The Black Coast: The God-King Chronicles, Book 1

Intensiv!

Epic Fantasy, dragons, a god-king, criminals, battles, thieves, rich and poor, feudal and tribal, straight, queer and everything else.In terms of settings and society/cultures this is an interesting mix. We are somewhere in medieval times, reminiscent of the vikings raiding English shores. Not really, but based on names and early narrative it feels like that. A tribe of not-vikings/Icelanders are fleeing their home and want to settle on not-English-flatlands. The Flatlanders are understandably not to keen to let a tribe settle amongst them, that has been raiding their shores for generations. Can old enemies find common ground and live together? And what made the Tjakorshi flee their ancestral lands?Every chapter heading is another name and indication of the chapter’s POV. I started taking notes early on, because I realized that I would struggle to keep the many names and settings straight. I did that well into Part Two.The various societies, each with their own particularities, were a little challenging at first, down to religion, belief systems, style of dress, types of weaponry and fighting styles, gendering and sexual identities. It‘s all well fleshed-out and believable.Good character development, even for side characters and the bad guys and gals.Well drafted action sequences.Loved the dragons / dinosaurs. The main ones reminded me of Velociraptors and a feathered Triceratops/Ankylosaurus mix. Not the kind of dragons I was expecting. Nicely done!There was enough there for me to want to continue with the next book. This man has already procured it!