Book Review: The Moribund Monarch’s Masterpiece by Paul G. Zareith
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
This short novella feels like a set-up for a longer tale and much bigger world. The story is about Raurkein, who has devoted his life to avenging his father and people by ending the reign of the tyrannical Immortal Monarch. This monarch, however, is not merely human, but rather the embodiment of an eldritch god complete with arcane powers. After a decade or so of relentless training, Raurkein believes he is ready to face the gladiator-style combat arena that will get him close enough to the Monarch to end his reign and free the people from the clutches of the god.
The god was a fascinating one. Dubbed as the Predator God, this is not a deity of benevolence and kindness but a rather bloodthirsty one that places rather brutal demands on its people, such as would-be ascendants having to fight their way through various trials in the combat arenas.
This gladiator-style combat was an interesting addition to the story and got decidedly gruesome as Raurkein proved an adept fighter. While I’m not one to enjoy or even tolerate animal cruelty, the fact that the creatures Raurkein faces are all mythical monsters rather than real-world animals definitely helped create some distance between me and the violence. That said, if you are particularly sensitive to blood and gore, please consider yourself warned as this book contains rather explicit description of injuries and death.
I also appreciated the theme of church vs state here, explored through the lens of a fantasy religion. The convoluted rebellion scheme could definitely have done with some better fleshing out and explanation on page. As it is, it felt a bit rushed and I didn’t fully understand all the various characters’ motives, which made the deceptive twist fall a little flat for me.
It’s a pity this book was so short – even by novella standards, being only 90 pages long – considering how big its themes and ideas were. I would very much like to read more set in this world as it felt like the story was really just getting started when I hit The End.
Overall, this was a quick and brutal read that toes the line between dark fantasy and grimdark, and will probably appeal to readers who enjoy their heroes rugged, their plots blood-splattered, and their characters of dubious morality.
Available via Paul G. Zareith’s Website
Review By Xan van Rooyen
