Finished this recently and I have to say that it was much better than I had expected. I've read some of the author's previous fiction. While he has always told a good story, the prose was somewhat clunky at times. It is apparent that the author is getting better at his craft and it shows with AToB. It does start slowly, but rapidly sets the hook and picks up the pace. The setting is interesting, juxtaposing Roman republic style state and Church with a feudal european-style kingdom in a fantasy setting, and having a workable and interesting history and mythology to go with it. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of fleshing-out detail in the world building of Selenoth.

One thing I particularly enjoyed was the author's take on that fantasy staple: Elves. The author explores the question of what would a society of materialist, quasi-immortal beings converge on...and arrives at something refreshingly different than the ethereal, beatific elves of Tolkien's Middle Earth.

Another item I thought very well done was the setup and description of the battle scenes: some of the best low-level descriptions I have read, major points for verisimilitude here on an emotional level. One scene in particular involving the hand-to-hand clash between legions had a tense claustrophobic feel that took me back to memories of combat exercises and training when I was in the military.

I read exhaustively for work, so when I get to read non-fiction, I read strictly for entertainment, not for enlightenment, political hand-holding, or anything other than escape from the commonplace. By that measure I very much enjoyed AToB. For something like this I give 4 stars...(5 stars would be for something on the order of Middle Earth) Selenoth gladly gets 4 stars and a spot on my "buy the sequel in dead-tree format" shelf.



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Much like George R. R. Martin's “A Song of Ice and Fire”, this book is hard on the reader at first. The dizzying array of point-of-view characters, combined with the confusing roman names and titles, makes it hard to get started, but once you do, the grand and intricate plot keeps the pages turning, and while a few things are a bit too predictable or stereotypical, the author managed to keep me guessing and being surprised by the twists and turns throughout.

In comparison with “A Song of Ice and Fire”, the characters are a lot more likable and realistic, but on the whole, the reading experience is similarly grand and inspiring, although Vox Day's pacing is a lot more intense than GRRM, and that makes it easier to get through a tome of this size. ( )

Leather cowhide, Castalia Library, limited edition of 850 ( )

It's a good if long epic fantasy that was better than I expected. At over 900 pages I expected a long read. But once I started I did not stop until I finished it three days later. The fantasy world is set in a form of the Roman Republic in the time period of the civil revolt with a religion modeled off the Roman Catholic Church. Then add Vikings, fantasy races and supernatural beings that fit well into the narrative.

The book starts off as the soldiers of one of the legions of Amorr face off against a goblin army. The battle is detailed and tactically accurate for the representative time period. The book does a good job of showing the reader the difference between nation, state and empire and intrigue abounds. Then builds to the point where the nation itself is in peril. As the story progresses we are introduced to new characters and each new character has their own story and part to play. You get to know these characters well including their interior thoughts in a very readable and enjoyable story line.

This first part of a two book series has caught my attention. It is the closest epic fantasy that comes close to keeping your interest as Tolkien does. The author has been able make magic and fantasy have as much a part to play as the intricate machinations between nobles. Yet mainly you do feel as if you are in a historical fiction of a modified Roman timeline. Every page of this book adds to the richness of the story being told and will captivate you. The bar is set high for the second and final installment. ( )

A Throne of Bones is the first in a proposed two-book series, Arts of Dark and Light. It is an epic fantasy in the best tradition. It is told in multiple POVs: in the Republic of Amorr we have Stratgister Militum Corvus, his son Marcus Clericus, his rival Severus Patronus, and his daughter Severa; in the kingdom of Savondir we have Sieur Theuderic, a battlemage; among the Dalarn Clans we have we have Fjotra, a refugee Reaver and daughter of Skuli Skullbreaker; and Lodi representing the dwarves.
Amorr is representative of the Roman Republic with a religious body that ties back to the Catholic church. Savondir harks back to medieval France, and the Dalarn clans seem to be Vikings. The author ties all these disparate cultures together masterfully and throws in some elves, goblins, orcs, and demons for good measure.
The Amorr sections show a detailed mastery of military tactics. I admit I was glad for my Latin background, but I think most readers will understand the gist of the verbiage from context. I found the battle descriptions to be extraordinary, very well-written though perhaps not to everyone's taste, and I very much enjoyed those sections. The rest of the worldbuilding is equally as good.
This is a long book, over 900 pages, but I never felt that it dragged. The story is well-paced as it proceeds along the various storylines. It is definitely a book any fantasy fans should enjoy. Now I just need to wait for the next book. ( )