Review – Knights of the Dead God by James Jakins

So, who’s heard of portal fantasy? I can’t honestly say I’ve ever read any before this year, and this is my second in a few months, having read and reviewed The New Magic by Joseph Malik a while back. There are similarities that were likely more to do with the sub-genre than anything else, so I’m not going to bother comparing them. One thing they definitely had in common was a hard edge and an enjoyable read.

KOTDG is set in the same universe as some of the author’s other work, but while there were crossover characters, it was written as a standalone, and I never felt lost due to not being familiar with the previous efforts.

This story tells of Arthur Steele, a former knight of Saban, who played a pivotal role in killing his god. We meet Arthur as he travels between worlds, with a young half-orc girl in his care. And that’s about all we know. What transpires as we progress through the tale is orcs – half or otherwise – are generally despised in this world (Domhan) and that Arthur had once dedicated his life to exterminating them, as they were troublesome when he lived here. Early on Arthur, and the little girl, Miki, who really adds a wonderful kids-eye view to the story – meet a witch, Hazel (geddit?), who agrees to join them to help take care of Miki, a job Arthur s far from qualified for. Needless to say, it doesn’t take long for things to spiral out of control as Arthur attempts to visit his old order to receive his punishment for his role in the death of Saban.

This is a short read, I knocked it out in a couple of days, and it certainly doesn’t lack pace. Fans of extreme world-building may feel short-changed, but there is enough explained to keep the more moderate fan happy. The characters are likeable and have some depth. Arthur is racked with grief and guilt, and he becomes even more intersting as the plot progresses (as he should). Hazel acts as a counterpoint to Arthur, but we learn some surprises about her past down the road too, not particularly pleasant surprises either. Miki is a treat, uncertain why her life has taken this turn, and oblivious as to why orcs are despised, but she is wowed by both her carers.

I enjoyed this story, and I definitely want to check out some more of the author’s works, particularly in this universe. If you like portal fantasy, or you want to check it out, this is definitely worth your time. Be warned though, it can get grim on occasion.

A solid 4/5 stars.