| Title | : | Sword of the Archon (Shader, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1463737637 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781463737634 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 366 |
| Publication | : | First published August 12, 2010 |
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, plague breaks out in the streets of Sarum, and a horde of undead rises from the sacred burial mounds of the Dreamers.
Prompted by a voice from the Abyss, the liche Dr. Cadman has discovered a piece of the mythical Statue of Eingana and corrupted its power, but worse than that, an ancient enemy has noticed and turns his eyes once more upon the Earth.
Those with understanding know all too well the threat that hangs over Creation and have taken great pains to ward against it.
Sword of the Archon (Shader, #1) Reviews
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Originally reviewed at
Bookwraiths Reviews
Sword of the Archon (Shader #1) by D.P. Prior is one of the best self-published fantasy that I’ve stumbled upon. Not to say that it is perfect, because nothing is ever without flaws. It is, however, a dynamic work of genre bending scifi, fantasy and horror that immediately brings to mind Stephen King’s seminal work: The Gunslinger, with its post-apocalyptic world, mysterious ruins of an advanced civilization, its mystical elements, and a main character in Shader who is just as gruff, haunted, and jaded as Roland Deschain.
The story is set in post-apocalyptic Australia, where a terrible cataclysm ended the technological society of the ancients and ushered in a new millennium built upon medieval tools, religion, mythology and magic. But the world never stops changing, and old evils never seem to truly die. So when someone begins uncovering and using the pieces of an ancient relic of power, the wise immediately suspect the return of the Technocrat.
But who is this person?
Sketis Gandaw (a.k.a. The Technocrat) was the foremost scientist that ancient mankind ever produced; a brilliant man who conquered the world through the power of his technological wonders, the money of his worldwide corporations, and the desires of the population to believe in no power greater than their own human logic. Once, the Earth lay at his feet, however, Sektis realized that mankind and the universe itself were flawed – not fit to survive; the very haphazard evolution of life from a big bang beginning the cause of this imperfect nature. And since the universe was not “designed” by some higher power to be imperfect for a reason, Sektis logically decided that it was a mistake that he (the pinnacle of evolution) must correct by “uncreating” everything and unleashing a new creation of mathematical perfection.
In this endeavor, Sektis came tantalizing close before he was stopped. So close, in fact, that the resulting backlash of the Technocrats defeat destroyed the ancient world. But no one is sure that Sektis actually died in the chaos. There are myths that he used his technological prowess to escape to another world and is merely waiting for a future time to return to Earth. And so, a few of the “wise” have ever been vigilant in watching for signs of his return. They have planned for it and even reared heroes to confront Sektis if he ever returns.
Deacon Shader is the latest of these unknowing guardians of the world; he is a warrior monk, trained by powers he didn’t understand to wield the Sword of the Archon and bloodied in the horrible wars against the undead armies of the Liche Lord Blightey. The only problem is that Deacon is a man of mighty paradoxes; one who wishes to live a peaceful existence without a sword in his hand but finds himself always resorting to violence to protect his beliefs of love; a man of the cloth who readily acknowledges that he has grown to have doubts about his own faith. But with the Sword of the Archon in his hands and a desire for peace in his heart, Deacon Shader finds himself unwillingly placed upon a path to confront the Technocrat -- if he has indeed returned.
From this great setup, Mr. Prior weaves a story upon the richly varied post-apocalyptic world he has created. And what a world it is! Shader’s Earth is a complex society, filled with interesting characters, a mix of both science and magic, and ripe for pulse-pounding adventure. Religion is a big part of everyday life, whether it is Shader’s devotion to it or others ridicule for it. And mysteries abound. Who is the technocrat really? How was the ancient world destroyed? What are the hidden, metallic tunnels? Why does it seem that several people have lived for nearly a thousand years? How did magic spring to existence on the Earth? So many mysteries, in fact, that it drives a curious reader to delve deep into the narrative for small clues.
The only thing that did not work for me in this novel was the love story of Shader and Rhiannon. While the romantic relationship is in the past as the story begins, these two have zero chemistry – which just didn’t ring true. Even if their involvement was over, there would still be some lingering attachment or unfinished emotions, but here the majority of their interactions are so negative that you wonder how they could have ever spoken to one another, much less been in love – or lust – with one another. It just didn’t work at all for me, which was a major setback since this romantic attraction drove a good bit of Shader’s story.
All in all, I really enjoyed Sword of the Archon. It had fights, intriguing characters, humor, and a very believable religious character and his struggle with his own faith. When I said earlier that this novel was one of the best indie fantasy I’ve read, I meant it. Sure, there are times when the narrative drags or the characters’ interaction do not work, but overall, this beginning novel of the Deacon Shader Saga was a fun ride. One that I enjoyed so much that I moved on to the second book in the series almost immediately, which isn’t something I always do, and I encourage you to jump on this ride and see if the journey is to your liking as well. -
Cadman's Gambit is an epic tale which follows the exploits of a hero (Deacon Shader) and a villain (Dr. Cadman). Both characters are significant point of view characters, and share the P.O.V. about equally. As I started reading, I struggled to grasp the terminology that was employed. The world(s) in which the story takes place are rich and lovingly detailed, but at times it felt like I was starting a series at Book Two rather than Book One. And I am simply not very good at tracking a lot of new terminology, so I found myself taken out of the story quote frequently in the beginning of this book, as I tried to figure out what the characters were referring to. I'm very glad I stuck with this book though, because the payoff was considerable in the second half. The story is extremely deep and imaginative. I was slightly disappointed by the mysterious ending, but it does serve as a powerful hook to draw the reader forward into the sequels to find out what is going to happen.
I was going to give this book four stars because of the issues I had with it; but, in the end, it's an example of the type of deep, complex, but fast-paced fantasy that I crave. Because of this, I simply can't bring myself to give it less than five stars. If you can handle the terminology, Cadman's Gambit is a fully immersive read that I highly recommend. -
Finally!!! Authors are writing books for people who are literate and have brains and vocabularies. This book is so entirely fabulous that I couldn't add it to my favorites list fast enough. I don't see what all the whinging was about in the other reviews. The vocabulary isn't overly extensive and you don't need a character list to keep track of everyone. From the reviews I expected a cast of thousands and dense, rare vocabulary, not to mention confusion for at least the first 50 pages if not the first half of the book. None of this was true. This is an intelligently written story that does expect you to pay attention. At the same time, it was such a kick to read it that it took less than one day to finish.
The story takes place in post-apocolyptic Australia, where technology and science have been replaced by magic and religion and mythology have combined to create a kind of mythos. A big change is coming and everyone is becoming pulled in - men, Gods, dwarfs, dreamers and the undead. The story switches between first person POV of the different characters who all want something - whether it is to remake the universe in their own image, do the right thing, or be simply left alone - you get yo understand what drives these characters both good and bad. There are no absolutes here, there is a lot of gray area in each character just like real life. This makes the characterization outstanding.
The author also knows his way around the English language and uses it to great effect to craft sentences that add to the mood and the tone of the story. This is no junior wordsmith. On top of that the plot is tight, the pacing good, the ending sharp. What more could a girl ask for but a second book? And I get that too! The last time I read something this intelligent it was either ages ago by Dunnett or Whittemore or more recently by Conklin or Rhine. Thank God for indie authors. This one clearly hasn't sold out to commercialism.
I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a well crafted, intelligent story. This one has it in spades. You don't even have like fantasy to love this book, the human interest stories alone are worth it. -
Cadman's Gambit by D.P. Prior is the first book in the Shader series. Taking place about 1000 years in Earth's future only the general landscape of the planet remains unchanged. The story is woven in a complex arc that unwraps itself layer by layer to grant you a fuller understanding of who the characters are and what has happened to the world.
Deacon is the hero, a man of the church, who struggles with his own identity. One who believes in peace, but is himself capable of great violence to protect his beliefs.
Cadman is a predator who is afraid of being revealed for what he truly is. Hiding behind an illusory mask loathing the idea of what he has become, but unable to let go of his existence.
Sektis Gandaw an otherwordly figure ruled by logic and technology. He wants to be able to return to the world and take what he sees as his rightful place at the top of it. Unable to take direct physical action he uses his tools to have his agents seek out something that can change everything.
There are many more characters that we are treated to a surprising amount of insight about. This book doesn't just have a few well formed characters and a cast of cardboard cutouts to fill the space and advance the plot. Each person has their own motivations for their actions and the majority of them are easy to understand.
This book requires a fair amount of attention to detail to understand all of the different philosophies and political ideologies that the different regions follow. Understanding them is important to really being able to submerge yourself in the complex state of the world. This book is highly recommended for people who enjoy complete characters, complex worlds, and intriguing plot lines. In other words if you like fantasy give the book a shot.
Review copy provided by the author. -
Sword of the Archon has now been completely restructured and revised (04/13/2015). This 4th edition has much more action, fewer point of view characters, and fewer location changes. The plot is linear, and less dense.
In its original form, many readers found the first 80 or so pages too dense: there were a lot of point of view characters, lots of place names, and there are some difficulties getting a geographical bearing. Also, the introduction, with Shader as a child, which was meant to make things simpler, actually seems to have had the opposite effect.
So, the childhood scenes at the beginning have gone, along some points of view.
My hope is this will make the series much more accessible to a wider range of readers.
I felt it was time to make the changes, especially because book 4, The Archon's Assassin, has exceeded my expectations. It would be a shame if readers don't make it that far due to the slow, difficult opening in book 1.
The Audible version will also be updated very soon, although it generally takes Audible about 6 weeks to set the modified files to live.
If anyone has bought the ebook version or the Audible version, you will be able to download the new edition for free. -
Rating: 5 out of 5
Oh, how much I love the melding of genres. To mix and match different aspects of specific literary tropes and use them to tell a truly original and captivating tale can be a wonderful thing to experience, when executed correctly. It then becomes nothing but a story, allowing the reader to concentrate on the strength of the tale being told rather than if they followed all the requisite “rules” ascribed to said genre – ala, in the case of fantasy, the use of magic, mystical beasts, and world-building.
This all brings us to Cadman’s Gambit: Shader Book I by D.P. Prior, a novel that now holds a place in my heart as the most perfect introductory novel to a series I’ve ever read, surpassing the previous champion, The Gunslinger.
In truth, there are quite a few similarities between Prior’s book and the seminal work of King. We follow a gruff, old, and cranky warrior (Roland and Shader), travel along a path in search of an object of untold power (the Rose and the statue of Eingana), and there are remnants of an advanced, ancient civilization lurking beneath the surface of both worlds.
This is where the comparison ends, however. While The Dark Tower chronicles the journey of a single man and his quest for absolution, in Shader we’re presented with a much larger, more universal plight – the elevation of man into a place of honor within the universe. It’s a rather lofty goal that Prior has saddled himself with, and one he’s amazingly able to pull off.
In Cadman’s Gambit we’re introduced, in different flashbacks and wild, swashbuckling tales, to the main character, Deacon Shader. But in almost every way, Shader is overshadowed by the complexity, originality, and turmoil of the world he exists in. This is a version of Earth that has gone far beyond us – 900 years since the end of “civilization as we know it”, pretty much – and there are mystical, as well as scientific, wonders drifting about. There are individuals who have lived for centuries, galactic warlords on the quest for universal domination, and many questions pertaining to the nature of existence, including time, itself. Religion is widely discussed, and even ridiculed, in fact becoming the one uniting and divisive cog in the machine, echoing that fact that though society as we know it has moved on, humans remain humans, whether they ascribe to a Christian derivative, a pagan understanding, immerse themselves in Platonic doctrine, or a combination of all three.
But more than anything else, Cadman’s Gambit is the story of man’s quest for immortality. Every major character either desires it – in spirituality or actuality – or already has tasted a hint of it. It is one of the saddest theological plotlines I’ve come across, and each key player is, in their own way, selfish to a fault. In an existence where death is all around them, in the form of plague or warfare or strange, bio-engineered beasts, rather than trying to survive, they attempt to cheat death.
Which is why Deacon Shader, the warrior monk (and how great of a contradiction is that?), means so much to the story. He is flawed, cranky, violent, and stubborn, a man set in his ways who wants to change but can’t. Because of this, he reflects each and every person I’ve ever known…though he’s way cooler, and stronger, than the average man. Let’s just call him an “ideal human,” which is a fantastic description because of how imperfect he is. Prior has definitely created a conundrum of a story here, and he couldn’t have chosen a better figurehead to anchor it.
The mystery in the tale abounds. What’s up with the hidden, underground tunnels? What’s a “technocracy?” Why do so many people, when exposed to the deity-like entities (or are they?) that save the world from itself, end up living pretty much forever? He also has the courage to introduce magic, only to pull back and suggest, in a brilliant piece of storytelling, that there’s no such thing as magic at all. Just like the rest of the story, it’s a grand negation, and one that can make a reader’s head spin…in a good way, of course.
There is more than theory and world-building at work here. There is actual emotion and real, honest-to-goodness human relationships. Shader’s love for the girl he can’t have, his understudy’s obsession with the same, a dwarf named Shadrach’s fixation on the woman who would be his mother, the religious elite’s love of Ain, their godhead, or Dr. Cadman’s (the main antagonist) love of, well, himself. (I don’t want to spoil anything here, but let’s just say Cadman is a near-flawless villain. You’ll love him.)
The fight scenes in this book are extremely well executed, even if they may be few and far between. Just like everything else at work here, this is a contradiction, for the action acts as a break in the dialogue and philosophic musings instead of the other way around, which is usually the case. Also, there are little Easter eggs thrown in for those of us who still exist in the 21st century, as some of the “immortal” characters reflect upon events and locales from their past, letting we the readers know that, yes, this strange land was once not only very much like ours, but was ours.
Oh, and I’d be remiss to say that, for the first time ever, the map at the beginning of the book was not only well-made, but necessary to the plot! Go figure. I’ve always been one to never look at them, thinking them superfluous. Not here, my friends. No, if it weren’t for that map, I would’ve been lost.
In fact, I can say in all honesty that the only thing I think might hold this novel back is the fact it’s almost too smart for its own good. The language is dense, the plot sometimes convoluted. You really have to read each and every word, to take in each minute detail presented, to truly understand what you’re reading. I think there may be some folks who may not appreciate it, though there’s nothing wrong with that.
I, on the other hand, loved it. Cadman’s Gambit is a work of pure intellect, taking the best facets of fantasy, science fiction, and philosophy, and mixing it all together into a genus all its own. It’s surprisingly humorous at times, and the Kantian undertones of consciousness as it relates to time and space resounded with me greatly. I couldn’t put it down, though I took my time with it, wanting to bathe myself in every word, every turn of a phrase.
Yup, that’s right. My Year’s Best list just had a new book jump to the top. D.P. Prior’s book is that good. He has a lot to say, and one hell of a story to tell. In my opinion, you should take him up on that journey. Now.
Plot - 10
Characters - 10
Voice - 10
Execution - 10
Personal Enjoyment – 10
Overall – 50/50 (5.0/5) -
Many apologies for taking so long to review this one. No excuses, but as a matter of explanation I got sidetracked by Christmas and Real Life.
This is a good book. I have a few minor issues with it in some areas, but all in all I liked it and I am looking forward to picking up the sequel.
My biggest problem is the main character is killed at the end of this one, yet he features in the next. I hate resurrection's in general and on principle. It cheapens death in a story, making it just another hill to be climbed over. I suspect the author will handle it well and I will enjoy it, but I do have my biases.
I wish there were a character list in the book. Frankly some of the people, especially in the middle of the book (when I was also distracted by Real Life) seemed to blur together. It could have been just me, but I cannot see how it would hurt to have such a listing.
I also wish there were a glossary of terms. I had to look up some words, which is no slam – its a good thing considering I have a damn good and expansive vocabulary (Humble, are I not?). Most I did know, but I needed to remind myself of them.
This book begs for a few illustrations! A better view of the Nousian Monas (the use of this John Dees glyph is inspired IMOP), Dr. Cadman and his undead army, the rows of Kryeh staring blindly into their monitors, and a swarm of wmag (also an inspired creation) - so much screams for a visual.
And lastly, as far as critiques go, the renaming of everything and everywhere on earth. Its unnecessary, distracting, and a little annoying. I could see names changing, and reverting to ancient names in some areas would make a lot of sense (such a Sahul for Australia) – but the Great West? Really?
Enough bitching. I loved the way Decon Shader was described in combat. It was almost casual, and it felt very real. I also liked the Good Doctor and his ghoulish needs – after a recent book where the bad guys said constantly and incessantly they were evil it was a real pleasure to see a more realistic depiction of a bad guy. Not evil, at least not in his decayed mind – simply pragmatic. Thank God!
And lastly you can feel forces moving behind and against everyone, even those with evil plans such as the great Technocrat. He believes he is master of reality, and as soon as he remakes the world it will all be perfection – but its apparent the world and the dream of it is more subtle and and more clever than this immortal Demigod.
My only real struggle here was to decide between a three and a four star rating. I am giving it a four because I am anxious for the sequel, but also because of the stinkers I have recently been subject too.
And yet again I am reminded how new Independent authors, who lack the great publishing houses to support them, are shining far more brightly than the supposed luminaries of the industry and the tired, trite, formula works the Publishers seem to want to excrete upon us. I know, a run-on sentence. Thank God for new, creative talent like Mr. Prior. -
This is the best full-length self-published fantasy I've yet to read. Not because it's perfect, but because it's bold and very well executed (though I do have some issues to bring up later).
If you're looking for a light read, you may be in for a frustrating venture. Luckily, I am not particularly fond of light reading and enjoy a book that was purposefully constructed to make me ponder about deeper themes. I may not completely agree with the perspectives or the seeming lessons on the search for immortality and religion in general, but I respect any author who is willing to venture down that path. For those worried about a canned sermon, these themes are presented from several, diametrically opposed viewpoints (though certainly biased in the form of Sektis, Cadman, and others who have tasted immortality in a less than pleasant form).
The book is dense and often times confusing as the perspective of the section can sometimes not come to light until the third paragraph as the setting is solidified. This confusion can be compounded by the varying locales (and worlds) but also when competing perspectives are available within the same setting. The last section of the last chapter was especially jarring to me because of the latter.
I was extremely confused about whether I was seeing the first two or three paragraphs from Shadrak, the Dweller, Shader, or Cadman, and I just kept rereading the paragraphs and this broke up a rather important moment in the book. And when I figured out whose perspective it really was, my mouth sort of dropped because even after rereading the previous three chapters multiple times, I had no idea when or how he got there. One minute he's weak and determined to read an old book to figure out the implications of his actions while drinking a brandy, and the next he's literally transported into the pivotal scene (and he's not Aristodeus).
I'll admit that it is certainly possible that I missed something big here, and this was by no means enough for me to remove a star, but it may be useful for informing a potential reader about the type of work this is. The book is dense. There are a lot of settings, participants, technologies, new words, and intersecting plot lines. It's one of those novels that you could read five to ten times and find something new with each reading. That I am willing to do just that is a testament to the success of the author in writing this book. The author has put a lot of effort into constructing the worlds, settings and characters the story interacts with, and it comes through in the telling.
Definitely a recommended novel. Looking forward to reading the continuation of the series. 5 stars. -
I won this book as a first reads on Goodreads. I was intrigued by the blurb and when the book actually arrived I was excited to get started. It took a little for me to get into it, not because it wasn't interesting, but because there were so many new terms and people. I had a hard time keeping track of everyone and their locations. The more I read, the more I enjoyed and by the end, I didn't get quite so lost and I found the maps incredibly useful.
At times I felt like there was a bit too much philosophizing and I wanted more action. For a book that has an awesome character on the front wielding dual swords, I was expecting more in the way of fight scenes. The information presented is good and I was glad all of the information wasn't dumped all at once. I also liked the fact that everyone has a different idea of what happened and what is going on.
The characters in this book are awesome. They are all unique and have different voices. I didn't feel like any of them were just thrown in to take up space or act as a straw man. I really grew attached to some of them and hated others, which was nice. Overall, I really enjoyed having the opportunity to read this and am curious to see what the next book brings. -
It was readable, but not one I'd read again. Overly complicated storyline. I had such high hopes for this book and some of it was great, but other parts REALLY need work. One of the huge issues I had was with the female characters. They were useless really. They were incredibly objectified. They were portrayed as possessions which is annoying. They other thing was that when there was a problem, such as when Rhiannon was raped and had to face her attacker again, all she ever did was freeze up. I can tell you as a woman who has been raped that that is not how most women react. They want to hurt the person who hurt them. Then when you get to the main character Shader, he acts like a bi-polar jerk. He's supposed to be incredibly disciplined soldier, but he overreacts to infuriating stimuli. My husband is a member of the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts, and mentioned that if he had challenged a man to a duel, he would spend the time before the duel in preparation, not uncontrollably beating the man every chance he got. Overall, this was a decent book, and I would read other works from Prior as he clearly has talent and imagination, he just needs some practice and work and I think he could be a really great writer.
The story is set several hundred years after an apocalyptic event, much of our modern technology has been lost, creating a pseudo-medieval society controlled by a new church based in Aeternam, which we know as Rome. Aeternam controls most of the world, with the exception of Sahul, known today as Austrailia. Deacon Shader is an experienced soldier and knight of Aeternam from Britain, who felt extreme disturbance by the horrors of wars he fought for the Holy Templum. As such he fled to Sahul, far from the control of the Ipissimus, the head of the Templum, to a small abbey to devote his life to prayer and Nous, their name for God. But he was unable to let go of the life of a warrior and so returned to Aeternam and won the Sword of the Archon in a tournament, in an attempt to get it out of his system. But unbeknownst to him, these actions were simply preparing him for a journey against an enemy he could never imagine. For across immensity is an ancient enemy, Sektis Gandaw, a genius so intelligent that he has lost his mind and desires to recreate the universe in his own image. All he lacks is the power to do so, which he believes he can get from an artifact known as the Statue of Eingana. This statue has been held in the safekeeping of Elias Wolfe, an ancient hippie who has lived for centuries due to the magic of the statue. These men and many others will be drawn into conflict in the city of Sarum, known today as Perth, that could result in the unweaving of existence. Believe me when I tell you that this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the myriad of characters and extremely intricate storyline of Shader. -
NOTE: If you’re a squeamish reader avoid this book. If you’re a fan of George R.R Martin books and like watching “Braveheart”, you’ll love this book.
When searching Amazon for eBooks I am very careful. Especially when it comes to Fantasy & Sci-fi.
When I see a five star review, I take it with a grain of salt. Mainly because sometimes that reviewer is a friend of the writer. Or in some cases, it’s actually the writer that wrote the review.
Also I’m very skeptical with eBooks on bestseller lists because sometimes the book is so horrible and just ended up on the list by random chance.
For these reasons, I always read the excerpt before downloading. Like with “Cadman’s Gambit” by D.P Prior. The book had been on the bestseller list for awhile, so I was curious. I read the excerpt, and became an instant fan of the novel. I sent the book to my Kindle right away.
The story was very intriguing. It was a cross between “Mad Max” (Takes place mostly in a post-apocalyptic Australia. No joke.) and Sword & Sorcery Fantasy. The world has fallen into a new Dark Age.
The Church has also risen again, and like in medieval times, they keep the technology of the previous age hidden from everyone. (So now people use swords, lances, wagons, etc.) Magic also has come back.
There is no way I can tell you the plot without spoiling it. So I’m going to say the main plot is the classic badman wanting all power, world domination, etc. As you read, you will find that the story is about so much more than that.
Prior tackles Religion, True Love, Responsibility, and Sacrifice in such a way that makes it look like he’s been writing for decades. He is one of the best authors I’ve read this year.
The characters are just as good as the plot. The villains all have a spark of good, and are not long skinny men with thin mustachios that cackle with glee. You will become emotionally attached to every villain. As for the heroes, they are not perfect. They have their ups and downs. They make mistakes. They have feelings.
The dialogue is written with skill. No stiff awkward prose here that so many indie writers struggle with.
Verdict
I give the book 4 out of 5 stars! Prior is a very promising indie writer, and if you want to read amazing tales of Good vs. Evil, read one of his books!
Available in print and on the Kindle Store. -
This book was admittedly difficult to read, at least, in the beginning.
Shader: Sword of the Archon is a book that doesn't hold back and doesn't spoon feed you details often. When it does, it leaves you even more confused. I began this book not really knowing what to expect. I waded into the pages lost and confused. I left this book wanting so much more.
Sword of the Archon is a tale much like Game of Thrones, telling the story from different characters' perspectives, only the background lore is extremely relevant. In Game of Thrones, you might hear a hundred different names of various knights across the kingdom, and maybe you'll see one or two of them without even realizing its the same name as you'd read earlier. In Shader, unfamiliar terms are used with high frequency, and throughout this book are proven to be key details. Imagine a caveman being told to walk down Broadway past the H&M, take a left at the Wafel stand, enter the subway, and take the 6 to 28th; that's the kind of confusion you will have entering this story.
However, if you stick through the confusion and take in as much information as possible, you will find yourself enveloped in this rich and fleshed out world. You will jump from one character to another and completely forget they were each written by the same author. You'll find yourself following an obese skeleton, a hipster bard, a technocrat, and more as their worlds collide. And at the center of this conflict is Shader and the sword of the Archon. -
I enjoyed this book far more than expected. I plan on reading the next two to complete the trilogy. The author has done a good job creating a post-apocalyptic world which remembers technology but magic has also appeared. The male characters are quite strongly portrayed and of the two female characters of note: One is rather one dimensional, the other, the "nun" is far more compelling and seems to fit better. I could be that the other female character will be developed more in the next books.
I enjoyed the conflict between being a soldier and being a spiritual man which is a conflict I believe many can relate to. How does one decide when it is murder and when it is a righteous defense of the innocent? Can you be preemptive to protect the innocent or would that be murder? -
A most entertaining read. The characters have depth and purpose. Plot is well thought out and handled with a deft hand
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This book was just plain fabulous, well crafted characters presented in a well crafted story, that blends genres flawlessly. A tale written for adults who appreciate good writting
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I loved `The Nameless Dwarf` books & I loved this book even more!!!I will definitely be reading more Shader books.
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Review for Shader: Against the Unweaving Trilogy (1-3)
1- four stars
2-four stars
3-three stars
I have almost all of D.P Prior's books and a while back I dropped him a message and asked for his suggested reading order for his works. He suggested starting with Shader, so that's what I did. Now, I wish I had started with the Nameless Dwarf series. I'll tackle that one next then come back and read Shader #4.
This was a difficult rating to apply because Prior is an excellent Epic Fantasy writer and I love the intermingling of science, references to modern day tech and implications across multiple worlds. The series is really solid with the exception of some character flaws and failure of the author to make them endearing enough to have their flaws just be part of their character development toward the end of the trilogy.
**Mild Spoilers**
The writing is wonderful. The storyline robust and intriguing, though I found myself struggling with world-building elements that weren't explained. Perhaps they are covered in the previous works, perhaps that's his style. The characters are also complex and endearing, with the exception that they are very, very flawed. I feel Prior could do a better job making them unlikable, and yet likable by giving a little more attention to their complexity. So, you're kinda left with bad feelings toward Rhiannon and Shader. He's so confused that he just stands slack-jawed at crucial moments. And Rhiannon is just mean and whiney. The constant bickering between Rhiannon and Shadrak really got on my nerves and Shader was wussy for a hero. Would have loved to have more of Elias, too.
I will read the rest of his works to see how they play out. I find the storyline fascinating and look forward to learning more of Nameless' past. -
This is my first read by this author, and certainly won’t be my last. This was a surprising find for me, since I haven’t heard of this author. I love stumbling across new reads by new voices.
Sword of the Archon follows the POV of several characters, which is always a plus for me. You really get a good sense of the world this way. I don’t think I remember ever reading a book that crossed genres quite like this one. It’s part epic fantasy and part postapocalyptic, with a smattering of sci-fi at the end. It’s set in the future of our world - technology is a thing long in the past (or so we think). Yet the feel is fantasy, with swords and magic and dark creatures and a villain in the shadows pulling strings that we just get glimpses of. I loved the overall feel of the setting, and the worldbuilding is very well done.
The main character, Deacon Shader, isn’t immediately likable, and throughout the book, his relationship with his “love” interest fell flat. Besides this complaint, the characters are well fleshed out. Shader is a priest gone rogue, yet his past religious affiliations keep catching up with him. He wins a battle to claim a sword, which makes it feel like we are flung into a story halfway through. The reader must pay close attention for the first half of the book, for there are terms and stories that are already set in motion and the reader plays catch up. I don’t necessarily mind this, but it does make for a bit of confusion.
One of my favorite characters, the villainous Dr. Cadman (I’m so very partial to villain POVs) is so well written, I found myself jealous. He is funny, undead (yay), thousands of years old, and quite the character of paradoxes. Sometimes you think “Wow, he actually has a soul” and then he will do something so truly horrible you shiver. He’s not the only character who has several sides to him, either. This book is full of characters with mixed motivations, well developed voices, and development throughout the story that weaves almost perfectly into a tale of rip-roaring fun, intriguing mysteries, magic, mayhem, and horrifying beasts.
All in all, I will certainly be finishing this series. Trigger warning: there is a rape scene, but it wasn’t a throwaway trope with no purpose. It plays a vital role in the story.
4 of 5 solid stars.
*this review is also posted on Booknest.eu -
Good book
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley Ma -
A world to rival China Mieville's.
Prior has constructed one of the most intense and immersive reads I’ve read in a long time, and the first book had me scrambling to put the rest on my ‘must read immediately list.’
The first book has its challenges. We are given no glossary and introduced to a plethora of tongue-twisting names of the various gods, demigods, and figures of myth, and the reader is forced to piece together much of the history in context while the action is going on. Be prepared to use the search function frequently to check back for prior mentions of a name and its associations.
Fortunately, Prior succeeds in pacing the storyline so that dropped hints are quickly paid off, and scenes of exposition are delivered during quieter moments and in interesting settings.
But the reader must still keep his or her eye keen and pay close attention to the little details dropped or referenced by one character or another. The first book will definitely merit a re-reading.
The story in short: the tale is set in a far distant future, where the world although geographically the same has been altered. The laws of physics now allow for strange and magical forces at work, and new religious and political entities have arisen.
We are introduced immediately to our hero: Deacon Shader, a man of unsurpassed martial prowess who is in the process of testing his ability against other warriors to prove worthy of the eponymous Sword of the Archon. He will then consider retiring to a life of quiet contemplation.
But at the same time, back in Shader’s home, the former continent of Australia, the vampiric Liche Dr. Cadman has come upon a plan for true immortality, free of the dependency on flesh and blood of the living, and of the fear on one day being put down.
For it seems the world was remade by an Australian Aboriginal who opened the Dreamtime and released humanity’s dreams and nightmares and gods into the world to fight the evil Technocrat. One relic from this battle was the statue of a goddess, since broken into five parts and given to five different guardians. Should the pieces ever be reassembled, the wielder of the statue would have the power to end and remake the world.
Cadman proceeds to seek and kill these guardians for possession of their pieces, and with each piece he gains, Cadman makes use of its power, but tainted and twisted by misuse, unleashes plague and ruin.
It falls to Deacon Shader as wielder of the Sword of the Archon to stop this threat.
But Cadman’s activities are only the beginning. His meddling has attracted the attention of the Technocrat, and of Cadman’s dreaded master, the Liche Lord Otto Blighty, whose dominion Cadman longs to escape from. Mechanical monstrosities and undead hordes threaten to plunge the world into war, no matter what.
And all of these sinister forces are merely pawns of the Demiorgos, a dark god who longs for the obliteration of existence.
This serves to invest the reader in the story, and as a way to introduce these strange histories and mysteries. One clever detail came about through the immortal characters: the guardians of the statue segments are conveyed immortality as long as they hold that piece of the statue, as is Cadman as an undead liche, so they will occasionally make references to contemporary events that are both startling and fitting in this fantastic context.
The first book seems almost like a rite of passage, introducing readers to this world, and now that I’ve been familiarized with all the universe has going on, I expect to fly through the pages with the next books. I eagerly await following further adventures. -
Shader: Cadman's Gambit is a well written (what i would term 'Hard Fantasy') book, which takes the reader through the gamut of literary experience. It is a multi-path, multi-POV tale, starting what I think is a trilogy of books surrounding the main protagonist, Deacon Shader. 'Shader', as he is referred to in the novel, is a troubled monk come fighting man who struggles to justify his martial ways given his religious teachings.I find it hard to describe the plot, as it is somewhat convoluted, but ultimately Shader becomes an unwilling participant in a much larger struggle of godly and other-worldly protortions which he is not aware of, even though the very core of his struggle resolves around his own demons and the consequences of his past actions. I found the book hard to get into, with many different characters / idioms / places / lands / powers used by the author. It seems like the reader should already know the history etc, as if it were Book 2 of a series. Added to this is a writing style that, while rich and powerful, seems to throw in big words just for the sake of big words. I do this myself as a writer, and am always asking myself if I have crossed the line between too much 'flashiness' over solid, flowing text. I guess that is where the kindle helps out! Long gone are the days of having dictionary at hand to look up unknown words. Two taps and presto! I learned quite a few new words from the author, so I guess that can't be all bad!
Luckily, when the action really kicks into gear, the narrative shifts from adjective-heavy narration to good, solid prose. The characters all mostly well fleshed out, giving them their own uniqueness and imagery in the reader's mind. The exception (to me) was unfortunately that of the main character, Shader. I did not empathize with him or feel like I knew him very well. Sometimes he seems like a young man, while at other times he seemed old, and the only real imagery I got of his appearance was that he wore a hat and he fought with two weapons. Perhaps the descriptions of him were given in parts where I surged with other descriptions and concepts, but i feel his appearance as well as character and motives could have been fleshed out a bit more. I like how certain characters had their unique personalities and quirks, everything from OCD to cowardice to senility.
The concept of the story is entertaining, and the background inference to different cultures was well done and gave scope to the story. I think I will persist with the series, and look forward to seeing how the story evolves.
Well done D.P Prior. -
I bought thi as a Kindle book.
Shader, the Sword of the Archon begins well with the introduction of the title character who fights in a contest for the Sword noted in the title.
Then for the next hundred or more pages, that is it for action as the plot unfolds...slowly, very slowly. Furthermore, things get weird. With a nod to OZ, the great Southern Hemisphere nation, a story unfolds of some sort of death cult- or something- that gives birth of the undead ( yes, I know a contradiction in terms) among what appear to be Aborginal tribes. So you have a time of a broken society 900 years hence , forbidden to use technology beyond what existed in about 1800 A.D., where people have devolved into superstition, with Warring religions and regions. Some people skulk around in near invisibility; others seem to exist only to drink themselves blotto and vomit. Lots of vomit- it must be the national pastime in whatever oddly- named country it is.
That is where the book lost me; I had no desire to continue to the distant finish of this book, let alone two more volumes.
I admit that I prefer heroic fantasy, lots of swords and clashing battle, with a bit of magic, rather than ghouls, shape shifters and creeps ,and I prefer novels that have some noble purpose moving the plot forward, even if it is only revenge.From the sample I received and read via Kindle, I thought that was what Shader was, so I am quite disappointed.
Even so, the book might have held my interest had it not been so plodding.
But, many four and five star reviews show that my dislike is a minority viewpoint. Try it , you might like it, but I most certainly did not. -
Disjointed, difficult to follow and boring. Set in a post apocalyptic time, but no real history is given. It's got so many characters that you can't hardly tell what is going on at any time and the names of a few of the major players are so similar (Shadrak/Shader) that you are half way through a chapter before you realize that it's the bad/good guy you are reading about before you realize it and thought you were reading about someone else. I never grew to like any of the characters, some just drop out of the story for no reason and you're not sure what happened to them. I didn't like having a hint of what caused the Reckoning and then just having to take the author's word on why the world is messed up. I'm sure there is more explanation in the later books, but I have no interest in reading those because of the poor quality of the writing in this one to figure it all out.
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There's a very rich and original background to this story, blending and Australian Aboriginal mythology into a post-apocalyptic world that has developed it's own theological structures and built an empire on them. The conflicts between the two - and the powers left over from the past - focus round several key artifacts: pieces of a snake statue which may actually be a goddess turned to stone. Some very well-drawn characters are drawn into an increasingly bloody conflict with the stakes being raised from personal survival to the fate of the world. Fast paced and well put together throughout, my main criticism is that it gets too complex at times. The jumble of characters places and mythologies goes from complex to confusing at times. But it still managed to remain engrossing, and I would certainly read the next book in the series.
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The first in D.P. Prior's 'Shader' series, this is a self-published fantasy that is set upon a future Earth following a post-apocalyptic event in which magic has returned.
While I'm not usually averse to a bit of fantasy every now and then, I have to say: I found this one to be hard going. Despite a promising start, I found it to become somewhat overblown and drawn out and just not that engaging: I never really connected with any of the characters or the situations they faced.
There were times, even, when I was tempted to abandon it altogether / skip chapters, but stuck at it out of sheer bloody-mindedness rather than due to any interest in the story
I'm sorry to say so, but I doubt I'll pick up the second in the series. :( -
Dr. Cadman is arguably one of the best villains out there.
The world setting is very good, very well implemented, the characters are well made, but Cadman is in a whole other level by himself, so the other characters are a bit shadowed by him.
The writing is exceptional, with a very rich vocabulary rarely seen in fantasy books.
This Dark Fantasy deserves a solid 5 stars from me. I do recommend this one. Probably for adults though. -
Perhaps I've been over-indulging on fantasy books recently, but this didn't do it for me. The world felt a little too close to home with religions and war, Britannia, and the grim realities gave too dark a reading for me...
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Didn't finish thus one. just a bit too dark and gruesome for my tastes.
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I found the story a little rough around the edges but overall enjoyable.
