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Annals of the God Eater #1
Deathless
Seven were the Godless Kings who took their war to Heaven.
King Ertide Hostain was once known as the Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and he has yet to choose which squabbling prince will be his heir.
The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realises not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is heaven hiding?
Immortality has a price, and it is paid in blood.
A new epic fantasy saga full of angels, demons, and mystery, from award-winning author, Rob J. Hayes. Perfect for fans of Brandon Sanders, John Gwynne, and Ryan Cahill.
King Ertide Hostain was once known as the Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and he has yet to choose which squabbling prince will be his heir.
The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realises not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is heaven hiding?
Immortality has a price, and it is paid in blood.
A new epic fantasy saga full of angels, demons, and mystery, from award-winning author, Rob J. Hayes. Perfect for fans of Brandon Sanders, John Gwynne, and Ryan Cahill.
- GenresFantasyEpic FantasyAdult
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2024
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
39 books1,707 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 28, 2024
4.5/5 stars
Deathless was, unbelievably, even better than Demon; this is an intense and dark political epic fantasy done right.
First, I will repeat what I said in my review for Demon. The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes is a big series divided into three trilogies. Herald is the first book in Age of the God Eater trilogy. Deathless is the first book in Annals of the God Eater trilogy, and it takes place a thousand years before the events of Herald. Finally, Demon is the first book in Archive of the God Eater trilogy, and the story begins three thousand years before the events of Herald. These three surmised the first phase of The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes. Hayes wrote the three first volumes concurrently, and he’s currently writing the second phase of The God Eater Saga, the respective sequel to these three books.
Although I am not following the recommended reading order of The God Eater Saga, which is to read Herald, Deathless, and Demon in that order, I must say… Rob J. Hayes has done a superb job in making sure each first book in a series worked as a standalone or a suitable starting point. If you read Deathless after reading Herald, I have no doubt your reading experience of this 70,000 words long short novel will differ from mine. But in my case, I read Demon first, and I can confidently say that I do not regret reading the saga in chronological order. Not one bit. It’s the other way around. I have read Demon, but I haven’t read Herald, and I believe my reading experience of Deathless was elevated because of it. I have a feeling Herald will explain the events that happened in Deathless and will spoil the elements of surprise.
Two thousand years have passed since the origin story of Dien Hostain in Demon started. In Deathless, we follow the story of King Ertide Hostain, who was once known as the legendary Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and nearing his death, he has yet to choose which of his squabbling princes will be his heir. The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realizes not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is Heaven hiding?
Immortality has a price, and it is paid in blood. If Demon is a survival and origin story of Dien Hostain, Deathless is a political epic fantasy story that depicts the genesis of the Godless Kings who took their war to Heaven. It will require a bit of time to get used to the many names of the Hostain family. Ertide is the sole POV character of Deathless, and most of the main supporting characters in this novel (unless certain revelations are revealed in later books) are descendants of Dien Hostain, the main character of Demon. In my opinion, The Hostain dynasty is starting to become one of the most fascinating fictional families brimming with potential for intricacies and family-tree explorations I have ever read. In a way, reading the story of the Hostain family in Demon and Deathless reminded me of the Targaryen from A Song of Ice and Fire or Radagon’s family in Elden Ring video game. I have yet to read Herald, and I am already sad I will be done with the first phase of The God Eater Saga soon.
Ertide Hostain and his descendants, especially Rikkan, Mertred, Caran, Emrik, and Arandon, are some of the most memorable characters in Deathless. As I mentioned, give yourself time to adjust to the many names quickly forwarded to the reader. But once you get the bearing of who’s who and their respective crucial role in the narrative, I guarantee you it will be a challenge to put Deathless down. The first half is basically the calm before the storm moments. Hayes needed this section to efficiently establish the build-up before the explosive second half. And the payoff is utterly brilliant. I read the second half of Deathless in one sitting. The scheming, the manipulations, the revelations, and the brutal confrontations of ideals, wishes, freedom, and greed made Deathless a thoroughly engaging read with a satisfying ending. The angel of the First Age—Orphus—and the Fourth Age—Oronesus—are more involved in the plotlines when compared to Demon. It was an incredible experience to read and learn more about the world-building and history Hayes has prepared for The God Eater Saga with each book. And I cannot wait to read more of it.
Because this is a short novel, I will not take too much of your time reading this review. Deathless is a blaze of glory that became one of the author's best works to date. I wholeheartedly recommend Demon and Deathless. Hayes is brewing something special with The God Eater Saga. And to think that I haven’t even read the main novel of the saga, Herald, yet! However, after reading Demon, Deathless, and The Mortal Techniques series, I already feel secure in proclaiming Rob J. Hayes as one of my favorite fantasy authors. The magnificent tale of greed, ambition, power, faith, and fall from grace in Deathless is bound in blood. I have a strong instinct that the repercussions of the vermillion actions in Annals of the God Eater, even when the second and third phase of the saga is not written yet, will seep into Age of the God Eater series. I am ready for Herald.
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew S, Annabeth, Anne, Arliss, Barbara, Bev, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Cullen, Dan, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, James, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Nick, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Rue, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Sophia, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
Deathless was, unbelievably, even better than Demon; this is an intense and dark political epic fantasy done right.
"It takes more than one person to birth a conspiracy."
First, I will repeat what I said in my review for Demon. The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes is a big series divided into three trilogies. Herald is the first book in Age of the God Eater trilogy. Deathless is the first book in Annals of the God Eater trilogy, and it takes place a thousand years before the events of Herald. Finally, Demon is the first book in Archive of the God Eater trilogy, and the story begins three thousand years before the events of Herald. These three surmised the first phase of The God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes. Hayes wrote the three first volumes concurrently, and he’s currently writing the second phase of The God Eater Saga, the respective sequel to these three books.
"A civilisation is lost, not when the messages of our heroes are forgotten, but when they are corrupted. When we are led by those with the loudest voices, rather than those with the keenest minds. When learning is ridiculed and ignorance lauded."
Although I am not following the recommended reading order of The God Eater Saga, which is to read Herald, Deathless, and Demon in that order, I must say… Rob J. Hayes has done a superb job in making sure each first book in a series worked as a standalone or a suitable starting point. If you read Deathless after reading Herald, I have no doubt your reading experience of this 70,000 words long short novel will differ from mine. But in my case, I read Demon first, and I can confidently say that I do not regret reading the saga in chronological order. Not one bit. It’s the other way around. I have read Demon, but I haven’t read Herald, and I believe my reading experience of Deathless was elevated because of it. I have a feeling Herald will explain the events that happened in Deathless and will spoil the elements of surprise.
"When faith becomes religion, and worship is enforced with threat and fear, morality actual suffers in the shadow of morality implied."
Two thousand years have passed since the origin story of Dien Hostain in Demon started. In Deathless, we follow the story of King Ertide Hostain, who was once known as the legendary Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and nearing his death, he has yet to choose which of his squabbling princes will be his heir. The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realizes not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is Heaven hiding?
"Do the people serve the king, or does the king serve the people? Consider the circle. Strong and flexible, but a single break in the line and the structure falls apart. Therefore it might be better to say: The people DO serve the king, so that the king MAY serve the people."
Immortality has a price, and it is paid in blood. If Demon is a survival and origin story of Dien Hostain, Deathless is a political epic fantasy story that depicts the genesis of the Godless Kings who took their war to Heaven. It will require a bit of time to get used to the many names of the Hostain family. Ertide is the sole POV character of Deathless, and most of the main supporting characters in this novel (unless certain revelations are revealed in later books) are descendants of Dien Hostain, the main character of Demon. In my opinion, The Hostain dynasty is starting to become one of the most fascinating fictional families brimming with potential for intricacies and family-tree explorations I have ever read. In a way, reading the story of the Hostain family in Demon and Deathless reminded me of the Targaryen from A Song of Ice and Fire or Radagon’s family in Elden Ring video game. I have yet to read Herald, and I am already sad I will be done with the first phase of The God Eater Saga soon.
“So many faces here I recognize… And just as many I don’t. I’m sorry about that. I wish I’d spent more time getting to know you all. But ours is a broad family. A tree with roots as deep as the world, and more branches than rivers feeding the World Vein. The Hostain blood runs strong in us all. The blood of the Saint, who forged humanity into an empire. The blood of rulers, who have held us all together and brought us prosperity and wisdom and strength.”
Ertide Hostain and his descendants, especially Rikkan, Mertred, Caran, Emrik, and Arandon, are some of the most memorable characters in Deathless. As I mentioned, give yourself time to adjust to the many names quickly forwarded to the reader. But once you get the bearing of who’s who and their respective crucial role in the narrative, I guarantee you it will be a challenge to put Deathless down. The first half is basically the calm before the storm moments. Hayes needed this section to efficiently establish the build-up before the explosive second half. And the payoff is utterly brilliant. I read the second half of Deathless in one sitting. The scheming, the manipulations, the revelations, and the brutal confrontations of ideals, wishes, freedom, and greed made Deathless a thoroughly engaging read with a satisfying ending. The angel of the First Age—Orphus—and the Fourth Age—Oronesus—are more involved in the plotlines when compared to Demon. It was an incredible experience to read and learn more about the world-building and history Hayes has prepared for The God Eater Saga with each book. And I cannot wait to read more of it.
"History is mutable, written not by the hand of relevance, but instead by those with ink to spare."
Because this is a short novel, I will not take too much of your time reading this review. Deathless is a blaze of glory that became one of the author's best works to date. I wholeheartedly recommend Demon and Deathless. Hayes is brewing something special with The God Eater Saga. And to think that I haven’t even read the main novel of the saga, Herald, yet! However, after reading Demon, Deathless, and The Mortal Techniques series, I already feel secure in proclaiming Rob J. Hayes as one of my favorite fantasy authors. The magnificent tale of greed, ambition, power, faith, and fall from grace in Deathless is bound in blood. I have a strong instinct that the repercussions of the vermillion actions in Annals of the God Eater, even when the second and third phase of the saga is not written yet, will seep into Age of the God Eater series. I am ready for Herald.
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew S, Annabeth, Anne, Arliss, Barbara, Bev, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Cullen, Dan, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, James, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Nick, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Rue, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Sophia, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
May 7, 2024
I decided to read the trilogy of trilogy series in chronological order of all the book ones. So I have already read Demon reading this one but haven't read Herald yet.
I enjoyed this one just not as much as I enjoyed demon. This one does have a slow start. You don't really understand the over arching point of this story until about 50% in, which made it drag a little for me. But as soon as I understood I was like OOOHHHH YES!
I loved the character work that was put down in this. And I loved seeing the Hostain blood line. All the little Easter eggs to demon and probably a lot of hints to herald were so fun. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this one as a series on its own. But as part of this epic world and series I thought it was interesting.
I enjoyed this one just not as much as I enjoyed demon. This one does have a slow start. You don't really understand the over arching point of this story until about 50% in, which made it drag a little for me. But as soon as I understood I was like OOOHHHH YES!
I loved the character work that was put down in this. And I loved seeing the Hostain blood line. All the little Easter eggs to demon and probably a lot of hints to herald were so fun. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this one as a series on its own. But as part of this epic world and series I thought it was interesting.
June 1, 2024
Okay, these are sooo good
June 3, 2024
Deathless is the second book 1 (sequentially) of Rob Hayes’ ambitious three-trilogy Godeater series. It has a vastly different tone than Demon, which I read just previous to Deathless. While Demon focused on the common man’s struggle against an invading horde, Deathless picks up 1,000 years later, telling the story of Ertide, a king nearing the end of his reign and his life.
As Ertide’s rule draws to a close, he wrestles with his legacy and where the power truly lies. Immortal angels who claim to follow God’s will heavily influence most of Ertide’s decrees through his lifetime. The angels have immense power and Ertide has had little choice in following Heaven’s plan, lest he be named a heretic. But when new information about the history of humans and angels come to light, is there anything Ertide can do to change the balance of power?
There are many characters introduced in this novel, and much of it feels like table-setting for bigger events to come — then an exciting and game-changing conclusion has me fired up to continue this timeline’s story. It asks as many questions as it answers, and I’m excited to see more of what Hayes’ overarching vision is for this massive saga.
This series is a lot of fun - intriguing, mysterious, sprawling, and has some excellent action scenes. Highly recommend you checking this out.
Starting “Herald” in 5… 4… 3…
As Ertide’s rule draws to a close, he wrestles with his legacy and where the power truly lies. Immortal angels who claim to follow God’s will heavily influence most of Ertide’s decrees through his lifetime. The angels have immense power and Ertide has had little choice in following Heaven’s plan, lest he be named a heretic. But when new information about the history of humans and angels come to light, is there anything Ertide can do to change the balance of power?
There are many characters introduced in this novel, and much of it feels like table-setting for bigger events to come — then an exciting and game-changing conclusion has me fired up to continue this timeline’s story. It asks as many questions as it answers, and I’m excited to see more of what Hayes’ overarching vision is for this massive saga.
This series is a lot of fun - intriguing, mysterious, sprawling, and has some excellent action scenes. Highly recommend you checking this out.
Starting “Herald” in 5… 4… 3…
April 5, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.
3.5 stars, rounded up
When Rob J. Hayes first announced the God Eater Saga, I had no doubt in my mind that the sum of its parts would equal a truly unique and tremendous epic. Having recently read Demon, the first chronological book in the saga, my expectations going into Deathless, the first of the Annals of the God Eater trilogy, were very high. And while it did not reach the same heights as Demon, this entry is still highly enjoyable and is only further cementing that this saga is going to be a modern-day classic.
Set one thousand years before the events of the main trilogy, Deathless follows King Ertide Hostain, the monarch of the Sant Dien Empire. For millennia, the Empire has stood alongside angels to defend its borders in accordance with the will of God. However, for all his heroics in his younger years, Ertide is now an old man inching nearer and nearer to death, and the angels, much to his chagrin, are pulling him along on strings to satisfy God’s will and pushing him to abdicate his throne and name on of his children as heir to the empire. But things are never so simple, and when the veil covering the relationship between humanity and angels is lifted from Ertide’s eyes, he has no choice but to question his faith and seek out how to cut the strings that have long pulled him along.
At its core, Deathless is a political fantasy. Running in the background for much of the book is the question of who Ertide is going to name as his heir. However, none of his five children are suitable to succeed him for a variety of reasons, from disinterest in ruling to arrogance to madness, and the insistence of the angels for him to abdicate his throne only exacerbates the issue. While this plotline felt a bit rushed, and the payoff ultimately feeling an afterthought, the dynamic of family politics was explored quite well. Royal succession is an interesting affair in this book, where the first in line does not want the throne and wants only to fight, while the youngest in the line of succession may be the best suited, but naming him as heir would be an unwanted disruption.
With this in the background, at the forefront lies the conspiracy of what the angels are hiding from humanity. There is a secret to the power the angels hold over them, but few are those who Ertide believes he can entrust it to.
There’s a slow build-up to everything until it all erupts at the end, but after the relentless pace of Demon, Deathless feels a bit more of a meander in comparison. It’s not bad by any means, mind, and the pieces are placed on the board well. However, for the shorter length of the book, I felt the ratio of set-up to payoff was a bit more skewed toward the set-up, and the payoff did not last nearly long enough for me to fully appreciate it and let it sink in.
This would be more of an issue, though, if the main cast did not lift Deathless up their shoulders as well as they did. Ertide is a fascinating and unique lead—one of the first terminally ill elderly protagonists I’ve encountered in an epic fantasy work—and his relationship with his eccentric angel companion Moon, his interactions with his children and grandchildren, the marital obligations with his young wife, they are all enough to make this a page-turner even when the story is at a slow crawl. This is a consistent strength in Hayes’ books, and it is no different here in Deathless.
I believe there’s also a lift given to Deathless by having read Demon first. While much of the references to the first chronological novel are of an Easter egg variety, the conspiratorial nature of the Deathless’ plot was enough to make me reflect on the events of Demon and think on what had happened in the intervening millennia. What became of the relationship between humanity and Heaven? How much of history will be rewritten? Hayes has spoken at length of getting the whole picture by reading each individual piece of this segmented saga, and I think doing so made Deathless that much more enjoyable for me.
Overall, Deathless feels like a foundational book. It’s a very enjoyable one, but it takes a bit too much time getting to where it wants to go, but where it’s going to take off from here, I truly cannot wait to see.
3.5 stars, rounded up
When Rob J. Hayes first announced the God Eater Saga, I had no doubt in my mind that the sum of its parts would equal a truly unique and tremendous epic. Having recently read Demon, the first chronological book in the saga, my expectations going into Deathless, the first of the Annals of the God Eater trilogy, were very high. And while it did not reach the same heights as Demon, this entry is still highly enjoyable and is only further cementing that this saga is going to be a modern-day classic.
Set one thousand years before the events of the main trilogy, Deathless follows King Ertide Hostain, the monarch of the Sant Dien Empire. For millennia, the Empire has stood alongside angels to defend its borders in accordance with the will of God. However, for all his heroics in his younger years, Ertide is now an old man inching nearer and nearer to death, and the angels, much to his chagrin, are pulling him along on strings to satisfy God’s will and pushing him to abdicate his throne and name on of his children as heir to the empire. But things are never so simple, and when the veil covering the relationship between humanity and angels is lifted from Ertide’s eyes, he has no choice but to question his faith and seek out how to cut the strings that have long pulled him along.
At its core, Deathless is a political fantasy. Running in the background for much of the book is the question of who Ertide is going to name as his heir. However, none of his five children are suitable to succeed him for a variety of reasons, from disinterest in ruling to arrogance to madness, and the insistence of the angels for him to abdicate his throne only exacerbates the issue. While this plotline felt a bit rushed, and the payoff ultimately feeling an afterthought, the dynamic of family politics was explored quite well. Royal succession is an interesting affair in this book, where the first in line does not want the throne and wants only to fight, while the youngest in the line of succession may be the best suited, but naming him as heir would be an unwanted disruption.
With this in the background, at the forefront lies the conspiracy of what the angels are hiding from humanity. There is a secret to the power the angels hold over them, but few are those who Ertide believes he can entrust it to.
There’s a slow build-up to everything until it all erupts at the end, but after the relentless pace of Demon, Deathless feels a bit more of a meander in comparison. It’s not bad by any means, mind, and the pieces are placed on the board well. However, for the shorter length of the book, I felt the ratio of set-up to payoff was a bit more skewed toward the set-up, and the payoff did not last nearly long enough for me to fully appreciate it and let it sink in.
This would be more of an issue, though, if the main cast did not lift Deathless up their shoulders as well as they did. Ertide is a fascinating and unique lead—one of the first terminally ill elderly protagonists I’ve encountered in an epic fantasy work—and his relationship with his eccentric angel companion Moon, his interactions with his children and grandchildren, the marital obligations with his young wife, they are all enough to make this a page-turner even when the story is at a slow crawl. This is a consistent strength in Hayes’ books, and it is no different here in Deathless.
I believe there’s also a lift given to Deathless by having read Demon first. While much of the references to the first chronological novel are of an Easter egg variety, the conspiratorial nature of the Deathless’ plot was enough to make me reflect on the events of Demon and think on what had happened in the intervening millennia. What became of the relationship between humanity and Heaven? How much of history will be rewritten? Hayes has spoken at length of getting the whole picture by reading each individual piece of this segmented saga, and I think doing so made Deathless that much more enjoyable for me.
Overall, Deathless feels like a foundational book. It’s a very enjoyable one, but it takes a bit too much time getting to where it wants to go, but where it’s going to take off from here, I truly cannot wait to see.
April 6, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
Holy smokes, Rob J. Hayes has done it again! Brimming with cutthroat political intrigue, complex family dynamics, twisted truths, and morally questionable actions, Deathless is a deliciously diabolical take on a dark political fantasy.
Set 2000 years after the events of Demon, but 1000 years before the events of Herald, this book kicks off the middle trilogy in the epic God Eater Saga. Through the eyes of the ailing King Ertide, we get an intimate glimpse into the Hostain dynasty, the family that has ruled over the Sant Dien Empire for millennia. And for those who have read Demon, yes, those names should indeed ring a bell.
The main focus of the narrative is the succession crisis that King Ertide finds himself embroiled in. The angels have demanded that he abdicates his throne, yet for a variety of reasons, none of his five children seem suitable to be named heir. Add to that the fact that Ertide’s faith has been waning over the years, and the tension and stakes soon rise to ungodly heights.
While I can see how some people might find the pacing of Deathless to be a bit too slow, I personally really enjoyed the intimate and introspective nature of this narrative. We really get to dive deep into Ertide’s troubled psyche, offering riveting inner turmoil that both fascinated and frightened me in equal measure. Plus, I was honestly eating up all the tumultuous familial drama between the multiple generations of Hostains, especially because the characterisation for each individual family member was so ridiculously strong.
Moreover, there’s a truly riveting air of mystery and intrigue woven into the narrative, and I truly could not stop turning the pages to uncover more hidden truths. Themes of religion, faith, ambition, corruption, and the twisting of history are explored in a way I have never seen before, bringing a level of depth and nuance to this novel that is honestly astounding for its shorter pagecount.
I was also absolutely glued to the page by the presence and role of the angels in this story, and I loved that these children of God are not presented as a monolithic community. Especially the eccentric angel Moon really captured my heart, and I loved the complex dynamic between him and King Ertide. All of these characters are constantly tiptoeing the dangerously thin line between good and evil, making Deathless a masterclass in how to explore moral ambiguity in a morbidly fascinating way!
Now, much as I loved the slow build-up of tension and tantalising unveiling of ancient hidden truths, I do think the resolution was a bit rushed compared to the slow set-up. Don’t get me wrong, the actual climax itself was bloody shocking in the best way possible, but I feel like some of the emotional impact was lost in how quickly everything escalated and then exploded.
Fortunately, this is only the first instalment in the Annals of the God Eater trilogy (and one of the nine instalments in the wider God Eater Saga), so there is tons of potential to explore the true horrors and world-shattering implications of the brutal actions at the end in much more depth in the rest of the series. And you better bet I am counting down the days until we get the continuation of this story, because this ending left me hungering for more in the best way possible.
With Deathless, Hayes once again proves that he is a masterful storyteller and a straight-up genius bastard. The God Eater Saga is already shaping up to be one of the most epic and visionary fantasy series I have ever read, and I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.
This review is based on the Kickstarter edition. Deathless will be available for general sale on July 9, 2024.
Holy smokes, Rob J. Hayes has done it again! Brimming with cutthroat political intrigue, complex family dynamics, twisted truths, and morally questionable actions, Deathless is a deliciously diabolical take on a dark political fantasy.
Set 2000 years after the events of Demon, but 1000 years before the events of Herald, this book kicks off the middle trilogy in the epic God Eater Saga. Through the eyes of the ailing King Ertide, we get an intimate glimpse into the Hostain dynasty, the family that has ruled over the Sant Dien Empire for millennia. And for those who have read Demon, yes, those names should indeed ring a bell.
The main focus of the narrative is the succession crisis that King Ertide finds himself embroiled in. The angels have demanded that he abdicates his throne, yet for a variety of reasons, none of his five children seem suitable to be named heir. Add to that the fact that Ertide’s faith has been waning over the years, and the tension and stakes soon rise to ungodly heights.
While I can see how some people might find the pacing of Deathless to be a bit too slow, I personally really enjoyed the intimate and introspective nature of this narrative. We really get to dive deep into Ertide’s troubled psyche, offering riveting inner turmoil that both fascinated and frightened me in equal measure. Plus, I was honestly eating up all the tumultuous familial drama between the multiple generations of Hostains, especially because the characterisation for each individual family member was so ridiculously strong.
Moreover, there’s a truly riveting air of mystery and intrigue woven into the narrative, and I truly could not stop turning the pages to uncover more hidden truths. Themes of religion, faith, ambition, corruption, and the twisting of history are explored in a way I have never seen before, bringing a level of depth and nuance to this novel that is honestly astounding for its shorter pagecount.
I was also absolutely glued to the page by the presence and role of the angels in this story, and I loved that these children of God are not presented as a monolithic community. Especially the eccentric angel Moon really captured my heart, and I loved the complex dynamic between him and King Ertide. All of these characters are constantly tiptoeing the dangerously thin line between good and evil, making Deathless a masterclass in how to explore moral ambiguity in a morbidly fascinating way!
Now, much as I loved the slow build-up of tension and tantalising unveiling of ancient hidden truths, I do think the resolution was a bit rushed compared to the slow set-up. Don’t get me wrong, the actual climax itself was bloody shocking in the best way possible, but I feel like some of the emotional impact was lost in how quickly everything escalated and then exploded.
Fortunately, this is only the first instalment in the Annals of the God Eater trilogy (and one of the nine instalments in the wider God Eater Saga), so there is tons of potential to explore the true horrors and world-shattering implications of the brutal actions at the end in much more depth in the rest of the series. And you better bet I am counting down the days until we get the continuation of this story, because this ending left me hungering for more in the best way possible.
With Deathless, Hayes once again proves that he is a masterful storyteller and a straight-up genius bastard. The God Eater Saga is already shaping up to be one of the most epic and visionary fantasy series I have ever read, and I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.
This review is based on the Kickstarter edition. Deathless will be available for general sale on July 9, 2024.
June 2, 2024
This is the second book in the first trilogy I have read (after Demon) and I enjoyed this one more.
While Demon focuses on the storyline of the human race, Deathless primarily focuses on the storyline of a King who is dying and feeling he is losing control of his own kingdom to Angels.
I really enjoy political fantasy when it’s done well (think ASOIAF) and this was done well. Rob has really filled in a gap here in our knowledge of what the world is like between humans and Angels, at least 1,000 years ago, and I can’t wait to see where this specific storyline goes because I feel that there could be some very shocking twists.
Despite being a novella I felt this packed in a lot of character development and some minor world building. I really liked hearing and learning more about the Angels and it’s clear to me that Moon will be a fan favourite for all the right reasons.
I’m on to Herald next which is the main storyline set 1,000 years after this and while I can see where this trilogy is headed (Annals of the Godeater), I don’t have a clue what the main storyline will involve which is exciting in its own right.
While Demon focuses on the storyline of the human race, Deathless primarily focuses on the storyline of a King who is dying and feeling he is losing control of his own kingdom to Angels.
I really enjoy political fantasy when it’s done well (think ASOIAF) and this was done well. Rob has really filled in a gap here in our knowledge of what the world is like between humans and Angels, at least 1,000 years ago, and I can’t wait to see where this specific storyline goes because I feel that there could be some very shocking twists.
Despite being a novella I felt this packed in a lot of character development and some minor world building. I really liked hearing and learning more about the Angels and it’s clear to me that Moon will be a fan favourite for all the right reasons.
I’m on to Herald next which is the main storyline set 1,000 years after this and while I can see where this trilogy is headed (Annals of the Godeater), I don’t have a clue what the main storyline will involve which is exciting in its own right.
August 16, 2024
I’m really starting to love Rob J Hayes. He’s a badass story teller. I started with DEMON (also God eater series but the one set 3000 years before) because I wanted to read this in chronological order. It’s just my preferred method. Anyways, DEMON was phenomenal and began the entire God Eater story, explaining how things got started. I immediately moved on to DEATHLESS which is book 1 of the second trilogy. Now DEATHLESS was also great but it’s a different type of story which I really enjoyed. It’s a little more political but it does an amazing job of filling in a lot of blanks. The world building here is even more incredible and really makes you rethink a lot of what you learned in DEMON.
As you might know, Hayes is putting out 3 trilogies to cover this entire world. All 3 book 1’s were just released and these are the 3 I started with.
Upon finishing DEMON (book 1) and then DEATHLESS (book 1), I’m on to the final book 1 called HERALD. I can’t wait for the 3 book 2’s to come out next. All 3 of these trilogies are going to be phenomenal.
As you might know, Hayes is putting out 3 trilogies to cover this entire world. All 3 book 1’s were just released and these are the 3 I started with.
Upon finishing DEMON (book 1) and then DEATHLESS (book 1), I’m on to the final book 1 called HERALD. I can’t wait for the 3 book 2’s to come out next. All 3 of these trilogies are going to be phenomenal.
April 28, 2024
Let the feast begin. Damn that was dark political fantasy at its finest, absolutely gripping stuff from start to finish. I love all of Rob J. Hayes works, but this might be his best writing, in my opinion. This GodEater series is truly tremendous.
Deathless is the first book in Annals Of The GodEater, and the series will be three trilogies set over 3000 years from the Demon wars, the fall of heaven, and an empires will to stamp out all divinity and heresy from the world all together.
I knew when I first saw these books being advertised for a kickstarter that I had to be a part of it. After reading the synopsis, you just knew these books were going to be epic, and as usual, Rob J. Hayes did not disappoint with his master storytelling.
Deathless takes place 1000 years before the main trilogy, and the first book Herald. It is short read and is packed full of wonderful, political intrigue, family drama, and characters that draw you in and emerses you into the world of the Sant Dien Empire and Heaven.
Rob J. Hayes continues to create amazing dark worlds. To continue to weave amazing stories one after the other is a gift, and he just keeps on giving. With his fantastic worldbuilding, his plot twist holds no bounds, and the writing is just exquisite.
Ertide is King of the Sant Dien Empire. He is old sick and dying. The Hoistain dynasty has ruled for 2000 years after the demon wars, but only by God's will. Ertide is tired of God's will and the angels divinity over them, and something needs to change.
When darks secrets and uncovered, a secret that could save his life, and give him immortality, plots, and schemes start to unfold, and there is no going back when first blood is spilt. Things are about to get dark and bloody. War is coming, and Heaven best be ready.The Hoistain Empire will never be the same again.
Wow, absolutely fantastic reading, I very highly recommend that you check out this series when it's released on amazon. You won't regret it....🔥🔥🔥
Deathless is the first book in Annals Of The GodEater, and the series will be three trilogies set over 3000 years from the Demon wars, the fall of heaven, and an empires will to stamp out all divinity and heresy from the world all together.
I knew when I first saw these books being advertised for a kickstarter that I had to be a part of it. After reading the synopsis, you just knew these books were going to be epic, and as usual, Rob J. Hayes did not disappoint with his master storytelling.
Deathless takes place 1000 years before the main trilogy, and the first book Herald. It is short read and is packed full of wonderful, political intrigue, family drama, and characters that draw you in and emerses you into the world of the Sant Dien Empire and Heaven.
Rob J. Hayes continues to create amazing dark worlds. To continue to weave amazing stories one after the other is a gift, and he just keeps on giving. With his fantastic worldbuilding, his plot twist holds no bounds, and the writing is just exquisite.
Ertide is King of the Sant Dien Empire. He is old sick and dying. The Hoistain dynasty has ruled for 2000 years after the demon wars, but only by God's will. Ertide is tired of God's will and the angels divinity over them, and something needs to change.
When darks secrets and uncovered, a secret that could save his life, and give him immortality, plots, and schemes start to unfold, and there is no going back when first blood is spilt. Things are about to get dark and bloody. War is coming, and Heaven best be ready.The Hoistain Empire will never be the same again.
Wow, absolutely fantastic reading, I very highly recommend that you check out this series when it's released on amazon. You won't regret it....🔥🔥🔥
April 16, 2024
9/10. I’m going to try and record an episode on this and the other short story tomorrow if I get the chance.
July 28, 2024
An interesting start to the story but yet also continuation ish. It'll be interesting to see what happens in 1000 years when I read herald next.
April 17, 2024
5.0 stars—-
I find the Hostain dynasty interesting and I enjoyed getting to know the motivations of the family when they rebelled against the angels.
Deathless takes place 1000 years before Herald, but paints Emrik in a completely different light from the tyrant he became after hunting the remaining angels for close to a millennia.
When I first received Demon, Deathless and Herald simultaneously, I wasn’t sure which to start with. I chose Herald (700+ pages), but only got 20% through before deciding to try the other 2 novella that predated the main Herald novel and its two future releases in the “Herald trilogy” (not out yet). Herald wasn’t bad, I just wanted to know the history referenced throughout, and had a feeling the shorter “Demon” and “Deathless” would give me different perspectives. I’m glad I did this, because now I’m not sure who to root for in Herald.
I love the mysteries of the magic system that are slowly being revealed.
Chronologically:
Demon (3000 years ago)- demons enslave humans until a heroine becomes a leader and leads her people to freedom. This was super dark.
Deathless (1000 years ago)- humans realize angels lied about their history, manipulated and oppressed them, and now plan to rebel and consume the angels to steal their power.
Herald (present day)- humans have killed God and hunted the angels to near extinction. religion or praying is punishable by death, but some faithful remain. The protagonist is a young girl on the side of the angels, who are represented as the “good guys”.
I find the Hostain dynasty interesting and I enjoyed getting to know the motivations of the family when they rebelled against the angels.
Deathless takes place 1000 years before Herald, but paints Emrik in a completely different light from the tyrant he became after hunting the remaining angels for close to a millennia.
When I first received Demon, Deathless and Herald simultaneously, I wasn’t sure which to start with. I chose Herald (700+ pages), but only got 20% through before deciding to try the other 2 novella that predated the main Herald novel and its two future releases in the “Herald trilogy” (not out yet). Herald wasn’t bad, I just wanted to know the history referenced throughout, and had a feeling the shorter “Demon” and “Deathless” would give me different perspectives. I’m glad I did this, because now I’m not sure who to root for in Herald.
I love the mysteries of the magic system that are slowly being revealed.
Chronologically:
Demon (3000 years ago)- demons enslave humans until a heroine becomes a leader and leads her people to freedom. This was super dark.
Deathless (1000 years ago)- humans realize angels lied about their history, manipulated and oppressed them, and now plan to rebel and consume the angels to steal their power.
Herald (present day)- humans have killed God and hunted the angels to near extinction. religion or praying is punishable by death, but some faithful remain. The protagonist is a young girl on the side of the angels, who are represented as the “good guys”.
August 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Deathless by Rob J. Hayes is another stellar entry in the God Eater saga. This novella focuses on King Ertide Hostain and takes us 1000 years before the events of Herald. If you're following the series, I highly recommend reading Herald first to avoid potential spoilers.
While Herald is rich in action, Deathless leans more towards political fantasy, with the action ramping up towards the end. Despite its slower start, the story remains captivating, showcasing Hayes' brilliant storytelling.
One of the strengths of Deathless lies in its ability to answer some of the lingering questions left by Herald, while also introducing a host of new mysteries.
A standout character in this installment is Moon, who we first met in Herald. In Deathless, we get to spend much more time with him, and he quickly becomes a fascinating figure. His dialogue, whether casual or central to the plot, is always compelling, making him one of the most interesting characters in the saga. Moon might just be my favorite character in the God Eater saga yet.
I'm excited to find out where the series will take us next.
Deathless by Rob J. Hayes is another stellar entry in the God Eater saga. This novella focuses on King Ertide Hostain and takes us 1000 years before the events of Herald. If you're following the series, I highly recommend reading Herald first to avoid potential spoilers.
While Herald is rich in action, Deathless leans more towards political fantasy, with the action ramping up towards the end. Despite its slower start, the story remains captivating, showcasing Hayes' brilliant storytelling.
One of the strengths of Deathless lies in its ability to answer some of the lingering questions left by Herald, while also introducing a host of new mysteries.
A standout character in this installment is Moon, who we first met in Herald. In Deathless, we get to spend much more time with him, and he quickly becomes a fascinating figure. His dialogue, whether casual or central to the plot, is always compelling, making him one of the most interesting characters in the saga. Moon might just be my favorite character in the God Eater saga yet.
I'm excited to find out where the series will take us next.
April 28, 2024
4 stars
This is the first book in the middle series by the author set 1000 years before Herald while Demon takes place 3000 years before Herald. Follows King Ertide as he reckons with having his best days behind him and feelings of not being in control of his empire due to Humans alliance with God and his Angels. Mostly a book of Political Intrigue and a slower paced read. Most Impressed with the world and how releasing 3 separate trilogies at the same time spread out over thousands of years plays with the truth and shapes the future series
This is the first book in the middle series by the author set 1000 years before Herald while Demon takes place 3000 years before Herald. Follows King Ertide as he reckons with having his best days behind him and feelings of not being in control of his empire due to Humans alliance with God and his Angels. Mostly a book of Political Intrigue and a slower paced read. Most Impressed with the world and how releasing 3 separate trilogies at the same time spread out over thousands of years plays with the truth and shapes the future series
May 8, 2024
"Deathless" is the first volume of "Annals of the God Eather, the second trilogy in the "God Eater Saga".
It was a short and efficient installment, seting a solid base for the events to came.
I started with "Herald", in the order recommended by the author and I hope that was a worthy bett.
You can now support my passion for books with a small donation here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
It was a short and efficient installment, seting a solid base for the events to came.
I started with "Herald", in the order recommended by the author and I hope that was a worthy bett.
You can now support my passion for books with a small donation here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
August 18, 2024
3.5/5
July 30, 2024
Simply put, if you're on the quest for a book that'll suck you in and refuse to let go, then "Deathless: Annals of the God Eater" by Rob J. Hayes is your next read. Picture this: an aging king trying to keep his kingdom together while hiding a nasty illness, all while dealing with some seriously entitled angels. It's intense, gripping, and a lot of fun.
So, let's talk characters. King Ertide Hostain is our main guy. He's old, he's kinda grumpy, and he's hiding his sickness from everyone. Honestly, his inner thoughts had me cracking up more than once. Imagine if Tyrion Lannister and Gandalf had a love child who became a stressed-out king. That's Ertide for you. Then there's Oronesus, a stunningly beautiful angel who's probably a 7/8 on the crazy scale. And let's not forget Moon, the wildcard angel who's as unpredictable as a cat in a rainstorm. He'll keep you guessin that's for sure.
The world-building? Top notch! Hayes has created this sprawling empire with ancient courtyards and political drama that keeps you hooked. You can almost smell the flowers and feel the tension in the air. The whole society is built around divine servitude, which makes every character's struggle feel like they're up against an invisible, all-seeing force. Spoiler alert: they kind of are.
What really got me were the random bits of humor Hayes threw in. Ertide's interactions with his way-too-pious wife, Ylnaea, are just too funny. It's like trying to stay calm while your super-religious aunt won't stop asking if you've been to church. And Moon? Their banter is pure gold. One second, you're laughing out loud. Then suddenly, you're holding your breath during a tense political showdown.
In the quest for great reads, "Deathless" nails it. Character drama? Check. Epic world-building? You bet. Twists and turns? Oh, plenty. This book is perfect if you love political intrigue and complex character arcs and want to watch a king navigate daily chaos in a world littered with angels. Grab your favorite drink (though Ertide would suggest breakfast wine), and dive into the Annals of the God Eater. Trust me, it's a wild journey and one I can't wait to continue.
So, let's talk characters. King Ertide Hostain is our main guy. He's old, he's kinda grumpy, and he's hiding his sickness from everyone. Honestly, his inner thoughts had me cracking up more than once. Imagine if Tyrion Lannister and Gandalf had a love child who became a stressed-out king. That's Ertide for you. Then there's Oronesus, a stunningly beautiful angel who's probably a 7/8 on the crazy scale. And let's not forget Moon, the wildcard angel who's as unpredictable as a cat in a rainstorm. He'll keep you guessin that's for sure.
The world-building? Top notch! Hayes has created this sprawling empire with ancient courtyards and political drama that keeps you hooked. You can almost smell the flowers and feel the tension in the air. The whole society is built around divine servitude, which makes every character's struggle feel like they're up against an invisible, all-seeing force. Spoiler alert: they kind of are.
What really got me were the random bits of humor Hayes threw in. Ertide's interactions with his way-too-pious wife, Ylnaea, are just too funny. It's like trying to stay calm while your super-religious aunt won't stop asking if you've been to church. And Moon? Their banter is pure gold. One second, you're laughing out loud. Then suddenly, you're holding your breath during a tense political showdown.
In the quest for great reads, "Deathless" nails it. Character drama? Check. Epic world-building? You bet. Twists and turns? Oh, plenty. This book is perfect if you love political intrigue and complex character arcs and want to watch a king navigate daily chaos in a world littered with angels. Grab your favorite drink (though Ertide would suggest breakfast wine), and dive into the Annals of the God Eater. Trust me, it's a wild journey and one I can't wait to continue.
July 27, 2024
The God Eater is officially the most promising epic fantasy series to debut this year. Herald was fantastic, but oddly it's the shorter of the two books that made everything click.
Although this initial trilogy can be read in any order, I strongly encourage that Herald be read first. Getting to know certain characters like Emrik with the knowledge of what's to come, further fleshed out one of the best 'villains' (or is he) characters I've encountered in some time, and allowing us to witness the initial rebellion unfold through the eye of Ertide was such a great choice.
The entirety of the short novel is set within one location, and yet every action and choice still rings with the weight of future events.
I can't wait to tackle Demon, and then hope Rob finishes the next trilogy as quickly as possible.
Although this initial trilogy can be read in any order, I strongly encourage that Herald be read first. Getting to know certain characters like Emrik with the knowledge of what's to come, further fleshed out one of the best 'villains' (or is he) characters I've encountered in some time, and allowing us to witness the initial rebellion unfold through the eye of Ertide was such a great choice.
The entirety of the short novel is set within one location, and yet every action and choice still rings with the weight of future events.
I can't wait to tackle Demon, and then hope Rob finishes the next trilogy as quickly as possible.
May 23, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders
The God Eater Saga is a trilogy of trilogies by Rob J Hayes. Deathless follows the first of the companion trilogies (Annals of the God Eater) set 1000 years before Herald. I genuinely think that reading Herald first made Deathless a compelling experience. Knowing all the twists, secrets, and chunks of information that Herald gave me, Deathless was a bittersweet experience.
Deathless follows Ertide Hostain, THE Godless King who orchestrated the first act of heresy which would lead to the humans killing God and overthrowing God’s empire. But, how could I enjoy Deathless when I had already revealed a lot for myself through Herald?
Well, the God Eater world is much more complex and expansive than Herald let on. Where Herald gave us glimpses into ages past, Deathless shows us the Golden Age, while giving us glimpses into ages forgotten.
WHAT I LIKED:
Unlike Herald, Deathless was a political fantasy in the spirit of Game of Thrones. Seeing Ertide Hostain in his winter years was both fascinating, and heartbreaking. I know I had some issues with the characters in Herald, but the treatment of Ertide Hostain is so empathetically done that I felt like I knew him as a distant relative. Right off the bat, you see him having doubts regarding the Angels and God’s Empire, which slowly ossify into reveals that change everything. I don’t want to spoil what he finds out because even though I had some doubts about that reveal, just having it confirmed here was positively satisfying.
The air of mystery is thick throughout the book, with Ertide’s declining faith mirrored in his declining health. Every time you discover a piece of the forgotten past, you can’t help but root for Ertide to finally do what we know he will go down in history for. It’s not that he killed and ate Angels, rather how he came about to do it which is such a fascinating journey. With each reveal, the argument for killing and eating Angels—never thought I’d write that line—grows stronger and convincing. Yet, when the act is finally committed, it comes with a bittersweet lump in your throat. As much as there is triumph for the humans finally throwing away their metaphorical shackles, there is also a sense of loss knowing what miserable fate awaits the world.
Another issue I had with Herald was the lack of scenes with Angels in all their glory. With Deathless, that balance is just perfect. We get enough of the Angels to see what the Golden Age is like. We get some very compelling scenes with Moon, who I hope we’ll see more of in the later instalments. And lastly, the finale—the actual killing of an Angel. Hayes makes his characters work for it. Even the weakest of the Angels is so difficult an adversary, and her fight with the humans is so visually imaginative and stunning, it would make for gold-standard TV/anime.
And finally, the world-building. With Deathless, we get mentions of a time that was forgotten by the ages. There are several easter eggs for what I’m sure I’ll discover when I read Demon, and they expand the scope of the God Eater world beyond what Herald already set up. Seriously, reading all the book 1s of God Eater feels like reading a Stormlight book, where every timeline, every part, and every interlude, is a reminder that the world is exponentially larger than you had earlier imagined.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
If I really have to pick, then there was only one complaint with the book—the pacing. The book is slow for the first few chapters, an intriguing political fantasy for the next few, followed by rapid reveals, and then an action-packed finale which transitions into a relatively abrupt ending. Every part of what I mentioned is enjoyable in its own right, but the time jumps were a bit jarring, and felt off-balance. They didn’t spoil my experience because I was too invested in Ertide and his plot.
All in all, this book is another 5/5 for me. Again, having read Herald first made Deathless a captivating read.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Ertide Hostain, the mystery around what the Angels lied about, the reveals and world-expansion
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Odd pacing, abrupt ending
The God Eater Saga is a trilogy of trilogies by Rob J Hayes. Deathless follows the first of the companion trilogies (Annals of the God Eater) set 1000 years before Herald. I genuinely think that reading Herald first made Deathless a compelling experience. Knowing all the twists, secrets, and chunks of information that Herald gave me, Deathless was a bittersweet experience.
Deathless follows Ertide Hostain, THE Godless King who orchestrated the first act of heresy which would lead to the humans killing God and overthrowing God’s empire. But, how could I enjoy Deathless when I had already revealed a lot for myself through Herald?
Well, the God Eater world is much more complex and expansive than Herald let on. Where Herald gave us glimpses into ages past, Deathless shows us the Golden Age, while giving us glimpses into ages forgotten.
WHAT I LIKED:
Unlike Herald, Deathless was a political fantasy in the spirit of Game of Thrones. Seeing Ertide Hostain in his winter years was both fascinating, and heartbreaking. I know I had some issues with the characters in Herald, but the treatment of Ertide Hostain is so empathetically done that I felt like I knew him as a distant relative. Right off the bat, you see him having doubts regarding the Angels and God’s Empire, which slowly ossify into reveals that change everything. I don’t want to spoil what he finds out because even though I had some doubts about that reveal, just having it confirmed here was positively satisfying.
The air of mystery is thick throughout the book, with Ertide’s declining faith mirrored in his declining health. Every time you discover a piece of the forgotten past, you can’t help but root for Ertide to finally do what we know he will go down in history for. It’s not that he killed and ate Angels, rather how he came about to do it which is such a fascinating journey. With each reveal, the argument for killing and eating Angels—never thought I’d write that line—grows stronger and convincing. Yet, when the act is finally committed, it comes with a bittersweet lump in your throat. As much as there is triumph for the humans finally throwing away their metaphorical shackles, there is also a sense of loss knowing what miserable fate awaits the world.
Another issue I had with Herald was the lack of scenes with Angels in all their glory. With Deathless, that balance is just perfect. We get enough of the Angels to see what the Golden Age is like. We get some very compelling scenes with Moon, who I hope we’ll see more of in the later instalments. And lastly, the finale—the actual killing of an Angel. Hayes makes his characters work for it. Even the weakest of the Angels is so difficult an adversary, and her fight with the humans is so visually imaginative and stunning, it would make for gold-standard TV/anime.
And finally, the world-building. With Deathless, we get mentions of a time that was forgotten by the ages. There are several easter eggs for what I’m sure I’ll discover when I read Demon, and they expand the scope of the God Eater world beyond what Herald already set up. Seriously, reading all the book 1s of God Eater feels like reading a Stormlight book, where every timeline, every part, and every interlude, is a reminder that the world is exponentially larger than you had earlier imagined.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
If I really have to pick, then there was only one complaint with the book—the pacing. The book is slow for the first few chapters, an intriguing political fantasy for the next few, followed by rapid reveals, and then an action-packed finale which transitions into a relatively abrupt ending. Every part of what I mentioned is enjoyable in its own right, but the time jumps were a bit jarring, and felt off-balance. They didn’t spoil my experience because I was too invested in Ertide and his plot.
All in all, this book is another 5/5 for me. Again, having read Herald first made Deathless a captivating read.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Ertide Hostain, the mystery around what the Angels lied about, the reveals and world-expansion
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Odd pacing, abrupt ending
May 12, 2024
More straight forward than Herald but no less compelling. Rob J. Hayes is doing such a fantastic job of building the world and characters in this world to make you want to root for his protagonists while still asking yourself who is on the right side of things. The structure of the saga is still being used impressively with foreshadowing for events after Herald, presumably Age part 2, sprinkled into a story that does not go quite how you thought it would since you were already told it on broad strokes (if you follow the recommended reading order).
I'm excited to get started on Demon, another 2000 years into the past, but I'm already itching for phase 2 with only 200-ish pages left in phase 1 when there is still a month until the set is even officially/widely released.
I'm excited to get started on Demon, another 2000 years into the past, but I'm already itching for phase 2 with only 200-ish pages left in phase 1 when there is still a month until the set is even officially/widely released.
August 3, 2024
For context, I'm reading the trilogy of trilogies in publication order, so going into Deathless I've only read Herald. I would highly rec'd reading in this order, since the reveals in Deathless truly hit hard after Herald. Although I've heard similar thoughts when reading chronologically! But, alas, at the time of this review, Demon is not available for another few days!
The reader's perspective from Herald is regarding the Historical Ertide from two POVs: the Angel's and his grandson, Emrick. And, oh boy, the REAL Ertide leads us to consider and reflect on the accuracy of history and to question who to believe and when....
I cannot wait to pick up Demon!
The reader's perspective from Herald is regarding the Historical Ertide from two POVs: the Angel's and his grandson, Emrick. And, oh boy, the REAL Ertide leads us to consider and reflect on the accuracy of history and to question who to believe and when....
I cannot wait to pick up Demon!
August 23, 2024
To absolutely nobody’s surprise, Hayes has knocked another one out of the park. This was my first entry into his “Godeater” triad of trilogies (Age, Annals, & Archive), but I am definitely going to check out the other two number one entries at my next opportunity.
Political maneuvering? Check. Uncertainty as to whom is truly on the side of the angels? Check and pardon the pun. Wit and charm and an unstoppable need to read “just one more chapter?” It’s Rob J. MF’in Hayes, so obviously. It’s on Kindle Unlimited, but loosen your purse strings and give him the money he deserves for writing my first five star read of the year.
Political maneuvering? Check. Uncertainty as to whom is truly on the side of the angels? Check and pardon the pun. Wit and charm and an unstoppable need to read “just one more chapter?” It’s Rob J. MF’in Hayes, so obviously. It’s on Kindle Unlimited, but loosen your purse strings and give him the money he deserves for writing my first five star read of the year.
May 13, 2024
I read this novella after the first novella and before the main novel. I have now also finished the main novel, and I have to say, the right order is definitely doing the main novel then novellas.
This was great. This one took a bit longer to suck me in than Demons did, but once I was 50 pages in I couldn’t really stop. This was just so much different from Demons, where I was for some reason expecting a cyclical feel to the three books, but this was not the same. Here we mainly follow Ertide Hostain who is king and rules with angels at his side, who are guiding his rule to where God wills it. In this book Ertide is an old king who looks to be dying. He’s being forced to pick an heir before it’s too late and wars are fought amongst his family. This comes back up throughout the story from the very beginning and continues on. We spend some time learning about Ertide’s children and grandchildren. These characters became the most interesting to me quickly. I loved Arandon and by the end of the book I felt some way about Emrik. I was very interested, and still am interested to see what Emrik has been up to.
This was a great shorter novel and I’m just even more excited for whenever the next set of these releases.
This was great. This one took a bit longer to suck me in than Demons did, but once I was 50 pages in I couldn’t really stop. This was just so much different from Demons, where I was for some reason expecting a cyclical feel to the three books, but this was not the same. Here we mainly follow Ertide Hostain who is king and rules with angels at his side, who are guiding his rule to where God wills it. In this book Ertide is an old king who looks to be dying. He’s being forced to pick an heir before it’s too late and wars are fought amongst his family. This comes back up throughout the story from the very beginning and continues on. We spend some time learning about Ertide’s children and grandchildren. These characters became the most interesting to me quickly. I loved Arandon and by the end of the book I felt some way about Emrik. I was very interested, and still am interested to see what Emrik has been up to.
This was a great shorter novel and I’m just even more excited for whenever the next set of these releases.
April 13, 2024
I have finished all the God Eater book ones and I am distraught that I will have to wait over a year to get the next entries.
Deathless takes us back (or forward depending on your reading order) 1000 years (probably a bit more) before Herald, to the time when Ertide is king. Through his pov, we get to see the origins of the Goddess Kings and it doesn't disappoint.
My reading order was as follows
Herald
Demon
Deathless
Deathless takes us back (or forward depending on your reading order) 1000 years (probably a bit more) before Herald, to the time when Ertide is king. Through his pov, we get to see the origins of the Goddess Kings and it doesn't disappoint.
My reading order was as follows
Herald
Demon
Deathless
May 11, 2024
After reading this book i can surely say that Rob J Hayes nailed this series perfectly. While the main series discussed about the absence of god and immortal kings, this prequel discussed the reason why god is dead and what is the truth from the immortal kings perspective while they are revolting against the heaven and god. I cannot say anything else about this book because its a small book and i could spoil things.
Now onwards the next prequel series and find out about how it all began.
Now onwards the next prequel series and find out about how it all began.
August 20, 2024
I continue to be really intrigued by the world Hayes has created here, and the way the stories are being told in parts separated by thousands of years while still being connected. I found myself constantly looking for the connections to Demon, as I’m sure I will with this one when I get to Herald. Yet this story is also very interesting on its own! This definitely took a dark turn towards the end, which seems to be a theme of these books, and I look forward to reading the rest of them.
June 14, 2024
I liked Deathless even more than Herald. Knowing what happens in the future, watching how gradually doubt takes root and how events unfold that eventually lead to Herald was a lot of fun. Understanding the perspective of those that were portrayed to be the bad guys puts everything in a different light.
Very well written, looking forward to the next one!
Very well written, looking forward to the next one!
August 10, 2024
This novel is the first of a standalone trilogy which also provide back story for the Age of the God Eater series. This novel is significantly shorter than Herald and is more of a novella. Having read Herald prior to this I liked uncovering the truth of King Ertide’s rebellion and the motivation behind it. Looking forward to reading the remainder of the trilogy when published.
April 4, 2024
An excellent novella set 1000 years before Herald (book 1 in the God Eater Saga) helps set up the Godless Kings to take over Heaven.
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