the story rather than strengthened it.
The supporting cast for the book is a well-balanced group of individuals each adapting to life underground in various ways. We had the cynics, the ambitious, the resigned, and those just trying to make their tally. I was a little surprised there was a thriving drug and prostitution trade, which I would have liked to have known more about since I didn't know how that would survive in a slave-society like the one depicted in the book. I was especially fond of the temple chef who's blind eye to the evils within was even worse than the actual participants in it.
So is Faithless worth your time? I think so. The first two thirds of the novel are exceptional. I felt the world-building and detail going into the Forgemaster's faith as well as life in the minds was well-handled. The characters are, at times, unlikable but that's a good thing if you're trying to avoid traditional fantasy cliche.
February 26, 2018
This book was recommended to me by a number of other authors and it turns out that their 'FAITH' (you see what I did there?) in Graham Austin-King was justified.
Faithless was very different to the last couple of dark fantasy books I've read in the fact that it is more of a thriller than an outright hack-and-slash-fest. As it says on the cover; Thoughtful, dark and claustrophobic. I like action and fight scenes as much as the next person, but a well-constructed plot with suspense doesn't always require combat. Having said that, it does have elements of combat too.
I love the way the author has constructed this novel. Using the ancient art of Blacksmithing and all of its elements of skill as a religion was a stroke of genius, in my opinion. A temple dedicated to the art of the forge deep underground is maintained by an array of Priests who are skilled in the arts of the forge 'Smithing' of all kinds, but is there any faith left in their arts? Do they believe in the teachings passed down to them through the ages?
Novices are branded with the symbol of the forge and set to work in 'Aspiration' the mines where the various elements to be forged are collected. There are all manner of different levels of hierarchy in the mines that are governed by overseers who take their shares of the spoils. In short; different materials give varying levels of payment ranging from coal to iron to gold and the miners are treated accordingly for whatever they mine.
There is a presence in the mines that the populace fears to acknowledge. The Utterdark. It is always there, silently speaking to those whom it chooses to torment, trying to coerce the unwary into the darkness, never to be seen again.
The novices take their positions under priests in the forge to be taught the faith of the Forgefather. One such novice is Wynn (yet to have been given his true-name) and he is talented. He hears the voice of the Utteredark and is drawn toward its dark embrace. But for the actions of others on his team in the mines, Wynn would have been drawn to his death but he is spared to pursue whatever his destiny may be.
Father Ossan is one of the senior priests in the temple and he has dark perversions, making him a dangerous prospect for any novitiate. His knowledge, however, is second to none and the novices need his guidance in order to advance their skills. Is he just some dirty old pervert who enjoys the opportunity to prey on the innocence of young boys? Or is there something far more sinister about the old priest?
There are multiple characters in this book and some, or even most of them, are pretty twisted by their harrowing experiences in the mines of Aspiration. (Or under the dubious guidance of the dark priests).
The author has created something deliciously dark and atmospheric here. This works very well as a stand-alone novel, though it would be possible to write a follow-up if the author so chose. If you are a fan of dark fantasy, then you owe it to yourself to give this book a try. My congratulations go to Graham Austin-King for a brilliant novel!
Faithless was very different to the last couple of dark fantasy books I've read in the fact that it is more of a thriller than an outright hack-and-slash-fest. As it says on the cover; Thoughtful, dark and claustrophobic. I like action and fight scenes as much as the next person, but a well-constructed plot with suspense doesn't always require combat. Having said that, it does have elements of combat too.
I love the way the author has constructed this novel. Using the ancient art of Blacksmithing and all of its elements of skill as a religion was a stroke of genius, in my opinion. A temple dedicated to the art of the forge deep underground is maintained by an array of Priests who are skilled in the arts of the forge 'Smithing' of all kinds, but is there any faith left in their arts? Do they believe in the teachings passed down to them through the ages?
Novices are branded with the symbol of the forge and set to work in 'Aspiration' the mines where the various elements to be forged are collected. There are all manner of different levels of hierarchy in the mines that are governed by overseers who take their shares of the spoils. In short; different materials give varying levels of payment ranging from coal to iron to gold and the miners are treated accordingly for whatever they mine.
There is a presence in the mines that the populace fears to acknowledge. The Utterdark. It is always there, silently speaking to those whom it chooses to torment, trying to coerce the unwary into the darkness, never to be seen again.
The novices take their positions under priests in the forge to be taught the faith of the Forgefather. One such novice is Wynn (yet to have been given his true-name) and he is talented. He hears the voice of the Utteredark and is drawn toward its dark embrace. But for the actions of others on his team in the mines, Wynn would have been drawn to his death but he is spared to pursue whatever his destiny may be.
Father Ossan is one of the senior priests in the temple and he has dark perversions, making him a dangerous prospect for any novitiate. His knowledge, however, is second to none and the novices need his guidance in order to advance their skills. Is he just some dirty old pervert who enjoys the opportunity to prey on the innocence of young boys? Or is there something far more sinister about the old priest?
There are multiple characters in this book and some, or even most of them, are pretty twisted by their harrowing experiences in the mines of Aspiration. (Or under the dubious guidance of the dark priests).
The author has created something deliciously dark and atmospheric here. This works very well as a stand-alone novel, though it would be possible to write a follow-up if the author so chose. If you are a fan of dark fantasy, then you owe it to yourself to give this book a try. My congratulations go to Graham Austin-King for a brilliant novel!
August 28, 2017
Wow.. Colour me disappointed. I think i see all these 5 star reviews and my expectation just goes through the roof. So here i am expecting some kick ass, mind blown fantasy book and i get nothing, zilch, nada.
My beef with this book? i felt it lacked structure and was, i have to say cleverly vague about everything to do with the forge father. How do the powers work really? At some point the forge father thing was like channel your powers through the ring and without thinking twice about it he-our protagonist, does that and it works.
On one hand i look at this and i'm like this makes no sense. and then in the other sense i'm like maybe the author is doing some satirical calling out of religions, and how they believe in spiritual powers and stuff like that..When i think of it from that perspective, i'm tempted to be like okay, if this forge father thing was an actual religion, it would make sense that your god would tell you to channel your powers through rings and you wouldn't think twice about it and it would work... your prayers/religious chants would work as some sort of power against evil which in this setting would be thingies. I mean right?? if you looked at it from that point it would work i guess. -Still not sure why we got thingies though, but again if forge father religion was real i'm sure it would make sense and so i'm just going to assume that it makes sense.
Structure wise, while i thought though
Overall not a great book, between the whole mining, forgettable characters, vagueness of the powers not much manages to shine through.
August 4, 2017
Before I begin I must make a confession. I have master degree in Minerology and Petrology. I used to do caving during my studies. I had a chance to visit few big mines in my country – Poland and I loved the experience. Mines, underground tunnels, ores fascinate me even though I don’t work as a geologist. Clearly, I’m biased.
Give me some rocks, minerals and dark underground places and I’ll be happy. Add to this intriguing story, interesting characters and beautiful prose and I’m totally immersed in the world.
Faithless delivers all of these.
World building is meticulous and very rich. As we spent most of the time underground the atmosphere is rather claustrophobic and dense. The action develops in three places: The Temple of the Forgefather, the cavern-town of Aspiration below it, and the mines and caverns down below. We experience the world through two POVs: Wynn and Kharios. Each is different but they have a lot in common. Wynn is a teenager who was sold to mines by his father. Kharios is a novice in the temple of the Forgefather.
As we experience the world through their eyes we learn more about cruel world of Aspiration where miners are divided in casts and need to meet tally regularly. If they won’t they’re publically flogged. Some of them aspire to serve in the temple. But as we learn about the temple and different priests, we discover that life in temples isn’t much lighter than life in mines.
Parts of the story were very dark but were needed. They weren’t inserted there to shock readers, they served the story. I appreciate this in the world were many authors try to shock just for the sake of it. There’s a lot of physical and emotional violence, sexual abuse and social injustice. Happily most of the bad staff is balanced by goodness seen is some people.
Characters are described really well and, truth be told, even the bad guys have their motives. I would like to despise “villains” but I see one of them as a tragic and disillusioned and other as cynical and efficient tyrant who wants to keep things unchanged. I enjoyed most characters in the book as they were written skilfully and were easy to relate to or to imagine.
The book touches subject of religion and make us wonder what can happen when people start to use God as a tool to reach their goals but, deep inside, remain faithless. I’m an atheist but I find subject of religion fascinating and Graham Austin King managed to write thought provoking book with many layers and meanings. The religion of Forgefather has degenerated to slave-trade and forcing people to mine gold and other metals. There’s no God and Faith in it. Instead we have hierarchy and abuse. It’s not something unseen in real life sadly. All these topics were handled with finesse and sense of direction.
There are strong twists in the story, some of them may be guessed quite easily (final reveal wasn’t that surprising) but others may be quite shocking. What I appreciate most about Faithless is the fact it made me really invested in the story and think about it at work or during a walk - basically throughout the time I couldn’t spent reading. When a book does this to me, I know it’s a gem to be cherished and relished. It’s one of best books I read in few years. It’s the book I will definitely reread in the future. Also I’ll torment the author to write a sequel once I find his mail :)
Seriously though, Faithless can be read as a standalone, but some threads remain open and allow me to hope that there’ll be a sequel.
Give me some rocks, minerals and dark underground places and I’ll be happy. Add to this intriguing story, interesting characters and beautiful prose and I’m totally immersed in the world.
Faithless delivers all of these.
World building is meticulous and very rich. As we spent most of the time underground the atmosphere is rather claustrophobic and dense. The action develops in three places: The Temple of the Forgefather, the cavern-town of Aspiration below it, and the mines and caverns down below. We experience the world through two POVs: Wynn and Kharios. Each is different but they have a lot in common. Wynn is a teenager who was sold to mines by his father. Kharios is a novice in the temple of the Forgefather.
As we experience the world through their eyes we learn more about cruel world of Aspiration where miners are divided in casts and need to meet tally regularly. If they won’t they’re publically flogged. Some of them aspire to serve in the temple. But as we learn about the temple and different priests, we discover that life in temples isn’t much lighter than life in mines.
Parts of the story were very dark but were needed. They weren’t inserted there to shock readers, they served the story. I appreciate this in the world were many authors try to shock just for the sake of it. There’s a lot of physical and emotional violence, sexual abuse and social injustice. Happily most of the bad staff is balanced by goodness seen is some people.
Characters are described really well and, truth be told, even the bad guys have their motives. I would like to despise “villains” but I see one of them as a tragic and disillusioned and other as cynical and efficient tyrant who wants to keep things unchanged. I enjoyed most characters in the book as they were written skilfully and were easy to relate to or to imagine.
The book touches subject of religion and make us wonder what can happen when people start to use God as a tool to reach their goals but, deep inside, remain faithless. I’m an atheist but I find subject of religion fascinating and Graham Austin King managed to write thought provoking book with many layers and meanings. The religion of Forgefather has degenerated to slave-trade and forcing people to mine gold and other metals. There’s no God and Faith in it. Instead we have hierarchy and abuse. It’s not something unseen in real life sadly. All these topics were handled with finesse and sense of direction.
There are strong twists in the story, some of them may be guessed quite easily (final reveal wasn’t that surprising) but others may be quite shocking. What I appreciate most about Faithless is the fact it made me really invested in the story and think about it at work or during a walk - basically throughout the time I couldn’t spent reading. When a book does this to me, I know it’s a gem to be cherished and relished. It’s one of best books I read in few years. It’s the book I will definitely reread in the future. Also I’ll torment the author to write a sequel once I find his mail :)
Seriously though, Faithless can be read as a standalone, but some threads remain open and allow me to hope that there’ll be a sequel.
June 13, 2017
First things first. I was given an Advance Reader Copy of Faithless in exchange for an honest review. I'm very grateful to Graham for allowing me to read his book before it has released.
Faithless follows along behind two protagonists, Wynn and Kharios, as they struggle through life in a giant colonised mine, as well as the decrepit religious temple above. The religion of the Forgefather (it's all based on fire and smithing) is a lot like Christianity in some ways. They believe in the one god, much of their time is devoted to prayer and rituals, and there is a rigid hierarchical structure to the priesthood. There's also pedophilia and rape, and in fact a lot of the book's time is spent on this, both the dread of it happening and the aftermath of it. Down in the mines below the temple it's much more of a dog eat dog world with everybody struggling to meet a mining quota, and a savage overlord ruling over the citizens.
So first off I want to say the world building is pretty top notch. The whole book takes place almost entirely in the mines and temple, so we know almost nothing about the wider world, but Graham makes the mines of Aspiration feel like a real living city. The religion of the Forgefather also feels very well fleshed out with ritual names and levels of advancement within the structure. And he certainly seems to know his stuff about smithing... I assume. I know nothing about smithing myself, other than pumping bellows is tiring work.
The main draw for me reading this was the mystery. We're told the priesthood used to commune openly with their god, but he has long since fallen silent, and the priesthood is decaying because of it. In some ways this is kind of a shame, because they apparently used to have big badass paladins who could wage war against all sorts of demons all on their own... but we never really see any of that. Well, we get a little glimpse near the end. Honestly, the possibility of paladins is what made me want to read it in the first place.
The supporting cast are interesting, though often fleeting in many ways, and felt quite real in many ways. They each had their own concerns and this really helped bring them to life on the page, far more, in fact, than the main characters.
But the book just never really gripped me beyond the mystery of what happened to the faith. It's well written and a good book in many ways, but just not really my sort of thing. I found the pace a bit lethargic, especially the beginning which felt a lot like an introduction to mining. I found the main characters a bit wet. And the whole thing came across as a little too YA for my liking. There's terms thrown out all over the place; the Fall, Listerners, a Reckoning, Deeplighters, and many more. Every time one of these terms is used the main character has to stop and ask what they mean and at times it seems all he is doing is asking questions. He felt wet to me because he felt like tool for Graham to tell us about this deep, rich world he has created, rather than a fully fleshed out character struggling to get through a hard life.
So I'm giving Faithless 3 stars. Excellent world building wrapped up in a good mystery, and a great sense of claustrophobia, but let down by weak characters and slow pacing.
Faithless follows along behind two protagonists, Wynn and Kharios, as they struggle through life in a giant colonised mine, as well as the decrepit religious temple above. The religion of the Forgefather (it's all based on fire and smithing) is a lot like Christianity in some ways. They believe in the one god, much of their time is devoted to prayer and rituals, and there is a rigid hierarchical structure to the priesthood. There's also pedophilia and rape, and in fact a lot of the book's time is spent on this, both the dread of it happening and the aftermath of it. Down in the mines below the temple it's much more of a dog eat dog world with everybody struggling to meet a mining quota, and a savage overlord ruling over the citizens.
So first off I want to say the world building is pretty top notch. The whole book takes place almost entirely in the mines and temple, so we know almost nothing about the wider world, but Graham makes the mines of Aspiration feel like a real living city. The religion of the Forgefather also feels very well fleshed out with ritual names and levels of advancement within the structure. And he certainly seems to know his stuff about smithing... I assume. I know nothing about smithing myself, other than pumping bellows is tiring work.
The main draw for me reading this was the mystery. We're told the priesthood used to commune openly with their god, but he has long since fallen silent, and the priesthood is decaying because of it. In some ways this is kind of a shame, because they apparently used to have big badass paladins who could wage war against all sorts of demons all on their own... but we never really see any of that. Well, we get a little glimpse near the end. Honestly, the possibility of paladins is what made me want to read it in the first place.
The supporting cast are interesting, though often fleeting in many ways, and felt quite real in many ways. They each had their own concerns and this really helped bring them to life on the page, far more, in fact, than the main characters.
But the book just never really gripped me beyond the mystery of what happened to the faith. It's well written and a good book in many ways, but just not really my sort of thing. I found the pace a bit lethargic, especially the beginning which felt a lot like an introduction to mining. I found the main characters a bit wet. And the whole thing came across as a little too YA for my liking. There's terms thrown out all over the place; the Fall, Listerners, a Reckoning, Deeplighters, and many more. Every time one of these terms is used the main character has to stop and ask what they mean and at times it seems all he is doing is asking questions. He felt wet to me because he felt like tool for Graham to tell us about this deep, rich world he has created, rather than a fully fleshed out character struggling to get through a hard life.
So I'm giving Faithless 3 stars. Excellent world building wrapped up in a good mystery, and a great sense of claustrophobia, but let down by weak characters and slow pacing.
October 16, 2017
I wasn't going to give it one star was I? Rated in terms of the books I have written so far. This is, by far, the best.
Update: Faithless has been shortlisted for Best Self-Published Novel in the Booknest Fantasy Awards. I am incredibly honoured and if you have enjoyed the book please consider voting here. http://booknest.eu/component/k2/30-bl...
Update: Faithless has been shortlisted for Best Self-Published Novel in the Booknest Fantasy Awards. I am incredibly honoured and if you have enjoyed the book please consider voting here. http://booknest.eu/component/k2/30-bl...
June 28, 2017
I edited this puppy so I'm a little biased.... but it rocks pretty hard.
November 21, 2019
4.5 stars from me. Faithless really lit my imagination, and the rich setting of the novel is a fantastic and grim one: an underground temple dedicated to the Forgefather and smithing, and a warren of mines with indentured 'workers' producing the iron ore, gold and coal to keep the temple-smithy running.
The story follows two viewpoints: Wynn, a boy sold to the temple working in the brutal and unforgiving mines, and Kharios, a novice of the temple investigating what caused the fall of the old temple and religion, of which the new is a pale shadow of their might and glory. It was a great idea to allow the reader to explode both sides of the world, and how they tie in together. The relative luxury of the temple is not always preferable to the mines...
It's a slow but rich buildup of character and world, exploring religion, morality and magic. Then...well, I wouldn't want to spoil what happens for you, but suffice it to say death and magic go hand in hand.
The story follows two viewpoints: Wynn, a boy sold to the temple working in the brutal and unforgiving mines, and Kharios, a novice of the temple investigating what caused the fall of the old temple and religion, of which the new is a pale shadow of their might and glory. It was a great idea to allow the reader to explode both sides of the world, and how they tie in together. The relative luxury of the temple is not always preferable to the mines...
It's a slow but rich buildup of character and world, exploring religion, morality and magic. Then...well, I wouldn't want to spoil what happens for you, but suffice it to say death and magic go hand in hand.
September 19, 2017
I loved this story. It treated the reader with intelligence and asked the right questions. It built a fully-realized world and a fascinating religion while mired in the depths of a dank underground cavern. It was well-researched and informative, scary and exciting, insightful and metaphoric, compelling and complex.
The story shifts between Wynn and Kharios, both students at different stages of their training towards priesthood. They live inside and beneath an ancient Temple whose followers worship the Forgefather, god of smithing. Centuries ago, a mysterious and catastrophic event called the Fall nearly destroyed all remnants of this world-wide religion, and the surviving devout are anchored to serve in this last remaining Temple. Rituals, chants and forging techniques are taught to the students while they attempt to ascend the ranks, while also having to prove themselves adept at mining underground caverns under horrifying conditions. Death can easily be found around every corner, and dire punishments await those who can not make their quota. It is a hard life, one that is pressed onto one of our protagonists without his consent, stripping him of his freedom and childhood for a life of hard labor and questioning his faith.
The author spends several chapters with each of the two main characters before switching POVs, which is a refreshing narrative choice. It allows each character's story room to breathe, instead of hopping back and forth incessantly and losing whatever momentum has been built.
One of the villains in this story is a horrifying, manipulative, and abusive priest who is responsible for the training of some of his selected students. Some might think to associate a trope with this kind of teacher/student relationship, but I'll just say that the decisions and ramifications that stem from this plot thread are addressed with grimly realistic consequences.
There's several surprising turns in the back half of the book. Some might be able to predict one or two events in advance, but the way they are handled respects readers in a way that doesn't try to shock, but rather unfold the events and reveal themselves both naturally and logically. There are a couple of major tonal shifts in the story which initially caught me off guard, but the story does an excellent job of answering the lingering questions as to why these events abruptly occur. While the first half of the story is deliberately paced, the back third races toward the finish with unprecedented speed.
The author gets some incredible mileage out of the setting for the novel, which takes place entirely inside an underground mining city, or the lower levels of the ancient temple above it. Some books impress me with immersive world-building, incorporating various histories, cities, wars, magical rules, maps, battle records, and so forth... this book felt incredibly rich and lifelike even though the characters are surrounded by dimly lit rock walls and tunnels for the entirety of the story. An impressive feat.
I would not be surprised if this SPFBO entry ends up being this year's "The Grey Bastards." It's a clear front-runner for one of the best of this year's crop that I've read, and also one of my favorites overall of 2017.
The story shifts between Wynn and Kharios, both students at different stages of their training towards priesthood. They live inside and beneath an ancient Temple whose followers worship the Forgefather, god of smithing. Centuries ago, a mysterious and catastrophic event called the Fall nearly destroyed all remnants of this world-wide religion, and the surviving devout are anchored to serve in this last remaining Temple. Rituals, chants and forging techniques are taught to the students while they attempt to ascend the ranks, while also having to prove themselves adept at mining underground caverns under horrifying conditions. Death can easily be found around every corner, and dire punishments await those who can not make their quota. It is a hard life, one that is pressed onto one of our protagonists without his consent, stripping him of his freedom and childhood for a life of hard labor and questioning his faith.
The author spends several chapters with each of the two main characters before switching POVs, which is a refreshing narrative choice. It allows each character's story room to breathe, instead of hopping back and forth incessantly and losing whatever momentum has been built.
One of the villains in this story is a horrifying, manipulative, and abusive priest who is responsible for the training of some of his selected students. Some might think to associate a trope with this kind of teacher/student relationship, but I'll just say that the decisions and ramifications that stem from this plot thread are addressed with grimly realistic consequences.
There's several surprising turns in the back half of the book. Some might be able to predict one or two events in advance, but the way they are handled respects readers in a way that doesn't try to shock, but rather unfold the events and reveal themselves both naturally and logically. There are a couple of major tonal shifts in the story which initially caught me off guard, but the story does an excellent job of answering the lingering questions as to why these events abruptly occur. While the first half of the story is deliberately paced, the back third races toward the finish with unprecedented speed.
The author gets some incredible mileage out of the setting for the novel, which takes place entirely inside an underground mining city, or the lower levels of the ancient temple above it. Some books impress me with immersive world-building, incorporating various histories, cities, wars, magical rules, maps, battle records, and so forth... this book felt incredibly rich and lifelike even though the characters are surrounded by dimly lit rock walls and tunnels for the entirety of the story. An impressive feat.
I would not be surprised if this SPFBO entry ends up being this year's "The Grey Bastards." It's a clear front-runner for one of the best of this year's crop that I've read, and also one of my favorites overall of 2017.
June 14, 2017
Full review is here, on my blog.
I really liked this book. It surprised the hell out of me more than once, which was fantastic, but most of all, I found it really hard to put down. Unfortunately, I ended up reading the bulk of it while I was very, very busy at work, so I didn't get to just sit there and consume it in one go like I wanted to. I did end up using it as a sort of getaway from things, though. A vacation from returning from a vacation, if you will. So, it worked out in the end after all.
The bulk of the story takes place in a mine, and it's written in a way that really brought me right into the story. It was dark, dirty, and legitimately frightening in parts. I didn't read the whole blurb before I jumped right in, either, so the second half of the book caught me off guard, and took me for a bit of a thrill ride through the mines with a bunch of creepy shit chasing after me.
The book is told from the POV of two characters, Wynn and Kharios. Wynn is a teenager who is just entering the mines, having been sold into indentured servitude by his father. Kharios is a novice in the temple of the Forgefather, a failing church that used to thrive. The mines are the bottom of the chain of this world's people. People in Aspiration aspire to be chosen to work as novices in the temple, who then become priests, et cetera.
This one had twists that legit surprised me, though early on, I did guess at one of the bigger revelations near the end and wasn't wrong. That being said, my guessing of it didn't detract at all from how awesomely it was sculpted into the story. It was superbly done! Guessing it right was actually pretty awesome, if I'm honest. Seeing the revelation come to light made me more excited than anything. :D
What a fantastic story!
I really liked this book. It surprised the hell out of me more than once, which was fantastic, but most of all, I found it really hard to put down. Unfortunately, I ended up reading the bulk of it while I was very, very busy at work, so I didn't get to just sit there and consume it in one go like I wanted to. I did end up using it as a sort of getaway from things, though. A vacation from returning from a vacation, if you will. So, it worked out in the end after all.
The bulk of the story takes place in a mine, and it's written in a way that really brought me right into the story. It was dark, dirty, and legitimately frightening in parts. I didn't read the whole blurb before I jumped right in, either, so the second half of the book caught me off guard, and took me for a bit of a thrill ride through the mines with a bunch of creepy shit chasing after me.
The book is told from the POV of two characters, Wynn and Kharios. Wynn is a teenager who is just entering the mines, having been sold into indentured servitude by his father. Kharios is a novice in the temple of the Forgefather, a failing church that used to thrive. The mines are the bottom of the chain of this world's people. People in Aspiration aspire to be chosen to work as novices in the temple, who then become priests, et cetera.
This one had twists that legit surprised me, though early on, I did guess at one of the bigger revelations near the end and wasn't wrong. That being said, my guessing of it didn't detract at all from how awesomely it was sculpted into the story. It was superbly done! Guessing it right was actually pretty awesome, if I'm honest. Seeing the revelation come to light made me more excited than anything. :D
What a fantastic story!
September 18, 2019
This book has been on my radar since it came out two years ago. I finally made room for it between review requests. I had heard so many great things about it and went in with high expectations. I've been excited about reading this book for so long. I only hoped it would come close to the praise I'd heard. Despite all that, I was not prepared for what this book would do. Faithless shocked me and enthralled me and completely blew past all my highest hopes. It's original, immersive, and dark, with raw fear and a faint speck of hope.
We hear a lot about fight or flight, but if you study self-defense for a little while, you'll find out there are actually three responses: fight, flight or freeze. Our poor main character, Wynn, freezes up in the face of violence and fear. It makes him oh so relatable. He's not a coward, he's not a hero. He is trying to survive, and sometimes such survival leans on the darkest side of desperation.
Wynn is new to the faith, having been sold to the temple by his father. He's a skeptic to begin with and thrown into a dwindling religion, he's trying to make the best of it, but it's a difficult path ahead of him. The old church has fallen from its days of glory, shrunk considerably in size, wealth, and knowledge. Corrupt and ignorant, yet full of old ritual, the worshippers of the Forgefather have few options in their future. Wynn starts out in the mines and works hard to learn forging in hopes of earning his way into the temple, which he presumes would be an easier life.
As if to answer Wynn's assumptions, we also follow the character Kharios, an novice priest who serves in the temple. Through his experiences, we learn firsthand what life there is like, the trials and chores he must perform, and the teachers and priests he must obey. Kharios is a hard worker, but lacks confidence, and the tragic circumstances around his training don't help his unsteady faith.
"It was better not to look at the carnage. It was even better to not see that the carnage was looking back."
Denial, survival, acknowledging the darkest depths of humanity, the author doesn't flinch from troubling themes. Neither does he flinch from plumbing the depths of the human spirit. While the climate and characters are full of cynicism or conspiracy, there is room for hope, and Austin-King pushes these characters past their breaking points to find the stuff they're truly made of.
Faithless is a new all-time favorite novel for me. This story had me gasping at the horror and the grace, the darkness and the fragile truth. Well done, bravo to Mr. Austin-King! I would give a standing ovation to this one, and I want so badly to see a movie adaptation.
We hear a lot about fight or flight, but if you study self-defense for a little while, you'll find out there are actually three responses: fight, flight or freeze. Our poor main character, Wynn, freezes up in the face of violence and fear. It makes him oh so relatable. He's not a coward, he's not a hero. He is trying to survive, and sometimes such survival leans on the darkest side of desperation.
Wynn is new to the faith, having been sold to the temple by his father. He's a skeptic to begin with and thrown into a dwindling religion, he's trying to make the best of it, but it's a difficult path ahead of him. The old church has fallen from its days of glory, shrunk considerably in size, wealth, and knowledge. Corrupt and ignorant, yet full of old ritual, the worshippers of the Forgefather have few options in their future. Wynn starts out in the mines and works hard to learn forging in hopes of earning his way into the temple, which he presumes would be an easier life.
As if to answer Wynn's assumptions, we also follow the character Kharios, an novice priest who serves in the temple. Through his experiences, we learn firsthand what life there is like, the trials and chores he must perform, and the teachers and priests he must obey. Kharios is a hard worker, but lacks confidence, and the tragic circumstances around his training don't help his unsteady faith.
"It was better not to look at the carnage. It was even better to not see that the carnage was looking back."
Denial, survival, acknowledging the darkest depths of humanity, the author doesn't flinch from troubling themes. Neither does he flinch from plumbing the depths of the human spirit. While the climate and characters are full of cynicism or conspiracy, there is room for hope, and Austin-King pushes these characters past their breaking points to find the stuff they're truly made of.
Faithless is a new all-time favorite novel for me. This story had me gasping at the horror and the grace, the darkness and the fragile truth. Well done, bravo to Mr. Austin-King! I would give a standing ovation to this one, and I want so badly to see a movie adaptation.
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